good first hunting rifle
01-27-2007, 11:46 PM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: El Dorado, Arkansas
Posts: 2,174
RE: good first hunting rifle
sneed162,
I am not saying these asr your best choices, but I will only say that I have used several different rifles , and this is what I have found that I prefer. But it would help to know what all you plan on hunting with your new rifle, and where you live or plan to hunt toknow what the usual type of weather you will be using it in. I will try to give you a good overall picture.
I have found small short action guns to be the best of the best. They are easy to handle in tree stands and ladder stands. They also work exceptionally well in tower type stands. They are comfortable to carry for long periods of time when used for stalking, also.
This type includes: The Remington Model 7, Ruger M77 Compact, and Browning MicroHunter. There aree others, but these are the guns I love. I own a Model 7 , and the Ruger. I used to own the Browning , but the ex-wife got that one. All three are very dependable and accurate. You cannot go wrong with any of these three in a 7mm-08 or .308 caliber. The 7mm-08 is good for all deer out to 350 - 400 yards and elk out to about 300 or so. The .308 is good for all deer out to 400 - 450 yards, and elk out to about 350 - 400 yards, and moose at shorter ranges. If you are only hunting deer, you could even go with a .243 or a .260, if you are at all recoil conscious. But understand that there is not a big recoil difference between the .243 and the 7mm-08 and the .260 is in between those. There is also not much difference in the 7mm-08 and the .308, but it can depend on what bullet you decide to use. But a .308 with heavier bullets is not punishing by any means.
If you are hunting in a fairly wet / cold environment, I would suggest a Laminate / stainless gun, or a stainless / synthetic gun. You can most certainly use a wood / blued gun if you take care of your firearms.
If you prefer a full sized rifle, I would not hesitate to look at the Browning A-Bolt, Remington 700 BDL or CDL, Ruger M77, or even something in the Savage line. The Savage costs a little less, generally, but it is still a good gun. I own a Browning A-bolt Medallion in .270,and it is a fine rifle, that looks great too. I also own the Ruger in a stainless / Synthetic in .308. It is a tack driver. There are too many Remington 700 owners to say that it is not a good gun. You can get the long action caliber of your choice, or get them in the same short action calibers as stated above, with the smaller size guns.
If you perfer a semi-auto, I dont think you could go wrong with a Remington Model 7400 Carbine, synthetic / blued in 30.06. I have one and it is a fine gun.
If you are not at all recoil conscious, and you want the biggest and best kinda gun, you can find the winchester short magnum calibers, in the smaller profile guns like the browning Micro hunter or Remington Model 7 size. But truthfully, a magnum round in a small gun can be punishing.
If I had to point you to one line of guns out of all these mentioned, I would look at the Ruger line. They are usually a bit cheaper, and they are very dependable and accurate. I recently, last November bought the M77 Compact in a .243 in a stainless / Laminate for myself, and I got it at a really good price ( nogun shop or online sellerwas cheaper, then I found out that it can be ordered through a walmart store, if your walmart still sells guns, for about 40.00 cheaper. Anyway, It has put meat in the freezer now too.
I hope this helps you out some. I tried to cover all the bases, at least a little bit.
Good luck,
Micahel
I am not saying these asr your best choices, but I will only say that I have used several different rifles , and this is what I have found that I prefer. But it would help to know what all you plan on hunting with your new rifle, and where you live or plan to hunt toknow what the usual type of weather you will be using it in. I will try to give you a good overall picture.
I have found small short action guns to be the best of the best. They are easy to handle in tree stands and ladder stands. They also work exceptionally well in tower type stands. They are comfortable to carry for long periods of time when used for stalking, also.
This type includes: The Remington Model 7, Ruger M77 Compact, and Browning MicroHunter. There aree others, but these are the guns I love. I own a Model 7 , and the Ruger. I used to own the Browning , but the ex-wife got that one. All three are very dependable and accurate. You cannot go wrong with any of these three in a 7mm-08 or .308 caliber. The 7mm-08 is good for all deer out to 350 - 400 yards and elk out to about 300 or so. The .308 is good for all deer out to 400 - 450 yards, and elk out to about 350 - 400 yards, and moose at shorter ranges. If you are only hunting deer, you could even go with a .243 or a .260, if you are at all recoil conscious. But understand that there is not a big recoil difference between the .243 and the 7mm-08 and the .260 is in between those. There is also not much difference in the 7mm-08 and the .308, but it can depend on what bullet you decide to use. But a .308 with heavier bullets is not punishing by any means.
