Best first hunting rifle?
- Thread starter stoop14
- Start date
Edward Teach
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- who cares?
Nonsense. I have a 7mm Rem Mag, and it ain't much different from a 30-06, except that it has a flatter trajectory. Recoil isn't bad at all. Mind you I also shoot warm loads out of a 45/70, so maybe it's all relative...
As far as a recommendation for a 1st hunting rifle goes, I'd probably advise getting something in 30-06, unless he's slightly built and recoil is going to be an issue, in which case I'd suggest .243 or .270 or 30-30 (which everyone should have).
Depends on how much bush cover you have to work through, too. Will you be hunting in bush or out in the open where you NEED long shots?
If out in the open, then you need something that will retain energy at longer ranges.
Ammo availability is also a question, especially if you are out in the boonies. The one cartridge you can always scrounge 1 or 2 rounds of is the old .303. Similarly, the rifles themselves are rugged in the extreme.
Handloading MUST be an option, if not a necessity. I load my own .303, match or hunting loads, for half the price of factory stuff and I still have money left over. Same for ALL the other suggestions which have come up, even moreso for some of them.
Personally, I think a .256 Newton would do just about anything you want..... but WHERE in CREATION are you going to find a box of shells??????????? You can say much the same for some of the options previous to this. Availability is a concern, much more than performance.
If I were living in your part of the world, friend, I would be looking for a .30-06, .308 or a .303. They all have the range and the power you need, they are about equal in price and they are about equal in power. The cheapest RIFLE you will find will be a .303; it is also the most rugged of the lot; only problem is that it won't be new. Check the bore carefully. If you get a good one, hang onto it; bores on these last almost forever.
Have fun!
.
If out in the open, then you need something that will retain energy at longer ranges.
Ammo availability is also a question, especially if you are out in the boonies. The one cartridge you can always scrounge 1 or 2 rounds of is the old .303. Similarly, the rifles themselves are rugged in the extreme.
Handloading MUST be an option, if not a necessity. I load my own .303, match or hunting loads, for half the price of factory stuff and I still have money left over. Same for ALL the other suggestions which have come up, even moreso for some of them.
Personally, I think a .256 Newton would do just about anything you want..... but WHERE in CREATION are you going to find a box of shells??????????? You can say much the same for some of the options previous to this. Availability is a concern, much more than performance.
If I were living in your part of the world, friend, I would be looking for a .30-06, .308 or a .303. They all have the range and the power you need, they are about equal in price and they are about equal in power. The cheapest RIFLE you will find will be a .303; it is also the most rugged of the lot; only problem is that it won't be new. Check the bore carefully. If you get a good one, hang onto it; bores on these last almost forever.
Have fun!
.
I am at the range all the time with guys firing shoulder cannons, trying to sight them in, can't hit ####, but something you can shoot afford to shoot a lot won't blow your shoulder off and has the umph to kill whatever size game you are after, you may need two rifles, If you are hunting big bears you want a big gun. My good friend used to hunt polar bears with 223 and 243 whichever he could get bullets for, until one charged him and it took two weeks to wash the 'crap' out of his walrus suit with snow in 50 below, now he hunts bears with 7mm and keeps the smaller calibers for smaller game. a 16MM bolt needs at 16mm wrench, hunting is not much different. there is a right tool for everything and its not always the same tool.
powder burner
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
The best deer hunting rifle is your fathers first hunting rifle. for me that was a BLR .308
I'm not sure what the laws are today, but 20 years ago when I bought my first rifle it was illegal to target shoot South of Barrie on your own land using anything greater than a .275 calibre firearm.
Eventhough, the actual distance across the bore is .277 on a 270 rifle it is still classed as a .270. Therefore it was legal to shoot on my own land 20 years ago.
In addition to the law at the time, the .270 is an excellent all around rifle. I works well on varmints, well on moose, and excellent for deer.
I bought a Tikka M65 chambered for a .270 and absoloutly love it. Current prices on ammo are about the same as it was 20 years ago. I can still buy a box of Remington ammo 150gr SP for under $20. This ammo might not be high end like the noslers are but when you can shoot 1/2 inch groups at 100yds, that's all that counts.
