- Location
- West Quebec
Good advice...
First Hunting Rifle
- Thread starter wmaher2
- Start date
Good advice...
- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
Howa 1500 (maker of W. VG) and a new B&C stock. Done. Unbeatable value.
Many decades ago, my first hunting rifle was a Remington .243 but all I ever found to shoot with it were coyotes....so I sold it off and got a Ruger 77 30-06....surprisingly (it being a Ruger) it was very accurate but it was an unlucky gun and when I was with it I never found anything to shoot at......so I sold it and bought a BSA 30-06...suddenly the deer, moose and bears started to show up and I started shooting them down....since then I've taken a fair amount of game with numerous rifles, some very lucky and others less so... ..so get yourself a lucky gun.
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First of all your going to get a plethora of different answers based on those firearms & calibres which people prefer. Your question is kinda like "whats the best car to get" (btw its a Aston Martin DB9)
You need to indicate what your going to hunt, hunting location (open, bush, mixed, heavy cover), calibre restrictions?, etc
Have you shot a centrefire/rimfire rifle before?
If not then most would suggest starting with a 22 and learning the basics. If you are comfortable shooting a centrefire rifle then what calibre did you shoot? Were you comfortable with it?
Do you have any "buddies" that have rifles in the calibre(s) your interested in or people will suggest? Would they be willing to take you to a range to try a few?
Also never skimp on optics. Cheap glass will burn you at the most inopportune times.
Good luck
Oh yeah the db9 is great... Right up until you need parts! My buddy works at the Aston Martin dealership in the parts department, and Holy Crap! One guy needed a clutch, $25 000. Another needed spark plugs and wires, over $100 per plug (and he needed 12)... A guy had a dent in his door, $55000 for a new door skin (just the outside layer of the door)... And none of those prices include installation that's just the parts cost!
To the OP, you can get into almost any brand and most models for that price limit. I'm leaning towards a Kimber Hunter or HOWA alpine mountain rifle, but that's because I want a light weight hunting rifle so those options might not fit the bill if you want to be putting lots of rounds down range in a day...
I thought the t3x got rid of the plastic bolt shroud? I thought that was one of the differences from the t3 to the t3x?
I bought a new Winchester M70 Featherweight in 7-08 last year and am very impressed with the fit and finish of it. All of the metal work is made and finished in the US, the stock made and final assembly done in Portugal by Browning using beautiful European walnut, likely Turkish. With scope (Leupold Vari-X III 2.5-8 and steel rings) weighs just about 9lbs. The action is silky smooth, the trigger is outstanding and the highly polished bluing looks like something from a custom shop. No need for upgrades and you have a gorgeous, classic hunting rifle.
I think the FW, or the classic, is a perfect example of the old school gun making craft. New, the FW is available for $1150. There are other really nice rifles available in your price range, but don't overlook the M70 in your search.
I think the FW, or the classic, is a perfect example of the old school gun making craft. New, the FW is available for $1150. There are other really nice rifles available in your price range, but don't overlook the M70 in your search.
tactical lever
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Fox Creek, Alberta
I almost hate trying to give advice on these threads. You know what you are after. But heavy weight target rifles are lousy to carry all day, and feather weight rifles, aren't very nice to shoot. Likewise, high magnification scopes aren't very practical when something pops up 30 yards away.
Lots of medium weight classics on the EE. They'll nearly all shoot great, with or without work. Pick one and enjoy it, and likely you'll figure out stuff you like about it and stuff you're not crazy about. Then you'll probably change your mind and buy the next "best", or just add to a collection.
Lots of medium weight classics on the EE. They'll nearly all shoot great, with or without work. Pick one and enjoy it, and likely you'll figure out stuff you like about it and stuff you're not crazy about. Then you'll probably change your mind and buy the next "best", or just add to a collection.
I am new to centrefire as well and this is advice that guided me. Pick your cartridge and shoulder everything in your price range... this narrowed it down for my pretty quickly.
Was looking at the same price range as you and went with the cheaper Vangaurd S2 in 6.5CM. The S2 fits me well, the Howa action is a true short action with good reviews, money saved went to better scope and reloading stuff, great accuracy reviews, and I like the idea of not being too concerned about bashing around the cheap stock and learning on the cheap stock to bed the action and getting a custom stock in a couple years.
