Starter hunting rifle advice
- Thread starter cjduey
- Start date
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I will be the first to congratulate you on asking a relevant, and quite common question.
In the mid 90s my brother in law and his son in law decided they wanted to go deer hunting in Saskatchewan. The older had put away his guns and the young one was interested in getting out with the wife's father. They chose identical Savage package guns from the big We've Got Everything outdoor chain store - detachable magazine, .300 Win Mag (for all likely big game choices), synthetic stock, sling, hard case, bolt flag, and mounted Burris 3-9 x 40 ordinary scopes. They zeroed and tested loads, then went out. The son in law dropped a Mule buck that got into the bottom of the Saskatchewan record book, and the brother in law got one that was 1/2" outside of the cut off. I own that rifle now because too many hours in a patrol car with a .38 revolver displacing his pelvis meant double hip replacements.
The lesson is buy what you like - they're all good! You don't need a super sophisticated first gun!
In the mid 90s my brother in law and his son in law decided they wanted to go deer hunting in Saskatchewan. The older had put away his guns and the young one was interested in getting out with the wife's father. They chose identical Savage package guns from the big We've Got Everything outdoor chain store - detachable magazine, .300 Win Mag (for all likely big game choices), synthetic stock, sling, hard case, bolt flag, and mounted Burris 3-9 x 40 ordinary scopes. They zeroed and tested loads, then went out. The son in law dropped a Mule buck that got into the bottom of the Saskatchewan record book, and the brother in law got one that was 1/2" outside of the cut off. I own that rifle now because too many hours in a patrol car with a .38 revolver displacing his pelvis meant double hip replacements.
The lesson is buy what you like - they're all good! You don't need a super sophisticated first gun!
Last edited:
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I should clarify. A three to nine by forty scope is about the lowest magnification and objective lens size the company could get away with. I have a four to twelve by fifty on my big game rifle because the larger front lens lets me see better in weak light, like deep shadows or at dusk. I tend to leave the zoom at about 5 times.
My preference for a hunting rifle is in the 270, 308 or 30-06 calibers. Check you're local caliber restrictions. You can take 95% of canadian game with any of those 3.
308, 30-06; 150-180gr bullets, pick one and learn the ballistics.
I like 18-20" but I also hunt in the bush not in open fields.
Target weight is about 8lbs(with scope), less and you're wife may not enjoy shooting it.
I lean towards tikka's as a solid accurate platform but pretty much any rifle on the market will suffice for hunting at reasonable distances. Hit a local gun shop and shoulder a few. See how they feel.
Don't be afraid to buy a used/ not abused rifle.
308, 30-06; 150-180gr bullets, pick one and learn the ballistics.
I like 18-20" but I also hunt in the bush not in open fields.
Target weight is about 8lbs(with scope), less and you're wife may not enjoy shooting it.
I lean towards tikka's as a solid accurate platform but pretty much any rifle on the market will suffice for hunting at reasonable distances. Hit a local gun shop and shoulder a few. See how they feel.
Don't be afraid to buy a used/ not abused rifle.
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The rifle is one part of the equation. Cartridge and conditions are another. A well placed .308 round will kill every game animal in canada, with the exception of bison, grizzly and polar bear. Those are bigger animals and game laws, for bison in Yukon for instance, that require more powerful cartridges.
The .308 is easy to find in the stores, so buy a selection of ammo including 150gr blaster ammo because you will need to practise ahead of the season. One of my old hunter safety instruction partners would say, if you can hit an 8" paper picnic plate standing at 100 yds, you are good enough to shoot a whitetail. For their anatomy, the vital zone is about 8".
The .308 is easy to find in the stores, so buy a selection of ammo including 150gr blaster ammo because you will need to practise ahead of the season. One of my old hunter safety instruction partners would say, if you can hit an 8" paper picnic plate standing at 100 yds, you are good enough to shoot a whitetail. For their anatomy, the vital zone is about 8".
For 1K, you will probably end up playing the Savage game if you want to keep it at that budget with optics in those calibers. For a little more, you could most likely find a used Tikka T3 blued/syn sometimes in the $700 range and ad a $3-400 optic and end up with a rifle that you can hand down to your grandkids .
When I met my lady, she shot a savage axis 30-06. Our first trip to the range together, it was very evident that it had way to much snap for her, the flinch was one of the biggest Iv seen, and shots were all over the map. Tbh, the gun kicked the crap out of me as well. A common route for a first budget gun is the savage axis, though a very accurate model generally, I did find that 30-06 kicked a lot harder then other makes in the same caliber / weight. Just a bit of my experience if you do go the savage route with a cartridge like the 30-06 or bigger.
I ended up buying her a .308 in an old browning micro medallion, it made a world of difference to her shooting. She has a moose with it using 165 gr, partitions iirc, the combo worked well.
If your wife will be using it too, I would suggest something in .308 or even 7-08, both perfectly capable of deer / moose and beyond. Some say the 6.5 creed would do the trick too, but ime with 6.5 and moose, I prefer a little more. Im not up to date with the current new prices. Generally if I’m on the search for a rifle, I’ll keep close tabs in the e&e for what I’m looking for, unless I’m determined to go new. Often wtb adds work. If going used is an option/thought, the tikka t3 lite’s I believe go for around your budget, though optics would need added. The T3 in a 308 case family is a stellar unit imo.
Though I must say, you’ll smile more if you pack a walnut stocked rifle
haha
I ended up buying her a .308 in an old browning micro medallion, it made a world of difference to her shooting. She has a moose with it using 165 gr, partitions iirc, the combo worked well.
