New to Hunting, looking to buy my 1st rifle

[CaliCoastie]

I don't know about leaves it in the dust but to say that that are good for the same sized animals is over stating one and under stating another 308 is good for most animals in North America (easily in most) and 243 takwill take most but with a bit more care on placement.
Take what you will but try to get to the range with some friends and run some guns.

 

[GAF]

One thing to keep in mind if you are not going to reload .
During the height of the last ammo panic 30 06 and 30 30
was about the only ammo I could find on store shelves.
308 disappeared along with 243 and all of the other ammo
listed in this thread.

 

[hatt]

Most deer are shot at under 200 yards. If you're hunting in these typical areas a Marlin .30-30 will be perfect. And cheap.

 

[D.A.1]

Gents,

Thanks to all for your invaluable information. More than I could have expected. Now, here is another question...

Besides Bass Pro/Dick's/Cabela's... where can I look for a good rifle new or used, that aren't as pricey as the big name stores might be??

 

[jrdolall]

You can get a Savage or Ruger American at Walmart. Both are at the low end of the spectrum as far as price is concerned but both are just fine for shooting deer sized game at 200 yards. If the budget is $500 then any of these can be had at Walmart and usually with a cheap scope. The Marlin 30-30 is usually at Walmart but I hear many complaints about the "new" Marlins. I don't own a new one so I can't speak to those issues. My 1970's Marlin 336's are fantastic guns. I recommend the cheap gun way more than I recommend the cheap scope. It will probably be okay but better optics make the entire hunting experience more enjoyable.
If the budget is $1,000 then you open up several more manufacturers like Tikka and Browning to name a couple. I personally would rather buy a $400 gun and a $600 scope than vice-versa. A quality scope can make a decent gun work like a champ. A cheap scope can make a high end gun work like a chump. Don't get me wrong because I have some guns with cheap scopes on them and they work. It's just that a nice scope, in most cases, works so much better.
i WOULDN'T BUY A JOCK AT DICK'S!

 

[cottswald]

Now, here is another question...
Besides Bass Pro/Dick's/Cabela's... where can I look for a good rifle new or used, that aren't as pricey as the big name stores might be??

Have bought and sold through these guys. Widely used, competitive pricing especially on NIB.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Rifles/BI.aspx

Shop around for a local dealer that charges a "reasonable" ffl transfer fee.

 

[urbaneruralite]

The stores that have the best prices tend to be the bigger ones that sell in volume. I have found that gun shops will haggle. If you get on the web and find one they go for, some shops will try to get close to the cheapest price you can find. And you can often get 3% off for paying cash. (It costs them about 3% to accept payment by credit card.) Or you can just order it online and pay a gun shop to receive it for you.

Of the chains, I find Academy usually has the best prices.

 

[merrill]

I purchased a T/C Venture in .270W for $300-325 after a 75$ rebate which I really like. It is advertised to hold an inch @ 100yds. Mine holds a bit better but I use my hand loads. Some of the Savage rifles are around 300$ or less and they too are good buys. Are they equal to my model 70 Winchester? No, but they are just as accurate. It is Ford vs. Chevy comparison.

 

[ECVMatt]

DA1 it looks like you have some good info to start. I would vote for the .243 as a first rifle. I like to shoot a lot and probably shoot 100 rounds to get ready for deer season, the .243 is easy on the shoulder and hard on the deer and pigs. I can't tell you how many deer and pigs I shot with my 6MM Remington (pretty much the same as a .243), but it is a lot. None complained that they were shot with an underpowered rifle.

Online gun sales tend to be cheaper than brick and motor type stores. You might look into some online sales sites like bud's guns, grab a gun, Kentucky Gun Company, or Gallery of Guns. These sales need to be handled through a local shop for pick up. Some are very reasonable and some charge an arm and a leg.

Let us know what you end up choosing.

Matt

 

[fanchisimo]

One thing to also consider is ammo availability. What I mean is go to stores that sell ammo and see if they have your caliber. 308, 30-06, 243, and 270 should be plentiful but what I've noticed around me is that 7mm-08 is rare. I often see 7mm rem mag but not -08 so that might be a consideration if you go with a slightly less common caliber. Also I would heavily recommend a savage.

I'm a so-so rifle shooter but with the Savage 111 in .270 I had I was able to get 1" groups often. A better shooter could have cut that down to sub-moa, but I was pleased with my results.

 

[Gtscotty]

I would echo the folks that said you should look for a dealer with reasonable transfer fees ($20-$25). Then you can search the usual suspects like Buds, Grabagun, kygunco, cdnn and wholesale hunter.

 

[D.A.1]

Gents,

Thanks again for all this great advice!!!! Once I settle on a rifle, I will be sure to let you all know what I decided on.

D.A.1

 

[D.A.1]

Ok... one last question (yeah right)... What is this MOA I keep seeing folks refer to??

 

[ltcjwb]

Consider Remington?

I don't know what is available at this time, I haven't checked recently, but both Wal Mart and Sportsman's Warehouse (and maybe others) have been selling the Remington 700 ADL, with a cheap scope, in the $400 range. They come in either blue or stainless. They aren't the prettiest or fanciest, but are a good rifle. I have seen another blog discussing them as late as December, 2014, at $377. They have a variety of calibers, from .243 to at least 30-06. While it has a closed magazine (a small thing, to me), it's primary draw, for me, is the full 24" barrel. While modern ammo does much to reduce the effect, you still lose velocity with a shorter barrel. in .243, 7mm-08, or .308, you would have a rifle capable of taking almost anything in the lower 48, at up to 300 yards, although the .243 would be a little on the light end of that. Due to the longer barrel, when you read the velocity on the ammo box, you will know that you will be close to that with our rifle, as they test all these calibers in 24-inch tubes. One factor in your choice of caliber is where you will be shooting, what will be your longest likely shot.

