I am looking to get a good-great rifle for deer hunting and occasional BR shooting. I want something that I can lug around whilst trying to thin the white tail population. As I have aged, I don't like heavy guns or major recoil and have recently been shooting my 5.56 Noveske and my my 300 blackout. I suppose that the right ammo would work in the 5.56 platform, but I understand that a larger caliber may be a more humane way to hunt. Any suggestions? I think I would like to stick with a bolt action gun - I am not super wealthy, but may have more discretionary income than common sense at this point. I also enjoy BR shooting, but am more of a 500-600 meter guy as far as distance shooting is concerned.
Need rifle advice
- Thread starter prairiefire
- Start date
If you really want lightweight tikka t3 is a good option. They also are exceptionally accurate, but when you lose weight the recoil increases. Any Remington 700 sps is a good option. You might want to change out the stocks though. Just my .02
Prairiefire,
While not trying to deter you on your quest for a good-great deer bashing bolt action, I think I should point out that a light deer rifle and a benchrest rifle are at opposite ends of the same spectrum. There are plenty of fine inexpensive deer rifles, and there are plenty of fine no-so inexpensive benchrest rifles. However, a deer rifle has a barrel a svelte as a ballerina's arm, and real benchrest barrel looks like a axle somebody stole off a Mack Truck.
You already gotten several good suggestions above, none of which should ever be mistaken for a benchrest rifle, so I'm not really sure what it is your looking for. Maybe it's just a failure to communicate, and by benchrest your just meaning like resting on a bench, not formal benchrest shooting.
Please understand deer rifles that are light, also kick a good deal more, than a rifle that is not so light, and are generally uncomfortable to like, rest on a bench, for long shot strings.
I think Sherlock Holmes said it the best when Watson asked him what rifle weight would be best for hunting all of North America's big game: Quote " My Dear Watson, the ideal rifle for all North American game weighs 4 lbs when carried, and 14 lbs. when shot, old boy..."
All in good fun, good luck in your search....
I'll agree on that 16" bolt gun in 308.
I have one in my Ruger Gunsite Scout rifle.
It is not a hammer off the bench, it is sub-moa at 100 with a Leupold 3.5x10 on it in factory rings. Shooting 168 FGMM. Had no trouble taking a 7 point, 175# buck at 160 yds. DRT using Hornady Zombie 165.
A pleasure to haul around in the woods and get up to the tree stand.
Not inexpensive at around $1000 retail but gets the job done
I have one in my Ruger Gunsite Scout rifle.
It is not a hammer off the bench, it is sub-moa at 100 with a Leupold 3.5x10 on it in factory rings. Shooting 168 FGMM. Had no trouble taking a 7 point, 175# buck at 160 yds. DRT using Hornady Zombie 165.
A pleasure to haul around in the woods and get up to the tree stand.
Not inexpensive at around $1000 retail but gets the job done
I agree, but I also think that none of the really good choices for LR target shooting are going to work very well for you as brush rifles. I seriously believe you are going to need two rifles, one that optimized for each of the really every dissimilar applications you intend.
I would back up the 12LRP with a Savage 10 Predator Hunter Max 1 in the same chambering. It weighs around 8lb, and is really a bit heavy for brush work, but I think it will deliver what you want in performance, and the Savage choices are rather limited in 6.5CM chamberings.
Mine is chambered in .260 Rem, and could probably do both applications in a pinch, but I still think it's a bit heavy for a long day in the woods, and the barrel may be a bit light for sustained shooting. These last comments may serve to explain why I would prefer something that is not a compromise.
If you are willing to go with a different chambering for the hunter, you can save a pound or two and probably a few hundred smackers by going with the Savage Axis XP chambered for 7mm-08.
While some my naysay the Savage Axis as a cheap rifle (which it clearly is), it is probably a fairly good choice as a hunting-only brush rifle.
I have a fairly simple approach to hunting rifles. They should be factory rifles, using factory ammo, and the current crop of industry basic hunters are probably both economical and quite well suited to their intended tasks.
Usually the deer can't tell what it was you were using to hit them with just then. If you're a bad shot, the best rifle won't help you; and if you're a good one, you can get the round ontarget with a vast array of choices, including the economical ones.
Greg
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Sako or tikka in 6.5x55 was what i was going to suggest. A lot of hunting with thhe 6.5 with lighter recoil than a 308 but just as effective
well there is someone who made a rifle just for both of these Its called 17in straight contour carbon fiber wrapped 6br barrel, bat single shot action, jewell trigger, br stock, pistol stock, and a nf scope. Yup thats a br/ hunting rig, he showed a deer he killed with it.
Its called 17in straight contour carbon fiber wrapped 6br barrel, bat single shot action, jewell trigger, br stock, pistol stock, and a nf scope. Yup thats a br/ hunting rig, he showed a deer he killed with it.Similar threads
