advice on 1st big game hunting rifle...

If your pal is set on a lever gun he could do worse than choose a Marlin in .30-30. He might find a older Winchester 88 or Savage 99, but that can't be counted on any more.

Hopefully you can persuade him to choose a bolt action. A good quality bolt gun, with a 22" to 24" barrel chambered for .270, 280, or .30-06 and topped with a good quality scope in a good mount will serve him well for many years. If he prefers a smaller lighter rifle, a 20" carbine in .260, 7-08, or 308 will do likewise. A high quality used rifle is superior to a low end new rifle, and prices of used rifles these days makes that an affordable alternative.

The scope is best if it were smaller than larger. In hunting scenarios, magnification of 2X is often is more useful than 10X. A 2-7X tends to be a nice size, and a useful power range. Like the rifle, a used good quality scope trumps a new low priced number.

Regardless of which rifle/scope he chooses, once he gets it sighted in, he should get away from the bench and shoot as much as possible from field positions, from 10 yards to 300 - or out to the range at which he can't group 3 shots onto an 8" target. I would like to see a novice hunter fire 500 rounds through his rifle, under a variety of conditions before he shoots at a live target, but few have that luxury. Still, he can learn much through dry firing, and regular handling will bring about familiarity and will help reduce fumbling at the critical moment.
 
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If he's dead set on a lever gun, my buddy just bought a BLR in 300 WSM that is handy and very accurate with factory ammo. For a first gun I'd say 30-06 bolt. Hunt anything anywhere, then in a year or two he can pick up a .416 Rem and he's good to go.
 
AmmoFactory said:
Get a remington 740 in 30-06 and you can take down any game in north-america without thinking about it from BC to newfie elk, black bear, white tail. Get-R-Done!
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you need old'painless to kill a deer.
 
Boomer said:
The scope is best if it were smaller than larger. In hunting scenarios, magnification of 2X is often is more useful than 10X. A 2-7X tends to be a nice size, and a useful power range.
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Good advice. The vast majority of my bolt guns are equipped with fixed 4x scopes, I also really like my VxIII 1.5-5.
 
I had the same question posed by a friend at work. A beginner, wanting 1 rifle for everything. He likes laminated stocks and stainless steel, on which he got no arguement from me. But I did say the best 1 rifle is 2 rifles. Rugers stainless laminat in 30-06 with a 2-7 leupold and a ruger M77 22 L/R with an affordable scope. Sight in the '06 and get used to it form different shooting positions, including sticks. Sight in the 22 and start buying ammo by the brick, then start going through the bricks. Ruger, because they are affordable, come in SS with a laminated stock and they make a good 22 that is similar to the '06. I say go with new, since a beginner isn't likely to know enough to make a good purchase on a used rig.(and I like the thing about the cherry). Oh ya, 2-7 for the reason already stated and leupold for obvious reasons like quality and reasonable price.
 
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I'd put a Leupold VXII 2x-7x on a Remington 700 CDL in 35 Whelen and feel adequate for anything AB had to offer - and happy to have a good looking gun with quality optics. Maybe a little "over-gunned" for speed goats and deer ... but more than enough for elk & moose. At about 2-5/8" high at 100 yds, "point blank" on deer sized game is out at 250 yards with 200 grain factory loads. With the same sighting, the "point blanK for the 250 gr. load is 230 yards. Very workable for elk or moose.
 
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Can't go wrong with a good used bolt in 30-06 or 270, but if he's set on a lever gun, maybe take a look at an ole savage 99 in 308. Look around and you may find one at a very good price.
 
If your friend wants a lever action, then help him with getting a lever action

A guy says he like 30 06 on this site, and someone will suggest a different calibre.

A guy says he likes lever actions, and of course, get's the same responses from many.

I hate going to a store and specifying what I like, and then get told what I should like.

Get a 336 RC Marlin Lever Action in 30 30.
It is more than adequate for what you have mentioned, a pleasure to shoot, low recoil, you can use irons and a scope, ammunition is everywhere, and though you may not be interested in this, it's a LEVER ACTION ;) Excellent gun to start with. As your friend is not a reloader and looking for an all around hunter gun, the added benefits of some of the rifles mentioned would be of no use to him, unless stretching his range out beyond the typical ranges of most newer hunters.



If you are not recoil shy, the 450 marlin is another beauty with the added reassurance of Grizzly ability. I am more than comfortable going anywhere in Alberta with 30 30, but in Griz country, a fowled shot can be life and death, so a 450 is very nice if you get comfortable with it.

The only place that I would not be using 3030 would be if greater than 200 yrd shots are required. Personally I have never had to take that long a shot at a deer, moose, or Bear while using my 3030 in Alberta. Your range is going to matter a lot more than the actual calibre.

What are in AB is he hunting?
 
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Buy a Savage sierra short action in any 30 cal and use the money saved on the gun to buy a really good scope.

Savages may not be pretty but they shoot really well and a smart hunter spends his money on the scope.

I have one in 300wsm with a good leupold 3-9x40 on it and it is great, light accurate and versatile.

my two cents worth;)
 
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