Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

I'm not exactly new to shooting rifles, but I am on all the ins and outs of them. I'm looking at getting a varmint rifle. But one that I could do other things with it other than just varmints. Like whitetails. This is a gun that I would only pull off the shelf a few times a year and I can't see spending a great amount of $$ on it. I'm looking at getting a .243 caliber. That should cover a few different animals without a whole lot of problems. Now to my question.....

Is a Savage "Hunter Series" rifle a descent one?? The research that I've done has about 6 different models chambered in a .243. Anyone have any experience with Savage rifles?? Good or Bad? The reason I'd like to go with one, right now, is almost purely based on price.

Thanks for the info!

Stump

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

I should also say....

That if anyone has any suggestions on good, but yet on the cheaper side of rifles....I'm willing to listen for sure. I'm trying to stick to $450 to maybe $500 and under. Hopefully much under. :D

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

i had the same problem but i got a howa .308 for $328 $150 in a scope $ in a bypod. and i love it. i use fmj surplus ammo for coyote and 150grn bt for deer. the 243 is a great round but so is the .308 and i can get serplus ammo for $0.10 a round. so that is what i went with. and i am very happy with it.:D

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

where can u get surplus ammo for 0.10. i would really like to know.

and to answer you question savage i sa very durable and accurate right out of teh box rifle. i would buy a package series rifle.it's a good deal.

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

pick up a copy of shotgun news at walmart or a store with gun mag's or go to a military serplus store. just look around i have never paid more than $0.15 a round for serplus ammo;)

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

here's a link to some I just found as low as .08rd.
http://www.southernammo.com/prod02.htm

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

I have a Savage in 22-250, excellent shooter as Savages usually are right out of the box. For the money Savage is most likely your best bet, Howa hasn't proven themselves like Savage has in my opinion.

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

I have a hunter series in .270 Win and it is a great rifle for the price. With the accutrigger it is a real shooter. Not the best looking thing but if your not planning on entering it in a beuty contest it will serve you well. Excellent quality for the price!

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

Stump, A good all around caliber is the 308 Winchester. Remington is my favorite. Just about every manufacturer has this caliber available in many styles and price ranges. With the correct bullet for the application, this one caliber will fit most hunting situations;)

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

Not just the 308 but any 30 caliber gun will serve you well, They make bullets from 110 grain to 220 for sure(maybe more). That makes them usable for most game from coyotes to elk/moose. So if you are goin for just one allaround gun i'd personally go with almost anything 30cal. But that is just my opinion.

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

I was thinking about a .308, but I already have a 30-06 for the bigger animals I might someday hunt. My main thought on a .243 was that it was big enough for whitetails also. I'm finding it hard to justify spending $400-600 on a gun and then put a $400 scope to only use it about 5 times a year if I go with something lesser than a .243. The research I've done is stearing me towards a Savage. Plus, I have $550 in Cabelas points on my card so I could pickup a Savage and some ammo for nothing. Gotta love Cabelas!! :D

Prarie_Boy1,

I looked at those package deals and all of them(if I remember correctly) only offer a 3x9 scope combo. That's not enough scope (in my opinion) for the yote hunting I want to do. I want to get good glass.

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

Because you already own the 30-06, IMHO that rules out the 25-06. Looks like the Savage chambered in 243 would be a good choice. You could get the Savage package deal & sell the scope on ebay? Good glass will cost you more than the rifle.
Good luck,

WK

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

How about an NEF Handi-Rifle? You can get them for around $200 and then have some $$ left over for a scope. I know that they come in .223 and .243, and maybe .22-250. If all you wanted was a varmit gun, that would save you a bit. Plus later on if you want you can send them in and have different barrels put on them.

That said, I wouldn't be disapointed with a Savage either.

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

Savage builds a very good rifle. I also am an NEF fan with five of them and another on the way. The NEF rifles tend to shoot light bullets best.

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

Savage guns are an outstanding value. Their accuracy is hard to beat by any factory rifle, and so is their value. Granted, they aren't pretty, but I don't typically carry artwork into the brush, I carry a hunting gun, my hammers and wrenches aren't gold plated either.

As far as buying the package guns goes, I'm up in the air about it. The scopes that come with them are turds. You get the same great rifle, and the rings are an extra value, but the scope isn't worth much, ESPECIALLY as a varmint scope. If you're only planning to use that scope until you can afford a better one, then go ahead and buy the package, but I'd compare how much you're really paying for that scope (i.e. how much would a naked rifle and rings cost), it's worth about $20 just because it took someone's TIME to put it together, it holds no real value for it's quality. Or, you can buy the package deal, and buy a better scope right off the bat and put the turd scope on your .22lr where it will do "well enough".

If you're really looking to save money, H&R 1871 or NEF single shot rifles can be had for under $200 in most calibers, if I recall correctly, I bought a heavy bbl .243 H&R for $188 last winter. They're incredibly accurate, and you'll get used to loading a single shot very quickly. They're really "handy" for carry (that's a pun, they're called the "Handi-rifle"), lightweight and compact, and just as deadly as a boltgun that weighs 50% more and is 8" longer.

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

Gotta agree on the Savage. I love that accu-trigger. Cant go wrong with a Savage for the price and as Nomercy says...you dont carry a work of art into the woods. If function is all that matters you will be pleased with the Savage.

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

savages are some ugly but boy are they accurate

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

SAVAGES are knowfor three things, 1)great accuracy out of the box 2)affordability 3)ugly. they are probably the best rifel value out there today. get a package gun and dont look back.

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

Well fellas,

Just made the purchase. I got a Savage .270 WSM. Black synthetic stalk with a stainless barell. I put a Nikon Monarch 4-12AOx40mm scope on it. Now all I have to do is do a little research on ammo, sight it in and I'm ready to go. Thanks for the info.

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

That should be one sweet rig Stump...congrats and good luck!!

RE: Rifle newbie that needs some help.....
 

good choice