first hunting rifle?

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im looking for a rifle to hunt with, probably not going for anything bigger than deer.

what rifles and calibers should i be looking for that are cheap to shoot so i can get a lot of range time in for cheap.

i dont mind spending the extra money on something more robust that i can put 1000's of rounds through
 
It used to be that my recommendation would be a used Ruger 77, Winchester Model 70 or similar -- or possibly a new Tikka. The problem is, what used to be common, quality guns that could be had fairly inexpensively have started to become old classics commanding premium prices -- or else new versions of the same coming with eye watering price tags from the factory. These days, for a guy just starting out, I'd look quite seriously at something like a Ruger American. They tend to be quite accurate, have a nearly indestructible stock, and come with a shockingly good trigger.

Get one in .308 Win and you can shoot everything up to and including moose, and ammo is easy to find. But cheap to shoot? Is anything cheap to shoot anymore?!? :)

If I was in your boat, I would actually consider getting two of those rifles -- one in .308 Win and the other in .223 Rem. Put identical scopes on them, and shoot both -- but try to actually burn out the barrel on the .223 by shooting as much as you afford from every field position you can imagine out to around 300 - 400 yards. Trajectories will be similar -- close enough that practice with one counts as practice with both. And .223 ammo will indeed be a whole lot cheaper to shoot. The two rifle thing may seem costly, but the ammo savings by shooting a lot of the smaller round will quickly pay you back. And all that practice will pay off in spades when you're out hunting.
 
If you want to shoot thousands of rounds out of your 1 hunting rifle buy a 6.5 Creedmoor, an abundance of reasonably priced factory ammo options and very light on recoil, a pleasure to shoot and chambered in pretty much every brand of rifle available.

Next would be a .308 Winchester, but if you go this route shooting thousands of rounds might wear on you unless the rifle is heavy enough to reduce recoil, or use a brake, .308 is an outstanding cartridge and probably one of the very best for barrel life, but not always pleasant to shoot in a light hunting rifle, but like the 6.5 CM an abundance of reasonably priced factory ammo which is available anywhere.

As said above in the other posts you could grab a second rifle in a 223 or even a .22 as it will be a pleasure to shoot and save you in ammo costs in the long run.
As far as rifle brand hard not to like a Tikka T3x as reasonably priced lightweight hunting rig and usually a very accurate out of the box rifle, or step up to a Winchester model 70, a touch heavier and a quality rifle,
Lots of options on these two rifles in the used market as well, this way you could put a bit more money into your optic, especially if you plan to shoot lots you undoubtedly will end up shooting long range.
 
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Keep it simple. Go to a gun shop and see what fits and feels best. Get it in a manageable caliber, 243, 308, 270 etc. and go from there. Cheaper doesn't translate to better, so most middle of the road makes and models will do. Tikka T3X, Savage 110 series, Vanguard, Rem 700, Winchester 70, and Browning X-bolt are all pretty safe bets. I'd look for something with built-in adjustability if possible. You'll need to spend as much on a good optic, or else you'll be chasing zero forever. Good luck.
 
With the exception of 223 and 7.62 x 39, any of the larger centerfire rifles are relatively expensive to shoot in todays world. Think 2$ per round. A fella used to be able to get military surplus in calibers such as 303, 308, 6.5 x 55, etc but those days are gone. As 223 is marginal for deer, consider 7.62 x 39. Roughly the same power as a 30-30, and can be had in modern bolt actions such as Howa and CZ. You can still get military surplus, as well as a variety of hunting grade ammo. If you are serious about improving your shooting skills, dont bother with a SKS, as they are not known for accuracy.
 
What’s your budget and experience shooting bigger calibres?

7mm-08 is a great round for deer. Low recoil. flat shooter. Ammo’s isn’t bad. Nosler whitetail for $45 a box.

30-06 is super versatile. 155 grain for deer. Bump up to 180 grain for moose or elk. Premium ammo is getting expensive. Nosler Accubonds for over $100 a box now.

Can’t go wrong with .308 either.

I recently bought a howa 1500 in 7MM-08 for deer. It’s a tack driver and the rifle cost $800.

You can never go wrong with a Tikka t3x. Stainless. $1,100 or so I think nowadays.

If you can swing it. I’d say Tikka T3X then throw an Athlon Ares BTR Gen 3 or Athlon Midas on it for a scoop. But that’s going to be a $2,500 set up
 
223 and 6.5 CM would probably fit the bill best for you. I suggest getting firearms that can be modified or already accept AICS mags or AR mags. REM 700 platform rifles can easily be tweaked to suit your specific needs/wants.
 
