What is the best 30-06 for hunting less than 800$?
- Thread starter dstan
- Start date
sharp shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Essex county (Ontario)
If your starting off, I would also go with a M70 sporter or featherweight. I think you could get one for $800 no problem with bases and rings. Buy a cheaper Bushnell to start because they are just fine for hunting. You can always upgrade the scope later. I take this is a hunting rifle right? You don't need million dollar optics to start, at least I didn't. Expensive optics will be better in low light but who the heck wants to shoot a big moose in a swamp just beforte dark anyways.
- Location
- Niagara Region, Ontario. For now
Well I don't think it has been mentioned yet but my current Deer & Coyote rig is a Marlin XS7, topped with a Bushnell 3200 3-9 x 40mm.
I have beaten it up, and she still holds zero perfectly and can shoot MOA at 100 no problems.
The gun is a fantastic deal at under $400 from Ellwood Epps, and the scope I paid $215 for from Bass Pro as the matched P&D's pricing. After a set of rings you will have some left over for a couple boxes of ammo for a day at the range.
$400 + $215 + $50 + tax($86) = $750
If your budget is $800 this will allow you to spend even a little more on a scope if you feel the need, but that Bushnell 3200 is the best bang for the buck in a scope if you ask me.
Here is the link to Ellwood Epps site:
http://www.ellwoodepps.com/firearms_new_marlin_4.htm
The Marlin XL7c is the long action camo version, and it is in my opinion the best gun for that kind of money, period! It also comes with a one piece base which is fantastic. It also has a very nice trigger which copies the Savage Accutrigger, and a fluted bolt, which is nice, but really makes no difference.
There are lots of very happy Marlin XL7, and XS7 owners here, and you should definitely look into it. They have also just released a wood version if that is more your thing but I have not seen one yet this side of the border.
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I have beaten it up, and she still holds zero perfectly and can shoot MOA at 100 no problems.
The gun is a fantastic deal at under $400 from Ellwood Epps, and the scope I paid $215 for from Bass Pro as the matched P&D's pricing. After a set of rings you will have some left over for a couple boxes of ammo for a day at the range.
$400 + $215 + $50 + tax($86) = $750
If your budget is $800 this will allow you to spend even a little more on a scope if you feel the need, but that Bushnell 3200 is the best bang for the buck in a scope if you ask me.
Here is the link to Ellwood Epps site:
http://www.ellwoodepps.com/firearms_new_marlin_4.htm
The Marlin XL7c is the long action camo version, and it is in my opinion the best gun for that kind of money, period! It also comes with a one piece base which is fantastic. It also has a very nice trigger which copies the Savage Accutrigger, and a fluted bolt, which is nice, but really makes no difference.
There are lots of very happy Marlin XL7, and XS7 owners here, and you should definitely look into it. They have also just released a wood version if that is more your thing but I have not seen one yet this side of the border.
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Weatherby Vanguard
I owned a Weatherby Vanguard (synthetic stock) in 243, actually two, one for my son and I was so impressed that I bought one. It was a package and came with a cheap Bushnel scope. I replaced the Bushnel for a Burris.
Long story short, it was a very impressive shooter. I bit heavy, but very balanced for me. Unfortunately, I wanted a faster action and traded it for a Remy Pump. The pump, while faster, is not quite the shooter (in terms of tight groups) that the Vanguard was. At 300 yards, 80 gr. nosler, it grouped consistently at about 2.5" (benchrest). I could "splut" an 8" gong and pop bottles all day long with that thing. My son's could do the same too.
I paid about $650 for mine, brand new!
I owned a Weatherby Vanguard (synthetic stock) in 243, actually two, one for my son and I was so impressed that I bought one. It was a package and came with a cheap Bushnel scope. I replaced the Bushnel for a Burris.
Long story short, it was a very impressive shooter. I bit heavy, but very balanced for me. Unfortunately, I wanted a faster action and traded it for a Remy Pump. The pump, while faster, is not quite the shooter (in terms of tight groups) that the Vanguard was. At 300 yards, 80 gr. nosler, it grouped consistently at about 2.5" (benchrest). I could "splut" an 8" gong and pop bottles all day long with that thing. My son's could do the same too.
I paid about $650 for mine, brand new!
Well, now you know what everyone elses favorite rifle is. A fat lot of good that's going to do you.
How about going to the range with your buddies, and examining and trying everything you can get your hands on? Believe me, a used $400 rifle that fits and pleases you is better by far than a $2,000 rifle that doesn't.
How about going to the range with your buddies, and examining and trying everything you can get your hands on? Believe me, a used $400 rifle that fits and pleases you is better by far than a $2,000 rifle that doesn't.
The best advice is to handle (and if possible, shoot) a few different models in your price range in order to find what "fits" you best and feels better to shoulder and carry.
I have a Rem 700 XCR in .30-06, it easily shoots sub-MOA groups, is very reliable and can take a beating. My recently purchased Tikka T3 in .243 just fits me better though, and is nicer to carry, shoulder, and cycle rounds through confidently in a field situation. As you can see in this thread, everyone has different preferences in fit, stock design and styling. So try a few out, and good luck!
