Budget deer rifle?

J

Jeff Stevenson

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Hello everyone,
I'm looking at getting into some deer hunting soon and there are alot of options out there for rifles and caliber. I'm pretty familiar with the mainstream calibers(.223,.308,30-06 etc.) but not so much on the in between ones. I have been considering a Marlin X7 in .308(unsure of what optic yet). Seeing as price is a limiting factor for myself, I just wanted to get some opinons on what everyone else likes to use and possible recomendations. I'm also not to fond of the idea of being in a tree stand so weight also comes into play. I'm not necessarily limiting myself to the very bottom end rifles but at the moment cheaper is better lol.
Thanks.
 
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The Marlin X7 in .308 would be a good choice... so would the Weatherby S2 in 7mm-08 or .308. Personally, I would look for a used Ruger MKII Hawkeye or Win M70... any cartridge from 6.5mm to .30 cal...
 
On the short list of rifles I've always considered "economical"
Savage 11/111
Remington 700 SPS
Marlin X7
Weatherby vanguard S2
Ruger American
T/C Venture

realistically.. try and find somewhere to shoulder a bunch.. see what fits nice.
 
Look at this thread. Few more posts there. I posted a link to Chuck Hawk's article, rating 6-7 economy bolt-action rifles there.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1115605-Need-a-new-Deer-rifle
 
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If you are looking for all out budget Lebaron has Savage Axis's for $285.00 in the new fall & Winter catalogue.
Nothing pretty but they shoot ok and that is cheap....
 
BTW, I have owned Marlin X7s. Very good guns for value. Mount a VX-I or Redfield Revolution on it and you have a good rig that will serve you well, for around $700.

If you want cheaper, take a look at Savage 11/111 combo (I think? I saw them at Al Flaherty for $499, Cabelas for $550). The downside could be the factory installed Weaver scope on it. I have no experience with it.
 
I also started out with a savage rifle/scope combo in a 30-06, Worked great for the first two years, then when I was certain that I was really "into" hunting, I upgraded and sold it to a buddy that still uses it.


Can't beat the value, and unless you are sniping them at 3-400 yards, in my opinion any half decent rifle/scope combo can get the average 100 yd shot done if used properly.
 
Yes, that would be my preference too, if an additional $150 can be forked out.

Now, more difficult task of locating a XS7 in 308! I know Ellwood has a youth version in 308 (shorter stock). They also have two XL7s in 270. Who else has them in stock?
 
Home3 said:
Look at this thread. Few more posts there. I posted a link to Chuck Hawk's article, rating 6-7 economy bolt-action rifles there.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1115605-Need-a-new-Deer-rifle
Click to expand...

that was a great post, i was kinda surprised with what the Tikka was being compared against because ive never seen the T3 as a "budget" rifle considering its $680 for a blued one and to get your glass on it is about another $150.
BTW - i think thats what im going to pick up, i almost bought 1 a few years ago and got the rem...might as well get the rifle that i was back and forth with against the rem.
 
Personally I'd buy used. You can get a rifle and scope for under $500 that might be 30 years old but it still works good and is 100x the rifle of the plastic crap you get new for under $500.
 
I saw a Weatherby S2 with Redfield rifle/scope combo listed in the latest Cabela's catalog. If you are thinking of going the Savage Axis route, I would recommend paying a bit more for the Axis 2 model with the accutrigger. Much nicer trigger.

7mm-08 is a great cartridge which I have in an X-bolt stalker. However if you plan to shoot a lot, i.e. not just for hunting, then you might want to go .308 as there is a much larger pool of ammo to chose from. Including surplus.

I also recommend the Chuck Hawks article. He is a bit of a fud, but it provides a good description of the various models and helps highlight some of the differences which you might not appreciate/notice standing at the gun counter.
 
If you have to buy new and have limited funds, then buy a vanguard s2. If a s2 is not in the budget please go buy a used rifle from tradex. Don't buy one of those budget rifles that out there for sale.
 
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