New Hunter
12-09-2018, 06:28 PM
#11
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: WI&UP
Posts: 751
No offense to the OP, but I tend to assume when someone is asking about a $400 rifle, from 5.56 to 308, they don't have an extensive collection, or likely ANY firearm already. Maybe a 22LR. I've been told HUNDREDS OF TIMES in the last ~20yrs, over and over, "I'm not new to firearms," and then find out a student meant by that they'd shot a 22LR with their grandpa a decade prior, or they've shot a few times with their dad's or grandpa's rifle. I use the same anecdote with these folks, "do you know Michael Jordan?" To which they always answer, "yeah." So then I ask, "What's his phone number then?" Of course, none have his phone number. "I know how to shoot." Ok, stand up and knock over my 200yrd popper out there. So for the OP, if you've been shooting some rifle every month for decades and have a fleet of rifles to choose from in your safe, then forgive my assumption. The question spanning from 5.56 to 308win for deer doesn't imply a lot of experience.
I know people using 308 for deer. It is not an oddball cartridge. While I don't agree, there are growing number of people using 223. Some cause AR15. Though bolt too. Bullets expand better now. People kill with a bow, and .357s. And I agree with them, if you take the perfect shot, it will die.
If he is using AR platform, AR10 with 308 would be good choice, but over $400.
Last two years I have taken non broad side and non facing, for the first time. 45-70 worked well. I am confident 30-06s would too, and many other 7mm/30 cal.
I've killed dear and bear, and never shot even paper over 100 yards. I don't hunt in wide open spaces.
While I think $500 would open things up, we are in an era where you can get great hunting guns under $400, that accuracy out of the box is greater than what we grew up on. Will they hold up? Dunno. But will kill a lot of deer.
12-10-2018, 03:23 AM
#12
Typical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: fairview park oh
Posts: 657
another good deer caliber would be the 450 bushmaster. here in ohio straight walled only . i have'nt met a deer that got away from the 450 bushmaster.the call it the thumper. all my deer have been drt.even consider a single shot. cva got them for 239 & up with a scope your still around 350. i got a couple of the cva's & they pretty nice guns . going to get a traditions 450 hopefully soon.
12-10-2018, 04:26 AM
#13
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: WI&UP
Posts: 751
Brings up good question. Some areas are shotgun only, some will allow straight wall. I would also add 4570. I got mine on sale with rebate for 350, but normally more, and add scope.
Going to get best deal on bolt action. I am not a big fan of scope packages cause I like better scopes, but they are a decent deal, and probably just fine. Those packages will limit him to more traditional calibers probably.
But so far we got a guy, who posted one question and disappeared. He hasn't been on since he asked the question. Leading to wild internet conspiracies, or some folks are just not internet prostitutes. Can we use that word on this site?
Going to get best deal on bolt action. I am not a big fan of scope packages cause I like better scopes, but they are a decent deal, and probably just fine. Those packages will limit him to more traditional calibers probably.
But so far we got a guy, who posted one question and disappeared. He hasn't been on since he asked the question. Leading to wild internet conspiracies, or some folks are just not internet prostitutes. Can we use that word on this site?
12-10-2018, 05:53 AM
#14
Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: texas
Posts: 1,201
I always have to smile a bit when I see these threads, if your asked to make a suggestion, regarding selection of any type of equipment,
its mandatory that the person asking for advise, provide the rather more experienced person(s) he is asking with ALL the perimeters and legal limitations,based
on the area and terrain being hunted, the game, being hunted, and likely range limitations.
obviously if the area your hunting is limited to a shot gun, or strait wall cartridge or if theres game department caliber or muzzle energy limits, caliber minimums etc.
those limits must be stated for the advise to be a reasonable match to the intended usage, and area.
most of us have several favorites in rifles and calibers, and/or must consider your recoil tolerance,
but I could no more select the rifle and caliber that best matches your anticipated needs best,
than I, or anyone else could anticipate your , choice in a wife.
yes there are dozens of well, proven combos, most are fully functional in most areas, under most common conditions and ranges.
and its the skill and confidence and experience of the guy using the rifle that tends to mater more than the rifle or caliber selected, in many cases.
