First hunting rifle advice

jbmauser said:
My advice is to look on the T.E.C. Trade Ex website. They have lots of the Husqvarna 1600 series rifles in .30-06. These are extremely high quality rifles that are used, older and in your price range.
Click to expand...

I have not purchased from them but the Husqvarna listings are in my opinion their superb offerings. 30-06 is a really good choice, but may I suggest the 165 gr. Hornady or TSX. It is a little flatter and is lots for moose, and not destructive on deer.

I resisted the 06 for years but in 2008 I bought one, and have to admit it is a sound all around choice.

Randy
 
Ormachek said:
Forget the savage and take a look at the Marlin XL-7. Better trigger, better stock, better recoil pad, just as/if not more accurate than the savage.

Only (possible) downside is the blind mag on the marlin (I'm OK with that, I don't care much for detachable mags)
Click to expand...


Agreed, and with a 165gr bullet you will be in top shape to hunt, and not have recoil issues shooting at the range, especially with the great recoil pad on the Marlin.

Now you could buy a Savage(good rifle) probably for a few bucks cheaper, but eventually you will want to swap out the trigger, and maybe put on a decent recoil pad, so you might have well just bought the Marlin to start with.
 
I will suggest the .270 caliber rifles. With lighter recoil, good choice of bullet weights,and availability of ammo should you need it. Loaded right and shot well, it will put large prey down without difficulty. I have a Browning in .270 and will choose it over the other calibers I have...6.5x55, 30-06 or 30-30.
 
Thanks for all the help guys! I am going to have a look at a bunch today and your input has definitely helped narrow down the options. I will let you know what I pick up.
 
depends on how much money you can afford[spending less doesn't mean you get less-tradeex has a husky in a variety of calibers that are second to none for hunting rifles and generally for around $250 or less]

Next is where and what you are going to be primarily hunting for-deer, bear-moose-or maybe just coyotes-a 6.5x55 will handle everything but if its mainily bear/moose-I'd choose an 8x57 or 9,3x57 and put a used M8 Leopold on any of them,youre still well under $500 with money left over for ammunition
 
It would not be a bad idea to try a few of these guns if you can before you buy because it is all about your comfort level. For me, summer and fall I spend around 100$ a month on practice ammo so it is all factory. In 30.06 the factory ammo beat me up a bit and I am more comportable with a .308. What are you comfortable with?
 
cosmic said:
Well - Have you actually shot a 30-06, or has all your research been on the internet? A lot of folks make the mistake of getting a hunting rifle with too much recoil - which proves to be a liability in the long term...
Click to expand...



Forget about recoil. Use a light load if you're concerned. My Girlfriend uses my 30.06 M70 featherweight, she weighs 105 pounds. If an adult male has a hard time with that caliber, he's in the wrong sport. Maybe try ballet?
 
Boomer said:
You can't go wrong with a .30/06, its my favorite cartridge.
So there you go, you've decided on your cartridge, and now you are a step closer to a semi-custom rifle, even though its on a small budget.
Click to expand...

Thank heaven!! Finally, someone calling it what it is. Folks, the CALIBRE is .30. In that calibre, there are many CARTRIDGES. ALL of the 7.62s, the .30-30, the .30-40, the .308, the .30-06, ALL of the .300s.
Cartridges, say it with me, Kahr-trig-ess.

