More questions..
- Thread starter NitwiT
- Start date
While the m-14 is plenty capable of long range accuracy its far to heavy to realy be a hunting rifle. And sadly the Chinese version of it is somewhat lacking in accuracy. Its still plenty accurate just not sub-moa out to 400 + yards accurate.
wapitiwhacker
CGN Regular
- Location
- East Kootenay B.C.
Asking someone which brand you should buy will yield almost as many different answers as the number of people you ask. Some people like Chebbys some like Fords
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I would start by looking at your basic Remington, Winchester, Browning, and Savage rifles in a bolt action. There are plenty more out there, but for the sake of simplicity ( and cost) start with those. There are plenty of them out there, used or new.
#1 make sure the bore is in good shape. Shine a light in one end and look down the other. Should be nice and shiny, with no obvious pitting or big black marks. (shouldn't be an issue if you are buying new.)
#2 make sure the stock is in good repair with no splits or cracks, good metal to wood fit, no major modifications.
#3 make sure it fits you. A good sales guy will be able to help you out there.
#4 look for a rifle with an adjustable trigger.
#5 a good finish will keep better in wet weather.
As above post state, try handling many guns, see what you like, see what fits you, see what is most user friendly for you ie: safetly operation, magazine/floorplate release.
There is no guarantee you will get sub MOA with any particular rifle model. As in cars, with guns there are great ones and there are lemons. If you follow the points above, and still get a rifle that shoots less than stellar, there are a few things you can do to try and rectify the situation. Try different ammo, both manufacture and bullet weight. Some rifles love a particular brand, some are not so picky. If that doesn't work find a competent gunsmith. He should be able to help you out for not a lot of dollars. A few things to try would be bedding the action, freefloating the barrel, and adjusting the trigger. These things can work wonders on a so-so shooter.
There are gun stores from Vancouver to Chilliwack. Look in the Yellow pages drop in and ask to look at a few. Haven't met many sales guys that don't love to sit and talk guns. You'll pick up tons of info along the way, and fun doing it.
.I would start by looking at your basic Remington, Winchester, Browning, and Savage rifles in a bolt action. There are plenty more out there, but for the sake of simplicity ( and cost) start with those. There are plenty of them out there, used or new.
#1 make sure the bore is in good shape. Shine a light in one end and look down the other. Should be nice and shiny, with no obvious pitting or big black marks. (shouldn't be an issue if you are buying new.)
#2 make sure the stock is in good repair with no splits or cracks, good metal to wood fit, no major modifications.
#3 make sure it fits you. A good sales guy will be able to help you out there.
#4 look for a rifle with an adjustable trigger.
#5 a good finish will keep better in wet weather.
As above post state, try handling many guns, see what you like, see what fits you, see what is most user friendly for you ie: safetly operation, magazine/floorplate release.
There is no guarantee you will get sub MOA with any particular rifle model. As in cars, with guns there are great ones and there are lemons. If you follow the points above, and still get a rifle that shoots less than stellar, there are a few things you can do to try and rectify the situation. Try different ammo, both manufacture and bullet weight. Some rifles love a particular brand, some are not so picky. If that doesn't work find a competent gunsmith. He should be able to help you out for not a lot of dollars. A few things to try would be bedding the action, freefloating the barrel, and adjusting the trigger. These things can work wonders on a so-so shooter.
There are gun stores from Vancouver to Chilliwack. Look in the Yellow pages drop in and ask to look at a few. Haven't met many sales guys that don't love to sit and talk guns. You'll pick up tons of info along the way, and fun doing it.
Tradex husqvarna 30-06 for hunting, and a 22lr for practice.
Long range is a whole different can of worms. Besides a decent shooting rig, you need glass that will allow you to see/shoot at 1000m, which = big money. And big money is not something you want in a starter rifle.
Get used to shooting, and shoot until you are confident and able to call your shots. THEN start to spend the big money on the toys. No amount of money cures crappy shooting.
Long range is a whole different can of worms. Besides a decent shooting rig, you need glass that will allow you to see/shoot at 1000m, which = big money. And big money is not something you want in a starter rifle.
Get used to shooting, and shoot until you are confident and able to call your shots. THEN start to spend the big money on the toys. No amount of money cures crappy shooting.
Look for a 7-08, .308, or even a 260.
You want a medium weight rifle chambered in a precision based caliber.....The .308 is as big as I would go.
Light weight and precision shooting do not go hand in hand.
This will allow you to practice with fairly inexpensive hand-loads at a power level that will certainly kill anything you point it at, but will not murder your confidence.
I would select a nice used Remington 700(chromoly- You don't need a stainless action) then plan on slowly upgrading it with match grade barrels, stocks or whatever.
The Remington 700 is the small block Chevy of the rifle world....You can make it anything you want it to be.
You want a medium weight rifle chambered in a precision based caliber.....The .308 is as big as I would go.
Light weight and precision shooting do not go hand in hand.
This will allow you to practice with fairly inexpensive hand-loads at a power level that will certainly kill anything you point it at, but will not murder your confidence.
I would select a nice used Remington 700(chromoly- You don't need a stainless action) then plan on slowly upgrading it with match grade barrels, stocks or whatever.
The Remington 700 is the small block Chevy of the rifle world....You can make it anything you want it to be.
Another thing to keep in mind is how much the ammo costs. 308, 30-06 etc are stocked everywhere and in some cases less than half the cost of magnum ammo. 223, 308, 30-30, 30-06 plus the lowly 22lr are available pretty much anywhere you go and so many people make them there is almost always a less expensive choice. Whatever you get you will have to shoot it for a while to get even remotely good with it keeping in mind that there is a huge difference from shooting a 200m target at the range on a benchrest than standing in a field looking at a deer and guessing the distance and then looking for some kind of a rest before the damn thing wanders off. Your MOA will change drastically fer sure. Probably best to get something you can afford to shoot and go out and put in some time. The rifle you buy will only be accurate if you are comfortable and have shot it a lot. There are no shortcuts even with good glass although that helps. I shoot several 22lr, 223 for varmint and fun, 308 for deer and big varmint, 30-06 for deer, moose, bear, and 12ga for whatever flies. I dont need anything else. Now WANT-thats a whole different thing....
Problem is not buying "it" but "them". The big Firearms Auction at Maynards Auctions here in Vancouver comes up on April 3rd which is my birthday. I take that as a sign that I should get a new rifle and then the huge HACS gun show in Kamloops is the last week of April so- busy month. Now if only I had some cash..... Sigh! Good luck with your choice whatever it is. Me-I would go out and get a nice used 308 and go play but I already have one so maybe I need a 38-55 or a 250-3000 Savage. Choices, choices. The EE is a wonderful place to either offload the ones you dont like or get new toys.
