First Real Gun/Calibre Options

T

TheSentinel

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As the title suggests, I'm just waiting on my paperwork to get back into the wonderful world of shooting. It's been years since I've shot anything besides pellet guns, so most of what I know comes from the net and not first hand experience. I already have access to a .22.

I'm looking for a gun to spend a fair bit of time at the range and a little bit of deer hunting. Living close to a range, I plan to put quite a few rounds down the barrel so I'm looking for fairly cheap cartridges that can still take down a deer. The .308 Win, .30-06, 6.5x55 Swede all seem like carts that fly fairly flat, are recommended for bush hunting, and quite common (the 6.5 less so).

Rifles that I've actually held recently include the Win model 70 classic (felt great, but expensive), model 70 featherweight (nice, but almost too light), Rem 700 (kinda light and not as comfortable), and a Win 94 (didn't like the feel). I've read an 18-21" barrel is better in the bush, while longer barrels are better at the range. I'm not partial to any particular type of action, but I've used bolts far more than any other.

I would appreciate recommendations from people more familiar with firearms than myself. Please let me know if I'm overlooking important details and I certainly won't be offended if you feel some of my requirements are foolish. Thanks in advance!
 
I have Ruger MK-II in 30-06 and cant complain. Very easy to find more amo is you run out while hunting near some tiny town. Can't beat a mauser action in my opinion.
 
Everyone is going ot reccomend the 30-06, but I think the 7-08 and/or 308 are better choices in this day and age, especaiolly as the recoil is less.

All the bolt guns out there offer features and drawbacks. I'm partial to the Rugers and Winchesters, but Tikka makes an affordable rifle with good OOTBA, and most of thier owners seem to be pleased with them.
 
for Island deer, a 243 Winchester would work fine, it has low recoil and ammo is easy to find

I am partial to Remingtons but most rifle makers make a decent rifle and there is some good old ones for sale used as well
 
tb

Well said Tod,I can't really improve on that statement.:)
I never thought I would hear you talk so kindly about the .243 or gun manufacturers other than Remington. :rolleyes:
Who are you, and what did you do with TodBartell?????:eek:
 
Thanks for the responses.

Gatehouse: aside from the recoil, why do you prefer the 7-08 and .308?

todbartell: I'll probably be doing most of my deer hunting on the mainland. Why do you prefer Remingtons?

What's the knock on the .243 Win aside from the caliber?
 
25-06

If you are hunting deer size critters i own a 25-06 which has low recoil and very accurate, if you do not reload they are harder to find cartriges for than a 243 but IMO a little more versitile. I use 115gr bullets and find them deadly on deer at 3200fps.
 
for the bigger deer on the mainland, Id then go up to a 25-06 or 270. 270 is probably the better bet

Remington makes cool rifles, thats why I like them :D
 
TheSentinel said:
Thanks for the responses.

Gatehouse: aside from the recoil, why do you prefer the 7-08 and .308?

todbartell: I'll probably be doing most of my deer hunting on the mainland. Why do you prefer Remingtons?

What's the knock on the .243 Win aside from the caliber?
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I think that those 2 cartridges, withthe proper bullet, can do just about everything a 30-06 can do, wiht less recoil. And you can buy lots of cheap 308 ammo. No problems wiht the 30-06, it's a good cartridge (although boring)

243Winchester is just ghey. And although there are many stories out there about elk slaying 243's....I think that somehting a wee bit bigger is more apprprate for our larger mulies, black bear and moose.:)

270 is another greeat deer/everything cartridge.
 
I'd go 308, if you really want a short rifle, a short action is where to start.
Ammo available everywhere.
Short of 200 grain bullets, it will do anything the 30-06 will do, with only slightly less authority.
Most of my moose camp hunts with the 308. It's more than adequet.
 
Well, with the price and capabilities of the cartridges, I think I'll be looking for a .308, but still open to a deal on a good .270 or .30-06.

Does anyone have comments on barrel length, weight, or actions?
 
TheSentinel said:
Well, with the price and capabilities of the cartridges, I think I'll be looking for a .308, but still open to a deal on a good .270 or .30-06.

Does anyone have comments on barrel length, weight, or actions?
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That's the good thing about the .308. It comes in a good MANY number of barrel lengths, weights, actions, from a good MANY number of manufacturers. I shoot a Remington 760Carbine in .308, but they come in levers, bolts, single shots. Take your pick.

A person with a good, accurate, lightweight, bolt action in .308 with a 2x7 Leupold VXII on the top would be very well served for pretty much 90% of all hunting in Canada.

.
 
If you've not shot a centre-fire rifle before, you're likely to be surprised by the recoil. Pick up a light rifle in 30-06, and you'll likely find the recoil unpleasant - particularly if you put in a lot of range time.
Suggest you pick up a 308 - with a fair amount of weight. This will facilitate practice with modest recoil and cheap mil surp ammo. ( A used Parker Hale comes to mind - they usually have iron sights - bonus)
In the future, you're likely to pick up another rifle - as your needs and interests evolve vis hunting and target shooting!
 
.308 +/or 7mm-08

Gatehouse said:
Everyone is going ot reccomend the 30-06, but I think the 7-08 and/or 308 are better choices in this day and age, especaiolly as the recoil is less.
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That's where I'd lean, too. Go .308 if you don't reload. But it's either/or .308 or 7mm-08 if you do reload or are planning on getting into it eventually. ;)

If on a budget the rifle would be a Rem 700 SPS blued or stainless. If not on a budget it would be the Rem 700 CDL [classic deluxe]. :cool:
 
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Cosmic: I have shot center-fire rifles before, but it's been a long time. What do you define as a fair bit of weight?

The Win 70 Classic I held felt better at 9 lbs (thanks Google) than the Rem 700 at ~7.25 lbs. Most rifles tend to weigh less than the Win 70, so I assume there's a reason for this aside from just being easier to lug around in the bush.

NAA: I don't plan on reloading just yet, but I do live awfully close to a range, so that may change.

What barrel lengths are appropriate for range use and bush hunting? I've read so much conflicting information on the topic.

Are larger magazines on hunting rifles common? It would seem more convenient to have a large mag at the range and swap for a 4-5 round mag for hunting.
 
Well - This is the internet, which is a poor substitute for real experience! The pre-requisites for range shooting and hunting are not necessarilly congruent. What you want is a reasonably accurate sporting rifle that can shoot cheap ammo...
You'll probably spend much more time at the range than hunting - so pick a rifle that benefits shooting a lot of paper, and doesnt cause you to flinch. A 308 at 9 lbs will be much more pleasant to shoot than a 30-06 at 7 lbs. Iron sights are a good extra, so my original comment about PH stands.
Dont get your shorts in a knot about barrel length - anywhere from 20 -24 inches will work fine. Also large mags on hunting rifles are best suited to folks that cant shoot straight. At the range, a single shot is all you need.
 
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If at all possible you should go to a shooting club and try on some firearms. Shooting is going to tell you a lot more than just handling them. Local guntsore is another place to get some free advice, ask the guy if he hunts and see what he uses on what and why he chose that rifle/caliber. If there are two guys behind the counter ask the other guy what he uses and why?:)
I think the .308/7mm-08 is solid advice and there are tons of options available for a light functional bush rifle both new and used if you look hard enough.:cool:

If you wanna be really cool... get a Short Mag.;)
 
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