I'm looking to buy a new hunting rifle for the upcoming season but am having troubles deciding what one to get. my budget it 300-500 dollars (all i can afford since I'm a college student) and I'm 6' and weigh 170. ill be using it to hunt deer and elk and possibly bear and i was wondering what gun would best suit me that would fall within my price range, ANY advice would help, thanks

30-06 in just about any gun made, to fit your price range though I'd look at a Savage, Howa, Mossberg, Marlin. Check the used gun racks, perfectly good guns at bargain prices sometimes.

Black bears? Or Grizzlies?

I'd go for a Remington 700 ADL in .30-06, .308, 7mm-08, or .270. Might go for something a bit heavier if Grizzlies are in the mix...

ill be hunting black bears

I really like my 7mm-08. Reasonably flat shooting. Reasonably low recoil. The .284 bullets have excellent ballistic profiles. And, you're in Oregon, so I'd expect you to be toting it up and down hills, so the short action saves you a little weight... Plus, you get the fun factor of having to sneak up a little closer to the game than you would if you were toting a 7mm Rem Mag...

All good advice rendered. I'd also check out the .308 in a lightweight package.

I'd say 308, 7mm-08 or 270. 30-06 or above is overkill IMHO. There's no reason to get a high recoil rifle for the above listed game you're after.

If you are after a total setup for $400 or so you can get a marlin xl7 or stevens 200 with a nikon prostaff scope for about that.

Oh.. and stay away from any rifle scope package. All of those scopes are complete junk.

I say savge 110, stevens 200 and marlin xl7. There in your price range and with the little you save you can put it towards a better scope.
30-06 is a very versatile round it can shoot 150 gr bullets for deer and 200-220 gr bullets for elk and bear.

The Weatherbys may still be on sale...they were around $399.00 that would give You a little extra $$$$ for a nice scope!Like most mentioned a .270,7mm-08 and .308 are all nice Rifles with limited recoil and if You buy a Bolt-action Rilfe you can get the "Managed Recoil" shells from Remington if your worried about any recoil issues!

Sounds like money is an issue - not only the rifle, but the Scope, ammo, etc.


So;

.30-06

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firear...ction/XL7S.asp


Buy the best scope you can afford, actually,the scope is more important than the rifle.


Good luck !