another which rifle to buy post
 

I know you guys are tired of the post. I dont know jack crap about rifles. I am looking to purchase a rifle that if i want to go any big game hunting i wont have to worry about knock down and distance. I will be looking at bolt action guns. Like i said, I do not know anything about rifles. Thanks

RE: another which rifle to buy post
 

Well, you'll probably get a bunch of guys whinning about this and that, but here is your best bet, and you get it on your first reply. Buy a good quality 30-06. Its the most popular hunting round ever, and you can find ammo anywhere and in any configuration. Bullet weights from 125 to 220. Remington alone makes 21 different loads just for this caliber. Plenty of levels of guns from cheap to custom. I prefer to stay away from the prepacked rifle and scope combos. Once you decide your budget, look at both used and new. Sometimes your "used" dollars go further than "new". The economy is tight, lots of guys dumping their extras for cash. good Luck.

RE: another which rifle to buy post
 

vabyrd's recommendation is solid.

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X2- The .30-06 is more than enough gun for anything you'll run across...

RE: another which rifle to buy post
 

Good advice... A "properly" loaded 30-06at reasonable ranges will anchor any animal in the NA.. Just pick the proper load for the size animal your hunting and go...

DM

RE: another which rifle to buy post
 

Good caliber choice, as far as the rifle it's self, I really don't think you can go wrong with a Savage stainless toped with a 3x9 Leupold. That gun in 30-06 will be great for anything, and it will have good resale value if you need it.

RE: another which rifle to buy post
 

I second VABYRD. The 30.06 Spr. is about as versitle as any you could chose. Ammo is easy to fine, with plenty of options as to bullet style and bullet weight. A good bolt action is the way to go in my book for accuracy and dependability in the field. About any brand will do fine. I would suggest Ruger Model 77 Mk II, Remington 700, Savage 110 and Browning A-Bolt or X-Bolt. I use a Styer Pro Hunter and love it. But these are now a bit pricey and any of the se others will do fine.If I had to chose only one of the above for value, it'd be hard to beat the Ruger. I cannot emphasize enoughthat you need to spend $$$ on a good scope. You'll get a ton of suggestions on scope choice as well. It is my advice to go with the best that you can possibly afford.

RE: another which rifle to buy post
 

And to toot my own horn, don't forget about the Tikka T-3. I've got a stainless/synthetic in '06 set up with a nikon Monarch. Its the rainny day special. Don't know how it shoots yet, but with scope, sling and empty mag, it weighs in at 6.6 lbs.

RE: another which rifle to buy post
 

vabyrd,

I just held a Tikka T-3 today for the first time and felt like I was holding a toy gun. The stock was so plastic looking and feeling that I couldn't believe it wasn't an air rifle. But I haven't read one bad thing about their design or how they hold up so I am kind of second guessing my initial observations. I've seen other people post about their T-3 and how great of a shooter it was but nobody has mentioned the durability so I guess that is a good thing. Have you heard anything negative about the stock?

RE: another which rifle to buy post
 

I havent heard a thing. I believe they have to shoot a 1" group before they leave the factory. The biggest pain was the mounts. I hate the ones that came with the gun, and there are few available. the best I found are Talley bases and rings. Rock solid. The Warnes hung way over the edge of the dovetail and so did the one piece integrated Talleys. I finally went with the steel bases and rings. So far so good, but we'll see how well is shoots.

RE: another which rifle to buy post
 

Let me know as soon as you get it on some paper.

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Another vote for the Tikka T3 Lite. I have had one now for 4 years in a 7mm-08. I've taken deer all 4 years, one shot out to 288 yards. Very accurate and SMOOOOOOOOOTH!! I have a Nikon Monarch 4X16 w/BDC mounted and when shooting with the guys, well they're impressed! I am thinking on swapping my old TC .223 for a Tikka .223 Varmint soon!

RE: another which rifle to buy post
 

Will do so. I hate to set up a rifle this late in the year, but thats the way it goes.

RE: another which rifle to buy post
 

I had the chance to shoot a T3 in 7mm mag this summer. My buddy bought it last year and we used it as a backup to our bows for a caribou hunt. I was very impressed with the way it shot. Under 2" group averageoverall from three different people shooting it. The only reason I said Savage is that they are a little cheaper and easier to find, but yes, Tikka would be a good choice along with Ruger, or a Vanguard.

RE: another which rifle to buy post
 

A .30-'06 is like that nice girl who lives next door. A girl like that means you've always got a decent date to the prom, even if she isn't your first choice. Same for the caliber. The man carrying a .30 '06 is hunting pretty much anything he wants to hunt.

I have a savage 110 because the model's very affordable and has been around for 50 or so years. It made a Field and Stream top fifty list of best modern firearms a few years ago. They are as accurate as any rifle out there. Mine doesn't have it, but I hear their accu-trigger is a gem. Great value for the money.

RE: another which rifle to buy post
 

thanks for the replys guys

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since no one mentioned the good old 270win. very close to the 30.06 just a little smaller bullet. if u cant find a good 30.06 take a look ata 270.

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If you have any friends with rifles you could fire to see which one you like best, this would be a good way of going about choosing a rifle. When I bought my first gun, I let my cousin convince me that his trusty .30-.30 was a canon that could kill anything that we had here in Hawaii. WhenIshot my first boar with it and the bullet barely reached his vitals, I knew that I should get something a little bigger just in case. Don't get me wrong, that trusty .30-.30 continues to rack up animals for my cousin, but I settled on a 30-06 rather than a .30-.30 because of what I experienced when I tried my cousins gun. To me it's always better to have too much gun than not enough!


Axis

RE: another which rifle to buy post
 

Very good advice so far. I carry a Remington Model 700 in the .30-06 and it's a great gun. If I could afford to trade rifles, I think I'd definately go wit the Tikka T3 lite. I've really had a hankering for this gun ever since I held one for the first time. It's got the smoothest action I've ever felt on a gun and it just "fits' me well. When shouldering the weapon everything comes up right where it should be.......


GH

RE: another which rifle to buy post
 

CZ 6.5mmSwede

RE: another which rifle to buy post
 

.308

RE: another which rifle to buy post
 

TIKKA UPDATE

Just set up my 30-06 Tikka T-3 Stainless with a Nikon Monarch 2 x 7. Thing weighs only 6.4 lbs. Im shooting Fed 165's Barnes TripleShox (wife freaked out about the lead thing, prego with a 4 year old, what are you gonna do?). Trigger is sweet. All is can say is it shoots like a bad mother-shut-yo-mouth....