Help me pick a do it all Ontario hunting rifle.

[thatmikeguy]

Look for a CZ 557 Carbine in .308.

The CZ 557 is nice. I just picked one up in 308. Its a tad heavier than I prefer but it feels good. 7.8lbs on the bathroom scale. Comes with iron sights. Fiber optic in front and a 20.5 inch barrel. I wouldn't mind it being slightly shorter but this will be fine. The trigger is excellent too. Id kinda like a T3 Battue but I got the CZ for $639 + tax.

 

[Boomer]

The answer is a M-70 Winchester, the cartridge depends upon whether or not you are in an area that is subject to the silly .275 or less rule.

 

[TacticalTeacher]

Piles and piles of good suggestions on here. Both calibers and platform departments....

I’m using a 700 SA RH receiver and I have 3 switch barrels set up for this receiver.... .22-250, .260, and .308 are fitted and head spaced to this receiver. I can change barrels in 3 minutes. During the winter months for coyotes, I can run the .260, but this past month I switched out the .260 barrel for the .22-250. Next fall, I will likely screw on the .308 for deer. Have a box of 50 handloads using the 125 gr. Hornady GMX (or was it SST?) boooolits.






Then I can switch back to .22-250 for the winter once again. The deer season down here around the Owen Sound / Meaford area is only 5 days long for rifle. I use the .308 or .260 barrel (140 grain SST handloads) for these 5 days.

Do what works for you and your game.....

Buy what works for your :

* Budget
* comfort level
* store bought ammo/ Handloading lifestyle
* cool factor / cool value
* fondle factor (we spend lots of time waiting or pushing for deer/moose/bear/elk/coyotes)
* shooting habits (target, sighting in, practicing with reduced loads)
* and what your friends tell you to buy.... they will be laughing at you during hunt camp sessions

All the Best!!


Peace Be To Journey!

Cheers, Barney

 

[TSPIRI]

When looking at calibers be realistic, most hunting is done at under 300 yards any of the calibers you proposed do beautifully at those ranges and more. Remember in these calibers zero your gun at 200y and your can use 1 point of aim from 50 to just about 250 yards with no hold over. You need to confirm this for each rifle/ammo combo obviously but that level of accuracy should be good for most hunters.

The 270 is more capable than people think. Just because 6.5 cm is popular right now doesn't make it the bestest evar. A 270 cal 130gn tipped solid copper bullet works wonders on moose and deer. I know because my dad has killed both multiple times with that very setup.

I'm partial to my 338wm for moose but thats just me. Ive taken lots of deer and moose in years past with my 30-06.

The tikka is a great rifle. I would suggest stainless just because my blued rifles no matter how often I dry and lube always develop tiny rust spots here and there. If you do any serious moose hunting you will be hunting in the rain.

Only down side to the tikka is they don't come bedded and the recoil lug is aluminum. If you go online you'll see how a little time and epoxy can sort that out if you're interested. And a new steel lug is a cheap upgrade. Great rifles even without these upgrades.

 

[257Roberts]

Deer, Moose, Bear for Ontario big game. Bolt action, my choice would be a 270.
Made that decision 5 years ago. Still fits the small game requirement for Ontario and the one rifle as well.
Areas that are shotgun only are mostly the areas the have a small game caliber restriction.

There are many good cartridges that would fill the requirement.
But saying that I seem to grab my 243 or one of the 257's when I go for a walkabout.

No doubt one of the 6.5's would also work but ammo availability and cost comes into question.
Reloading helps with ammo availability but can be a costly venture, at least it has been for me. It seems I have to acquire the latest tool or gadget to help with the quest for that perfect load. Never mind the perfect bullet and hundreds of brass to make sure I am welled stocked.

David
P.S.
After rereading all the posts again I see that you made a wise choice.
The Tikka is a great rifle and now its time to become proficient with you choice.

 

[Rob]

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1935572-Kimber-Hunter

 

[milkbone96]

If you're in one of the municipalities with the stupid under-.275 restriction, then get a .270. It's a perfect deer rifle and no slouch on moose.

