Posted on 02/24/2018 11:08:44 AM PST by i_robot73
“What were you going to be hunting?”
That of course is the appropriate question. Start with one particular game and choose the appropriate weapon. Then if you like the sport you can add a different quarry and new weapon. And so on and so on until you have a whole safe full of them! Fun but semi expensive.
My first question has always been:
What game (or varmint) are you planning on hunting?
Correct choice.
It's basically a mini-gun that dumps out around 2,000 rounds a minute and can saw down a herd of elk in no time.
You can feed a small town with the yield of meat you get off one of these things. /sarc
“I’m old school, and like the venerable .30-06.
Both the .308 and the .270 are also excellent choices.”
Old school here too. I think the best rifles built were in the 30’s through 50’s so if you can find the cal you want in a half way decent piece, grab it.
Same here. Ruger American Rifle .308 and a Henry 30-30. Love them both.
Here is something to consider
This is only a start as not all calibers are listed. Other questions
Type and material you prefer in the stock
Action you prefer
Single purpose or multipurpose in caliber loadings
Used only for hunting or also target practice/skills training
Primarily short range or long range capable
Recoil desires
Optic desires
If you can answer these and other questions you can zero in on something that will get you started. I have to warn you the more you think, practice and work with rifles the more it leads to an acquisition habit that will be questioned extensively by your wife, if married.
Have you been a good Son in Law? Maybe FIL is just looking out for his baby girl!
Check out a rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. Great ballistics, low recoil.
Bergara makes a nice rifle in their B-14 series, and they are a tremendous value. Basically a Remingtonn 700 knock-off with sub-MOA barrels installed.
http://bergarausa.com/Bergara_Rifles.php
Oooooh yes! Hunting laws vary from state to state, season to season and even time of day. Here in Tn. you can get in trouble with the game wardens if you use centerfire ammunition from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.
So it behooves you to do your research on your states official internet page and bone up on your states regulations. And don't always rely on your hunting buddies opinions. They may be well meaning but they can be wrong and dame wardens tend to be a little fussy. Regulations seem to get changed every time the state legislation convenes.
Lol
I woulda never guessed
Oh and if you plan on hunting on federal property, get educated on their rules. Get busted violating their rules and you may find yourself banned from many states that track federal violators.
Your home state may vary.
Good luck and Good Hunting!
LOL...great minds think alike...the Leupold VXII 3x9 scope is on my Ruger and Remington rifles...
AR15 a NRA Life Member also!
Would help if you said what you intend to hunt... squirrel, rabbit, coyote, prarie dogs, deer, elk, bear, elephant ,etc.
All modern, brand name rifles are pretty good.
I recommend the 30.06 because it will fire the broadest range of bullet weights, from 110gr to 220gr.
And every rifle usually shoots only one bullet weight accurately due to barrel resonance. And every barrel is different.
Personally, I shoot the Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 30.06 and it hits .72in at 100 yards with 180gr bullets. Everything else is 2in +.
There is no perfect rifle but a lot of really good ones out there. Don't get caught in paralysis by analysis. Find an acceptable rifle and buy it. The worst thing that can happen is that you realize later that another rifle would have been a better choice. Nothing wrong with that - it gives you an excuse to go buy another rifle.
If an AR-15 can kill a 300 lb man it will kill a 125 lb deer.
So white tails and hogs then sounds like
I’m old
I prefer 30-06 hands down it works woods and fields
Ammo plentiful
Bolt or semi your preference though for hogs I prefer semi
I also like wood stock.....I said I was old
Browning or Remington
Savage for budget
No budget and bolt then go Weatherby or some nice Finnish make
Best advice though and listen well..trust me..I beg you
Unless you buy a fancy make be ready to put your money on glass
Buy the best optics you can get...
Many here will claim some cheap stuff it’s just as good.....not to me it ain’t
In the south buy at least 3x-6.5 to 4x12 with 3X9 being most common
Down here you will pay for the best light gathering glass so you can shoot late..late as is permissible
That is when most big bucks will dare venture out unless you are super stalker and can go find them...unlikely
Illuminated reticle or other light assist is a good add on too
It’ll cost more than the average rifle
But again you can go cheap and it will work but it’s not optimal
Get practice time in too
Happy hunting
Always check any gun handed to you regardless to see if it’s loaded in the breech and even if unloaded point down
It took 8 posts? SMH...
“If an AR-15 can kill a 300 lb man it will kill a 125 lb deer. “
In most states that I am aware of it’s illegal to hunt game with anything less than 24 caliber.
.243 is the smallest that’s legal. .223/5.56mm is illegal to hunt with everywhere out west, for sure.
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