Hunting & Fishing First Hunting Rifle and need advice on caliber and models.

[Hawk45]

Background: I've been shooting for sometime but haven't done much hunting. Turning 40 this year it's something I want to get more involved with, doing trips with the guys and such. All my guns are heavy and though not sure how many long packing trips I'll do, I want to get a light gun so if one does come up, I won't be stuck lugging a 13lb beast. Want to get an off the shelf rifle to start and I'm sure as I get more into it the collection will grow as my marksmanship rifle collection has over time.

Game: Anything in North America (mostly deer but possibly some elk).

Range: 80% inside 400 yds. 20% 400-800yds

Calibers: I reload, so open to anything. Thinking 300WM/WSM on down with a 6.5x284 probably being the lowest. I'll probably do a brake that can be removed so I can get practice in at the range and spot shots easier. It will be able to be taken off if necessary when in the field for etiquette. I'm a 100% believer and user of good hearing protection at all times.

Makes/Models: Open to anything, but I have several Savages that have treated me well and like their modularity. Tikka's have a good following (with the exception of their short max COL of their factory magazines).

Thanks for your help everyone.
John

 

[mdmorrow]

I love a .25-06 but if you want a little more a power a .300 WM is hard to beat. I like 300 wsm but regular WM is much easier to come by if you ever need to buy some off the shelf.

I have a Browning A-Bolt in .25-06 as my primary deer rifle and I could be more pleased with it. It's the medallion version with a Zeiss conquest on top.

 

[mdmorrow]

*Correction, couldn't be more pleased with it.

 

[ArmaHeavy]

.30-06? 7mm? 7mm-08? .45-70? 8mm Mauser? These are just a few choices. They've been known to kill, even .30-30 will work on deer. Not sure about elk, maybe not, but throwing it out there anyway.

.300WM would do it too.

 

[ELR Shooting Range]

I operate our family's hunting side of the ranch. We see a lot of hunters and all sorts of calibers each year. With Texas Parks & Wildlife, we are issued permits for whitetail deer to help maintain numbers and keep them in check. Having said that, I was fortunate enough to be able to try a lot of different things (I also have an FFL which helped in cost!) in regards to bullets and calibers. Our deer are not large in stature, a field dressed whitetail buck on the upper end of the spectrum will field dress 140lbs. They are super tough. In short, 25-06 is great in this country but not enough for elk and larger game at distance. I ended up with a 300WSM and absolutely love it. mdmorrow is correct on ammo availability on the 300WM vs 300WSM. However, the 300WSM has become super popular and I have noticed a lot more retailers carrying it. If you are a reloader, I would definetly choose the WSM. We run 165gr bullets out here and they are brutal. I would recommend a barrel twist of 1:10 so that you will have some flexibility in bullet choices (165s for smaller game and then be able to bump up to 190+grains for elk, moose,...). I got the first 300WSM in our operation and have some hunters that have been with us for 20+ years. They made fun of my choice at first saying I was overgunned. Six years later, I believe there are roughly 14 WSM shooters now. We call it the hammer! Great caliber and versitile.

 

[mdmorrow]

I should have mentioned, I do love the 300 wsm as well. I have a Winchester 70 Coyote model. It's a great rifle and will slam anything in North America.

 

[threetrees]

270wsm, 7x64, maybe 300wsm; something like that. while i currently use a 270wsm for hunting, i'm leaning more towards 6.5mm these days for my next rifle ...

 

[SavageSlayer]

Tikka, Savage, Ruger, Remington, Weatherby, TC, etc... all make really good hunting rifles that will all shoot very well. It all depends on what features and/or aesthetics you are looking for and find appealing (i.e. wood vs. laminate vs. synthetic stock or blued vs stainless or 22" vs. 24" or longer barrel). It also depends on your budget. You can get a Tikka for around $500 or you can get a Sako for $1,500.

Any caliber from .270 Win to 30-06 will fit the bill for deer and elk. The 300 mags are not really necessary for deer or elk or much else on this continent, but if you like it and its what you want, I say go for it.

Whatever you choose, let us all know what you end up with. I wish you the best of luck in your quest.

 

[6mech]

Since you like the Savages, take a look at the 116's. My son bought one in .300WSM and I helped him develop a load for it with ease. It shoots incredibly well with 180gr Accubonds over H4831. Like mentioned above, it will hammer anything on this continent even at considerable distances.

 

[Tackleberry]

6.5 saum, 6.5creedmoor, 7wsm, 300 wm are my go to's. pick what you like and have faith in. They all work, you just have to do your part and put the bullet on target. I have a buddy who has killed several hundred whitetails and he has only shot a 30-06, old faithful. Pick what you like and use it.

 

[Codsmak]

You will not beat a rem700 or browning s

 

[Codsmak]

Or browning a-bolt. And as far as caliber goes big rounds are for people that might make a bad shot and can still kill the animal. 308 is enough to kill anything in this country except maybe a Bigfoot. As long as you can shoot where you aim and can wait to take the shot at the right time

 

[Codsmak]

In hunting you are normally trying to get closer to make the kill instead of how far away you Can do it. The weapon of choice is a very small part of hunting. I just finished a job for a guy that recently returned from Africa with 29 kills all with a bow including a lion and a tiger. So is a hard kicking 300 really necessary?

