Looking for a first gun
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they are two different things, you going to try and do both with one rifle? what will be the priority? hunting tags or winning medals in prs shooting competitions?
to do it right you have a rifle for hunting and then a rifle for target stuff, blending the two leaves tradeoffs, go too light and basic in sporter style rifle with reasonable lower power scope suited to hunting and you won't be very competitive in shooting sports....but go too heavy in rifle and Hubble telescope optics and you'll have way too much fat and noise that will slow you down for hunting and give you much higher chances of meeting Murphy while in the field with an important tag in your pocket during a very short season
think it through, choose wisely, learn what hunting actually is and where even the most accomplished shooters call it quits for shooting at game etc.
to do it right you have a rifle for hunting and then a rifle for target stuff, blending the two leaves tradeoffs, go too light and basic in sporter style rifle with reasonable lower power scope suited to hunting and you won't be very competitive in shooting sports....but go too heavy in rifle and Hubble telescope optics and you'll have way too much fat and noise that will slow you down for hunting and give you much higher chances of meeting Murphy while in the field with an important tag in your pocket during a very short season
think it through, choose wisely, learn what hunting actually is and where even the most accomplished shooters call it quits for shooting at game etc.
If you have never owned a gun before, consider a bolt action .22 as your first gun.
Then as others have said hunting and target rifles are worlds apart. If you mean shooting paper at the range, get a hunting rifle. If you mean competing seriously as a target shooter, you’ll need a separate heavy barrelled rifle just for that.
Then as others have said hunting and target rifles are worlds apart. If you mean shooting paper at the range, get a hunting rifle. If you mean competing seriously as a target shooter, you’ll need a separate heavy barrelled rifle just for that.
Jumping on what others have said, I would get a Tikka T1X or a CZ457 in .22LR with a Varmint Barrel to learn precision shooting... the reason for this is that .22 precision comps are easy to find, costs a fraction of precision centrefire practice, and you can learn reading wind on a 200y range.
Then... I would get a Howa 1500, CZ, or Tikka in a hunting caliber... would likely also check out that ruger american gen 2.
Number one thing is when you have your shortlist of rifles, go to the store and shoulder them all. One will speak to ya!
Then... I would get a Howa 1500, CZ, or Tikka in a hunting caliber... would likely also check out that ruger american gen 2.
Number one thing is when you have your shortlist of rifles, go to the store and shoulder them all. One will speak to ya!
Totally agree with most of the responses.
You can target shoot and hunt with the same rifle.
Long range is a different animal.
My long range rifle is 16ish lbs. Not packing that through the bush.
Pick something you like in a caliber that you can purchase ammunition easily.
The tikka is good choice in pretty much any caliber.
Good luck and have fun.
You can target shoot and hunt with the same rifle.
Long range is a different animal.
My long range rifle is 16ish lbs. Not packing that through the bush.
Pick something you like in a caliber that you can purchase ammunition easily.
The tikka is good choice in pretty much any caliber.
Good luck and have fun.
Your first real hunting rifle should not recoil more than a 30-06 in my opinion. The 270 Winchester would probably be a better choice.
Recoil and your ability to shoot will be the deciding factor in the systems success. It is very unlikely that you will have issues with terminal performance unless you go with a silly bullet choice. Generally you can buy a box with a picture of the game your after on it and go hunt but it’s better to do some research.
do research on the weight of your rifle and how it affects recoil. Don’t buy a super light rifle as your first hunting rifle.
You should shoot lots of 22lr and dry fire that hunting rifle (don’t dry fire your 22) before you go blasting too much in the range and developing a flinch.
Limit the range you shoot on the hunt. Most people taking these far shots really shouldn’t be. Also you will find getting close will be more fun and rewarding than long shots. So don’t buy a sniper rifle.
Stainless or deep blueing is a good idea on a rifle. I would get something common like a tikka, M70, savage 110 or rem 700 so you can upgrade and personalize them.
Recoil and your ability to shoot will be the deciding factor in the systems success. It is very unlikely that you will have issues with terminal performance unless you go with a silly bullet choice. Generally you can buy a box with a picture of the game your after on it and go hunt but it’s better to do some research.
do research on the weight of your rifle and how it affects recoil. Don’t buy a super light rifle as your first hunting rifle.
You should shoot lots of 22lr and dry fire that hunting rifle (don’t dry fire your 22) before you go blasting too much in the range and developing a flinch.
Limit the range you shoot on the hunt. Most people taking these far shots really shouldn’t be. Also you will find getting close will be more fun and rewarding than long shots. So don’t buy a sniper rifle.
Stainless or deep blueing is a good idea on a rifle. I would get something common like a tikka, M70, savage 110 or rem 700 so you can upgrade and personalize them.
