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?
Go to Wal Mart or K-Mart.
Buy a Marlin .30-.30 lever action.
You will have it for life.
First things first. How much money are you looking to spend?
Use slugs in your Mossberg. Save the money.
I hear good things about the remington 700 series.
A good beginner rifle would be a Remington 7600, comes various calibers (I would recommend the 30.06 or the .270, but it really depends on what you'll be hunting), it's a pump action rifle.
I use a Remington 700 BDL in 7mm Rem Mag. Can't go wrong there. Roughly $700.
I also own a Marlin 30-30 Lever Action, roughly 300 bucks, good rifle, but not the the gem the Remington is.
I'm pretty patient and willing to save however much I have to if I think it's worth it. My initial thought was that I would spend about $300. Not sure if that's naive or not.
For a "first" rifle?
Those are serious bucks!
I recommend a metal rifle.
Tell me what you will be hunting for first.
I also own a Marlin 30-30 Lever Action, roughly 300 bucks, good rifle, but not the the gem the Remington is.
Hey Ox,
What exactly is the difference between those guns that causes the huge price difference?
It all depends how much you want to spend. You can get a surplus Swiss K-31 (caliber roughly the same power as a 308 Winchester) fpr less than $100. Or you can spend thousands on a custom built tack driver.
I would like a gun suitable for hunting deer and elk.
Then stick with the Marlin.
You can get your feet wet and have a useful tool all your life.
I still have one or two, and even use them although I have other stuff that is more expensive and more accurate.
When your kicking around the woods, a 300 dollar good shooter that don't weigh a ton outdoes a 1000 cadillac that you really can use to full capacity anyway.
He said deer.
Wabbits..huhhuhuh
Rule #1: the firearm should be sized for the expected game. What is good for a 300 pound deer would be inadequate for a 1000 pound elk or moose. All firearms are accurate enough if you are within the range. Long shots are frowned upon, as are shots in heavy brush.
I bought me one of these this past summer:
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_rifles/model_700/model_700_XCR.asp
In .338 Rem. Ultra Mag, oh yeah.
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