I own or have owned Rugers, Weatherby, Winchester,BSA, Browning, Carl Gustaf, Rossi, Marlins, Mossberg and Savages,from that list the only two I will avoid buying is Savage and Mossberg and there are a lot of other rifles that I have not owned but would like to.
Understanding the difference between Factory Hunting Rifles
- Thread starter Tytalus
- Start date
I will never own another Savage or Mossberg centerfire rifle again either, but I am going to refrain from saying why, as for some reason you can say anything bad about most rifles here, except Savage or Mossberg. That gets you assaulted by 300 tongue chewers via the internet that claim they are superior to everything under $1,500.00.
So to prevent a sh!tstorm I won't say I think Savages are accurate, but poorly built garbage, and I won't say that Mossberg is crap either, there are exceptions to the accuracy though. I also won't say the accutrigger is the worst trigger ever invented either.
So to prevent a sh!tstorm I won't say I think Savages are accurate, but poorly built garbage, and I won't say that Mossberg is crap either, there are exceptions to the accuracy though. I also won't say the accutrigger is the worst trigger ever invented either.
Wow, this thread denigrated into another of those same ol' this one is my favorite slagfest.
Right now the market is dictating accuracy for a modest price. Everyone brand less than $1,500 has a quirk or annoying nuance. You are just entering into the sport. You are wanting a be-all-end-all rifle. Have a look at the Savage, Weatherby, Remington and Marlin. Each of those has modestly priced models. Next, look at the higher level Savage, Weatherby, Remington, Ruger, Winchester and Tikka. In other words, pick them up, work the action, get one that feels right. A set of open sights would not hurt as a backup to glass either.
Look to the 30-06, 270 and 308 for all round calibers. I try to select based on being able to buy ammo in a pinch in Timbuktoo. So far, some of the threads are providing more information about their bias rather than fact. With the modestly priced rifles, I can assure you that once you get a feel for the sport and begin to hone your skills, you will gravitate to finding a rifle better suited to your tastes and needs, not to mention that these will also change over time.
The bottom line, don't sweat it. Get out to a few stores and start your journey of discovery, it really is half the fun!
Right now the market is dictating accuracy for a modest price. Everyone brand less than $1,500 has a quirk or annoying nuance. You are just entering into the sport. You are wanting a be-all-end-all rifle. Have a look at the Savage, Weatherby, Remington and Marlin. Each of those has modestly priced models. Next, look at the higher level Savage, Weatherby, Remington, Ruger, Winchester and Tikka. In other words, pick them up, work the action, get one that feels right. A set of open sights would not hurt as a backup to glass either.
Look to the 30-06, 270 and 308 for all round calibers. I try to select based on being able to buy ammo in a pinch in Timbuktoo. So far, some of the threads are providing more information about their bias rather than fact. With the modestly priced rifles, I can assure you that once you get a feel for the sport and begin to hone your skills, you will gravitate to finding a rifle better suited to your tastes and needs, not to mention that these will also change over time.
The bottom line, don't sweat it. Get out to a few stores and start your journey of discovery, it really is half the fun!
you are one brave man, Cleft! I am proud to know ya!
Best advice is find a friend and shoot some of their guns and see what calibre you can handle. I prefer one calibre for all three animals you mentioned and think a 270 or 6.5x55 is nice on the shoulder and wallet. Really depends on your budget. I would rather have one really nice gun that two crap guns.
There is a lot of good advice on this thread. I would always be wary of those showing extreme bias toward or away from one brand. Although it may be justified in there own personal experience. The experiences they have had are usually the exception. The best advice I could give to to get into the sport as cheap as possible. You may find out it's not for you. Buy a used firearm that you can purchase ammo for at a resonable price. You will form a lot of opinions once you start shooting/hunting. A lower end rifle in 223 will give you a good gun for shooting coyotes (as you had mentioned) or a 22lr of any kind is always a good purchase.
Similar to your situation a friend of mine just started big game hunting this year. I took him out to the range and and let him shoot my 223, 270 win and my 338 win mag. He also got out and shot his first deer with a borrowed 30-06. He just bought a Rem 700SPS (7mm Rem Mag) on sale for $450 with a hard case. He picked up some nice glass for it on sale. If in the following years he decides he wants something different or that the sport is not for him he will be able to recover most of his investment. He had the benefit of going out hunting and shooting quite a bit before making his purchase so I think he has made a fairly good purchase. I would recomend you do the same if possible. The fact that you are on the forum asking questions leads me to believe you are a thoughtful type of individual who will do the proper research and come to a reasonable conclusion. Being able to handle and shoot some firearms (the more the better) would be a big bonus for you.
Good luck. G
Similar to your situation a friend of mine just started big game hunting this year. I took him out to the range and and let him shoot my 223, 270 win and my 338 win mag. He also got out and shot his first deer with a borrowed 30-06. He just bought a Rem 700SPS (7mm Rem Mag) on sale for $450 with a hard case. He picked up some nice glass for it on sale. If in the following years he decides he wants something different or that the sport is not for him he will be able to recover most of his investment. He had the benefit of going out hunting and shooting quite a bit before making his purchase so I think he has made a fairly good purchase. I would recomend you do the same if possible. The fact that you are on the forum asking questions leads me to believe you are a thoughtful type of individual who will do the proper research and come to a reasonable conclusion. Being able to handle and shoot some firearms (the more the better) would be a big bonus for you.
Good luck. G
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- Steel Town
Three brands of rifles I will NEVER buy again:
Savage centerfires (except Canadian made .22 rimfires seem very good from my experience)
Post 2006 Marlins
New Remington anything (except 870P and 870 Marine Magnums).
Am I biased? Maybe, but I've based my opinion on some horrific experiences and it's a "free" country. If you insist on one of the above, thoroughly inspect and handle them first!! Don't settle on a rifle because it's a few bucks cheaper, as you WILL be disappointed.
What would I buy again?
Sako
Tikka
Any well preserved post-war Belgian or Czech made Mauser 98
Calibres: 30-06, 308, 270, 7x57, 7mm-08 will serve you well
Savage centerfires (except Canadian made .22 rimfires seem very good from my experience)
Post 2006 Marlins
New Remington anything (except 870P and 870 Marine Magnums).
Am I biased? Maybe, but I've based my opinion on some horrific experiences and it's a "free" country. If you insist on one of the above, thoroughly inspect and handle them first!! Don't settle on a rifle because it's a few bucks cheaper, as you WILL be disappointed.
What would I buy again?
Sako
Tikka
Any well preserved post-war Belgian or Czech made Mauser 98
Calibres: 30-06, 308, 270, 7x57, 7mm-08 will serve you well