 

[ArmyJerry]

I own more Savages than anything, best shooters out of the box period, no matter which one or type of barrel. But for hunting I always go with Winchester, its the smoothest action for a reasonable price, shoots almost as good as a Savage and better than a Remmy. I don't recommend the Featherweight though, its good when you are 40 but kicks like a mule when you hit 50. Coyote is a good model in 06 or 300 wsm.

 

[Nuke Man]

I have been going over the same thing for about a year! I finally tonight ordered a Tikka T3 lite stainless in 300wm! I have handled all the above rifles and just really liked the smoothness, looks, fit and finish of the Tikka. They are remarkable shooters right out of the box. As far as caliber, you can never have too much rifle! I plan on having the barrel threaded for a brake. I dont recommend taking it on and off for practice and hunting though.

 

[lead ƒarmer]

Some savage models have a brake that you can rotate to a closed position for hunting, I'd take a strong look at those. As for caliber, I'd rather not deal with the recoil of the 300wm since its not necessary. My choice would be 7mm mag for factory ammo, or any of the 7mms since you reload.

Sent from my POS phone using Tapatalk 2

 

[TXLEO]

I love my 30/06. I can load 110 grn for varmint up to 190+ for elk etc. and factory ammo is everywhere.

 

[sirhitalot]

I got a 30-06 as my first rifle and would do it again. Cheap and available ammo, and great diversity in type of ammo can be reloaded.


Fra iPhone

 

[45.308]

A little late to the party, and I am one of those who think the Tikka is the premier off the shelf hunting rifle on the market. And you said it, their hit is their magazines but to me its not a show stopper compared to what the Tikka gives as a whole hunting rifle. Light weight to tote up and down, over around all day for miles, action is smooth, superb trigger, they all shot moa but can shoot a little tighter with minor load work.

Savage are some of the most accurate off the shelf rifles and I have seen some that will rival a $5000 custom pop gun. Try the lightweight hunter, would be my first choice but I know no one who owns one, the weather warrior or bear hunter since you mention a brake.

Caliber, who cares, you can only kill an animal so dead. Others disagree and want a lot a horse power, so did I at one time with 378Wby (too much recoil to shoot and too heavy to tote) and my all time fav 340wby in a lightweight hunter MkV. A 243 can dead where they stand just as many times as 340wby, ever animal and shot is different. Its all about placing a good quality bullet right in the engine, a horsepower magnum will not kill any deader with a miss. And I have seen it and read it over and over even on here about long 600 yard shots, not impressive as someone who has the skill to stalk a goat to within 200 or less yards.

The bullet is more important than the caliber. Not all are created equal and you have to marriage your bullet design to the caliber somewhat. I favor Partitions having never failed.

Easy to find calibers any where USA should also be taken into account as I have seen hunters show up with their special wizz pop home rolled ammo and had go barrow a rifle for their hunt.

Good luck

 

[Idaho Savage]

I own a Savage Long Range Hunter w/built in muzzle brake in 300WM with a Vortex scope and Harris swivel bipod. It shoots very well once you find your happy ammo (mine likes Remington 200 GR A-Frames) and while it's my first year with this rifle, I'm very confident it can take down anything in NA with ease. That said, it's not the lightest model on the market. I personally opted for weight/stability over a similar Tikka. I live in the Rockie's so weight is definitely a factor but I figure the only thing worse than hiking 8 miles up a 11K peak with a rifle is hiking up an 11K peak and missing.

Regarding 300WM, I've been told that they don't like anything lower than 200 Grain and my experience is consistent to this. Again, that could be just hearsay.

For a challenge and just for fun, I also hunt with my 336 30-30 with Williams peep site. It's dead accurate for me up to about 130 yards.

 

[dk17hmr]

I have several hunting rifles but by favorite to carry is a Remington 700 Mountain rifle in 280 rem, very light and pretty accurate with 160gr Partitions. If I ever shoot the barrel out on it I will put a new one on chambered in 280 Ackley Improved.

 

[ranger1183]

Sako Finnlight in the caliber of your choice. Excellent hunting rifle.

 

[thewileyone]

I prefer Winchester and Remington... 7mm or 300wm are both great calibers and will take down anything in North America. Both are accurate out of the box for hunting and light enough that you can carry them. Tikka's are great too. Savage makes a really accurate rifle but I just do not prefer them.

 

[bohem]

A Finnlight in 30-06 would be an extremely capable rifle. Factory ammo at JoeRagman's hardware store will almost assuredly have ammo, the rifles are well built, accurate out of the box, and the 30-06 has lots of power to kill anything on this half of the world. While it wouldn't be my first choice with bear I wouldn't feel terribly out of my league using heavy bullets in a heavy load on a 30-06 either.

There are lots of calibers that would handle the job, it's hard to find something different which is as well rounded as the 30-06 for a job like this.

 

[Prebanpaul]

I have a Weatherby Mark V ultra light in 300 win mag. They have a factory 1-10 twist. This allows me to shoot 210 amax. This gun shoots under 1/2 moa with hand loads. I have a viper vortex pst in moa/moa. I practice shooting this exact gun out to 1000 yards. It is not fun to shoot at the range. But use this gun to hunt everything. It has the right factory barrel for heavy ammo, and is very light.

If some one tell you that a caliber is too heavy, ask them what the difference in between dead and dead.

My scope allows me to be able to shoot long distance and the gun is really really light and well made.

 

[rhildy77]

I have used the 300 win mag with great success loaded up with 190 Bergers. This year I'm giving the 6.5 creedmoor a chance I think it will do just fine. I agree dead is dead so I would go with what you feel comfortable with.