Advice sought for a used rifle for Elk, deer

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Ljklassen

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Hi all. Been lurking for a while, finally posting for some advice. I'm looking to get a new rifle, I got an elk tag this year and would like something for that but also all-around like deer and hopefully antelope in the US in the next couple years.

I've been searching the forums for advice, and think I've got it narrowed down to 7 mm RM or .300 Win Mag. I have got both an elk and a moose with a .300 WM, but that was a relative's gun and it was 15 years ago. Haven't shot big game since, other than a bear 1.5 yrs ago with archery.

I'm pretty keen on the 7mmRM, and today at Cabelas I found a used Savage 111 in 7mmRM, and in left hand (I've always shot right guns, but am left handed and would like to get one). I want to use my own gun this time and for the future as I get back into rifle hunting (still doing archery, and love it).

So the thought is this - the savage is $399, no scope. Wood stock, I assume its a few years old since it is wood and a 111. Sounds like a good price to me. But a new one is not much more (synthetic stock), with a scope at cabelas and while the scope is probably not great, for new that is nice. My other thought is that if I am going to get a LH rifle, maybe get a nice one like a Tikka T3. In my calibre it is either $799 blued or $919 ss (both in LH, in stock).

Am I losing anything by going with the used 111? My honest thoughts are, if I am not, then maybe buy the 111, spend the money I save on a nice scope, and if in the future I want something nicer then I could probably sell the 111 for close to what I paid and get a nicer rifle (if the 111 doesn't seem like a keeper).

Sorry for the long-winded post, lots of details here. Last question - for scopes I'm thinking a Bushnell Elite 3-9x40, is this good glass for what I want to do? Open fields in Manitoba but also want to hunt in US for antelope eventually. I've got a Weaver 2.5-7, old and solid, but I don't know if that would be enough for what I want to do.

Thanks for any and all input/advice. Love this forum.
 
If you don't buy the gun, let me know where it is and I will buy it ASAP. Good luck getting a tikka without having to wait at least a year. But seriously, I want that gun.
 
I'm more concerned with the caliber choice than the manufacturer choice. All the rifles you list are quite fine but learning to shoot (it has been 15y) with a magnum (and paying the price for the bullets) when its not necessary for elk or deer might be more pain than benefit. Oh, did I use the word pain? ;)
I've got a 7mmMag, great cartridge, but its not my first choice walking out the door and I'm glad I didn't buy it as my first gun, get beat up or a flinch and then sell it, ruining my attitude towards hunting. Ask the local gun store how many magnums they get in each year that 'just can't shoot'.
Now if my advice doesn't apply to you, but the savage, mount the Weaver and spend the saved money on bullets to practice. Next year treat yourself to the Bushnell since you can never have good enough glass.
Good luck hunting!
 
Seriously? I should buy it now? When you say that, are you basically saying the older wood stock is better than the newer ones in synthetic that have the accutrigger?

And the LH Tikkas I mentioned are in stock right now, so it's basically a choice between this savage 111 used at $399 (no scope) or the Tikka SS at $919 or blued for $799.

Without trying to influence me so that you can get the better deal (not accusing you of that, of course) which would you go for with these options available? Is the 111 used at $399 a really good deal?

Thanks for your reply already, I'd really appreciate your further insight,
 
Thanks Jaydog, I appreciate the input. The .300 kicked me hard 15 yrs ago, but I shot it (and a .300 UM) this spring and wasn't worried about the kick. But what I hear is the 7mmRM is flatter, which I am thinking about if I use this in the future for longer shots. I'm also interested in playing with this at a club I recently joined that has ranges out to past 1000yds, and I think it would be fun to play with sniper distances. Of course that would change my scope choices, but I'd cross that bridge when I came to it.
 
I was looking into the 111 myself and from all the research ive done the wood stock is supposedly much better than the new synth stock in terms of accuracy and how the rifle shoots.
 
thatguydion said:
If you don't mind spending a bit of money i would recommend a sako a7 in 30-06 i personally think its the best all around hunting round
Click to expand...

