New Hunter looking for good rifle.

[deerhunter61]

CZ...

I have three of them now and I can tell you they make excellent rifles. They shoot very accurately. They are also the only rifle I am aware of where you get a single set trigger on your rifle. By pushing the trigger forward it changes the trigger from a 6-7 lb pull to a 2-3 lb pull. Perhaps even a little less. I know you can have a trigger job done after you purchase your rifle but if you buy one of these you would not need to.

I bought my CZ 6.5 X 55 Swede this year and have taken 6 animals with it. All but my buck fell in their tracks. The buck ran about 60 yards but his heart was blown out.

I have hunted over 23 years now and I have a few nice rifles. Rifles that shoot incredibly accurate but when buck fever hits having a rifle that has a great trigger can make the difference between a good shot and a bad one.

Before you decide check them out.

 

[XD-40 Shooter]

Remington 700, either the tactical or the SPS, both are sweet rifles.

 

[45crittergitter]

Tikka T3 Lite

 

[rust collector]

I have a T3 lite stainless in 308 that meets my needs perfectly, but the Sako is the cream of the crop.

All the rifles you mention are fine options, and there are a world of others that will do a fine job. It's just a matter of which qualities you value. Try em all, and get the one that fits and feels best. There's a lot more to the story than claims of out-of-the-box accuracy.

 

[scythefwd]

bang bang,
If you are seriously having problems with your rifle, shoot me a PM. I'll get with you in the summer and we can go over your technique and see if you are flinching. I see it isn't the heaviest hitting thing you own, but the fit could be a bit off as well. How are you with your 7mm mag and your .300 mag?

 

[Jerry D]

Best bang for the buck = savage

For a general big game hunting rifle I'd go with

#1 Browning A or X bolt
#2 Sako
#3 Savage
#3 Ruger Hawkeye
#3 Rem 700
#4 Tikka t3

 

[dougwx12]

For hunting, you're probably going to hate anything with varmint or tactical in the name by the end of the day. Unless you never move around...

 

[atomchaser]

I guess it depends alot on what kind of hunting your hunting is. If you are going to be humping up and down mountains and going throught thick cover you'll want something light and impervious to weather --not some 10 lb tacti-cool rifle with a 20x scope on it. If your hunting consists consists of sitting in a heated blind until the feeder goes off, anything will do. More important is to practice with whatever you select in a variety of hunting like positions, not just shooting off sandbags.

 

[Runningman]

I would take a good look at the CZ 550 American. The action is a CRF Mauser style, barrel is hand lapped. Best of all.... you can get them in 9.3x62.

 

[Visionz45]

My other vote would fall to the Winchester Model 70 (classic or classic stainless) and i see .308's in their short action receiver occasionally. Really nice stocks, wood is nice and synthetics aren't that Tupperware your see floating around today. Stainless guns are my favorite and the control feed action cant be beat. Both of mine are very accurate. The safety may be the only downside i could see. There not the most affordable but the extra money is well spent. I'm in no way pushing the push feed style actions as they are about on par with the Remington model 700.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Have to say, handle a lot of rifles and be sure to look at Savage and CZ.

I've handled a bunch, and carried more than a few in the field. The Savage 116 is absolutely my favorite hunting rifle and while I was a mod here I pushed a LOT of people to buy them. I shoot mine pretty regularly and often get 3 shot 1/2 inch 100 yard groups with mine (before the new trigger system) if i do my job.

If stainless isn't a priority, have a close look at the CZ rifles, it's more of an aesthetic choice, but CZ makes a darn pretty blue and wood rifle and they too are known tack drivers. The 550 FS models also have iron sights, the 550 American and Savage 116 do not.

Just about any new off the shelf bolt action rifle should be able to give 1 inch accuracy at 100 yards. If you've chosen your caliber, handle every rifle you can get your hands on for a month or two.

 

[ken22250]

im in the other catagory, for a first rifle, i would go savage, a model 110 is a great rifle, and they are cheaper than any up thier, and a savage will shoot as accurately, if not better, than any on that list.
ken

 

[moooose102]

i am not a fan of plastic stock guns, and i have no experience with either the tikka or sako, so i didnt vote. i do like remingtons though.

but there is the best advice i can give you. go to several gun stores, fondle as many guns as you can find that you like the looks of in .308.

FIND ONE THAT REALLY FITS!

the four most important things about a hunting rifle, IMO, is fit, accuracy, an adjustable trigger, and weight.

most of the rest is hype. when you are ACTUALLY hunting, you wont notice how smooth the bolt cycles, or how pretty the fluting is, or any of the other stuff.

you will be concentrating on shot placement. the gun NEEDS to come up to your shoulder quickly, to the correct spot. go in with your hunting jacket, because the gun will come up differently without it. notice how it feels coming up, it needs to feel good. if the balance is off, this is when you will notice it.

also, at some time, you will have to carry that rifle more than a few hundred yards, so make sure it doesnt weigh 8 or 9 pounds. heavy guns are nice to shoot, but you will probably actually shoot at game less than 3 times a year.

the adjustable trigger speaks for itself. and where it needs to be set depends on you. not your brother in law, not your gunsmith, you. you can have somebody else do the work, but it has to be to your liking.