I am wanting a nice bolt rifle to starting my future in hunting. The game I would like to hunt with this is pretty much just white tails and the occasional gopher. So far I have looked at and liked the weatherby vanguard synthetic and the stevens model 200. I want to spend a max of about $1000.00 on the rifle/scope. I don't need anything amazing or somthing a USMC sniper would use, just something able to do the job well and be be able to go take it to the range for some fun and practice. I don't think I will be taking shots past 200 yards with it and I want something durable. Your 2 cents you be awsome.
good deer rifle/scope set up for noob
- Thread starter ranger_dave
- Start date
I'd get a 22 rimfire for the gophers and a 243, 270, 308, 30-06 for the deer (sorry if I've forgotten some reasonable calibres). A Bushnell 3200 elite 3-9x40 or Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40 or if there is an affordable Leupold of similar magnification. Its too expensive to shoot centerfire at gophers IMO, unless you reload. And most people I've shot gophers on their farmland don't want people shooting all that high power at just a gopher.
If you are planning on hunting around the London area for deer.....it is Muzzle Loader or shotgun only, depending on the WMU. Gophers......or Ground Hogs that we have here, can only be hunted with .275 cal. or lower, in the London area. Any of the ones you mentioned in .223 cal would suit you well.......not that many areas around here to step it out past 400 yards.
The weatherby vanguard, with a Bushnell 3200 3 x 9 on top would suit this purpose well, I would think.
The weatherby vanguard, with a Bushnell 3200 3 x 9 on top would suit this purpose well, I would think.
The .243 and .270 are both great for deer. The .270 has more power and uses heavier bullets which could be perceived as better. However , they both kill deer and a deer shot in the vitals is going down no matter which one you use.
powder burner
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
This is a good suggestion. You can spend pretty close to 1000 on a rifle, 22 and 2 decent scopes if you. A guy could easily spend more, but this is a good choice.
You can always add a shotgun ito the mix at a later date.
powder burner
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
There have been many deer taken with each one. Many manufacturers offer both chamberings in the exact same model.
Deer dont get any deader then dead. Keep us up to date with your decision.
In my opinion, bolts or lever actions make a great first rifle. I would stay away from the semi-auto hunting rifles.
270 has a lot more smack than 243, more so than the calibre alone would suggest, as the 270 is a much larger case and more powder to drive it, and if it were me I'd err on the side of caution and go with a 270, 308 or 30-06. With those cartridges you can shoot larger game like elk or moose and not feel undergunned. But if its stricktly deer, the 243 is fine, accurate and more a pleasure to shoot with its light recoil. A lot of this is splitting hairs and all of the above get the job done.
I would suggest a .270 as your first big game rifle. Ammo is readily available anywhere in Canada, & the .270 is capable of taking anything you will care to hunt in Ontario. As others have suggested, get a .22 for plinking & shooting groundhogs.
George
George
There is nothing wrong with GOOD semi-auto. I personally hunt with Browning BAR and know many hunters, who use the same rifle without any issues. Yes, you need to keep it clean, but this would apply to all firearms...
On the topic - get .270 or 30-06 as you may decide to hunt Moose/Bear in the future and these calibers will get you into that zone. I started with 7mm RM and still use this caliber - it has much better ballistics than any of the above and recoil is manageable for most people. Use .22 for practice and you will be fine. Better yet, try different calibers and see what recoil feels comfortable.
powder burner
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
To each their own
Sorry about no replying back, I was at the cottage for the weekend. and I do own a rimefire, I own a nice ruger 10/22 and love it to death and I just shoot it with the irons and completely stock. The next choice I have to decide is the cal. for the bolt action gun I want I am thinking either .270win or .308 win.....I have never used these cals so any pros and cons about theses two would be helpful.
.308 is a good all around caliber. Deer, Moose, Elk...and not as much recoil as a 30-06 too.
I have a Remington 700 SPS Varmint 26" heavy barreled bolt in .308, not sure how totin' it around is goona be but the price was right. Topped with a Bushnell Elite 3200 3x9.
I have a Remington 700 SPS Varmint 26" heavy barreled bolt in .308, not sure how totin' it around is goona be but the price was right. Topped with a Bushnell Elite 3200 3x9.
ILoveBigRacks
Regular
- Location
- Beaumont, AB
Keep your eyes on the EE and you should be able to set yourself up with a decent first rig for well under your 1k budget. Not that there's anything wrong with the Vanguard or the Stevens 200 but with your budget you can most likely pick up a good used Rem 700 in a suitable calibre (this choice has already been touched on enough I think) plus a decent scope. Say $600-$625 for the rifle and $180-$200 for an Elite 3200 3-9 and you'll have a first hunting rig to be proud of, all for $800 or less depending on the deal. If you're planning on hunting this season, you'll want to buy sooner rather than later - not only for the obvious reason of getting the rifle dialed in and getting comfortable with it prior to the season but also the closer you get to hunting season the more prices generally will tend to climb up a bit on used rigs in the EE. If you're not planning on hunting this season you may even be better served to wait until after the season and pick something up once prices have come down a smidge.
My $.02.
My $.02.
Rifleman1911
CGN Regular
- Location
- Leduc county AB
I tend to like .30 cals, (.308, .30-06, .300win) and have hunted with all of them. I have also used the 7mm rem mag as well.. I tend to like the .308 as it has the lower recoil and the .30 cals come in many many weights. I think that the .308 is a really good all around calibre for many uses . You are also able to buy the ammo at amy puny little hardware store in any small town in canada.
When you go for a scope either save your money and get a leaopold or a ziess ($$$) but I wouldnt settle for less. My leaopold was made in 1976 and both times I sent it back to the factory they sent it back fixed with new parts at no charge and all I had to pay was the shipping.
They have a customer for life here.
When you go for a scope either save your money and get a leaopold or a ziess ($$$) but I wouldnt settle for less. My leaopold was made in 1976 and both times I sent it back to the factory they sent it back fixed with new parts at no charge and all I had to pay was the shipping.
They have a customer for life here.