Went 6.5CM primarily for its reputation of low recoil, good for game I will hunt, short action, and my aspirations to play with long distance target. I am reloading, so ammo availability was not a concern.
Again, I am a newbie, just thought I would share my decision making process.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
once upon a time a heavy barrel rifle meant accuracy. That is still true to some extent, but it's no where near what it used to be, rifles have come a long way.
but you did say you wanted a rifle that could also be used for target.
You need to take weight into consideration. If your hunting is from a tree stand, and you need only walk a short distance to get there, then the weight is a non-issue. If you intend to do some walking, even a few extra ounces will wear on you over time, and you'll soon regret a heavy rifle.
Target shooting means hot barrels, unless you are just talking about the occasional shooting session. Heat moves point of aim on some lighter rifles. You can help that out by putting it in the rack muzzle up action open for a bit while you shoot something else for a bit. That's not a concern for most hunting, as usually it's one or maybe two shots, unless you're hunkered down over a prairie dog town.
When I was younger I carried heavy rifles many miles, never bothered me. Now I'm older, my shoulder is screwed, and so is my back, from a lifetime of farm and mechanic work, lighter rifles are a lot more appealing. If you want to compromise, look at the very stiff short barrel rifles out there. You can get a 20" heavy barrel rifle that is as light as a longer thinner barrel. You pay a small penalty in velocity for that, but your game is unlikely to notice. Shots are also notably louder.
Action type, I love lever guns, but you can't get the very best accuracy from one. You can get damned close though, given the right rifle, and the same can be said for most other actions made today.
I like an action that locks the bolt down when the safety is on. This is handy if you want to walk with a round up the spout.
Brand, I'm a Winchester guy, but, today bolt rifles of equal price range are pretty close accuracy wise, and quality wise. Guys will argue the finer points, but, just like cars and trucks, it's largely brand loyalty talking IMO. Look for the features you want.
By all means if you have a hankering to own a specific brand, follow it. You'll regret not doing it.
but you did say you wanted a rifle that could also be used for target.
You need to take weight into consideration. If your hunting is from a tree stand, and you need only walk a short distance to get there, then the weight is a non-issue. If you intend to do some walking, even a few extra ounces will wear on you over time, and you'll soon regret a heavy rifle.
Target shooting means hot barrels, unless you are just talking about the occasional shooting session. Heat moves point of aim on some lighter rifles. You can help that out by putting it in the rack muzzle up action open for a bit while you shoot something else for a bit. That's not a concern for most hunting, as usually it's one or maybe two shots, unless you're hunkered down over a prairie dog town.
When I was younger I carried heavy rifles many miles, never bothered me. Now I'm older, my shoulder is screwed, and so is my back, from a lifetime of farm and mechanic work, lighter rifles are a lot more appealing. If you want to compromise, look at the very stiff short barrel rifles out there. You can get a 20" heavy barrel rifle that is as light as a longer thinner barrel. You pay a small penalty in velocity for that, but your game is unlikely to notice. Shots are also notably louder.
Action type, I love lever guns, but you can't get the very best accuracy from one. You can get damned close though, given the right rifle, and the same can be said for most other actions made today.
I like an action that locks the bolt down when the safety is on. This is handy if you want to walk with a round up the spout.
Brand, I'm a Winchester guy, but, today bolt rifles of equal price range are pretty close accuracy wise, and quality wise. Guys will argue the finer points, but, just like cars and trucks, it's largely brand loyalty talking IMO. Look for the features you want.
By all means if you have a hankering to own a specific brand, follow it. You'll regret not doing it.
For under $1500, you can find a Winchester M70 Supergrade... you will NEVER regret that purchase. As far as which cartridge, being new to centerfire rifles, a .270 or .308 will be sufficient, without being too much and will never become redundant in your collection.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
A few thoughts . . .
A Remington 700 is an excellent rifle platform, but don't discount Winchester and Howa each of which have the advantage of a flat bottom receiver which provides a greater surface area for bedding to the stock. That said, buy the rifle that grabs your imagination.
A heavy barrel is both unnecessary and undesireable for big game hunting when shooting across normal ranges, since animals are killed with single shots, not with groups. The accuracy of the cold bore shot has more to do with barrel quality than it has to do with barrel weight. When shooting consider the 3 shot group, with an emphasis placed on where the cold bore shot hits the target, relative to subsequent shots. The heavy barrel even when short, makes the rifle slower to bring to target and more fatiguing to carry throughout the day. The additional weight is better put toward barrel length, which increases velocity, and improves the balance and handling of the rifle.
