First hunting rifle?
11-01-2009, 03:41 PM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: CT
Posts: 20
First hunting rifle?
Hey everyone. I need a little help chosing a rifle for hunting. I will be hunting deer with it and i am crossed between two and open to sugestions. I have a budget of around $300 give or take. I have been looking online and i was leaning toward the stevens model 200 or the marlin xl7. Im thinking about the .380 or the .270. Any help would be great i looked at all the reviews and both seem like a great rifle but im not sure which would be a better pick. This is my first rifle and the biggest long gun i ever shot was a 12 ga. shotgun. I will be going to my local gun shop and see what he can do in the used section as he ussally has a great selection. Thanks for the input.
11-01-2009, 06:00 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,526
I'm assuming you mean .308 instead of .380...if thats the case I would go with the Stevens in either caliber. You can always get a trigger job if/when you want to.
Another suggestion might be to look at one of Savage's package rifles. You can get them around here for around $370. Not a good scope with it, but it will probably give you a year or two. They are finished a little bit better, and have the accu trigger.
Another suggestion might be to look at one of Savage's package rifles. You can get them around here for around $370. Not a good scope with it, but it will probably give you a year or two. They are finished a little bit better, and have the accu trigger.
11-01-2009, 06:10 PM
#4
Typical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location:
Posts: 647
For your first rifle, neither. Go to your local gun shop and see what they have and then go to your nearest other gun shop, dicks sporting goods, or gander mountain and see what they've got. Gunbroker.com is also a great place to look. The thing about those rifles and most "starter" rifles in the same price range is they're light, cheaply made, and with bad optics if you get them in a package. My first big game rifle was a savage 270 youth model with a black synthetic stock. I couldn't hit a darn think with it because it kicked me so darn hard. I traded it off for a NEF Handi-rifle in 243win and haven't looked back. I've got a ruger 270 now but single shot was a great teacher of bullet placement and depending on the 1 shot. I'd recommend something like that or you can usually find a nice older 30-06 or 270 at your local gun or pawn shop. Get something that feels and looks solid and it more than likely won't let you down.
11-02-2009, 02:55 AM
#8
Fork Horn
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Paducah, Kentucky
Posts: 146
I think you should specify your range. There are a lot of great first deer guns out there. But the .308 and the .270 are good choices. I am a .308 fan so I am biased and would go with that caliber. Someone mentioned a 30-30 which is a great starting caliber too assuming your shots are 150 or 200 yards max. The newer Marlin lever actions are fairly inexpensive and you can put a scope on them unlike the lever actions of the past like I have.