Need Advice On Buying a .308

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Adam023

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Edmonton, AB
Hello, my father and I just got our licenses, his is a PAL, and mine is a minors. So, even though technically I can't OWN a rifle, he's planning on buying me a rifle for my upcoming birthday, keeping it under his name until I'm 18, and then just simply transferring over the registration and whatnot.

I'm looking for an accurate semi-automatic rifle with enough power for hunting both deer and moose, with a detachable box magazine, and, although I don't expect to find this on a hunting rifle, possibly a rail mount for playing around with different attachments later on... Much later on, as I'm probably getting ahead of myself already.

So, I took the aforementioned specifications to my grandfather, who has 60 something years hunting experience, and he said all I need is a good .308, he told me to avoid all guns made in China, and he said that guns made in Canada and the USA are well made, although, much to my dismay, Canadian guns seem to be few and far between.

Can anybody give me an idea of a model and/or manufacturer who might make such a rifle, and possibly an approximate cost of the gun? Also, I'd like to know if the said gun is good to shoot out of the box, if there is such a thing as shooting a gun out of the box.

Thanks for taking the time to read all of this, I'll let you get to answering if you're willing :) Thanks for any help!
 
If you arent super fixed on needing to be semi, I am extremely happy with my Tikka T3 HB Varmint. Not a killer on the bank book, and shoots very tight groupings. I just have cheaper calibers in semi for plinking.
 
Buying used is a good thing to start off....the cost sometimes means you can buy two different for the price of one new. (One for you, one for your dad.)
One of mine that fits this description is a Winchester model 100 in .308, (no, it is not for sale, just using it an example).
By buying used , you may find personally one model seems to feel better over another in your hands....
 
semi auto detachable mag rail ... I have a norinco M14 in mind and it's .308

or get a breda M1 garand, ( I think one of the sponsor here have some) whit the striper clip it's like a mag, even faster to reload + you have the cool ping factor to go whit it.

Chinese gun are under rated by lot's of people. The american company lowered there standard, they still produce extremely good gun but they are extremely expensive.
 
Well Adam
If your looking for a gun that you will keep for a long time, I would take a look at the Browning Bar Mark II Safari. The 308 has a 30% less felt recoil and they are very accurate. They run about $1079.
If you don't have that kind of money to throw around I would go for a Savage 16FSS in 308($599), accurate, nice accu trigger, weather proof.
Both these rifles will take any of the game you mention. Happy Hunting.
 
Word of caution if you find an older Winchester Model 100.
Winchester has a firing pin recall on these I believe pre 64 models.
Bought one a few years back and found this out.
Seemed it took forever to get the firing pin and they want your old pin first.
 
"...enough power for hunting both deer and moose..." Any .308 will do that. Think 165 grain hunting bullet when you get that far. It'll give you one bullet weight that will kill any game you care to hunt.
"...looking for an accurate semi-automatic rifle..." What's your budget including a scope? Mind you, in a semi-auto hunting rifle, your options are kind of limited.
"...avoid all guns made in China..." Not necessarily true.
 
The Remington R25 is restricted, as it is classed as an AR15 variant.

Honestly, for a big game rifle, I think you would be better served by a good bolt action, especially if you want the best accuracy. Otherwise, I think the Norinco M14 is the way to go for a semi .308.

Country of origin is not an accurate indicator of quality. Most American arms manufacturers have cheapened their products considerably, compared with their output of 40-50 years ago.
 
Grandpa sounds like a good guy!
Be sure to consider his advise.

We've all had a cap gun from the dollar store... they don't last.
1950's USA made Daisy and it still works today.

Buying used does seem like a good idea in your position as I doubt Dad wants to drop a grand. Maybe look for a Bolt gun to keep things simple+safe
Lots of good quality guns coming up for grabs.
Don't be put off by used ones either.
Some folks will buy a top of the line, shoot it five times and put it away.
 
Invest your money on a good scope (Leupold or Burris) and then get a good bolt action to start out with. Savage and Mossberg both make good entry level rifles that are well made, highly rated by testers, and affordable.
After over 50 years of hunting with just about every make, caliber/gauge, and action type imaginable, you could n't give me a semi-auto.
The scope is the investment because you will find yourself changing rifles often before you are too old and feeble to hunt, but the same scope will transfer onto each of them as it becomes an old friend.
 
kamlooky said:
Word of caution if you find an older Winchester Model 100.
Winchester has a firing pin recall on these I believe pre 64 models.
Bought one a few years back and found this out.
Seemed it took forever to get the firing pin and they want your old pin first.
Click to expand...

Absolute truth. Although I bought one off EE here new, and took it to a local Smith, who then gave me the old recalled one, and I sent it off.
Then Winchester sent me another new one, and a cheque in US funds that covered replacement costs. The 1-800 number will tell you by the serial number of the gun if the pin has been replaced yet. I gave them mine, they said No, so I did it. The recall goes a ways back...I think it was 1990 or so when it first came out, but covers even the Models made in the 60's.
 
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