first hunting rifle for ontario

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cdndfs

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I'm taking hunter safety in two weeks. I'm hoping for this fall to be my first hunt. I'm in Southern Ontario. I don't see myself doing safaris or anything $$$ in the near future given what i've just spent on AR-15s etc. So i'll mostly be hunting in province.

Is there anything regulation wise that should affect my choice of caliber? I'd like to buy a premium rifle and be able to shoot anything from deer to big game with it.

I'm probably looking at buying a Sako. The brand appeals to me. I like high quality stuff. Don't quite have the money for stuff like blaser though. I'd say 2kish for the rifle only is probably my limit right now. If anyone has recommendations for other rifles that have a similar level of quality or finishing, please recommend.

I'd rather buy something used in really good condition than a lower quality new item. And I like high quality wood finishing etc.

thx
 
8x68 said:
Get yourself a MNR Hunting Regs booklet. Outlines what you can use and where.
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X2, depending on wear you are looking to hunt, there are caliber restrictions in certain Wildlife Management Units, and some units in the south are shotgun/muzzle loader only,
A Sako is a beauty rifle, remember to budget for nice glass then aswell to compliment the Sako, lots of options for glass, in Ontario (pending location) most shots are inside 200 yards, even 100 yards for that matter, so a scope with a low variable power is a good option, 1.5-2.5 on the low end,
 
270s have always been popular in Ont, as they fall under the caliber restriction for some of the southern hunting zones. A good look at the regs will give a clearer answer.

cdndfs said:
I'm probably looking at buying a Sako. The brand appeals to me.
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Do some research on the SAKO 85 regarding ejection problems before you buy one of those. I'd personally look at a Tikka T3 for less money and spend the diff on a good scope.
 
I’m going to also recommend you beware the Sako 85 ejection issues. In fact it was not exclusive to the 85. I owned two 75’s one of which had the same issue. Since I bought the gun new I brought it back since I considered it a flaw from the factory. I was informed that Sako did not consider it to be a problem and would do nothing to fix it. I’ve always liked Sako rifles but that was a bitter pill to swallow on a setup I had just spent $2500 on. Buyer beware and now I insist on seeing the gun cycle dummy rounds before I put my money down. I’m not trying to sour you on Sako, the other 75 functioned flawlessly and was a thing of beauty.

Hurketthunter84
 
Those of you with ejection issues, was is the 270WSM? I read it was a specific caliber in a specific receiver size that experienced the issue.
 
As much as it is a fan-boy cartridge, the 6.5 Creedmoor is very capable with readily available ammo. Just don't tell people at the range that it matches a 300 Win Mags trajectory because it doesn't :). But it ain't half bad. A Savage 16 stainless will shoot good out of the box and be relatively impervious to wet weather. Or a Tikka T3 stainless. Both are decent entry level rifles, unlike the Savage Axis and Ruger American.
 
I'm going to the range right now to shoot a new gun. I know they have rentals. Hopefully they have some common hunting calibers so that I can try them out and feel the recoil. Would never say 6.5 is like 300 win mag. ;p
 
I like 308 WIN.

Be aware that most of southern ON (roughly south of Barrie) doesnt have rifle seasons for deer, so even a 270 would be of little use to you. You could hunt yotes with it, but thats about it.

My advice is to get a small bore centrefire for southern ON yotes like a 223 and a medium or large bore centrefire for central/northern ON for deer/moose/bear
 
blasted_saber said:
I like 308 WIN.

Be aware that most of southern ON (roughly south of Barrie) doesnt have rifle seasons for deer, so even a 270 would be of little use to you. You could hunt yotes with it, but thats about it.

My advice is to get a small bore centrefire for southern ON yotes like a 223 and a medium or large bore centrefire for central/northern ON for deer/moose/bear
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My 223 will have to be a Tavor. I've already bought so many guns this year.

.308 is what i was originally considering. Was also looking at 30-06 but looking at recoil energy I don't much see the point in extra recoil if .308 will do everything I need it to do. Is there any point to going .270? It's interesting that all the used Sakos I see are 270...

I went to the range today and they didn't actually have rentals. Just shooting packages that you had to pre-book. I was able to shoot 2/34" 1oz slugs from my 12ga though, and according to chuckhawks that should be about comparable recoil to a 30-06 which kicks a bit harder than .308. 12ga wasn't bad...
 
cdndfs said:
My 223 will have to be a Tavor. I've already bought so many guns this year.

.308 is what i was originally considering. Was also looking at 30-06 but looking at recoil energy I don't much see the point in extra recoil if .308 will do everything I need it to do. Is there any point to going .270? It's interesting that all the used Sakos I see are 270...

I went to the range today and they didn't actually have rentals. Just shooting packages that you had to pre-book. I was able to shoot 2/34" 1oz slugs from my 12ga though, and according to chuckhawks that should be about comparable recoil to a 30-06 which kicks a bit harder than .308. 12ga wasn't bad...
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Seeing a large number of Sako .270's speaks more to the rifle than the cartridge. .270Win is very popular and will take every game species there is in the province from long range varmint/predator to Moose. Ammo is readily available with a wide variety of bullet weights and types depending on what you intend to hunt at any given time from light weight "frangibles" to advanced ballistic large game loads. Shoot lots of different rifles if you can to find one that fits well and you can be very comfortable with.
 
Buy a gun you like...dont worry about calibers as much. .243 and up will take a deer.

Only advice i can really give is if you are planning on going moose hunting in the middle of nowhere, get a common caliber. Most isolated places will at least have 30-30, 308, 30-06, and 300wm...maybe 7mm mag and .270
 
I'd avoid all the WSM's due to eventual brass and ammo extinction.They just re-invented the wheel ..............go with a standard cartridge.Are you a handloader?
 
mbogo3 said:
I'd avoid all the WSM's due to eventual brass and ammo extinction.They just re-invented the wheel ..............go with a standard cartridge.Are you a handloader?
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Not handloading yet, but I will be at some point. With the recent scare I've spent a ton on multiple firearms and there's only so much gear I can acquire at once.
 
With a NR .223 for varmints no real need to get hung up on keeping it under .270, not that the .270 or its magnum versions aren't capable all around cartridges. If a .308 excites you it will get the job done. Tikka t3 is certainly at the top of my list for a new rifle after my experiences with them. If you aren't handloading picking a readily available cartridge isn't a bad idea and the .308, .270 and .30-06 certainly have that covered as well as being up to the task for 90% of NA hunting.
 
I’m a big .270 fan.
You can hand load 90-140 grain pills for mice to moose!
I’ve taken coyotes, deer and bear with the .270. It truly is a great hunting all around caliber. The late great Jack O’Connor would agree.

I recently purchased a .243 ... so I’ll see how it performs.

Happy shopping
 
Eastern Ontario south of 7 is pretty much shotgun. There I'd use a 20 ga bolt or pump. They can go quite a distance. Browning XBolt Pro is a sweet looking rifle.
 
I’m gonna say 270,308 or 30-06 with your situation I would say 270 for all around both northern and southern Ontario
I have all 3 and have shot lots of game with all 3.
 
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