I hunted with many guys than own and hunt with several different rifles, and two guys Ive hunted with for decades have stuck with two rather different rifles
(a 358 win BLR and a single shot ruger #1 in 270 win) both have long records of successful hunts
do any of the people reading this thread think their success or failure, on most hunts,
, would be greatly reduced if they were forced to use one of the more common rifle calibers ,
like a 270 win ,308 win, or 7mm mag or 30/06 vs what they currently use on deer hunts,
its mandatory that the person asking for advise, provide the rather more experienced person(s) he is asking with ALL the perimeters and legal limitations,based
on the area and terrain being hunted, the game, being hunted, and likely range limitations.
obviously if the area your hunting is limited to a shot gun, or strait wall cartridge or if theres game department caliber or muzzle energy limits, caliber minimums etc.
those limits must be stated for the advise to be a reasonable match to the intended usage, and area.
most of us have several favorites in rifles and calibers, and/or must consider your recoil tolerance,
but I could no more select the rifle and caliber that best matches your anticipated needs best,
than I, or anyone else could anticipate your , choice in a wife.
yes there are dozens of well, proven combos, most are fully functional in most areas, under most common conditions and ranges.
and its the skill and confidence and experience of the guy using the rifle that tends to mater more than the rifle or caliber selected, in many cases.
I hunted with many guys than own and hunt with several different rifles, and two guys Ive hunted with for decades have stuck with two rather different rifles
(a 358 win BLR and a single shot ruger #1 in 270 win) both have long records of successful hunts
do any of the people reading this thread think their success or failure, on most hunts,
, would be greatly reduced if they were forced to use one of the more common rifle calibers ,
like a 270 win ,308 win, or 7mm mag or 30/06 vs what they currently use on deer hunts,
Last edited by hardcastonly; 12-10-2018 at 07:14 AM.
12-10-2018, 09:42 AM
#15
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,743
I always have to smile a bit when I see these threads, if your asked to make a suggestion, regarding selection of any type of equipment,
its mandatory that the person asking for advise, provide the rather more experienced person(s) he is asking with ALL the perimeters and legal limitations,based
on the area and terrain being hunted, the game, being hunted, and likely range limitations.
obviously if the area your hunting is limited to a shot gun, or strait wall cartridge or if theres game department caliber or muzzle energy limits, caliber minimums etc.
those limits must be stated for the advise to be a reasonable match to the intended usage, and area.
most of us have several favorites in rifles and calibers, and/or must consider your recoil tolerance,
but I could no more select the rifle and caliber that best matches your anticipated needs best,
than I, or anyone else could anticipate your , choice in a wife.
yes there are dozens of well, proven combos, most are fully functional in most areas, under most common conditions and ranges.
and its the skill and confidence and experience of the guy using the rifle that tends to mater more than the rifle or caliber selected, in many cases.
I hunted with many guys than own and hunt with several different rifles, and two guys Ive hunted with for decades have stuck with two rather different rifles
(a 358 win BLR and a single shot ruger #1 in 270 win) both have long records of successful hunts
do any of the people reading this thread think their success or failure, on most hunts,
, would be greatly reduced if they were forced to use one of the more common rifle calibers ,
like a 270 win ,308 win, or 7mm mag or 30/06 vs what they currently use on deer hunts,
its mandatory that the person asking for advise, provide the rather more experienced person(s) he is asking with ALL the perimeters and legal limitations,based
on the area and terrain being hunted, the game, being hunted, and likely range limitations.
obviously if the area your hunting is limited to a shot gun, or strait wall cartridge or if theres game department caliber or muzzle energy limits, caliber minimums etc.
those limits must be stated for the advise to be a reasonable match to the intended usage, and area.
most of us have several favorites in rifles and calibers, and/or must consider your recoil tolerance,
but I could no more select the rifle and caliber that best matches your anticipated needs best,
than I, or anyone else could anticipate your , choice in a wife.
yes there are dozens of well, proven combos, most are fully functional in most areas, under most common conditions and ranges.
and its the skill and confidence and experience of the guy using the rifle that tends to mater more than the rifle or caliber selected, in many cases.