If your wife will be using it too, I would suggest something in .308 or even 7-08, both perfectly capable of deer / moose and beyond. Some say the 6.5 creed would do the trick too, but ime with 6.5 and moose, I prefer a little more. Im not up to date with the current new prices. Generally if I’m on the search for a rifle, I’ll keep close tabs in the e&e for what I’m looking for, unless I’m determined to go new. Often wtb adds work. If going used is an option/thought, the tikka t3 lite’s I believe go for around your budget, though optics would need added. The T3 in a 308 case family is a stellar unit imo.
Though I must say, you’ll smile more if you pack a walnut stocked rifle
haha
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I’d offer with the component and ammunition shortages we’ve seen in recent years, if hunting is your hobby more than hunting rifles is, get yourself a good .308 and go use it.
It’s the easiest rifle to feed, available in the most actions and offerings, and has moderate recoil. I’m a nut for the curios and relics, with a keen interest in wildcatting and load development. And I still haven’t been able to eliminate the .308 from my cabinet.
It’s that well balanced of a utility chambering.
And I’ve found it from Fort Smith NWT to Bulawayo Zimbabwe in plentiful supply.
It’s the easiest rifle to feed, available in the most actions and offerings, and has moderate recoil. I’m a nut for the curios and relics, with a keen interest in wildcatting and load development. And I still haven’t been able to eliminate the .308 from my cabinet.
It’s that well balanced of a utility chambering.
And I’ve found it from Fort Smith NWT to Bulawayo Zimbabwe in plentiful supply.
Ruger American gen 2 standard 20” or predator 22” line up in 308 win. Or 6.5 cm. Trijicon accupoint 3-9x40 green dot duplex.
I can’t do savage but I can do the Ruger Americans. They all shoot. Tikka stainless light also a good one but moves into the next class of rifles and prices but you’ll never go wrong here or need another rifle. The Ruger American is a great utility horse, I love mine and have a Tikka and a Sako.
Maybe try and find a model with ability to shorten stock for wife?
I put Ruger American into mdt lss-xl gen 2 chassis with magpul ctr buttstock to fit the whole family at the touch of a button for example but adds weight and and cost. Weight is good as it reduces recoil. No one really shoots offhand anyway.
I can’t do savage but I can do the Ruger Americans. They all shoot. Tikka stainless light also a good one but moves into the next class of rifles and prices but you’ll never go wrong here or need another rifle. The Ruger American is a great utility horse, I love mine and have a Tikka and a Sako.
Maybe try and find a model with ability to shorten stock for wife?
I put Ruger American into mdt lss-xl gen 2 chassis with magpul ctr buttstock to fit the whole family at the touch of a button for example but adds weight and and cost. Weight is good as it reduces recoil. No one really shoots offhand anyway.
Last edited:
Thanks, we are looking at 308s I think,, and yes, looking at new rifles without walnut stocks...I dunno about the look and feel of a composite stocks tbhWhen I met my lady, she shot a savage axis 30-06. Our first trip to the range together, it was very evident that it had way to much snap for her, the flinch was one of the biggest Iv seen, and shots were all over the map. Tbh, the gun kicked the crap out of me as well. A common route for a first budget gun is the savage axis, though a very accurate model generally, I did find that 30-06 kicked a lot harder then other makes in the same caliber / weight. Just a bit of my experience if you do go the savage route with a cartridge like the 30-06 or bigger.
I ended up buying her a .308 in an old browning micro medallion, it made a world of difference to her shooting. She has a moose with it using 165 gr, partitions iirc, the combo worked well.
If your wife will be using it too, I would suggest something in .308 or even 7-08, both perfectly capable of deer / moose and beyond. Some say the 6.5 creed would do the trick too, but ime with 6.5 and moose, I prefer a little more. Im not up to date with the current new prices. Generally if I’m on the search for a rifle, I’ll keep close tabs in the e&e for what I’m looking for, unless I’m determined to go new. Often wtb adds work. If going used is an option/thought, the tikka t3 lite’s I believe go for around your budget, though optics would need added. The T3 in a 308 case family is a stellar unit imo.
Though I must say, you’ll smile more if you pack a walnut stocked rifle
Hi,
If you're not including the scope in your budget, have a look at the Savage 110 Hog Hunter, about $850 pre-tax. A long as you don't mind synthetic stocks. Otherwise, you may want to look at the Savage Axis 2 XP in a wood stock with a plain Bushnell 3-9x40 scope, about $850 pre-tax.
Both rifles are made in .308.
The Hog Hunter gives you iron sights and a synthetic stock, and a nicer action. The Axis gives you a scope and a wood stock, and a rougher action. I think they're comparable in accuracy and reliability.
Cheers,
Neil
If you're not including the scope in your budget, have a look at the Savage 110 Hog Hunter, about $850 pre-tax. A long as you don't mind synthetic stocks. Otherwise, you may want to look at the Savage Axis 2 XP in a wood stock with a plain Bushnell 3-9x40 scope, about $850 pre-tax.
Both rifles are made in .308.
The Hog Hunter gives you iron sights and a synthetic stock, and a nicer action. The Axis gives you a scope and a wood stock, and a rougher action. I think they're comparable in accuracy and reliability.
Cheers,
Neil
If you want a really well-built rifle for under $1k, I'd suggest used. Look at a Husqvarna 1640 (mauser style controlled feed) or 1900 (push feed). You might be able to get a pre-64 style Model 70 (controlled feed) for under $1k as long as you don't mind a few bumps and scrapes. Brand new under $1k, you can get a solid shooter, but there's going to be a lot of plastic and rough fit and finish.
An all-around chambering that you can use for any large game would be 270, 308 or 30-06. 30-06 is going to be the most versatile.
Have fun hunting this fall and good luck!