I have a Rem 700 XCR in .30-06, it easily shoots sub-MOA groups, is very reliable and can take a beating. My recently purchased Tikka T3 in .243 just fits me better though, and is nicer to carry, shoulder, and cycle rounds through confidently in a field situation. As you can see in this thread, everyone has different preferences in fit, stock design and styling. So try a few out, and good luck!
- Location
- Golden Lake
A Thompson/Center Encore. It is a beautiful rifle (blued/walnut) and as it doesn't need a long action you have a .30-06 with a 24" barrel which is the same over-all length as a Winchester M94 .30-30 with a 20" barrel.
I owned a Weatherby Vanguard (synthetic stock) in 243, actually two, one for my son and I was so impressed that I bought one. It was a package and came with a cheap Bushnel scope. I replaced the Bushnel for a Burris.
Long story short, it was a very impressive shooter. I bit heavy, but very balanced for me. Unfortunately, I wanted a faster action and traded it for a Remy Pump. The pump, while faster, is not quite the shooter (in terms of tight groups) that the Vanguard was. At 300 yards, 80 gr. nosler, it grouped consistently at about 2.5" (benchrest). I could "splut" an 8" gong and pop bottles all day long with that thing. My son's could do the same too.
I paid about $650 for mine, brand new!
Absolutely!! This is where I would go if I was going to buy another.
Have you decided on action type? If you want to fall in love with that does that mean it should be a pretty girl with a wood stock? Do you want to scope it, and does the cost of a decent scope fall within or in addition to the $800?
I was entirely decided on a .30-06, walnut stocked, bolt action for my first hunting rifle. I got lucky and fell in love with a used Rem 725 and lived happily ever after (though it is no longer my primary hunting rifle, I'll probably hang on to it). If I were starting again, the advice my current self would give my old self would be to make my first all around rifle a .308 bolt action or a Savage 99 in 300 Savage. Just a thought.
RG
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I was entirely decided on a .30-06, walnut stocked, bolt action for my first hunting rifle. I got lucky and fell in love with a used Rem 725 and lived happily ever after (though it is no longer my primary hunting rifle, I'll probably hang on to it). If I were starting again, the advice my current self would give my old self would be to make my first all around rifle a .308 bolt action or a Savage 99 in 300 Savage. Just a thought.
RG
<><
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tylerjwitty
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Northern Ontario
don't buy a savage unless you want a accurate gun, simple to understand, too easy to spend money on extras on, shoot better then you, easy to upgrade, and a great trigger for all purposes. they are awful. im going in to business of retiring savages at a low cost to you. pls pm me with transfer papers and a sum of money and i will take these awful, terrible very unpleasent guns off your hands.. im doing this for you to take the stress off you.
Really A**hole?
your surprised no one suggested a garand? You may want to lug that bugger around in the bush but im sure this guy doesn't. (For those not in the know Kevin M. is a very close friend but he's to attached to his garand)
There is a lot of good advice in this thread. For a bolt gun I would be going with a Winchester M70. I may have missed whether or now you were bolt only or not but there are a lot of good rifles out there in your budget. I don't have an M70 but I really wanted one and when I held them and worked the action and all it was really a great gun. I do own a Husqvarna in 30 06 which is a really beautiful rifle and accurate to boot, bought it off the EE for cheap and do not regret it so that is always an option. Bottom line, best advice is to go hold a bunch of rifles in a store or at a range and see what you like.
sharp shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Essex county (Ontario)
Iceclimber, your making me blush!
Seriously though. If a guy wants the best scope then thats great but I really don't think it is needed in most cases. That being said, I do have a VX3 on my rig. I started out with a cheaper bushnell though and upgraded for the crosshair selection. I have a thick crosshair in my scope which is easy to aim in low light but I don't think I'd pull the trigger on a big bastard in a swamp or other bad terrain just before dark. If it comes down to using your scope for identifying game and other such things then ya a good optic is nice but thats illegal anyway. My brother carrys around a good set of binos with him and he uses them frequently. I don't hear of a lot of guys using binos but I guess it depends on the area your hunting. Quality of optics would also depend on the calibre too. A .30-06 might not need as good of optics as a .338 Lapua because of the ranges. One of the guys in my moose group uses a tasco scope and he just happens to be the best shot I know.
Seriously though. If a guy wants the best scope then thats great but I really don't think it is needed in most cases. That being said, I do have a VX3 on my rig. I started out with a cheaper bushnell though and upgraded for the crosshair selection. I have a thick crosshair in my scope which is easy to aim in low light but I don't think I'd pull the trigger on a big bastard in a swamp or other bad terrain just before dark. If it comes down to using your scope for identifying game and other such things then ya a good optic is nice but thats illegal anyway. My brother carrys around a good set of binos with him and he uses them frequently. I don't hear of a lot of guys using binos but I guess it depends on the area your hunting. Quality of optics would also depend on the calibre too. A .30-06 might not need as good of optics as a .338 Lapua because of the ranges. One of the guys in my moose group uses a tasco scope and he just happens to be the best shot I know.
Remington Model 7600 pump action.
As accurate as a bolt with the advantage of quick follow up shots as well as not losing your sight picture while 'bolt throwing'
MO.
Second that!