You’ll want something where as a newb, you can buy decent ammo anywhere for reasonable prices. Honestly, a .30-06 if perhaps the best and most versatile choice for elk and most other game if you are buying a bolt action.
If you want something like a lever action, .30-30 is also pretty ubiquitous, but isn’t really a target round except for plinking fun.
Hey OP, I strongly agree with the above statement by redneck09. I also started with my first own real hunting/sporting rifle on this forum. Some excellent advice from people here.
I bought a Howa 1500 in 30-06 based on discussions, and I'd say that the platform is a great choice, especially since for the price of the bare Tikka T3X you can get the Howa with a thoroughly decent optic. In terms of accuracy, I'm not sure you will notice any difference.
However, in terms of caliber, if you haven't done much shooting, a 30-06 will be quite thumpy. If this is your preferred cartridge (as it was for me), shoot 150 or 165 grain bullets, until you get familiar. 180 grainers beat up the shoulder.
Also, if you plan to do a lot of paper punching, the Thuddy-Aught-Six is a pretty expensive way of doing it... not that 270 will be much cheaper.
Finally, redneck suggests a Savage 110 as an alternative. I would disagree with this, if you insist on 30-06 or even a 270. I have a Savage 110 in .243, and I wouldn't want it in a heavier caliber, at least not in the configuration it's in. Also, the action on the Howa is much better (smoother, more solid) than the one on the Savage.
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22LR in any action is the economical way to develop good shooting habits. Being new to the game, you probably don't reload yet... I'd steer clear of 30-30 if it's just going to be for practice. An SKS in 7.62x39 will give you almost identical ballistics plus the added feature of cheaper surplus ammo. Hunting rounds are available in x39 but maybe not at that gas station in the boonies. 30-06, 308, 270, and even 300WM can be found in those out-of-the-way places near your hunt.
Recoil sensitivity is subjective; I find 30-06 a bit tiring when using a composite-stocked 700. My personal choice in big game caliber is a BLR in .308 - more mass limiting the recoil, and a bit less impulse to begin with, but from 300 yds and in, virtually no difference to the animal.
Recoil sensitivity is subjective; I find 30-06 a bit tiring when using a composite-stocked 700. My personal choice in big game caliber is a BLR in .308 - more mass limiting the recoil, and a bit less impulse to begin with, but from 300 yds and in, virtually no difference to the animal.
There is a very wide variety of savage 110 rifle configurations. That is one of the oldest commercial actions around. You are correct that some of the configurations are a poor choice for a first hunting rifle. I have a savage lightweight storm in 308 and it took some work to make it accurate and easy to shoot. I would not reccomend that rifle. For a first time hunter.
That being said. I had a weatherby markv, tikka t3 and a zastava all ready to hunt and I kept going back to that savage 110. It just shot and carried the best. I don’t like too slick of a bolt for hunting because they tend to pop open at the worst of times (unless you have a 3 position safety). So now even though I have plenty of funds for a nice rifle. Everything falls to a savage 110.
I have had other 110s that would be a fine choice. The action itself is actually brilliant. If you don’t believe me look at the 110 ultralight reviews online. Or just anywhere on the internet where people are showing off rediculous groups with them!
So yea AB3006 makes a very valid point. If you do get a 110 it might be hard for a beginner to tell if it will work for him. So don’t get the 110 but also it is an excellent platform in the correct configuration. Just buy something that is not obscure or plan to sell and upgrade.
308 is a good caliber that will do almost all of what a 30-06 will do, you just have to limit your hunting range a little closer compare to the 30-06 and use maybe a bit lighter bullets like a 150-165gn instead of the 180 and 200 for the 30-06!
I would say and I’m sure others have said that, choose a rifle that fit you properly and don’t be scared to tape foam on the stock to make sure you have a proper cheek weld!
I would say and I’m sure others have said that, choose a rifle that fit you properly and don’t be scared to tape foam on the stock to make sure you have a proper cheek weld!
I was out of the military for ages before I got A PAL. I thought "I know guns. I don't need a 22". So I rushed out and got a Vanguard (same gun as the Howa 1500 pretty much) in 308. Shot 100Y, no problem. 200Y...harder, but doable. 300Y...where is it going and why???
Long story short, I went back to 22 (a CZ457 with a match chamber). Started with the fundamentals. Still have only the basic grasp. There's a lot to learn and manual of arms is only 1%. Oh, and I LOVE shooting my 22. It comes out 3-4 times a month. The 308 comes out once every 2 months.
Long story short, I went back to 22 (a CZ457 with a match chamber). Started with the fundamentals. Still have only the basic grasp. There's a lot to learn and manual of arms is only 1%. Oh, and I LOVE shooting my 22. It comes out 3-4 times a month. The 308 comes out once every 2 months.
