I normally recommend a Savage Axis .308 with scope. They're like $350 and will work just fine as a beginner hunting gun. You won't feel bad scratching it up either. A few guys at work have bought them and are pretty happy, I've been having them stop by with the rifles and pull the scope, Lock-tite and retorque the bases and rings, and give it a good cleaning. The scopes are junky but can be replaced with something decent at a later time.
First hunting Rifle recommendations?
- Thread starter lavaka
- Start date
My "1st rifles" were given to me long ago by my dad.. so they don't apply to this thread.
However, the 1st rifle that I BOUGHT was a Sako A2 Forester (walnut, blued) in .243 for $1000.
I got it 2nd hand: it was (and is) in mint condition, beautiful, light in weight but built like a tank, wonderfully accurate (sub-MOA).
The joy that 1st purchase brought started me on a series of acquisitions, turning me into a Sako collector.
My advice: Do NOT go cheap on your 1st rifle, instead go for superb quality (new or used).
In the long run, you will never regret buying quality. Pride of ownership will insure that you'll be an enthusiastic gun-nut forever.
And as for the initial expense? .. well, if you are at all like me, then you'll find that rifle "budgets" have a habit of expanding.
However, the 1st rifle that I BOUGHT was a Sako A2 Forester (walnut, blued) in .243 for $1000.
I got it 2nd hand: it was (and is) in mint condition, beautiful, light in weight but built like a tank, wonderfully accurate (sub-MOA).
The joy that 1st purchase brought started me on a series of acquisitions, turning me into a Sako collector.
My advice: Do NOT go cheap on your 1st rifle, instead go for superb quality (new or used).
In the long run, you will never regret buying quality. Pride of ownership will insure that you'll be an enthusiastic gun-nut forever.
And as for the initial expense? .. well, if you are at all like me, then you'll find that rifle "budgets" have a habit of expanding.
A buddy just did that very thing. THEN he found out how expensive the rounds were. All he saw was how ###y that thing looked and didn't think about the lasting costs involved (much like dating that cheerleader and getting her pregnant in high school, married and can't afford it) and now he has had to buy powder and dies for it. Luckily, I had a picked up 60 or so cases over the past few years. I will load some up for him. Just another reason to hang with the old trusty . 30 family.
But you did, anyway, right??? Good man! LOL!
Mine goes out when I push bush. 1898 Lee Enfield Calvary Carbine, .303Br, 200gn bullets from Steve Redgewell. Short, iron-sighted with lyman peeps, light, hits like a sledgehammer, decent doe last year with it.
- Location
- Calgary, AB
I am assuming the Vanguard is a S2? Going by the picture, it is.
I'd recommend one of the savage 11/111 packages with accu-trigger. Good accurate rifle to start with at a good price and upgrades later down the road are easy to acquire. Boyds now offers laminate stocks for around 100.00 for these rifles...pretty nice upgrade for the price.
Mumbles Marble Mouth
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Lower Mainland
Just trying to pick a fight with the Tikka fans here.
CZ 550 is way better.
With all honesty, the WSM cartridges are a waste of time especially if you live in thick forest areas. They hype the #### out of the WSM in hunting magazines with all 3 WSM cartridges were in the top 3 of "The Best Hunting Cartridges" they shoot flat, blah blah blah. Hey new kid on the block, step a side and watch how the old cartridges have been doing it for years. Maybe I'm just not ready to accept the WSM. Don't get me started on the WSSM.
CZ 550 is way better.
With all honesty, the WSM cartridges are a waste of time especially if you live in thick forest areas. They hype the #### out of the WSM in hunting magazines with all 3 WSM cartridges were in the top 3 of "The Best Hunting Cartridges" they shoot flat, blah blah blah. Hey new kid on the block, step a side and watch how the old cartridges have been doing it for years. Maybe I'm just not ready to accept the WSM. Don't get me started on the WSSM.
tylerjwitty
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Northern Ontario
I like the wsm. they don't have that stupid belt.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
When H&H developed the .300 and .375 H&H, the belt served a purpose, which was to provide headspace for a cartridge with a long sloping shoulder. Straight wall rimless cartridges like the .450 Marlin, the .458 Winchester and Lott, and the .500 Wyoming, also need a belt to provide headspace. But on modern sharp shoulder bottleneck cartridges the belt was added as a marketing ploy, and served little purpose as the cartridges headspaces off the shoulder on the second firing, and could on the first if the belt had been omitted in the first place. So while I tend to agree with your assessment of the belt with respect to modern bottle neck cartridges, the WSMs haven't won me over either. IMHO, reliability trumps all other considerations in a hunting rifle, and the .300 WSM has no taper along its length which suggest it won't chamber as smoothly as a long tapered cartridge, and should a load be high enough to be a bit sticky (such as if left out in the sun on a hot day) where minimum rearward movement will free a tapered cartridge case, the straight wall WSM will drag all the way out, at least in theory if not in reality.