First, where are you hunting. Ontario and Alberta require 2 different thought processes. Although flat shooting rifles are more competent in the woods than a 30-30 is in the prairies. I mostly use a 223 for Eastern whitetail, but usually recommend a 243 or 6.5 Grendel for most people starting out. If you really want to shoot a lot, and cheaply, but don't reload, a 223 or 308 will definitely get you the furthest. If you start reloading, then the 243/6.5 becomes a wash again, as 6/6.5mm bullets are as plentiful and cheap as 308.

As for rifles, pick one you like. The extra couple 100 now, is nothing compared to the, ammo, accessories or worst of all, a rifle that sits in the safe unfired. Pick something that feels good, fits right, and make sure it's from a company you can gets parts and spares for; especially magazines. Tikka, Ruger American (with AICS mags) Savage. All good choices.
 
Do a 308 and a 22. Plan on shooting the 22 lots and the 308 a bit less. Bulk ammo for the 308 is available but it will be 7.62x51 bulk ammo and FMJ so you can’t hunt with it. Set the 22 up so it’s similar to your hunting rifle, same type of sights, pick a rifle that fits you properly for both. Then go shoot the 22 lots and the 308 enough to learn your dope with the cartridge. Don’t just bench shoot the 308 either. Learn to shoot it offhand as well because depending on hunting situation that will be how your shots most likely come up.
 
308 or 270

There is no gun or caliber that can truly do it all, there is always something that limits things in some way.

But for anything larger than a Grouse or Rabbit these are good.

If you want to cover all bases then the classic 3-combo is and remains :

1. Rifle in something .3
2. Rifle in 22LR
3. Shotgun in 12 Gauge with 18 and 24 inch barrels

For Hunting that covers just about everything.

All can be done without breaking the Bank.
 
To keep it simple for the OP, I would highly suggest a .308 and look no further.
One... ammunition availlability. Probably one of the most widely stocked calibers wherever you may find yourself shopping.
Two... performance . Will efficiently kill any big game animal in Canada and is an excellent deer cartridge ballistically and terminally. Should you choose to hunt more than deer, the .308 ammunition selection in most stores will provide excellent options for moose, bears, elk, ect ect.
Three... .308 has been around for decades and isn't going anywhere. It is a tried , tested and proven big game round and competitive target shooting round.

For a new shooter/hunter the recoil is manageable and there are numerous offerings out there for rifles in many configurations to suit your desires for looks and functionality.
 
What is your budget? You say hunting rifle, are you a rifle shooter already? Shoot lots on paper and steel?
Cause if you are new to shooting I would suggest you get a bolt action 22lr and start with that. If you are already a shooter then by all means go to a 308 7mm08, 270 etc.
Have you hunted before? If not start with hunting small games like rabbit/hares and grouse the 22lr is great for that!
Assuming you are not new to shooting and hunting but only new to big game hunting, like everybody’s said hard to beat a 308, you can even buy reduced load ammo now to start with and practice with! I would say go used if you can, hundreds of used rifle on the market, I’m a big fan of the husqvarna 1640 rifles, they are in my opinion the best rifle you can by for the money. But you can find everything used in that caliber, tikka, Remington, Winchester, browning, Howa, Weatherby……… and the list is long. As for a scope keep it simple a 2.5-8, 3-9 or even a fix 4x or fix 6x would do just fine for everything at pretty much every hunting distances! Simple crossair no Christmas 🎄 reticle to get confuse 😜.

Lear to use the rifle you have and know its limitation/ballistics and practice!
 
For thousands of rounds a sporting 22 in a well made rifle. CZ tikka others have been discussed many times. Then get a good 308. A good quality gun will last a lifetime of hunting. An accurate 22 will find you using it a lot. The biggest secret to hunting is being able to put a bullet in the heart/lung area every time. Practice, if you are unsure of a killing shot pass it up.
 
The answer these days is tikka t3x. Put a decent lower powered scope on it: 1-6 power to 3-18 power or so, spend around $1000 or more on glass if you can but no less than $500 or so…
The market has spoken on cartridge selection, it’s 308 Winchester or 6.5 creedmoor if you want “affordable” and lots of selection at your local gun store.

Now, for second, third and more rifles the only limit is your imagination and wallet especially if you start reloading.

Buy a Tikka and get out there!
 
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