First Bolt Action Rifle

[M118LR]

I am getting ready to purchase my first bolt action rifle. My goal is to get competent at reasonable long yardage. The club I recently joined has 100, 200 and 300 yard ranges. I would also use this rifle for deer hunting in the northeast. The two caliber I am considering are 270 Win and 7mm 08 with a 2-7 scope. Any opinions on how to divine between these two calibers (ideally from experience with both calibers in similar rifles) and feedback on scope choices would be appreciated.

jimeast, We need to define what "competently reasonable" at "long" range yardage is? But any long range competitor can be considered an expert hunter with any modern rifle/shotgun while deer hunting in the northeast. Harvesting a Northeastern Deer under modern day restrictions isn't quite the same as being competent at a reasonably long distance! JMHO. Please opine.

 

[30Cal]

I thought OP was pretty clear: "100, 200, and 300 yard ranges". Also, he never mentioned F-Class. I get it that "long range" starts at 800yds, however most people operate on a different scale.

Out to 300yds, it really doesn't matter which of the calibers anyone in the thread has mentioned for accuracy, etc.

7mm-08 is a great choice. I saw 7mm-08 (and 270) on the shelves all through the 2013 scare when 308 had disappeared. My gut feel tells me 6.5CM will similarly evaporate the next time that happens.

And a 2-7x would be my choice for hunting up here.

 

[jimeast]

M118LR: I'm in my 50's and just recently started shooting. With my old eyes, I'm not sure what to expect. I shoot revolvers and my 45-70 and am doing OK. The club I am a member of does not allow 45-70 on the 200 and 300 yard ranges, hence a real rifle caliber to support a progression in distance on my clubs 100, 200 and 300 yard ranges and to also use for small to mid-size or larger game game, if my old friends in upstate NY (real upstate) still hunt.

Everyone else, thanks for all the feedback. I am most likely looking at a Ruger or Tikka T3 (thanks for the feedback, the Tikka was not on my list) and am limited in choice due to being a "lefty!" I currently have several feelers out for available Ruger's.

 

[Skylerbone]

I’m a long time 30 cal. shooter, 30-30, .308, 30-06, .300 Win Mag. I never considered recoil beyond adding a good pad until I needed something milder for my kids. They started with 5.56 and now .357 with 6.5 Creedmoor on deck.

Being familiar with the recoil of those 30s I can say 6.5 is a pooch in comparison. In fact I bought the rifle for my 11 year old daughter to use on an upcoming antelope hunt, as soon as next year if she’s ready. That’s not to say it has no recoil but I wouldn’t have her fire anything that potentially puts her off of shooting.

At the distances listed any of the above recommendations will work fine. At your age, and I say this as a fellow middle aged guy, I’d say spare your shoulder.

 

[12Bravo20]

jimeast,

I’m going to suggest you look at the Savage rifles since you are a lefty. Savage has one of the best selections when it comes to left hand bolt actions. I own several Savage left handed rifles and they all shoot very well out of the box.

Look at Savage’s short action Model 10 series in either 308 or 7mm-08. One of th nice features about the Savage rifles is the ease of switching barrels if you want a different caliber.

 

[M118LR]

Even though they are very good choices (6.5-7) you can almost be certain that any caliber that has been selected for primary use by the US Military is going to stick around. Many formal & informal matches are based on Military primary calibers. So the 30-06, .308 Win, and .223/5.56 are going to be better bets for all around shooting. Components, powders, rifle choices, rifle parts, etc.. shall have a much larger selection & availability. Looking for that left handed bolt rifle will probably be easier in one of the Old Military Calibers just because they are a run of the mill standard. Good Luck & good shooting.

 

[M118LR]

M118LR: I'm in my 50's and just recently started shooting. With my old eyes, I'm not sure what to expect. I shoot revolvers and my 45-70 and am doing OK. The club I am a member of does not allow 45-70 on the 200 and 300 yard ranges, hence a real rifle caliber to support a progression in distance on my clubs 100, 200 and 300 yard ranges and to also use for small to mid-size or larger game game, if my old friends in upstate NY (real upstate) still hunt.

Everyone else, thanks for all the feedback. I am most likely looking at a Ruger or Tikka T3 (thanks for the feedback, the Tikka was not on my list) and am limited in choice due to being a "lefty!" I currently have several feelers out for available Ruger's.

I do have a little acquired experience knocking down silhouette steel critters with a secondary firearm at 400 yards.
I'm curious about your relationship to another NY Upstate 300 Yard SHOOTER?
About that 45-70 at the 300 yard line, perhaps a little research on the 45-70-500 and the Thousand yard mark may be better than your current club membership has ever possibly thought of as conceivable, more or less as a minimum standard. As good as the 45-70-500 is at distances measured in feet, there are vernier sights that walk that round out to the 1000 Yard Line and beyond that are only limited to the experience of the nut behind the butt.

Don't limit your thought process to modern technology, the 45-70 was chosen do to it's real world performance before all the GUN SCRIBES printing or blogging today even had to be swaddled. JMHO. As controversial as it might be.

 

[SamT1]

I’d look at a Remington 700 sps In 308 win. Price isn’t far from the “budget guns” and it’s a base with endless potential.

Pretty descent hunting rifle as is, could be setup as a target gun swapping stocks or split the difference with something like magpul hunter.

You could throw a $150 Nikon 3-9 on it for a while and recoup descent money if you upgrade later

 

[d2wing]

There is a difference between a good deer rifle and a F-Class rifle or a long range target rifle. A big, heavy, long barrel rifle doesn't make a good deer rifle unless you are a bean field hunter. A sub moa rifle that is fairly light and short that shoots well at 300 or 400 yards is what I chose. I would be willing to try it at F-class as I shoot 600 meter target in the Army with issue rifles. I here good things about the Ruger American as well. I chose the 7-08 for accuracy, low recoil, and effectiveness on game. I have been very happy with the results. The trouble with the 45-70 is that beyond inside of 100 yards you have to know the range pretty well to adjust for drop. You don't often get time to use a range finder on a deer stand or stalking. A 3-30 is much better. But a 7-08 or 270, no problem inside of 300 yards. And more effective to boot.

 

[Varminterror]

I’ll pile on my vote for the 7-08 over the .270win. The 7-08 does anything the .270 can do, but with less powder and recoil, in a short action and shorter barrel. The 7-08 is one of my favorite cartridges of all, whereas the .270 was the rifle I first used for deer hunting, and I still don’t really care for it...

 

[LoonWulf]

'Nother vote for the 7-08, but ive always disliked the .270 just because....Either would serve your purpose, but like the other guys said, the 7-08 will beat you up less from a lighter more compact rifle.

Were it me I would probably be looking at the American over a Savage Axis, and a 10/11 over the American. The Tikka is also a good choice.

 

[ourway77]

You get what you pay for. As for the rifle I would opt for a Savage 10 with a box magazine or bottom release. Rifles have really come down in price so you can get a very good shooter at a decent price The 7/08 and the 270 have about the same bullet variety both are long range shooters. If you decide to hunt out of the country or state the 270 ammo will be easier to find. Jack O'Connor swears by the 270 he has killed just about every North American game animal. A 2-7 scope is fine but I prefer more magnification both for sighting in as well as game identification At 7 power you may not be able to see exactly if that Buck is the shooter you want. Don't scimp on the price of your rifle/scope it's an investment that will last a long time. Good Luck

 

[Picher]

I am getting ready to purchase my first bolt action rifle. My goal is to get competent at reasonable long yardage. The club I recently joined has 100, 200 and 300 yard ranges. I would also use this rifle for deer hunting in the northeast. The two caliber I am considering are 270 Win and 7mm 08 with a 2-7 scope. Any opinions on how to divine between these two calibers (ideally from experience with both calibers in similar rifles) and feedback on scope choices would be appreciated.

I'm a .270 guy, but 7mm-08 is fine under 300 yards and the shorter action is both stiffer and handier. I like the Tikka T3 Lite with a Leupold 2.5-8X, VX2. I usually have mine turned down when walking around or on a wooded stand, then turn it up to spot antlers, if necessary.

 

[horsey300]

Another vote for the 7-08 or creed in a savage10/16/11 lefty, 3X9 scope that YOUR eyes see through the best, and some components and dies, and you're set!

 

[jimeast]

Surprising turn of events: I found a previously owned, but never fired .375 Ruger African in left hand at a price I could not pass on, so I picked it up and ordered the reloading components and will get started with it shooting cast bullets. I also found a gently used Leupold VX-6 1-6 scope for a very reasonable price. So... a 270 or 7mm 08 is now on the waiting list.

With the 265 grain bullet, I can work up to 1800-2000fps, so it should be a great deer rifle, and with modern ammo, it can double as a dangerous game rifle should I ever find need of one.

I should have the rifle in hand in several days, but the reloading components will take several weeks to appear. First shot in early April!

 

[Legionnaire]

Yeah, that is a surprise! Gotta post pics, of course ...

 

[mjsdwash]

I have a friend with the cheapest Savage they make, don't know the model, but $200 new. It shoots .4 MOA reliably, with bulk bullets -55 gr 223 Rem. I would not believe it if I didn't see it, several times. So I recommend that, in whichever cal you choose. I would take 7-08 without a second thought if I handloaded, 270 without a second thought if I did not. I rarely see the 08 on shelves here, and it seems to come in waves of popularity. The 270 will be available at nearly every place that sells ammo, until ammo is banned.................... Just saw you got a Ruger, exiting, I wish I could find a good deal one, congratulations. What price is too good to pass? And pictures!