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New Hunter
Hi, ive decided to take up hunting and will be starting next year. Though im new to hunting im not for firearms but i am wondering about a good rifle for deer. My budget is 400 or less and am looking for something in 308, 30-06, 6.5 creedmoor, or 556 but am open to other calibers good for deer. My question would be is there a good reliable bolt/lever action that is chambered in one of those calibers for around that price? Also any begginers tips would he appreciated it as well, thank you!
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Lots of great choices. Somewhat depends on the ranges you hunt. Though I use 30-06 at 30 yards, which has a ot longer range.
30-06, 308, 7mm-08 remington, 270. 6.5 creedmoor has become popular with long range hunters. Not sure price of ammo or selection in all places. Go to a store an handle some rifles. There are plenty of rifles in that range. Might be better if you go up $500. Any cheap scope will probably do. But if get into it, that is an area where you may want to invest. Lots of sales this time of year on clothes. Sure you don't need anything fancy, but you need something. Especially in cold climates. When shopping I look at how load the fabric is. But I hunt at close range, and even then probably not a huge deal. I like wool and fleece. Go somewhere and handle some rifles. Also consider used off armslist or from a dealer. |
Obviously need to be able to shoot it. Next will be a place to hunt. Ladder stand, box blind, stalking, pop up blind. Stalking and walking is fun,but is harder for new hunter. If you have private land, can build a box blind, put something up. Public land you probably can make something out of brush. Check laws in your state.
Reading your states manual is good idea. Can probably download or get copy where they sell guns or license. Whatever you do, don't skip next year, cause you are nervous or don't know what to do. Don't let another year pass. Just get out there. |
Some states handout doe permits, some you have to apply for in spring or summer. Which might be something a new hunter might not know. I'd rather shoot a doe, than a spike. Plus good to just get your first deer.
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$400 is pretty tight, but it can be done for an entry level rifle. If I were buying a rifle for under $400, it would be a Remington 700 ADL, Savage 12 FV (Cabela's), or Ruger American, in that order. Buying for deer hunting, I'd recommend the 6.5 Creedmoor, 7-08, or 243win. These will have less recoil than a 308win, but still with great ammunition availability, and more than enough punch to cleanly harvest game at any range you might find yourself shooting. The 5.56 is not a beginners deer rifle, and even for an experienced hunter or shooter, it comes with a lot of limitations - I highly recommend against it.
A new hunter who is also a new shooter has a moral obligation to develop as a marksman before they go afield after game. I highly recommend you find a local opportunity (or not so local) to seek instruction. Beginners rifle courses are pretty rare, but you might be able to find one locally through nrainstructors.org - if you found a handgun instructor, they could likely help you find a rifle instructor, or offer some one-on-one instruction, even if they don't have a current course scheduled. Shoot me a private message if you'd like some help locating someone local to you for this. This person can also help you select a rifle, help you select ammo appropriate for your game animal and help find a load your rifle shoots well, and help you get your rifle set up and zeroed. State regs for hunter's education, licenses, tags, and seasons all vary, and every state's info is available online. Expect to be required to take a hunter's safety education course and buy a hunting license and tag in any state - but you may need to enter into a draw for your tag instead of buy over the counter, and might have to have a firearms safety course to get a firearms tag. If you have trouble finding this info, also shoot me a PM, and I can reach out to other IHEA instructors in your area to help get you connected. |
the 556/.223 is NOT a very good deer caliber, and its NOT even legal on many states, si, IMO< skip that caliber for a deer rifle here!
next, after deer season, start going to gun shops, be surprised how many folks SELL a gun after deer season to buy X mas gifts I had a gun shop and would BUY a LOT of used like new rifles, many times SOLD them the gun before deer season and then they sell afterwards back to me?? and as such, you can many times find very good deals on lightly used deer rifles with nice scopes and all set up! very very few people shoot a rifle enough to even come close to wearing the bore out, just costs too much $$ for most folks to do so! so, used rifles can be great buys |
Originally Posted by PrimordialVoid
(Post 4348262)
. Though im new to hunting im not for firearms you!
If you are able bodied adult male, I wouldn't worry about low recoil rifles. Unless shooting long ranges, where small flinches may make a difference. But back to it, where are you hunting? Wide open spaces are different than heavy woods. Lots of people are using bolt 223 and waiting for perfect shoots,with premium ammo, same as should with other low recoil rifles Never shot a 308, but never thought of it as high recoil. I know people as they got older went down to it.
Originally Posted by Nomercy448
(Post 4348267)
$
A new hunter who is also a new shooterd. |
Originally Posted by PrimordialVoid
(Post 4348262)
Hi, ive decided to take up hunting and will be starting next year. Though im new to hunting im not for firearms but i am wondering about a good rifle for deer. My budget is 400 or less and am looking for something in 308, 30-06, 6.5 creedmoor, or 556 but am open to other calibers good for deer. My question would be is there a good reliable bolt/lever action that is chambered in one of those calibers for around that price? Also any begginers tips would he appreciated it as well, thank you!
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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.
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most of us are on a tight budget, and you certainly don,t want to spend cash , on something your likely to regret purchasing later, or something in a rather odd caliber that has expensive and difficult to locate ammo.
if limited to a single deer rifle Id most likely try to find a rather common caliber like a 270 win,308 win or 30/06. and personally Id be looking for a deal in a rather lightly used, ... USED rifle, or a lower priced new rifle. in a bolt action example (new) .https://www.gunbroker.com/item/788967281 if you ask around at most large shooting ranges you'll find a few people with used scopes or rifles they will sell semi reasonable, the problem will be finding one in good condition at a decent price. your looking for good value, don,t go by price alone, and have a knowledgeable experience friend check it out, and I would be very reluctant to buy anything I was not allowed to test fire a couple shots with to verify function. you might find something like a mil surplus Mauser in good shape, a few years back the 6.5mm swedish mausers, and 308 win converted spanish mausers were priced well under $200 you might find one that was purchased, stuck in a closet and nearly forgotten for sale if you ask around, while it may not be fancy its generally a fine functional hunting rifle |
Originally Posted by Nomercy448
(Post 4348280)
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. |
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.
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Originally Posted by t.shaffer
(Post 4348294)
ahere in ohio straight walled only . i .
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? |
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, |
Originally Posted by hardcastonly
(Post 4348311)
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, 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 |
Originally Posted by hardcastonly
(Post 4348311)
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,
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. |
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. |
Why would a guy start a thread, and never log on again? The devil is in the details.
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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)
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Ahh, you have been googling again
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People have their own opinions. Granted I think he should explain himself. But that part shouldn't bother you.
Myself, if I was getting a mauser, I'd want the control feed. Not that I am hunting dangerous game. But I am interested in the reliability of it. The mauser safety is a little loud for me. Though users tell me to just use to hands or two fingers. Not happy with the noise 700 safetys make either. But I do like the position. |
All frauds bother me.
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So then why don't you debate his choice. So far all you have said, is I am write and you are wrong.
Its' almost like you have no gas in the tank, and are all talk. Atleast that is how it appears to an observer. |
Actually, it is I am right and he is wrong.
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The SJW bit is getting pretty stale. |
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