If you are hunting in a fairly wet / cold environment, I would suggest a Laminate / stainless gun, or a stainless / synthetic gun. You can most certainly use a wood / blued gun if you take care of your firearms.
If you prefer a full sized rifle, I would not hesitate to look at the Browning A-Bolt, Remington 700 BDL or CDL, Ruger M77, or even something in the Savage line. The Savage costs a little less, generally, but it is still a good gun. I own a Browning A-bolt Medallion in .270,and it is a fine rifle, that looks great too. I also own the Ruger in a stainless / Synthetic in .308. It is a tack driver. There are too many Remington 700 owners to say that it is not a good gun. You can get the long action caliber of your choice, or get them in the same short action calibers as stated above, with the smaller size guns.
If you perfer a semi-auto, I dont think you could go wrong with a Remington Model 7400 Carbine, synthetic / blued in 30.06. I have one and it is a fine gun.
If you are not at all recoil conscious, and you want the biggest and best kinda gun, you can find the winchester short magnum calibers, in the smaller profile guns like the browning Micro hunter or Remington Model 7 size. But truthfully, a magnum round in a small gun can be punishing.
If I had to point you to one line of guns out of all these mentioned, I would look at the Ruger line. They are usually a bit cheaper, and they are very dependable and accurate. I recently, last November bought the M77 Compact in a .243 in a stainless / Laminate for myself, and I got it at a really good price ( nogun shop or online sellerwas cheaper, then I found out that it can be ordered through a walmart store, if your walmart still sells guns, for about 40.00 cheaper. Anyway, It has put meat in the freezer now too.
I hope this helps you out some. I tried to cover all the bases, at least a little bit.
Good luck,
Micahel
01-28-2007, 10:16 PM
#6
Fork Horn
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location:
Posts: 242
RE: good first hunting rifle
Tikka
Remington
Savage
Weatherby (for under $600 the vanguard which is esentially the Howa)
CZ
Howa- all for under $600
are all good I shy away from ruger's I had a really bad experincewith theservice dep. on a brand new gun. but some people swear by them too.
Remington
Savage
Weatherby (for under $600 the vanguard which is esentially the Howa)
CZ
Howa- all for under $600
are all good I shy away from ruger's I had a really bad experincewith theservice dep. on a brand new gun. but some people swear by them too.
01-28-2007, 10:44 PM
#7
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Darien, IL
Posts: 6,744
RE: good first hunting rifle
ORIGINAL: snedd162
i have hunted w/ shotguns and now i want to invest in a hunting rifle. I want to keep it within a reasonable price range up to 600$. any suggestions
i have hunted w/ shotguns and now i want to invest in a hunting rifle. I want to keep it within a reasonable price range up to 600$. any suggestions
New?
Used?
Bolt-action?
Semi-auto?
Pump-action?
Single-shot?
01-29-2007, 04:55 AM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Berkeley Springs, WV
Posts: 1,293
RE: good first hunting rifle
ORIGINAL: Pighunter56
Howa 1500, or a Savage
Howa 1500, or a Savage
If its 600 total, Id look at a 400-450$ gun and a 150-200$ scope. If its 600 just for rifle then anything you get in that price range will be fine. The biggest thing someone needs to do is go and shoulder and get the feel of a new gun. To me a Rem model 7 and Browning Micro Hunter are about perfect. I hate Tikka's and Winchesters, not because they are bad guns they just dont look/feel right to me. Go to some shops and check out some rifles,your price range will get youa plenty accurate gun for hunting.
The answers you get here are all going to be personal opinion. To say whats better then what at 600 is something we could argue for a month. (and sometimes do around here!!)
Since you're a shotgun hunter check out a Rem 7600, it reasonably priced, plenty accurate for hunting and is a pump action which is very realiable and something youmay already be used to using. A 270, 30-06, 7mm-08 or 308 will prob be all the gun you'll ever need.
01-29-2007, 08:48 AM
#10
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SC USA
Posts: 1,434
RE: good first hunting rifle
If I definately wanted to stay under $600 right now ..........I'd probably look into a NEF Handi-rifle and get a Nikon Monarch from SWFA while the prices are down !! Would be a nice gun for under $600 !!
I got a .223 NEF for my son and it shoots great !!
If you can spend between $700-$1000 for gun and scope there a lot of choices !!
I got a .223 NEF for my son and it shoots great !!
If you can spend between $700-$1000 for gun and scope there a lot of choices !!