Looking to get into "big" game hunting - need advice
- Thread starter P11
- Start date
It's hard to find a really bad rifle today even in the budget range like the Savage axis. With your budget you can get a nice rifle and scope but I suggest keeping things simple especially regarding a scope. The more adjustments and stadia lines a scope has the more likely you are to over think a shot , I'd rather spend money on top tier glass rather than bells and whistles.
This is a good point. For a given price point you are likely to get better glass if it has fewer bells and whistles, and better glass allows you to see better at first and last light, which is when the deer are most likely to be moving.
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
Tikka in any caliber you want plus a B&C stock. This is for my son to use next year and it is a great little package that also offer lots of aftermarket goodies if you are so inclined. As of right now it is wearing an old Burris FFII 3-9 with a BDC reticle. Hard not to like this for blinking or hunting.
Rem 700 or Tikka T3/T3X would be my choices. A simple 3x9-40 or 2-7/2.5-8 will cover off point blank to 300yrds easily enuff. Just pick your flavour, Leupold Freedom, Bushnell Elite 3200-4200-4500 or Redfield Revolution, all work well and can be had for decent prices on the used market/EE and other places.
In North America, Ruger M77 mkII international, I assume the Hawkeye come in that configuration too.
Other than Ruger I think all others would be European and not much to be seen around these parts.
These are somewhat available https://sporteque.ca/en/voere/2052-voere-lbw-20-03-stutzen.html
I would agree with all the suggestions of a simpler scope with higher quality glass for hunting. Makes such a difference when out in the field. So many options for rifles. In that price range I don't think you can go wrong and also agree with other suggestions of finding what you like and suits you personally and what you think looks cool.
DeadShot519
Member
- Location
- Leamington Ontario
Not sure where in Ontario you are at or where you will be hunting but check your local by laws. Some areas like mine has caliber restrictions down south. I can’t hunt deer with anything larger than a 243 and I believe some areas have a restriction of nothing over 270. I’ve shot all my deer in Ontario with shotgun or bow.
Everyones opinion on looks "cool"differ. I would Consider a winchester model 70 featherweight in 308. Top it with a leupold VxX5HD. That deep blued barrel and fancy wood stock is way cooler than any tikka out there..,.
For hunting I would go with model70 extreme weather in 30-06 or 270 win with fluted barrel and bell and Carlson stock and leupold 4-10x42. Cdl .That’s me but everyone different what I like someone else may not.
Well - You are hunting in Ontario. Tight bush and wary deer. Shots are typically 75 yards or less, deer are often moving if dogging is involved. Low power scopes or red dots are king. The majority of deer are shot in low light conditions, so a low power scope offers better contrast and quicker target acquisition - think 1.5 to 2 power at the low end. Practice shooting in various positions, including off-hand.
Tikka T3X’s are the industry staple. I installed a Yodave trigger spring and an Atlasworxs titanium recoil lug to mine, and it turned an already great rifle into an absolute nail driver. It’s a cheap and easy upgrade that makes a world of difference in my opinion. T3X’s also have a plethora of aftermarket support if you’re the type of guy who likes to tinker or customize your rifle. Both are great options though, cheers.
Excellent Rifle Choice.
For hunting in Ontario, with 308 (optimally with 165-168 grain bullets) a BDC isn't really needed. Better to utilize maximum point blank range and practice your holds. I would rather have an illuminated reticle, to be able to find my crosshairs in low light against shadows and branches and a deer's hide, and sometimes those extra hash marks get lost in the "noise" and hinder you more than they help. From 0-300 yards, you likely won't have time to think about which BDC line you need to hold to apply at X distance. Especially since you need to first learn what 250 vs 300 looks like over broken terrain in the real world. Focus on glass quality and light gathering, rather than fancy reticles.
For hunting in Ontario, with 308 (optimally with 165-168 grain bullets) a BDC isn't really needed. Better to utilize maximum point blank range and practice your holds. I would rather have an illuminated reticle, to be able to find my crosshairs in low light against shadows and branches and a deer's hide, and sometimes those extra hash marks get lost in the "noise" and hinder you more than they help. From 0-300 yards, you likely won't have time to think about which BDC line you need to hold to apply at X distance. Especially since you need to first learn what 250 vs 300 looks like over broken terrain in the real world. Focus on glass quality and light gathering, rather than fancy reticles.
Zastava does, or did, but we have not been able to get them here since Russia invaded the Ukrane. I like tactical for things like my .22 bench rifle. I like classical for hunting. i scored one of the last new Zastavas in my favorite calibre, 6.5 x 55; depending on how you load it, perfect for groundhogs to Moose, Bear and Elk. Not full stock but a Bavarian Hog-back in figured walnut. 4-18 power Riton with Parallax, for those stupid long shots or range days, but not rediculously heavy or large to impede that little bit of hunting I am doing. Controlled Mauser 98 action, the picture directly below is the rifle as it is now configured, the one below it shows off the wood better, but has the old Tasco that I put on it when I first had it. Recoil is about the same as .308 if you load full pressure, 160 gr loads; much less with hot 85 or 90 gr. varmint loads.
