Advice for a newbie?

C

cdncableguy

New member
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Location
Fernie
Hi, I'm new here. First post even. I moved to Fernie, BC last spring. I have started hunting with a friend of mine. I am just waiting for my PAL. Last season I used his 243 to take my first white tail. Now I need my own gun. I am looking for some suggestions. I am right handed but have poor vision in my right eye. I have only ever shot right handed but am thinking it may be a good idea to switch to lefty. Or what about lever action? What do you think?
Also, any opinions on what rifle to buy? I will be hunting deer, moose, elk, sheep, all the big game here in the Elk Valley. I was thinking of a Savage 30-06. 30-06 seems like a good gun that can handle most things.
Any advice is welcome.
Thanks
 
I live in the Kootenays, too. When I moved here from Alberta I did all my hunting with a 25.06.

Then I started hearing stories...increasingly...about griz. And over the last several years even in and around the Ft. Steele area, where ranchers quite commonly now see 'em in their farm yards.

Last season over on that hydro line that crosses the Bull River, a local hunter stumbled onto an elk carcass...and immediately found himself emptying his rifle on a charging griz sow. She slid into the dirt dead, the report goes, about 10 yards from him.

They're a reality in these parts, and certainly so in the Elk Valley, so taking this into account is a good idea. Not saying you need a cannon, just something reasonably capable in a pinch, God forbid you ever get in one.

I snagged a great deal on a 300 WM, and it's been my go-to gun ever since.

IMHO, if you're starting out fresh, and you're going to be hunting the high country some, good calibers to consider are .270 Win, .280 Rem., 30.06, 7mm Rem. Mag., .270 or .300 WSM, or 300 Win Mag. .338 Win Mag definitely are popular around here, but be warned that they kick like hell! Don't buy one until you get a chance to go some rounds with one and find out if you can handle the abuse and still shoot straight with it. No shame in being realistic about recoil. I know I wouldn't own one just for that reason. And frankly, a .300 WM will get the job done just as efficiently every time.

And then don't cheap out on the quality of ammo you use. Go for premium bullets that hold together. Fusion ammo, still reasonably priced, is a good minimum.

FWIW.
 
Get your hands on as many as you can before you buy and pick what you like. A 308 will easily take those animals. I like stainless synthetic.
 
Congratulations on your first deer.

Many years ago my b-i-l had a master left eye and started shooting left handed with a Rem. 760. He soon realized that it didn't matter much if he used a scope and switched back with a lot of practice. If you can correct the vision with proper eye wear that would be the first way to go. If not, take a look at some of the scope sights that are available to see if they can provide adequate help.

As a lefty (you thought my good looks was all I had in common with Robert Redford?) I know there are a lot of good guns for someone who shoots from that side, but switching over ain't really easy. If you're going to try, get a .22 (10/22 or lever if that's where you're headed) and practice, practice, practice. Heck, do that anyway no matter which side you choose to shoot from.

You can't go wrong with a 30 '06. It will kick a bit more than the .243 so make friends with it first by shooting a few times sitting or even standing before you shoot from a bench rest. You'll discover the recoil isn't bad at all.

Most newbies hunker down behind the rifle too much when they start off a bench rest and get the snot kicked out of them. Stay as upright as you can so you can roll with the push. The '06 recoil isn't bad at all, but I use the same technique with my .375 H&H.
 
So everyone has advice for different calibers. Not surprising really i guess. My friend has a few different rifles, so I am going to try them out. I used his 243 to snag my first deer last fall. Easy to shoot. He was using a 7mm. Might have to find some others here in Fernie to go out with to try their rifles. And hit Bass Pro next time I am in Calgary to handle a few.
Any thought on bolt vs lever? I have been leaning towards bolt, but now that I am thinking of going left hand, I am now wondering if lever is a better choice in case I have trouble shooting left.
 
cdncableguy said:
So everyone has advice for different calibers. Not surprising really i guess. My friend has a few different rifles, so I am going to try them out. I used his 243 to snag my first deer last fall. Easy to shoot. He was using a 7mm. Might have to find some others here in Fernie to go out with to try their rifles. And hit Bass Pro next time I am in Calgary to handle a few.
Any thought on bolt vs lever? I have been leaning towards bolt, but now that I am thinking of going left hand, I am now wondering if lever is a better choice in case I have trouble shooting left.
Click to expand...

I am left handed and never have had any trouble with a bolt action rifle. I use a Rem 700 Sendero special .270.

Also a .270 or 30.06 will cover you.
 
ABCZAR said:
I am left handed and never have had any trouble with a bolt action rifle. I use a Rem 700 Sendero special .270.

Also a .270 or 30.06 will cover you.
Click to expand...

I'm not worried of using a bolt action. Just finding the right one in lefthand action. And whether or not I will be able to shoot lefty. That's why I am starting to contemplate lever action.
Any pros or cons to lever? I have never used one and don't know anyone that does?
To be honest, I didn't know they were even used any more. I always thought of them as cowboy rifles from the movies. I know... but hey I'm new to this
 
cdncableguy said:
I'm not worried of using a bolt action. Just finding the right one in lefthand action. And whether or not I will be able to shoot lefty. That's why I am starting to contemplate lever action.
Any pros or cons to lever? I have never used one and don't know anyone that does?
To be honest, I didn't know they were even used any more. I always thought of them as cowboy rifles from the movies. I know... but hey I'm new to this
Click to expand...

If you decide to go with a lever Browning makes the BLR in some pretty stout calibers i dont know them all but I think something like 270 30-06 308 7mm mag 325wsm to name a few and even though I do not own a 30-06 it would pretty hard to beat that caliber
 
So I think I have changed my mind again. Now I think I want a Thompson Center Encore Pro-Hunter Rifle with the switchable barrels. Any one use one or have thoughts?
 
cdncableguy said:
So I think I have changed my mind again. Now I think I want a Thompson Center Encore Pro-Hunter Rifle with the switchable barrels. Any one use one or have thoughts?
Click to expand...

Righty, Lefty...small/medium/large bore...just buy the Browning BLR in whatever caliber you choose and don't look back. Get a good used one here on EE. Yes I have a BLR so I know of what I speak.
 
If you want a lever, a BLR in .308 would work well.

I'm lefty and have no trouble shooting RH bolt guns faster than most righties. I would just get a regular RH bolt gun in .270, .280, .30-06, 7mm-08, etc, and rock on...
 
cdncableguy said:
So I think I have changed my mind again. Now I think I want a Thompson Center Encore Pro-Hunter Rifle with the switchable barrels. Any one use one or have thoughts?
Click to expand...

If you're worried about the grizzlies, one shot at a time might be a tad slow
on the wrong encounter.
If you haven't made up your mind on which eye is going to be your shooting eye, I suggest you do more rim fire shooting.
The reason is I am in the same predicament as you. My right eye sucks and I still group better with it. I shoot left handed and all feels well until I check my groupings. Nothing to brag about. So I stay right handed.
Good luck on your decision.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom