Posted on 01/06/2006 1:15:15 PM PST by 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?
If you are looking for a quality rifle you don't have to spend a ton of money on I recommend a Savage 110 in 30-06. Why? The Savage 10/110 series is arguably the most accurate factory rifle made, it come in every possible finish and is inexpensive to boot. The cost savings enable you to put more money in optics, and a good scope ($400 or so) is far more important than having the fanciest rifle. Why 30-06? It is powerful, accurate, versatile and EVERYWHERE. You can walk into a gas station in Nowhere Creek,Montana and buy a box of '06 ammo. I know the Remington guys are going to look down their nose at the Savage but there is no better firearm bargain out there. And I've shot them all.
mosberg pump 12 ga. shotgun. Easy to shoot. Very effective. Inexpensive and makes a great sound as you chamber a round. Easier to become proficient with than a pistol.
Otherwise, I have a .45 auto that I like very much.
This prooves one doesn't want to try to break in to a Freeper's house, does one. And I haven't seen a friendlier thread with differences of opinion such as this one, very admirable.
Get a Mossberg pistol grip shotgun in .410 gage. Load it with #4 buck. Very light weight, with .44 magnum power. No kick. The #4 buck is like hitting someone with 10 rounds of .22's at the same time.
Savage 30-06
Package deal from Savage is a good bargain. Get you a usable scope from the get-go, but is cheap enough that you can upgrade the scope later without much pain.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=2685024
"The .270 has the advantage of a relatively flat trajectory, while still packing plenty of punch. The .30-06 has the same general configuration and powder load, but it pushes a bigger bullet, so the trajectory is a little loopier"
Not true. A 130gr .270 has a ballistic coeficient of around .380. A 180gr .30 goes over .450. This means that the .270 will bleed velocity at a faster rate and have more drop at longer ranges. Plus, the much higher secional density of the .30 caliber bullet will result in much greater penetration. You have to use a 150gr bullet in you .270 and drive it over 2800 ft/sec to come anywhere close to the '06. AND - the 30-06 is just getting warmed up with 180 grainers, you can buy factory ammo loaded with 220's that make the .270 look like the light game round it is.
308 is a shortened 30-06 developed to work in automatic weapons. It holds less powder and has less kick than the older 30-06.
Remington makes a good rifle, and because most hunter shoot their rifles very little throughout the year, most used rifles are not likely to be shot out. It's possible and worth careful buying so as not to get a bum gun, but the odds are in his favor. In my opinion.
I have the .44 mag version. Great bush gun. Used it all the time hunting the pines of the Michigan U.P.
an Remington 870 12 gauge with a 26" barrel. Throw in the improved cylinder choke load with 00 buck and you have the ultimate in home security
He is right, the sound of a pump loading is your first deterrent.
"Load it with #4 buck. Very light weight, with .44 magnum power."
Well, my calculator tells me a 240gr .44 makes about 1045ft/lbs of energy. A 3 inch .410 holding 12 #4s at 1100fps makes 650 ft/lbs total. More like 38 Special power.
if my memory serves 38 special is lucky to make 300 ft/lbs.
00 buck is too big, IMHO. It will go through several walls.
#4 buck is better, as long as the range is less than about 50 feet.
A new Savage rifle is an excellent choice.
Very accurate out of the box, and inexpensive.
if you are shooting within a normal city lot, bird shot will hit like a slug and scatter if it hits a wall.
"if my memory serves 38 special is lucky to make 300 ft/lbs."
I was being generous.
One last tip:
Spend as much as you can on the scope. The rifle is more accurate than you are, and the scope will help you greatly.
Go here for good scopes:
http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/
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