A synthetic stock adds a degree of difficulty, and therefore expense, over wood if the stock must be shortened to fit you; the rifle is at its best when it fits the shooter.
The .308 is a reasonable cartridge for big game hunting if a carbine sized rifle is desired, but if a full size, 8 pound rifle, with a 24" barrel is to be carried, full length cartridges like the .270, .280 Remington, .30/06, and the 7mm magnum are all better choices in terms of trajectory and terminal performance, relative to a .308 fired in a 20" barrel. The idea that the ,308 is more accurate than the .30/06 has been overstated, and can only be proven under very controlled circumstances, and has no relevance to the use of the rifle in the field.
Regardless of which cartridge you choose, consider handloading for it. Handloading allows you to shoot more for each dollar you spend on ammunition, and you can see improved performance from your ammunition, better accuracy, and you can tailor your ammunition to fill specialized niches, such as small game loads, match loads, long range loads, dangerous game loads etc. The handloader benefits from the versatility he creates in his ammunition.
A Remington 700 is an excellent rifle platform, but don't discount Winchester and Howa each of which have the advantage of a flat bottom receiver which provides a greater surface area for bedding to the stock. That said, buy the rifle that grabs your imagination.
A heavy barrel is both unnecessary and undesireable for big game hunting when shooting across normal ranges, since animals are killed with single shots, not with groups. The accuracy of the cold bore shot has more to do with barrel quality than it has to do with barrel weight. When shooting consider the 3 shot group, with an emphasis placed on where the cold bore shot hits the target, relative to subsequent shots. The heavy barrel even when short, makes the rifle slower to bring to target and more fatiguing to carry throughout the day. The additional weight is better put toward barrel length, which increases velocity, and improves the balance and handling of the rifle.
A synthetic stock adds a degree of difficulty, and therefore expense, over wood if the stock must be shortened to fit you; the rifle is at its best when it fits the shooter.
The .308 is a reasonable cartridge for big game hunting if a carbine sized rifle is desired, but if a full size, 8 pound rifle, with a 24" barrel is to be carried, full length cartridges like the .270, .280 Remington, .30/06, and the 7mm magnum are all better choices in terms of trajectory and terminal performance, relative to a .308 fired in a 20" barrel. The idea that the ,308 is more accurate than the .30/06 has been overstated, and can only be proven under very controlled circumstances, and has no relevance to the use of the rifle in the field.
Regardless of which cartridge you choose, consider handloading for it. Handloading allows you to shoot more for each dollar you spend on ammunition, and you can see improved performance from your ammunition, better accuracy, and you can tailor your ammunition to fill specialized niches, such as small game loads, match loads, long range loads, dangerous game loads etc. The handloader benefits from the versatility he creates in his ammunition.
Hand Skills
CGN Regular
- Location
- In the 'heartland', southern SK
I can't really add anything that hasn't already been said. It's especially hard to follow Boomer, who consistently posts with such thoughtfulness and insight.
If I could only own one... probably a Winchester M70 extreme weather. IMO a great incorporation of quality, accuracy, durability and dependability. I feel the 3 position safety is a great feature. Not essential, but I remember as a new shooter feeling a lot more confident with 3 pos vs 2 pos when handling a rifle with one in the chamber.
These days when I choose a rifle/chambering, it's really dependent on geography. Living and hunting on the prairies, I find my preferences vastly different from when I lived and hunted in the foothills. Alpine, costal rainforest, all present different conditions, critters and limitations. Something to think about.
Yes, it's the internet - there will be all sorts of responses, but better qualifying your question (where do you live, where and what would you like to hunt) could be helpful!
If I could only own one... probably a Winchester M70 extreme weather. IMO a great incorporation of quality, accuracy, durability and dependability. I feel the 3 position safety is a great feature. Not essential, but I remember as a new shooter feeling a lot more confident with 3 pos vs 2 pos when handling a rifle with one in the chamber.
These days when I choose a rifle/chambering, it's really dependent on geography. Living and hunting on the prairies, I find my preferences vastly different from when I lived and hunted in the foothills. Alpine, costal rainforest, all present different conditions, critters and limitations. Something to think about.
Yes, it's the internet - there will be all sorts of responses, but better qualifying your question (where do you live, where and what would you like to hunt) could be helpful!