Thanks, Boomer.
 
ratherbefishin said:
depends on how much money you can afford[spending less doesn't mean you get less-tradeex has a husky in a variety of calibers that are second to none for hunting rifles and generally for around $250 or less]

Next is where and what you are going to be primarily hunting for-deer, bear-moose-or maybe just coyotes-a 6.5x55 will handle everything but if its mainily bear/moose-I'd choose an 8x57 or 9,3x57 and put a used M8 Leopold on any of them,youre still well under $500 with money left over for ammunition
Click to expand...

i've got an 8mm mauser that's an absolute b8tch to shoot- it's got an LAMINATED stock, probably weighs in at just under 7 pounds- there's almost NO "pistol grip, and when it touches off, you KNOW it- i've seen 12 guages with less recoil than that thing- using 196 grain normas- like i said, it's the STOCK that makes the difference- i'd still choose a 30 cal of some type simply b/c it's what everybody stocks ammo for
 
StacyH said:
It would not be a bad idea to try a few of these guns if you can before you buy because it is all about your comfort level. For me, summer and fall I spend around 100$ a month on practice ammo so it is all factory. In 30.06 the factory ammo beat me up a bit and I am more comportable with a .308. What are you comfortable with?
Click to expand...

again, that's either the stock configuration or the loads you were using- there's ONLY ABOUT 2 POUNDS OF DIFFERENCE IN RECOIL ( 15VS 17) , 200 fps VELOCITY, and all of 11 YARDS of MAXIMUM POINT BLANK RANGE- either that or you were gripping it "funny"- given the same loads( bullet weight& velocity) in the same model of rifle, there is NO APPRECIABLE DIFFERENCE UNTIL YOU GET PAST 180 GRAINS- this becomes even less when the TWIST of the barrel changes- A LOT OF 308s have a 1/12 twist wich , according to greenhill, is good to 190 grains, and most 06 have a 1/10 twist which is good to 220-however, SOME manufacturers simply choose to run a 308 chamber in an 06 barrel, giving a 1/10 twist on a 308- simplifies inventory- one barrel but different chambering- so now you get a 308 that's capable of up to 220 but now it also LACKS THE POWDER CAPACIY- this is where that extra 10 grains of powder( typical) makes a difference
 
Last edited:
rookie wildcat said:
Thank heaven!! Finally, someone calling it what it is. Folks, the CALIBRE is .30. In that calibre, there are many CARTRIDGES. ALL of the 7.62s, the .30-30, the .30-40, the .308, the .30-06, ALL of the .300s.
Cartridges, say it with me, Kahr-trig-ess.

Thanks, Boomer.
Click to expand...
CHAMBERING aould also be an acceptable term-
 
I too am in the first hunting rifle puchase perdicament. I wanted a 30 cal..but because of where I live I am not permitted to use a rifle larger than a 270.

I don't think I'm going to ever hunt moose but I have found out that cal is very capable with the right cartridge.
 
30-06 is a geat hunting caliber. Not sure where you live but where I am there is a caliber restriction. If there is a caliber restriction near where you live .270 may be a better way to go. If not the 30-06 is a great choice.
 
cosmic said:
Well - Have you actually shot a 30-06, or has all your research been on the internet? A lot of folks make the mistake of getting a hunting rifle with too much recoil - which proves to be a liability in the long term.
I shoot a fair amount. A few years ago, I was asked to sight in a buddies 30-06, in a light sporting rifle configuration. It was punishing to shoot, to the point I was starting to develop a flinch. Never again...
My preferred calibres are 6.5X55, 7X57, and 303B. While you're your looking at the Tradex site, have a look at the 6.5's..
Click to expand...

I guess it all depends on the rifle. I find my Brno 30-06 to be less punishing than my 1947 FN Mauser chambered in 7x57 -- mind you I was shooting the hotter S&B and Prvi stuff, not the under-powered commercial crap more commonly available. BTW, neither are light rifles.
 
The first thing I look at is the cost of ammo and availability.
The rifle is useless if the ammo is too expensive or you cannot find it a the right ammo
 
Great choice. Good starter rifle for sure and it may be the one and only you'll ever have/need. IMHO... Although you are wanting to keep your cost down and a Savage combo is not a bad start (check Wholesale Sports for some reasonable combo packages), if you can swing it, I'd at least go for a Browning X-Bolt (my preference), with a Bushnell Elite (or something like it) on it as a starter rig. If not, teh avage combo would do for most hunting in North America.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom