Suggestions for my first hunting rifle

Hey kombi & Tinman - good points by both of you. No, I don't reload now and don't expect to start in the near future. However, later on who knows? My kids (4 boys :) ) are still under hunting age, but it won't be long before hunt'n 'n fish'n become regular family activities. Actually, I tie my own flies so I'm probably predisposed to wanting to start reloading.

I keep going back and forth between ammo selection and availability of the 270Win and the purported power and accuracy benefits of the 270WSM. I also think all the calibers in short mag are only going to increase in popularity and availability which will result in more available selection. Also, I agree that the price premium for 270WSM is negligable for me since I'm not a regular range shooter. Besides, I've noticed that there's actually not much difference for some of the premium grade factory ammo.

I'll probably stay undecided while I check out prices and availability of the rifles I'm interested in. If I find out that a Vanguard with SS barrel in 270WSM is a long backorder away I might have to choose otherwise simply to ensure that I get enough practice to be proficient and confident with the rifle when the deer season opens. I don't want to be one of the weekend warriors who takes 3 to 5 shots to confirm he can hit a pie plate at 100 yds and then says "she's good to go". :rolleyes:

Oh, btw - my last name is "Van . . . " so maybe the Vanguard is destined for me!
 
kombi1976 said:
dieseldog6, I have a simple question to ask.
Do you reload?:confused:
If the answer is no, as I suspect, then the 270 WSM isn't ideal.
BigRedd knows exactly what he is on about as far as ballistics & killing power but there are 6 factory loads available to you and they're all made by Winchester, a little problem if your beastie doesn't group well with the ones designed to knock over bear or moose.
Let's face it, a 270 cal needs to use decent bullets and better bullet placement on animals like moose and bear due to it's smaller cal.
If you intend to start reloading soon then go ahead, get a 270 WSM.
A Lee Anniversary kit and some dies woúld probably cost just over the $130 you're willing to spend on a stainless bbl and will started paying for itself bigtime once you've put 100 rounds through the rifle.
Hell, a Lee Hand Press, powder scales, loading block, autoprime & dies would get you on the road.
There are also a wide range of bullets in 270 cal and there's plenty of decent loading data too.
Out in the boondocks you're unlikely to find ammo for it if you accidentally leave it behind, hence the trouble if you depend on factory ammo.
I won't reflect on the demise of Winchester USRAC because frankly I think it won't kill the WSMs.
They're too successful and FN Herstal will produce the Model 70 outside the States anyway.
But as I said before, I find it the most interesting recent cartridge & would buy one myself if I had the dosh......simply because I do reload.
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Kombi.... you are not entirely correct about the availability or types of 270WSM Ammo in North America.:redface:
The 270WSM is one of the most popular and highest volume sellers of any calibre for the last four years and most every gunstore is well stocked with factory ammo for this caliber.
Currently there are six Wincester Factory loads from 130-150 grain in Accubonds, Power points, Ballistic silver tips, Fail Safes and the new Accutip...and Federal makes eight offerings including Barnes Triple shock X Bullets, Trophey bonded Bear Claws, Nosler Solid Base Boat tails, Ballistic tips and Nosler Partitions:eek:
There are many others as well but these are the two most popular makers.
All of these are readily available in North America... and most of the gunstores (around here) stock at least as many WSM's as standard .270 loads.:)
 
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I stand corrected.
I'll have to take your word for it, BR, and as it certainly seems to be the case then ammo availability isn't so much of an issue.
That said ammo price is still an issue, at least in my mind.
But hey, you know I think the 270 WSM is a great round.
I just think that maybe a more popular round would serve a rookie hunter until they get a bit more experience.
 
kombi1976 said:
Actually I have to apologise on one point.
Vanguards all are guaranteed to shoot 1.5" with premium ammo and since alot of the stuff loaded by Winchester for this is premium it should be fine.
So my "bad grouping with factory ammo" comment was a load of bollocks.:redface:
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Hey Kombi,

What in the H E double hockey sticks is a bollock?:confused:
 
OK folks, he has put out the bait.

LOOK! There is a rush to get to the bait!!!! Many are picking it up, some are spitting it out, but a whole bunch are running with the bait.

WHAT WILL HE DO!?!?!?

If he sets the hook now, with half a dozen eager feeders moving in different directions, they will undoubtedly spool him.

The tension is palpable!!!!

What do we use for troll bait, anyway? I smell bull#### here from the opening lines.....

Doug
 
Doug said:
OK folks, he has put out the bait.

LOOK! There is a rush to get to the bait!!!! Many are picking it up, some are spitting it out, but a whole bunch are running with the bait.

WHAT WILL HE DO!?!?!?

If he sets the hook now, with half a dozen eager feeders moving in different directions, they will undoubtedly spool him.

The tension is palpable!!!!

What do we use for troll bait, anyway? I smell bull#### here from the opening lines.....

Doug
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My, how jaded & cynical have we become......:(
 
no, just realistic.............

So many trolls, so many pulling our chains, especially with numbers like we have seen in this thread.............

How many new shooters can blow a couple grand on a new toy????????????

Far less than one percent. So it is 1% possible that this is a true ad, 99% possible that it is a troll.............

Doug
 
Doug said:
no, just realistic.............

So many trolls, so many pulling our chains, especially with numbers like we have seen in this thread.............
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Well, most things are possible.
But from my vantage point things have stayed pretty civil in this thread.


Doug said:
How many new shooters can blow a couple grand on a new toy????????????

Far less than one percent. So it is 1% possible that this is a true ad, 99% possible that it is a troll.............
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Funny you should ask that.
When people get serious about a new hobby you'd be surprised what they'll spend, especially if they're at a point where they're reasonably well heeled.
And dieseldog6 has indicated he has 4 kids old enough to be involved so it's definitely possible he's on a decent living.
As far as real first time shooters go, I'm a school teacher and some of the young guys buying their first rifle live at home, work all holidays and on their weekends and stow away the sort of money I couldn't ever afford to spend on a new gun.
One kid I knew was tossing up between a car and a rifle.
I recommended the gun as a car is a big hole to pour money into!:rolleyes:
The car was more than a few grand and I'm sure if he chose the rifle he'd spend a decent amount on it.
O.k., so it all may be hooey, but you really never can tell and I'm staying positive.
Cheer up, eh!
The Conservatives got in!
 
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Doug said:
no, just realistic.............

So many trolls, so many pulling our chains, especially with numbers like we have seen in this thread.............

How many new shooters can blow a couple grand on a new toy????????????

Far less than one percent. So it is 1% possible that this is a true ad, 99% possible that it is a troll.............

Doug
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Doug,

you need to cut us newbies a break. Some posts may sound a bit unrealistic but that might be because not every poster is quite as savvy with the keyboard as yourself. ;) I've seen written communication at work that made me wonder if the guy was for real since it seemed too simplistic. My employer has about a grade nine education. When he wanted to buy an air rifle for his grandchildren to use at his vacation waterfront log home he went to a gun store and said "What's a good quality air rifle?". He knew nothing about current models so he just asked outright. If he posted here to ask about an air rifle it would probably seem like an overly simplistic request, but it would still be genuine.

I'm still finding that gun stores have little interest in drawing in a newbie by educating him. It's usually "well, this <expensive> rifle is good and of course this <more expensive> rifle is great if you're really serious". After that it's usually aloofness unless you've got your credit card out and you know what you want. That leaves forums like this the best place to self-educate. In the process of self-educating you've got to stick your hand up once in a while, and maybe your question sounds a little naive or unlikely. Considering the allure of fine firearms I don't think it's unrealistic for a newbie to consider spending $1500 or more for a first hunting rifle. I know I would do it if I didn't have so many more important funding requirements right now. That's why I said I'm looking at a Vanguard in synth and ss barrel as a top option. In about ten years, though, my mortgage should be gone and nicer "toys" will be much easier to acquire. :D

I'm glad for the responses on this thread. They've given me info that has helped me to understand my own rifle options better. Thanks guys!
 
Out of interest, dieseldog6, have you considered getting a Fiberguard?:confused:
It's basically the Vanguard with a Bell & Carlson composite stock, a very nice rifle.
And it shouldn't cost that much more.;)
 
well, maybe I am being a bit harsh here, but I doubt it.....

The handle, the language, the numbers..............

But it is a very entertaining thread, even if it is a dangle. ;-)

Doug
 
kombi1976,

I haven't really considered a Fibreguard option. I don't think I would truly appreciate the upgrade at this early stage in my hunting experience and I think it would likely cost more than just a bit extra. The fact that Wholesale Sports has the Vanguard in their catalogue at a great price is partly a driving factor behind my interest in it. I'm hoping it will give me at least a little leverage when dealing with a local shop.

Besides, I think the coloured Fibreguard stocks look kinda cheesy - like imitation granite spray-on finish. ;)
 
ffffffffff

I recently sold my new remington 700 and bought a new Savage American Classic model 14 in .308. Ive always liked savages and this new rifle with its great write ups caught my eye, just really hard to find one, anyway, I found one at lebarons and it made its way to me..........WOW is all i can say, its got a great piece of walnut, black forend and high polish blueing, not to mention savages awesome new magazine set up, all high polished steel, no plastic, liquid smooth bolt and over all twice as nice as my CDL !!!! All I can say is watch out remington,winchester and tikka,this gun is superb!!!Im going to order one of their new euro classic with the hand oiled stock.....
 
hunterhenderson said:
I recently sold my new remington 700 and bought a new Savage American Classic model 14 in .308. Ive always liked savages and this new rifle with its great write ups caught my eye, just really hard to find one, anyway, I found one at lebarons and it made its way to me..........WOW is all i can say, its got a great piece of walnut, black forend and high polish blueing, not to mention savages awesome new magazine set up, all high polished steel, no plastic, liquid smooth bolt and over all twice as nice as my CDL !!!! All I can say is watch out remington,winchester and tikka,this gun is superb!!!Im going to order one of their new euro classic with the hand oiled stock.....
Click to expand...

How muchie $$$ ???
 
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