TOTAL VANITY: Need Advice on Hunting Rifles

[Junior_G]

I am trying to save up money for my first hunting rifle and I'm hoping to tap into the vast reserves of Freeper knowledge for some advice on what to go for. I am going to get my hunter's certification this year and am looking forward to my first deer hunt, as well as hours upon hours of shooting at the range. I currently own a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun and a 9mm Glock, but am absolutely clueless about which rifles offer the best accuracy and value (or whatever qualities it is in a rifle that I should be looking for). Any suggestions?

[ryan71]

I had to read 33 responses before some one had the intelligence to ask, "Where are you hunting?".

Thanks.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Would say coastal, likely blacktail, eastern part of the state, muleys.

[VeniVidiVici]

But for 300.00 you are looking at used maybe a Handy Rifle (single shot but accurate)made by New England Firearms would do the trick. You can always trade up later.

Man, I just bought one of these a week ago. Never guess what caliber .... Ok, maybe you could ;-) Anyhow, it was S&W 500 Magnum. $240 + tax.

I'm in love.

[yarddog]

I bought one of the H&R single shot rifles way back when the .357 Maximum cartridge first came out, and before the original Harrington and Richardson went out of business. It was marked down because no one wanted it apparently. Of course it would also fire .357 mag and .38 special and .38 Long Colt.

I didn't really expect it to be accurate but it was in fact unusually good, probably capable of moa accuracy.

It was one of those which I really wish I didn't have to sell but was in grad school and needed the funds.

BTW that rimmed pistol cartridge was ideal for the short single shot rifle, and very powerful too.

[VeniVidiVici]

I like it well enough that I may pick up another in a different caliber.

Come to think of it there is a Gun Show at the Orlando Fairgrounds this weekend. Maybe I'll go take a peak.

[junta]

I'm both a snob and a Made in America kind of guy so I'm sticking with my advice to buy one of the newer Weatherbys. Mine is in .308 and it is a beautiful piece of work that draws praise in any hunting camp that I'm in.

[Lando Lincoln]

I am really upset at you people speaking so highly of the Savage. I have done my research...... now I have to break the news to Mrs. Lando that I "need" another rifle! ;)

Lando

[OldEagle]

"I'm both a snob and a Made in America kind of guy so I'm sticking with my advice to buy one of the newer Weatherbys. "

At one the Weatherbys were made in Japan. Has that changed?

[antisocial]

I'm too old to hunt any more, but I have a remmington 700
in 30-06 with a composit stock. It has a leapers 3x9x40 rubber armored scope. I'd sell it for $325. Good rifle.

[dangerdoc]

Unlike most things, I find that I really would like to make gun purchases more than once. A fact that purplexes and frustrates my wife.

[freedomlover]

I recommend a metal rifle.

That shoot little lead thingys out one end. Real fast.

[UPcrawfish]

There has been a fountain of information here for you to digest so far... Take your time and go thru the postings. Compile the information as to caliber - costs - brands - models. Once this information is ready, then go and do some "looking". While looking, do not hesitate to "shoulder" the rifle. See how it "fits". It must be easy to mount to the shoulder and not require a lot of "adjusting" before you are ready to shoot. Some shots in the field require quick response and you don't have a lot of time to "get ready" to shoot.

Major sporting goods stores in your area should offer good prices on a larger variety of firearms. Wal-Mart will offer lower prices on combination packages (gun-scope) but on fewer choices..

Wal-Mart, as mentioned, carries Winchester - Remington - Weatherby brands in standard calibers. .243-.270-30.06

Last purchase I made of centerfire rifle was a Winchester model 70 in .270 with a 3x9 scope for under $400.00 at a Wal-Mart. With my son behind the lens, it will drive tacks at 100 yds and at 200 yrds, you can cover the holes with a silver dollar. We do our deer hunting here in eastern Nebraska and most of our shots are somewhat open terrain of 100 to 200 yds.

IF you are going to go for elk or larger, then as recommended earlier, a 30.06 would be my suggested minimum.

Consider the terrain you will hunt. Will the shots be mostly "long" 100 yds plus, or short, under 100 yds? Under 100 yds and a lever action "brush gun" such as the 30-30 might be the best bet (with a scope). Over 100yrds, then a bolt action with a scope may be the better choice.

Way too much info.... sorry for running on.. Good hunting.

Remember practice - practice - practice.. You owe it to your quarry for a quick, clean kill...

[VRing]

"now I have to break the news to Mrs. Lando that I "need" another rifle! ;)"

Another plus for the Savage - they are so inexpensive that coming up with the funds to pay for one without one's wife finding out is a piece of cake!!

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

If you are a serious beginner, try Weatherby...

The scope will cost as much or more than the rifle...

[Clive]

My favourite is the Lee-Enfield No4 Mk1 *

The No4 Mk1 is a simple, easy to maintain, robust and accurate and it keeps its accuracy even after being dragged through mud and dust and thrown into thr back of trucks by young men on the move.

The star indicates that it was produced in volume by Savage during WWII for Commonwealth forces and as such would be the version most readily available in North America.

[Uncle Miltie]

Bullet: 150 Gr. Winchester Softpoint

In the .270, drop at 500 Yards (200 zero) is -44.1 inches.

In the .30-06, drop at 500 Yards (200 zero) is -51.9 inches.

(Source: Guns & Ammo, 2005 Annual Buyers Guide pp. 152, 161.)

The .270 does push smaller bullets, and is more appropriate for light game as you suggest. But even when the bullets are as similar as possible (Mfg, grain, type, as above), the .30-06 does seem to drop more. Which was my point.

[junta]

First is Germany (highly prized, Sauer I believe) and then in Japan (Howa) and then by the company that made the M-60 machine gun, Marmount (but don't hold that against them). Mine is a gorgeous yet very functional rifle, synthetic stock and stainless steel barrel. The stock I think is made by McMillan and the barrel by Krieger and both are of the highest quality. Ever since the first grade I wanted a Mark V Weatherby and by the time I was 37 I had one complete with Leupold VariXIII, and it shoots in the inch range with most ammo.

[junta]

Hey fellow snob. What kind of scope do you place on your Weatherby that costs as much as the rifle?

[OldEagle]

I don't know a lot about Weatherbys. I thought Howa made at least some of them. The M60 was a fair to middlin bullet launcher.

[junta]

I'll disagree with you about the M-60 since I was a custodian of my unit's armory (USMC) and I wrote up the M-60s more often then anything else. Two things one was the bolt operating rod interface which was always wearing itself out and most egregiously the trigger mechanism which was unsafe at any speed. You know its trouble when the first thing they teach you about the M-60 is how to stop a "runaway" machine gun, twist the belt to break it so the gun runs out of ammo. M-249s for everybody