Just my 2 cents
Colt_nut
Eventhough, the actual distance across the bore is .277 on a 270 rifle it is still classed as a .270. Therefore it was legal to shoot on my own land 20 years ago.
In addition to the law at the time, the .270 is an excellent all around rifle. I works well on varmints, well on moose, and excellent for deer.
I bought a Tikka M65 chambered for a .270 and absoloutly love it. Current prices on ammo are about the same as it was 20 years ago. I can still buy a box of Remington ammo 150gr SP for under $20. This ammo might not be high end like the noslers are but when you can shoot 1/2 inch groups at 100yds, that's all that counts.
Just my 2 cents
Colt_nut
Last edited:
superlooper
New member
- Location
- Asquith, SK
Pick what is nicest to hold
I have a 22-250, 243, 2 @ 270, 30-06, 308. I personally like the larger cartridge of the -06 line, I just purchased the 22-250 and love it for varmints, love it.
My most favorite is a toss up between the 270 and 30-06, the advantage of the 30-06 if you wish to get into handloading is alot of versatility of loads.
But my 270 I've got a sweet load for the gun, two years ago I shot three bucks, one heart at 200 yds, one neck at 100 yds and another neck at just over 250 yds. That was my personal favorite, he was bedded down and all I could see is his head & neck. I do love my 270 for medium game, it smears coyotes with the hollow points, but I'll be packing my 30-06 for moose in a few weeks.
You may wish to consider a 243 for the minimal kick to it, mine feels slightly more than 22, but my 270 lets you know it's a gun.
I love guns, the old lady says I'm addicted to gun ####.
I have a 22-250, 243, 2 @ 270, 30-06, 308. I personally like the larger cartridge of the -06 line, I just purchased the 22-250 and love it for varmints, love it.
My most favorite is a toss up between the 270 and 30-06, the advantage of the 30-06 if you wish to get into handloading is alot of versatility of loads.
But my 270 I've got a sweet load for the gun, two years ago I shot three bucks, one heart at 200 yds, one neck at 100 yds and another neck at just over 250 yds. That was my personal favorite, he was bedded down and all I could see is his head & neck. I do love my 270 for medium game, it smears coyotes with the hollow points, but I'll be packing my 30-06 for moose in a few weeks.
You may wish to consider a 243 for the minimal kick to it, mine feels slightly more than 22, but my 270 lets you know it's a gun.
I love guns, the old lady says I'm addicted to gun ####.
A lot of good info on this thread! My first rifle was a ruger .270, and it has served me very well. As has my browning 7mm-08. Now I prefer the classy old cartridges, I think either the 6.5x55 or 7x57 are the perfect all 'round hunting cartridges for begginers and old pros alike. (Ammo availability aside) I shoot 120 grn ballistic tips out of my 7x57 at 3200 fps+ for wolves, and 140 grn accubonds for sheep, caribou and moose.
I think what I really wanted to say, and add to this topic, is don't restrict your search for a new rifle to a...new rifle. Often buying an older, used rifle gets you much more gun for the dollar. Some of the older rifles were very well made, and have superb ergonomics. All my husqvarna's shoulder, and fit me like no other rifle I've tried. And they are VERY accurate. Today I shot a 3 shot 1/2", and a 5 shot 1" out of my husky 7x57, with a weaver K3. Rifle 550$, scope 45$, rings 25$. 620$ for a very nice set-up, I would say much higher quality than a new rifle. And you can pick up one in 30-06 from trade-ex for 500$....
I think what I really wanted to say, and add to this topic, is don't restrict your search for a new rifle to a...new rifle. Often buying an older, used rifle gets you much more gun for the dollar. Some of the older rifles were very well made, and have superb ergonomics. All my husqvarna's shoulder, and fit me like no other rifle I've tried. And they are VERY accurate. Today I shot a 3 shot 1/2", and a 5 shot 1" out of my husky 7x57, with a weaver K3. Rifle 550$, scope 45$, rings 25$. 620$ for a very nice set-up, I would say much higher quality than a new rifle. And you can pick up one in 30-06 from trade-ex for 500$....