I hunted with many guys than own and hunt with several different rifles, and two guys Ive hunted with for decades have stuck with two rather different rifles
(a 358 win BLR and a single shot ruger #1 in 270 win) both have long records of successful hunts
do any of the people reading this thread think their success or failure, on most hunts,
, would be greatly reduced if they were forced to use one of the more common rifle calibers ,
like a 270 win ,308 win, or 7mm mag or 30/06 vs what they currently use on deer hunts,
when most will never even come close to shooting them near what they THINK they will!
deer have been killed with every caliber out there I bet
I have been in the gun game a long time, on a lot of different venue's, I have seen deer shot with HUGE calibers and still run and seen then shot with small calibers and run off, and vice versa, where they dropped in there tracks
there are SO many variables involved, NO one caliber can be said to be perfect and this is why there are so many
any DEER sized caliber, marketed as such will work for most all hunters
buy what you like
learn to use it correctly and stick to shots that fall into its capabilities!
ME, I prefer a little extra caliber over trying to use JUST enough
but that's me! LOL
12-10-2018, 01:02 PM
#16
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 3,905
I can and have killed game with a great number of cartridges. Over a hundred deer in a dozen or so states, with a couple dozen cartridges. Even more hogs, a few elk, a couple black bear and bison, antelope, and water buffalo. In any given year, I take somewhere between 1 and a dozen shots on big game, not including bulk volume hog, coyote, prairie dog, and coon, or other varmints, and have for the last ~27yrs. But 99% of my shooting is NOT done at big game. Really more than that - this year I will cover about 8,000rnds, and so far I’ve taken about 40 total animals, and only 6 big game animals. So big game makes up about 0.075% of my shooting this year.
What I do know about my rifles and handguns: I’m a he11 of a lot more interested in shooting my firearms which are NOT the milquetoast hunting cartridges you’re talking about during the rest of the year. As I raise my son to be a shooter, not just a guy who owns a rifle hidden under his bed which never gets shot save once or twice a year before deer season - why would I tell him he needs a 30-06 in his life? Why would he buy another rifle just to use for 1-12 rounds per year instead of using his other rifles which he might shoot a few THOUSAND rounds per year for other, higher use applications?
If you’re just a hunter who shoots a couple deer and a box or two in a couple years, sure. Buy your rifle based on what ammo is available at Walmart, and stick with one of a handful of “staple cartridges” which top the popularity/commonality charts. If you want to do anything else to make use of your rifle more than a few days or weeks per year, there are THOUSANDS of other options to be enjoyed.
So from the standpoint of a SHOOTER, I’d much rather NOT own extra rifles which rarely get used. I’d rather ask my purpose built rifles I shoot every week to kill a couple deer every winter.
Last edited by Nomercy448; 12-10-2018 at 01:05 PM.
12-10-2018, 02:55 PM
#17
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: WI&UP
Posts: 751
We don't know if the guy hand loads. He never mentioned it. Which unless you got lots of money, helps with lesser common cartridges.
I am of the belief you can't have to many guns. If you want to try something go for it. But I don't have a $400 budget. I suspect he will not be shooting 8k rounds.
But since the guy hasn't come back, it is going to be hard to preach to him.
I am of the belief you can't have to many guns. If you want to try something go for it. But I don't have a $400 budget. I suspect he will not be shooting 8k rounds.
But since the guy hasn't come back, it is going to be hard to preach to him.
Last edited by Berserker; 12-10-2018 at 02:58 PM.
12-14-2018, 10:54 AM
#19
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Marriottsville, Maryland
Posts: 1,058
May I suggest not spending less then $400 for a riflescope. For a bolt action rifle: Outdoor Life - Best Buy - Mauser M18 - $700 (push feed)
Last edited by Erno86; 12-14-2018 at 11:06 AM. Reason: link work