Thanks tgd - I'm in wpg also. Lots of thought on the 30-06 as it is so ubiquitous and well loved, just thinking the 7mmRM as an awesome all-around gun when thinking game from distances and also maybe target shooting out far in the future. I'd definitely look at Sako but wanted to try out different calibres before committing completely to a life-long companion like a Sako. Am I off on that thinking?
 
zeuce said:
I was looking into the 111 myself and from all the research ive done the wood stock is supposedly much better than the new synth stock in terms of accuracy and how the rifle shoots.
Click to expand...

That's what I was wondering. And to do the bed doesn't sound too difficult, which would make it that much better, is that correct? Epoxy or something else?
 
If you want a bolt-action rifle in that calibre that one is good value at that price as long as it isn't defective. Very few Savage's are made defective. It is a fundamentally good design and they are well made guns.
There is no reason to assume it needs bedding. The trigger is adjustable, not as easily user-adjustable as an Accu-Trigger, but still adjustable, and if you aren't happy with that, there are excellent aftermarket triggers available for when you realise the rifle is so good you want to make it all it can be.
 
If you want to get into long range shooting and hunting then the 7mmMag is a great cartridge to own and work with. I bought mine for a reason. :)

If you want to be able to not sweat shooting most game animals you see while hunting at 'average' hunting range then this table of maximum point blank range might be helpful:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_trajectory_table.htm
Not that Chuck is the last word on all things rifle, and there are some caveats to that table, but in general you are talking ~30 yards difference between most popular cartridges.
Something to think about.
 
The wood stock will be heavier and will absorb more recoil as a result, I love my 7mm and its more then capable for anything a North American hunt is shooting.

Don't worry about wood vs syn unless your mountaineering looking for sheep and rams. I would choose the heavier stock and enjoy the recoil.

Guns are also proof that newer isn't always better, lots of guys go to big game hunting camps with $10k in gear, yet some of the nicest, cleanest and longest shots from ridge to ridge for Ram come from the 45-70
 
Guns are also proof that newer isn't always better, lots of guys go to big game hunting camps with $10k in gear, yet some of the nicest, cleanest and longest shots from ridge to ridge for Ram come from the 45-70[/QUOTE]

I sure hope you don't expect us to believe that!
 
Between the choices I would go with the used Savage. The wood stock is much better than the plastic injection molded ones. The tikkas in the calibers you are looking at will have a loot more recoil. The trigger on the savage can be adjusted but it is a fussy thing because the safety also has to be adjusted. I have had several of each caliber and I definitely prefer the 7 RM. Good luck.

Neil
 
I own a Savage with an Accu trigger and I own a Tikka both with 3x9x40 Bushnell Elite 3200 (I like them). The Tikka is nice, but not the end all and be all of rifles. They also kick hard for the calibre. I'm not a fan of the 7mm Rem Mag, but they are a great calibre for everything and you can buy ammo for $30 a box. You are also left handed so you can't be too choosy when buying used. So all that being said I would jump on that 111, buy the Bushnell and go start whack'n critters. If there is something about the gun you don't like you can easily upgrade because there is a lot of after market parts available.

G
 
Awesome - thanks for all the advice, everyone. Looks like I'll be going to pick up that used 111 today. Glad I posted on here, that was helpful.
 
Ljklassen said:
Thanks tgd - I'm in wpg also. Lots of thought on the 30-06 as it is so ubiquitous and well loved, just thinking the 7mmRM as an awesome all-around gun when thinking game from distances and also maybe target shooting out far in the future. I'd definitely look at Sako but wanted to try out different calibres before committing completely to a life-long companion like a Sako. Am I off on that thinking?
Click to expand...
I agree about the committing to the sako but i think if you want a hunting round and a target round i would look at the 308 i asked my friend about it and he target shoots he said the 7 mm would beat you up after a day fo shooting
 
"....300 kicked me hard..." So will a 7mm Rem.
"...thinking the 7mmRM as an awesome all-around gun..." So is a .30-06. There's no game in North America that requires a magnum of any kind to kill. Magnums are the result of what is likely the most successful marketing camaign in history. Too much felt recoil to be fun to shoot. If it's not fun to shoot, you'll think twice about practicing with it. (Ammo costs aside.) And since you haven't shot in 15 years, you'll need to relearn how to shoot and learn the ballistics of whatever cartridge you end up buying. Espcially for antelope(usually shot with 6mm's and the like.)
 
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