 

[nhcruffler]

Lots of good replies. Don't forget to check the Savage rifles. As I just said in another post , I picked one up at W-M over Thanksgiving for $309 OTD and then I got a $50 rebait. $259.00 for a brand new Savage Axis II XP in 30-06. I got the 30-06 because I always wanted one. You may like the 308 better simply because the 308 is more popular now ( and into the future).

 

[ltcjwb]

Take them up on it. Go with them to the range, with a single rifle and a variety or cartridges. For example, in .308, take a box of each of whatever you can find in the store. That way you experience different bullet weights and manufacturers in the same rifle. Then go the next time with another rifle and ammo. After a few weeks, you will have a feel for what you can shoot well, and which rifle you may like.

 

[ugaarguy]

Ok... one last question (yeah right)... What is this MOA I keep seeing folks refer to??

MOA is Minute of Angle. 1 MOA is basically 1 inch per hundred yards. So, a rifle that shoots groups 1 inch or better at 100 yards, 2 inches at 200, etc, can be said to shoot MOA.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Ok... one last question (yeah right)... What is this MOA I keep seeing folks refer to??

I'm a little confused. You said you are retired Army but you don't know what MOA means? Really?

I'm a 30-06 guy but it's hard to say anything bad about the .308 because it was designed to mimic the 30-06 and does that well. A 30-30 was mentioned above and I tend to agree it's also a good choice. A good levergun will be very handy on a hog hunt and the 30-30 has plenty of power to take hogs especially with a 170gr bullet.

 

[D.A.1]

ArchAngel,

I understand how to sight in an M16A1/A2 and the like. Now that it has been explained, I realize I knew what it was, just never actually used that acronym.

Not every Retired Army person is all about guns and bullets my friend. Lol.

And...for all you who provided your valuable input, I have narrowed down my choices to either, the Ruger American, the Savage Axis, or the Savage 11/111 XP Trophy, in .308. Going to see which of those 3 feel the best in my hands on make my pick from there.

 

[CB900F]

D.A.1;

Me, I'd pick the .30-06 if those are the only two choices. But, it sounds as though you're open to suggestion about other calibers. If so, I'll put the 6.5 X 55mm Swedish Mauser on the table for you to consider.

Most folks who have experience with it will tell you that it has moderate recoil, is highly accurate, and kills all out of proportion to it's bore diameter, which is .264" in fractional measurement. The reason for it's outstanding terminal performace lies in the sectional density and ballistic coefficient numbers. I hunt elk every year, using 140 grain bullets and have no qualms whatsoever that I'm under-gunned. Because the bullets are heavy for diameter, hogs don't present a problem at all. In fact, I don't think a brick wall at 100 yards would keep it from penetrating.

Two excellent rifles currently available in the caliber, with wood stocks that are easily modified for LOP, are the CZ's and the Tikka's.

900F

 

[jrdolall]

I was in Walmart today and went by the ammo counter. They had multiple varieties of 3-06 (at least 7), two .243 and two of 30-30. They had no 308, 270 or .25 cartridges in stock. If you go 30-06 or 308 you will be fine for anything you want to hunt in the lower 48. I prefer 30-06 because it is what I have always had so it must be better, right? If you can find a 6.5x55 then you will be happy as that is just an awesome deer cartridge. Ammo availability is an issue since not that many people use the gun but it is readily available online. Most LGS carry it but WM doesn't, at least not around here. FYI the PPV ammo sprays in my Swede and I can't get a group at all.
If you get a Savage then make sure you get the accu-trigger! I have a couple of guns without it and the trigger is extremely stiff but my go-to 30-06 is a Savage with accutrigger. The American and the Savage are pretty close in appearance and accuracy in my experience. I sighted in a Ruger American in 30-06 for a friend right before Christmas and it shot just fine.

 

[j1]

You did not mention probable range and size of deer but a 30 30 has less recoil and is more than adequate for deer.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

ArchAngel,

I understand how to sight in an M16A1/A2 and the like. Now that it has been explained, I realize I knew what it was, just never actually used that acronym.

Not every Retired Army person is all about guns and bullets my friend. Lol.

And...for all you who provided your valuable input, I have narrowed down my choices to either, the Ruger American, the Savage Axis, or the Savage 11/111 XP Trophy, in .308. Going to see which of those 3 feel the best in my hands on make my pick from there.

While the Savage Axis is a good entry level rifle I would not buy one. I am however a Savage fan and the The Savage Trophy Hunter XP in 30-06 would be a good choice IMO.

Two of my hunting rifles are Howa 1500 rifles, one in 30-06 and the other in .223. IMO they are very good rifles.

 

[D.A.1]

Gents All:

I went and looked at..and held/shouldered several rifles and I have decided on the Savage 111/ XP Trophy Hunter in .308. The front stock on the Ruger is just too small for my hand...I can wrap my hand/fingers around the stock and barrel. The Axis, while a good price, just doesn't feel quite right. So, the 111 XP Trophy it is. It feels perfect, not too light or too heavy. I might upgrade the scope to a Nikon 3x9x50 though, because its much easier for me to see and get a good sight picture.. I will be picking it up in the next week or so.

Thanks again for all your great info!!!!

And of course.... I'll be pinging you all about ammo next.

 

[Inebriated]

Nice, you'll fill many freezers with it.

Hold off on the scope though, and just see if the Nikon that comes on it works for ya.