looking for first hunting rifle

frumpy said:
Everyone can tell me what to get (which I do appreciate) but not much on why not to go with the gun I'm looking at. I'm not too worried about the odd ball Ontario regs (unless I am missing something) as I fall into northern Ontario.

That being said I am heading down to Kingston after Christmas and will have a look around at SFRC. I already have some rings kicking around and a bushnell sharpshooter 3x9 scope I would have no problem stealing off my .22 so no need for a combo. That being said, if I don't go with a 54r I will probably go with 223.
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270Win, 308Win, and 3006 are arguably the most common calibres in North America. They will kill everything reliably. Ammo is available everywhere ammo is sold, and it is as cheap as it gets for "large calibre" rifles. 54r will only be available in gun shops (and not all of them either).

The "big three" are available in a mulitude of rifle configurations (bolts, levers, pumps, semis, single shots), with a multitude of ammo choices in both bullet weights and bullet constructions, with 54r you are pretty much stuck with either milsurp FMJ or soft points. While 54r surplus ammo is readily availble now, remember it is called "surplus" for a reason; the surplus will dry up. It may not always be as cheap and available as now (20 years ago 303 brit surplus was everywhere, now its virtually nonexistent).
 
Here's another reason to reconsider 7.62 x 54: recoil! I have heard several Mosin Nagant owners mention the jarring that their rifle delivers. Every shooter's tolerance for recoil is different- but the Mosin's stock design combined with the cartridge are a bit much for some folks. Saving 30 cents per round would not sway me. Better take the old Russian for a test drive before making up your mind.
I have had real enjoyment and hunting success with 30-30 for the first few years of hunting and this season with the 308 Winchester (3 deer with 3 shots woo-hoo!). Whether you go with a 270 or 308 or 30-06 would be up to you. You likely won't be disappointed. Wishing you success in your search.
 
meh... go with the 7.62, if and when you change to a new super modern B.U.M (belted ultra mag) hunting rifle for shooting 200lb critters atleast you will appreciate how nice it is to pack a smaller rifle around... and if you break your leg you will have a great crutch to get you back to your truck! :D

whatever you do DONT buy a .270 and ask anyone on the forum if it will kill a bear/moose/elk... everyone knows them critters wear kevlar and need something with Holland or Weatherby on the head stamp...
 
slammer1 said:
Here's another reason to reconsider 7.62 x 54: recoil! I have heard several Mosin Nagant owners mention the jarring that their rifle delivers. Every shooter's tolerance for recoil is different- but the Mosin's stock design combined with the cartridge are a bit much for some folks. Saving 30 cents per round would not sway me. Better take the old Russian for a test drive before making up your mind.
I have had real enjoyment and hunting success with 30-30 for the first few years of hunting and this season with the 308 Winchester (3 deer with 3 shots woo-hoo!). Whether you go with a 270 or 308 or 30-06 would be up to you. You likely won't be disappointed. Wishing you success in your search.
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I'm not too worried about the kick and surplus ammo works out to 33 cents a round vs a buck + a round for most of the other calibers mentioned.

Hotwheels81 said:
meh... go with the 7.62, if and when you change to a new super modern B.U.M (belted ultra mag) hunting rifle for shooting 200lb critters atleast you will appreciate how nice it is to pack a smaller rifle around... and if you break your leg you will have a great crutch to get you back to your truck! :D

whatever you do DONT buy a .270 and ask anyone on the forum if it will kill a bear/moose/elk... everyone knows them critters wear kevlar and need something with Holland or Weatherby on the head stamp...
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So what you are saying is this would make a good bear defence gun?











:stirthepot2: :p


So aside from the kick the gun gives and the possibility of ammo getting hard to find there's no issues with actually using this gun for hunting? Regardless of if I get a mosin nagant as a hunting rifle or not I still would like to own one (so if I can get away with using it the first season or two to figure out what I "need" for hunting all the better). I will still check out some 223's when I go to look after Christmas though. There will always be time down the road to get a dedicated hunting gun in one of the many suggested calibers above.

thanks for all the help
 
Definitely .223 is the way to go for yotes and for cheap rounds.... Some folks mentioned the Axis.... as for me, I have an H&R handi rifle.... it is single shot and a tack driver... the .223 version comes with scope rail and heavy bull barrel.... all for $250.....

If you decide to upgrade later you can get most of your money back on these or they make awesome truck guns.....
 
If you have your heart set on the Mosin Nagant go ahead & buy one. I recommend the 91/30 not the M44 carbine. Westrifle was selling the 91/30 for $100 recently so it is a inexpensive firearm. I personally wouldn't choose the Nagant as a varmint rifle because it has iron sights. For me iron sights are accurate out to around 100 yards. Putting a scope on the Nagant is not easy, you will have to drill & tap the receiver, & buy a special scope mount, & get the bolt handle custom bent to clear the scope. By the time you do all this, you will have spent as much as you would on buying a modern combo package rifle like the Savage Axis. Getting an accurate milsurp rifle sight unseen can be a crap shoot. I collect & shoot Russian rifles, so I do speak from experience.