+1 on this - I used to live in an area where this applied. I used the bylaw to justify the purchase of a Browning BLR Lightweight Stainless Takedown in .243 to Mrs. Accounting Department. It's a great iron sight shooter that I've taken to using in thick bush around Burk's Falls in the 2nd deer week. Weight is ok (6.5lbs), sights are Truglo (as good or better than the Battue sights for my older eyeballs), and its easy to break it apart and stuff in in a pack while hiking in and out.

Browning love aside, you definitely can't go wrong with the Tikka. I have a lot of love for them and own more than 1, including a Battue in .30-06. For the price, you won't find a smoother action, and they're all great shooters (MOA or less) right out of the box.

 

[FLHTCUI]

If you're in one of the municipalities with the stupid under-.275 restriction, then get a .270. It's a perfect deer rifle and no slouch on moose.

No idea how the wording is written (municipal restrictions), but the 270 Winchester has a bullet diameter of .277.
FLHTCUI

 

[brybenn]

No idea how the wording is written (municipal restrictions), but the 270 Winchester has a bullet diameter of .277.
FLHTCUI

They go by whats stamped on the barrel. 275 rigby is good. 7x57 is bad. Stupid but theres alot of stupider shooters out here

Pretty much anywhere with the restriction theres no big game seasons anyway. What it does is stop me from using a 9x19 carbine for coyote hunting because a 270 wby mag makes more sense lol

 

[Meroh]

6.5 CM .. good for all you'll find in Ontario and southern calibre friendly. and if one day you happen upon a moose tag borrow a gun if someone tells you the 6.5 isnt enough.
i prefer 270.. but not all agree

I'm partial to the 6.5 x 55 myself. good for southern Ontario, good for moose and bear.

 

[sjstrey]

I’d say it depends where you plan to hunt. Up around Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Lenore, etc you’d be hard pressed to find a shot over 300 yards unless you’re across a big cut, so a magnum really isn’t necessary. Plain boring old 30-06 in a controlled feed action like a model 70, Husqvarna 1600, Mauser sporter, etc is a do-all rifle that you’ll be able to depend on in any situation. My 2 cents worth.

308 with fast rifling would be great too, though even with a normal twist and 168gr you’ll do fine. 270s would fit the bill, 300wsm, 7x57, 8x57, 7mm-08 ….. lol. It’s always amazing how many cartridges we can come up with that the 30-06 already does better.

Buy what fits you and feels best, especially if you’re gonna use iron sights.

 

[p.Rundle]

My personal favorite is Ruger M77 MKII options, ideally stainless. It's like a rougher Winchester M70 that costs way less.

 

[Claven2]

Looking to get a bolt action rifle for big game in Ontario. Something suitable for deer and moose. I've narrowed it down to something in .308 or 30-06. Ideally would like iron sights as an alternative to optics which I would also mount. (3x9x40?). The iron's aren't a must have, however. I'd probably spend some time just hitting paper at 100 yards as well. No intention to rifle hunt small game but should I look at .270 or .270 WSM just in case?

On the list :

Tikka T3X (Battue)
Remington 700 BDL or any 700
Winchester 70 Lightweight

Is there something else I should consider? Wood stock or synthetic, stainless or blued?

I'm planning to spend $1000-1300 for the rifle itself, pre tax.

Thanks for your insight.

Of those? how about none of the above.

Have you looked at a Tradex husqvarna 98 Mauser? I think they have some in '06 - twice the rifle of the choices you listed, and half the price - depending which Winchester you are talking about. If it's a winchester CRF model (i.e. not a post-64 push feed), then it's likely the equal to a nice Mauser, though will cost you more.

 

[Claven2]

*UPDATE*

Found a rifle. Went with a Tikka T3X Battue with wood stock in .308

Optics-wise I think I am going to get a set of Talley rings and a Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7x33, unless any Tikka experts have another suggestion....?

Your scope choice should have ZERO to do with the rifle being a tikka. Any scope will fit basically any bolt action rifle with the right rings.

VX-Freedom is "OK". VX3 and up are quite a lot better though. A Bushnell Elite 4200 is about the same quality-wise as a VX Freedom and will cost you generally less.