All Around Hunting Rifle - Options?

96Brigadier

96Brigadier

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
10   0   0
Location
Calgary
I'm going to be in the market to purchase my first hunting rifle either later this year or in the spring. I will be using it to primarily hunt deer, elk, and possibly moose. Other animals are of course possible but those are what I like to eat so that's what I'd be after.

After researching past threads here on CGN I have found the following to be quite popular:

Gun
Tikka T3
Remington Model 700

Calibre
30-06
300 WM

Optics
Bushnell Elite 3200
Leupold VXII

Are there other rifles I should be looking at? The main thing for me is a gun that will perform well in any weather (from sun to rain to snow), a calibre that will perform well on the above big game, and preferably in a bolt action. Finally, whatever I buy must be able to mount a sling (which as of right now I am unsure whether the Tikka and Remington can do that).

Thoughts on other rifles/calibres/scopes?
 
I had a model 70 Winchester chambered in 7MM remmington Mag that was a real tac driver. I also had a Remmington model 700 in 375 H&H that would not shoot for me. Try as many as you can and pick what fits you! :!:
 
Look at stainless sako all weather with a 4200 bushnell in a 30 cal magnum. A fair wad of cake to drop,but if you want a gun that can go there and do that,its goin to cost
 
you can also check savage rifles. id take a good savage rifle with accu-trigger over anything else for hunting...except maybe a sako/tikka
 
Are you planning on getting into handloading?
Click to expand...

I already load my own pistol, so a good possibility I'd end up loading my own rifle at some point too.

I would go with a t-3 in 7mmremmag
Click to expand...
I'm not up on rifle calibres other than perhaps 30-06 and .308 since I have shot both. How does the 7mm compare to the 30-06/300 WM in terms of power, trajectory, versatility, etc.?

Also, is stainless steel a good idea on a hunting rifle or are the animals smart enough to pick up the sun shining off of a stainless barrel if you aren't careful enough? (i.e. is that a big deal or not?)
 
Most stainless barrels are bead blasted to a dull finish... not nearly as shiney as a blued barrel. :wink:
I also think that a Leupold scope is the better option... VXIII with a B/C reticle 8)
 
In recent years the reputations of these two candidates seem to suggests the Tikka is more likely to be a bit more accurate straight from the factory, but the Remington should be good enough. Bear in mind that whatever the potential the rifle has built into it, if it doesn't happen to fit you well, you won't shoot it as well, so you should try to get to handle, and ideally shoot, examples of any rifle you are thinking of buying, to see how well it suits you.

Other candidates you should probably consider are Savages with the Accu-Trigger and Weatherby Vanguards, Winchester model 70.

30-06 is still the classic general purpose big game calibre for N.America, with good reason, but if you really want .300 WM, go ahead. Nothing wrong with your scope choices either. If money is tight, spend it on a higher quality fixed power (4x or 6x) rather than a lower-quality variable (variable magnification is sometimes useful, but rarely really necessary - good quality is always worthwhile.)
 
I don't mind stainless for hunting purposes. I think they look no different at a distance than a dried grey/white branch.
I do object to the gummy feel of a lot of stainless actions.
Please tell me that that has been cured :!:

For an all round rifle, I think I'd like a Winchester model 70 DBM in Stainless 338WM.
 
stainless is usually matte enough to not glare enough in the field to spook game. polished stainless is another matter though...

7mm Mag is similar in power to 30-06, but shoots a little faster.
 
todbartell said:
m700, 30-06, VXII


end of story 8)
Click to expand...

as long as it's stainless....may as well make it a stainless laminated Mountain Rifle...and a VariX-III 3.5-10X...matte of course....in matte Leupold Dual Dovetails........now THAT'S the end of the story :D
 
Are there other rifles I should be looking at? The main thing for me is a gun that will perform well in any weather (from sun to rain to snow), a calibre that will perform well on the above big game, and preferably in a bolt action. Finally, whatever I buy must be able to mount a sling (which as of right now I am unsure whether the Tikka and Remington can do that).

Thoughts on other rifles/calibres/scopes?
Click to expand...

96Brigadier, how about a Ruger MKII M77 in .223 calibre? :wink: I know Hungry will love reading that one! :lol: :wink: Ok for all the BIG GAME hunters here I'll say the same rifle but either in .243 or .308 ... hell go with a .338 even :twisted: ... how about one of those? They are stainless, lightweight and BIG enough to drop what you're planning on hunting. As for scopes, Leupold 3x9-40 ... should be good enough! I would suggest reading lots from fellow CGNer's and checking other sites, books, etc on your question at hand! Good luck and happy hunting,

Otokiak ... 8)
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom