1st Deer rifle / 1st hunt

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McDo

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I am looking to purchase my 1st hunting rifle. I take the hunter's education course in September and would like to deer hunt this fall. $$$ is a consideration for me as I'm on a limited budget.
Also if you live in Southern Ontario and hunt I'd like to pick your brain(s) if possible. I don't know where to hunt; I don't know who to hunt with, basically I'm a 50 year old hunting virgin so please be gentle!
 
My suggestions would be a Thompson Center in .308, or a Tikka T3 also in .308. As for optics, when I was in your shoes I went with a vortex 4-16 HS. I also bought a Harris 12"-25" bipod. Total bill was about 1800$, brand new. I'm sure you could save some $$ on the EE forum.

-J.
 
Where you hunt is going to be critical in choosing what you hunt with. Much of Southern Ontario is shotgun only. That means most likely 12 ga., and most likely pump or auto. If you're hunting where rifles are allowed, I would look for a good used rifle in .270/.308/.30-06. Tradex has a bunch of Husqvarna mausers in .30-06 at the moment which seem like a pretty good deal.
 
Also being new to it and on a tight budget, the EE was my best friend.

Picked up a Tikka Lite, with a Monarch 4-12x42 and a box of rounds for just around 900 all in.

I went .243win so I can use it on whitetail and varmint both, seeing as I want to try as many different hunts as possible I needed well rounded, multipurpose firearms.

Along side that is a mossberg 12ga with a 28"VR and a 24" rifled cantilever w/reflex sight

ALL IN, $1600.00 for 2(3) firearms capable of deer, waterfowl, upland, varmint and if I wanna be the guy shooting skeet with a camo pump, i can. Lol
 
Just a quick question first off are you really interested in hunting an have done it before with other people ? the reason i ask you ya sure go an spend $1800 on a safe queen that gets hunted once awhile or get a savage that will shoot that same as the rest and cheap an still a safe queen till you know you like hunting..
 
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You can't get much cheaper than a sportered 303. Some come with a scope, or at least a scope base.

Lot's of guys start out with one, some still use them. Lot's to pick from on the ee. (Search,"enfield" ) I'm taking one along moose hunting this fall as a camp/backup gun. Picked it up on the ee about a month ago. (like a fool gave my old one away to a first time hunter)
 
you will need a shotgun that can shot slugs if you wish to hunt deer in the southern part of Ontario ,,,or a muzzle loader ,no rifles for deer down here ,,there are some great shotgun combos great for fist time gun buyers ,two birds with ne stone ,,,you can hunt deer with one barrel and switch the barrel for one with screw in chokes and you can hunt every thing from ducks to doves and bunnys ,,,,Dutch
 
Southern Ontario well the first thing that jumps to my mind would be a savage 20ga bolt slug gun and a scope.
Almost if not the same range potential as a 30-30 and you have shot gun or rifle hunt covered.
Good luck
 
McDo said:
I am looking to purchase my 1st hunting rifle. I take the hunter's education course in September and would like to deer hunt this fall. $$$ is a consideration for me as I'm on a limited budget.
Also if you live in Southern Ontario and hunt I'd like to pick your brain(s) if possible. I don't know where to hunt; I don't know who to hunt with, basically I'm a 50 year old hunting virgin so please be gentle!
Click to expand...

Question is where is your location?

Southern Ontario has controlled deer hunt which is shotgun only and archery. Look into Hunting regulations, find area you will hunt and check what is allowed.

I use rem 870 with rifled barrel, leupold scope and sabot slugs. Works excellent.
 
Thank you all for your imput. I acidentally posted this in 2 different spots so if it caused any inconvenience I'm sorry.
My main issue is not knowing where to go. I think once I figure that out it will help me determine what to purchase.
 
McDo said:
I am looking to purchase my 1st hunting rifle. I take the hunter's education course in September and would like to deer hunt this fall. $$$ is a consideration for me as I'm on a limited budget.
Also if you live in Southern Ontario and hunt I'd like to pick your brain(s) if possible. I don't know where to hunt; I don't know who to hunt with, basically I'm a 50 year old hunting virgin so please be gentle!
Click to expand...

Hopefully you can get your PAL in time for the hunt.
 
Le baron sells a trio remington 870 synthetic pump ,rifled barrel with scope mount built in,smooth barrel rifle sights and a 28 inch chocked barrel for birds.this would be my choice for southern ontario and i beleive the set sells for a little over 500.add a scope and your good to go.you can even hunt moose and bears with the new sabot moving at 2000ft per sec.this is More than 45/70 factory loads.honestly my safe is full an i still hunt with this set because of the rules in southern ontario.send me a pm and we can dicuss
 
For fingering out wear to hunt and regulations Ihunt Ontario app would be handy
Myself I'm using Ihunt BC and Ihunt Alberta apps
Cant say enough good things about the app
I think it's available in both Iphone and. Android
 
Southern Ontario - Remington 870 with a Cantilever Barrel, add glass, ( Leupold Ultimate Slam) perfect deer gun..
 
I'd go with a low power scope if you're hunting in southern Ontario, you'd be mostly hunting bush and shots would be normally be less than 100M and sometimes 20-40M, a 4X 12 power scope would be real tough to use if the deer is close or is moving. I use a 1 X 4 power Leupold on a 308 rifle and usually have the scope set at 1.5 -2max. The thicker the bush and closer the shots iron sights make more sense but is dependent on half decent vision.
 
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