If you were buying your first hunting rifle.....

I've mentored several beginners who were in your situation. All ended up with .308, .30-06 or 7mm08 rifles. None were disappointed with those choices. I currently own more than a dozen good hunting rifles, but if forced to choose only one for everything I hunt it would be a choice between the .308 or 30-06, and which one would depend on the rifle it was chambered in.
 
6.5CM in a Tikka 3X. Or if budget is a big deal 6.5CM in a Ruger American or Savage Axis. They will shoot better than you, and sell when you up grade.
 
MiG25 said:
Were I buying my first Deer and Moose Rifle today and didn't reload I would strongly consider a new, modern rifle in 8x57, in real life I have taken from Coyote to Elk with it. Ammo is available in 2 power levers; "American" brands at 30-30 level and "European" brands at 30-06 level. Unleaded ammo is also available from Hornady and Lapua.

A more conventional answer may be to get a 243 with a 24 inch barrel for deer and forget about moose in the short term as such a large animal is not ideal for newbies.
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There is nothing difficult about shooting a moose, and they are not difficult to kill.
 
DGY said:
No shame in using a tripod! Also in a certain price range, let’s say 1200-1500 bucks you will have similar quality rifles so it is more a matter of preferences than anything else! 308 is plenty of rifle for deer and moose as long as you do your part and know your limitations(distance)! Buy the rifle that fit you the best, is the most confortable when you shoulder it! Then buy a good quality optic! Buy lots of ammo and shoot as much as you can, if you know someone that is a long time hunter shooter, ask questions, go to the range with them! Use rifles are sometimes a lot better than a new rifle for the same price!
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This is as good an answer as provided so far. If you try the 308/30-06 and find the recoil uncomfortable, then look at the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser, or 7mm-08. Still great performance on your mentioned game, with less recoil, and usually good ammo vailability...just might take a little more searching in more remote locations. And in long action non-magnum cases, the 270 Win or 280 Rem are also great choices. The 270 will have the edge in ammo availability. But as also mentioned above, fit of the firearm is very important; find one that fits you!

Firearm and optics quality will be dependent upon your budget. If looking for less pricey, the Ruger American does shoot well, and Howa's also shoot very well too... If you can afford better, look at Tikka, Remington, Winchester, Ruger, Bergara, or Browning. Moving up, you'll see Sako, Christensen, Antler Arms, Fierce, and others...where prices get pretty pricey. As with anything, if you can afford it, buy once, and buy right. It will save you money in the end. New vs used...depends on your priorities, but used can be a better bargain to get into a better grade of firearm (and optic). But get help from someone who is knowledgeable in current pricing of firearms and optics, or you may spend too much.
Old rule of thumb, spend as much on your scope as the rifle. If you can't see it, you can't hit it.

The advice of trying firearms before buying is good...and either offer to pay for the ammo, or buy your own to try in their firearms...or those that may be available to try at your local gun club.

Have fun in your quest!
 
I think many of us, if given the option of going back to pick our first hunting rifle would pick something heirloom quality. That doesn’t mean expensive, it just means something worth getting sentimental over. That is to say preferably not a plastic fantastic.

The first hunting rifle I bought with my own money was a Ruger 77 canoe paddle (ugly but tough synthetic stock). The first I was given long before that was a Winchester 94 .30-30. You can guess which one I still, and will always have. If you’re not behind handed down something special, select something special worth handing down in fifty years is my advice.

And it’s really, really hard to argue against .308 for a new hunter.
 
I'm going to preface this by saying I don't hunt much but I target shoot a lot.

A lot of my friends that hunt don't sit down an properly aim the rifle in to a specific load and stick to that load. So I will second the buying multiple boxes of ammo. If you're in an area of poor availability go with the more commons like 308. I ended up reloading almost immediately after buying my actual rifle (R700 7mm rem mag). I wanted something that I had room to grow into. If I was going to do it again I'd get a 6.5grendel either howa or cz for deer. I just built a 6.5 and I can sit at a bench and shoot as much as I can afford, one of the few centerfire rifles my GF actually likes! It's light to carry and nice to shoot. I would then later buy 7mm for moose and bear probably a tikka t3x, (they just seem to run smother than the r700). I will also say lite rifles are OK in small calibers but I don't recommend in magnums. I have a friend with a 7mm lite rifle and I'm like 6MOA with that rifle and sub moa with my 7mm sitting at a bench.
 
First rifle I bought was a Remington 700 .223 when I was 18. Shot my first coyote with it. I shot my dads M700 300 winmag before I bought the .223 and liked it. When I was 21 I bought a Tikka T3 .300winmag for my first moose hunt.

If I was buying a deer/moose gun it would be .308rem or 30.06. I prefer the short action more so I'd go .308 but if the gun I wanted was in .06 I'd go that.
 
MiG25 said:
Interesting, so you're saying a Newbie would have no problem dealing with a dead Moose.
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I read your other post just fine.

Did the OP ask about “dealing with a dead moose” anywhere in this thread? If so I didn’t see it maybe he has experienced friends or family showing him the ropes? Or a mentor of some sort. We don’t know… I’m sure if he wants to ask he can start another thread.


The question he asked was “if you were buying your first hunting rifle.” Not, whether a newbie could handle a dead moose or not…
 
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crazy_davey said:
I read your other post just fine.

Did the OP ask about “dealing with a dead moose” anywhere in this thread? If so I didn’t see it maybe he has experienced friends or family showing him the ropes? Or a mentor of some sort. We don’t know… I’m sure if he wants to ask he can start another thread.


The question he asked was “if you were buying your first hunting rifle.” Not, whether a newbie could handle a dead moose or not…
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Whatever Bud.
 
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