I can agree here. My Ruger American in .270 will do the job and isn't bad for recoil. There were some really good deals on weatherby vanguards recently but prices have jumped back up. Maybe an M77 Hawkeye in 270?
Choosing the right gun help needed
- Thread starter bigd74
- Start date
Boomer, you're the best, but honestly, would an 'old hand' be on here asking advice as to what rifle he should get!?
And what the hell is a quarter bore anyway!? Frickin' coyote rifle...
TrevorMack
Regular
- Location
- Nova Scotia
People will probably shoot me down for this but I would recommend a savage axis in 308,270 or 30-06. When I bought mine in 308 it was 400 for the gun and scope. Very accurate out of the box and being cheap you don't mind taking it where you wouldn't want to take a nicely finished expensive gun. Scope isn't the best but it works and it would let you start for cheap and start saving for a better rifle if you want.
Not about shooting you down bud..... But the rifle is cheap, and so are the scope and rings....... If the op wants to do it on a budget, the axis fits, with better scope and rings......
If the op wants a nice hunting rifle, that is a different beast, as he only wants one....... If this was my choice, I would suggest a Ruger m77 mkII in aight six with a Zeiss Terra......
Thankfully it isn't my choice.......
DiabeticKripple
CGN Regular
- Location
- Red Deer, Alberta
the rifle might be cheap, but it will outshoot many more expensive rifles.
id recommend the axis with a good piece of glass on it.
It all depends on long term wants and durability....... And I agree with you on the glass.......
If op wants a once a year rile, the axis will fit the bill...... But What true gunnut really wants that?
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Well, its possible that a fellow who is target shooter, and has experience with full bore rifles, but doesn't hunt, might ask the question, but I freely admit its a stretch.
More than a few hunters voice strong opinions concerning the potential their .25/06s and .257 Bees have for reaching out across great distances and killing elephants and sich. As a group, the high velocity small bore crowd does tend to be overly enthusiastic when promoting their favorite thunder stick, as I'm sure we'll soon see, now that you've denigrated the stately .25 to a lowly coyote gun.
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- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
There is more to a hunting rifle than it's mechanical accuracy, and there is more to an enthusiast's rifle than the lowest price. When chambered for a .30 caliber cartridge, the Axis is unlikely to deliver on it's promise of precision, since it lacks the necessary refinements which enable the man behind the rifle to shoot it well. If an Axis is all the perspective hunter can afford, and he lacks the knowledge, confidence, or willingness to purchase a good quality used rifle, then full speed ahead. But the first obstacle he faces is the trigger; calling the factory Axis trigger dreadful is being charitable, and by the time an investment in a good adjustable trigger is made, a better rifle could have been acquired in the first place. This is not to say that a cash strapped novice can't make improvements to his rifle over a period of time, but in the long run, that is an expensive, frustrating way to do it. From the point of view of an enthusiast, this race top the bottom is depressing. While budget priced rifles must be available, these should not be the flagships of the firearms industry.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Too light for a 30-06 in my opinion. My propensity is for 180gr bullets so a lightweight 30-06 wouldn't be high on my list unless it was to be a mountain rifle. But I've been shooting 180gr Partitions in the 30-06 for more than 20 years. For a new guy, more weight is a good thing.
I would recommend a 30-06 or .270 Winchester in a Ruger 77, Winchester Model 70, or Weatherby Vanguard. A 3-9 × 40 Leupold VX 2 or Vortex Diamondback would be my suggestions for a scope.
I really don'the like the current trends of "bargin basement" rifles and scopes.
I really don'the like the current trends of "bargin basement" rifles and scopes.
Something in 270, 7mm Rem Mag, 30-06, 308, or 303.
I don't know your gear situation, but I would rather hunt with a sub $200 mosin or bubba'ed Lee Enfield and a good binocular rather than a more expensive rifle and scope and a poor binocular.
I don't know your gear situation, but I would rather hunt with a sub $200 mosin or bubba'ed Lee Enfield and a good binocular rather than a more expensive rifle and scope and a poor binocular.
Some good suggestions listed here. I'm partial to the 270 and 7x57. It will do anything that other respondents have listed as long as you do your part. Since it's your first hunting rifle you need to choose something you feel comfortable with. Go to your LGS and shoulder a few to see how they fit. Shop around. Some good deals are there to be had. Depending on country being hunted a good starter rifle might be a 30/30, 35 Rem, or 44 Mag rifle if hunting in cover. 30/06 might be a bit much to start with if you have never fired a centerfire rifle before. 303 is a good choice but in most instances the larger the calibre the bigger the push on the shoulder. Howa and Weatherby Vanguard Series 2, entry level Remington or Rugers are available choices. You don't need to spend a fortune on your first rifle. One suggestion that remains constant in various threads regarding this type of post is not to skimp on optics. You may have to spend a bit extra but it will be worth it.
I have to say, although I AM A HUGE FAN OF MY .375 Ruger, I think a more versatile rifle/round combination would be any Browning A-Bolt II in .270win. Unless you have bigger bears on your wish list occasionally, I'd stick with either .270 (using monometal bullets such as the GMX or TSX) or the .30-06. Browning Rifles seem to have the most bang for the buck when you really look at features. Triple Air guaged barrels, recessed crown, nice wood, nice fit/finish, bedded at the recoil lug from the factory.. (show me another factory rifle that does that!!) , removable mag that locks into the drop plate so if you accidentally dump your plate, the mag will not fall out. I recently bought an A-Bolt II (.270win made in 1997) off the EE and it's sure a well made gun. I have owned almost EVERY FLAVOR of production gun, and the Browning's are right up there for quality right out of the gate.
Remington 700 ADL Stainless with scope in 308 or 30-06. $649 from Cabelas Canada:
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/82992/remington-700-adl-stainless-steel-bolt-action-rifle-w-scope
I'd go for 308.
I'd also recommend going to HACS Gun Show in Chilliwack on March 19-20. You may come across a good deal.
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/82992/remington-700-adl-stainless-steel-bolt-action-rifle-w-scope
I'd go for 308.
I'd also recommend going to HACS Gun Show in Chilliwack on March 19-20. You may come across a good deal.
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With a $700 price range, I say look for a deal on an Axis (should be able to find one for $300ish), either youtube how to make the trigger better or just buy a rifle basix trigger, and get a leupold vx-1, vortex diamondback, or Nikon prostaff 5 for a scope. All of these scopes have lifetime warranties and are good enough quality to be used for years to come.
If you can find a good deal on the scope and rifle, you are looking at $600, more like $800 If you can't find anything on sale and want to replace the trigger with a rifle basix trigger.
The axis is a very serviceable rifle, plenty good enough to start hunting with and then once you've got some experience shooting and know you want to invest more/know what to look for in a gun, you can buy something else later.
Alternatively you can look for a savage 11/111 package. They go for about $600, 650. It would be a step up in rifle, but a big step back in optics.
If you can find a good deal on the scope and rifle, you are looking at $600, more like $800 If you can't find anything on sale and want to replace the trigger with a rifle basix trigger.
The axis is a very serviceable rifle, plenty good enough to start hunting with and then once you've got some experience shooting and know you want to invest more/know what to look for in a gun, you can buy something else later.
Alternatively you can look for a savage 11/111 package. They go for about $600, 650. It would be a step up in rifle, but a big step back in optics.
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