George
 
blasted_saber said:
Why dont you look up some facts before telling people that?

It is NOT illegal to use FMJs in Ontario for hunting. I would not do it, but their is now law against it. Other provinces may vary, but I wont speak out of my ass when I dont know.

Now, on to the OP, I'd buy a 308, 3006, or 270 instead. Far better options. And a lot more choice.
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Does it look like I live in ont so do you think i'd have a copy of the rules?? In BC it is illegal to hunt with FMJ'S jack ass so go do us a favor and go play in traffic before you start flapping your gums at me! and starting S#%T. So I was wrong get over it!
 
thumper1 said:
Does it look like I live in ont?? In BC it is illegal so go do us a favor go and play in traffic before you start flapping your gums at me
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Ummmm dude.... the original poster.... the one that you told he couldn't use FMJ's to hunt anywhere in Canada.... he's from Pembroke Ontario..... and you were wrong...
 
glang1 said:
If you have your heart set on the Mosin Nagant go ahead & buy one. I recommend the 91/30 not the M44 carbine. Westrifle was selling the 91/30 for $100 recently so it is a inexpensive firearm. I personally wouldn't choose the Nagant as a varmint rifle because it has iron sights. For me iron sights are accurate out to around 100 yards. Putting a scope on the Nagant is not easy, you will have to drill & tap the receiver, & buy a special scope mount, & get the bolt handle custom bent to clear the scope. By the time you do all this, you will have spent as much as you would on buying a modern combo package rifle like the Savage Axis. Getting an accurate milsurp rifle sight unseen can be a crap shoot. I collect & shoot Russian rifles, so I do speak from experience.

George
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If I get one I will probably stick with iron sights. If I really enjoy myself this year and feel the mosin nagant is holding me back then I will probably grab a "new" 223 for next year. If I go with the Mosin Nagant it will be the $110 91/30 from SFRC and I will be down there to check them out.
 
thumper1 said:
Does it look like I live in ont so do you think i'd have a copy of the rules?? In BC it is illegal to hunt with FMJ'S jack ass so go do us a favor and go play in traffic before you start flapping your gums at me! and starting S#%T. So I was wrong get over it!
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thumper1 said:
It's illegal to use FMJ's on any animal in Canada.
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Just saying... It's hard getting into hunting with all the rules and regs and doesn't help when people aren't clear or don't know what they are talking about (regardless of if they are doing it on purpose or not)
 
There is inexpensive ways of putting scope on Mosin. Some people like the scout mount and some don't

Cheers

glang1 said:
If you have your heart set on the Mosin Nagant go ahead & buy one. I recommend the 91/30 not the M44 carbine. Westrifle was selling the 91/30 for $100 recently so it is a inexpensive firearm. I personally wouldn't choose the Nagant as a varmint rifle because it has iron sights. For me iron sights are accurate out to around 100 yards. Putting a scope on the Nagant is not easy, you will have to drill & tap the receiver, & buy a special scope mount, & get the bolt handle custom bent to clear the scope. By the time you do all this, you will have spent as much as you would on buying a modern combo package rifle like the Savage Axis. Getting an accurate milsurp rifle sight unseen can be a crap shoot. I collect & shoot Russian rifles, so I do speak from experience.

George
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thumper1 said:
Does it look like I live in ont so do you think i'd have a copy of the rules?? In BC it is illegal to hunt with FMJ'S jack ass so go do us a favor and go play in traffic before you start flapping your gums at me! and starting S#%T. So I was wrong get over it!
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I called you out on a clearly WRONG statement. I think you need to relax a bit bud.
 
Hotwheels81 said:
Nice bang for the buck eh?

I have seen a local retail store selling them as package deals with a cheap but decent 3-9 buschnell for under $500... I thought loooong and hard about getting one but I'm partial to the accutrigger after buying my better half a mk.2

.270 is a nice caliber but I find it rather hard on pelts when doing pest control, a Texas heart shot on an adult yote from 50yrds with fed blue box tends to push the rectum thru the trachea...
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Yup, the "scope that I already had" was the Bushnell 3-9 that came on my Axis 30-06. It really isn't a bad little scope...and usually the package scopes I hear are garbage. I'll toss it when it gives me issues but so far so good. Definitely can't steer the OP wrong encouraging him to buy one. It's a smart buy.
 
frumpy said:
I'm still a little confused though. 7.62 is no issues in my area aside from not being able to use it during large game season (but then again you couldn't use 223, 270, etc if I understand the regs correctly). So, why is everyone against it? It has the stopping power needed and soft point ammo is readily available (and surplus stuff for at the range).
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Because you wouldn't be able to use it (for small game) in some of the southern counties...that's all. I once readied myself for a yote hunt, went out and bought soft points for my SKS, and as I approached the door realised I would be hunting in Wellington county and had to leave the SKS at home. It was a grim moment. The memory still haunts me.
 
I'm going to look at some 223s (Stevens 200 and axis) but still like the Mosin and know I will eventually get one down the road anyway if I don't get it now.
 
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