Cityboy needs rifle advise

I do not hunt but I've always heard that a 270 is one of the best all around cal you can buy . It's big enough for larger game and small enough not to be over kill . It's just a good all around caliber to have if your only going to have one hunting rifle .

I may have mist it but what's your budget including scope . The rule is you spend as much on the scope as you did on the rifle .

Also go to the big store check out the feel of all the guns and go back to your little store and have him order the one you want :D
 
I did ask my FIL what he thought. He said you have to find what works for you. He has both a bolt action and a DPMS AR. He uses a 223& 243 but his brother a 308. Only thing he did recommend was a 3x9 40mm scope but not a manufactor. He actually teaches conceal carry classes up there. He gave me alot of info but no personal recommendations.
 
BamBam, welcome to TFL.

First, some housekeeping... Do you already have your IL FOID card? You will need one to purchase a firearm or ammo in The People's Republic of Illinois. You will also need one to rent range time in IL. If not, you can apply for one at any gun store. Do you live in Chicago? If so, check the gun laws carefully because, despite recent Supreme Court losses, Chicago still restricts firearms ownership, requires safety classes, etc. There are stiff mandatory sentences for illegally owning or transporting a firearm in IL. You will need a good lockable case to transport your rifle.

I live in the NW burbs of Chicago and shoot up at Bristol Ranges, behind the Cheddar Curtain. They have 50 yard ranges for .22s and 100/200 yard ranges for centerfire. There are plenty of old salts at Bristol who will be happy to give you pointers, but they will not have the time to teach you from scratch. You can also shoot small bore (=<.22 rimfire) indoors at numerous ranges, including Maxon in Des Plaines, Gat Guns in Dundee or Bass Pro in Gurnee.

You might be well served by taking an introduction to firearms class that emphasizes safety and maintenance of firearms, in addition to shooting skills. The fastest way to lose respect on a hunt is to handle your firearm recklessly.

I agree with the comments about getting a .22 to practice with before graduating to a centerfire round. You may want to look at a used bolt action CZ, Marlin or Savage. For your hunting rifle, I recommend a good reliable bolt action. The ARs might look cool, but they are harder to break down and clean, they jam, and they are generally not good firearms for people who are new to shooting. And while they appear to be legal in MI for deer season, many states do not allow semi-auto rifles for hunting, which could limit you in the future. Finally, ARs are more expensive than bolt actions; you can get any number of good bolt actions for around $450, while a good AR will run you $1,000. You might want to check the sales for a Savage 11/111, TC Venture or Weatherby Vanguard S2. Stick with common calibers like .308 or .30-06.
 
I think this thread is narrowing the decisions well. I'll join the chorus

Remington Model 700 or Winchester Model 70. I prefer the 700, but these guns are the Coke and Pepsi of hunting rifles. Both are wonderful.

I prefer a wood stock, but if you need to save a few hundred, the SPS synthetic Model 700 is solid.

For caliber, .270 Winchester. It's an outstanding hunting cartridge. It is decently powerful, moderate recoiling, flat shooting (important for a newbie), and plentiful and common in stores.

For optics, I prefer a mid-range Leupold, I also consider Nikon, Burris, and Swarovski solid glass, but Leupold is my flavor.

A Remington 700 BDL(Basic Deluxe) or CDL(Classic Deluxe) in .270 Winchester with a mid-range Leupold 3x9 optic is a combination that will serve most hunters well for a lifetime.
 
I'd like to jump on the bolt-action bandwagon. Another option (other than the M70/M700) is a pair of CZ rifles: a 452 or 455 in .22lr and a 527 in 7.62x39, plus a 2-7x scope for each. That would cover practice, small game, and deer out to around 200 yards.

Otherwise, a Winchester M70 in almost any clambering would be a classy and classic choice.
 
I do have a foid. I have handguns. Ive been thru a firearms class and actually have a firearms card that is required for security guard and police officers. Neither of which I am at the moment. im in the western burbs.

I do know that one of the deer that got this year was about 235yrds.
 
I'd recommend one of the pre-packaged deals like the Savage Axis or Marlin XL7. Already has a bore sighted scope 3-9x40 on it so you'll spend a lot less time zeroing it. They are meant for the beginner hunter/rifleman.
 
I live in Mich. and hunt both the UP and LP. I use a Weatherby Vanguard in .270 Win with a VX2 3x9x40. It covers any situation I may encounter and kills deer with authority. Find a 130gr load it likes and practice in the off season. You could do a lot worse than this setup.
 
+1 on a 260 Rem if you can find one. I prefer the short action of the 260, also I like the minimal recoil. If you ask me, the 260 does not get the credit it deserves. I got one in a Ruger M77 Mk II several years ago and topped it with a 3-9 Sightron scope. In my opinion the ultimate deer gun for out to 400 yards!
 
One more recommendation for a bolt action. Win 70, used pre-lock Rem 700, or new Savage 14. For caliber, any previously mentioned will work, but I'd seriously consider 243, 260 rem, or 7-08. For a scope, I'd put a Weaver 2-10 on it. You'll find having a 2x low is more useful than the higher power.

The package rifles usually come with a crappy Chinese scope. Avoid them.
 
I hunt in upper Wis often, and the UP occasionally.

Great way to make a bad impression with people up there is to show up with an AR type of rifle!

If you're sitting in deer blinds (huts as you call them), you'll most likely be sitting all day and not making drives and such.
So quick follow up shots on moving deer may not be the most important. In that case, a bolt may work fine.

Now, if you're going for style points with the family and the deer camp (never a bad thing), if you show up with a Savage 99 or Win 88, you'll receive some smiles for sure.
If there's older hunters there, they may have the same gun, or 'remember when' they or family members had them at deer camp.
308's can be found somewhat reasonably. If you have lots of cash to spend, go for the full monty of classic style and find a 358 Win in either gun.

Either gun in 358 just oozes style and classic caliber. Nice handling deer gun with quick follow ups. The 358 hits like the hammer of Thor on deer (and most anything).

I'm a huge 358 fan, my favorite caliber of all time.

The above, or a Rem 7600 pump is never a bad choice for midwest deer hunting. I would choose either before any bolt.

Best of luck on your trip!
 
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If you've never hunted or shot a rifle, sit with someone who has and either borrow their gun if a shot is offered under strict guidance or take a camera and observe. Learn the ropes through shooting at targets with a .22 then progress upwards as your skill level increases. Going out and buying a high powered rifle to impress the In Laws is wrong and irresponsible. You may very well be a natural and be able to process things when that deer steps out but I doubt it. Shooting a live animal in the proper location so as not to wound it and making a clean harvest is no easy feat the first time out. You'll thank yourself later for being an observer and learning things the right way if you happen to like it. Conversely you will never want to hunt again if you wound one an lose it to die a slow and agonizing death and that new $1,000+ purchase will be a reminder of a mistake.

Just my honest opinion. There is a reason that I take my son's with me to learn, not shoot. This is no way lessens the experience but makes you more responsible and appreciative of what you do.
 
I'm with everybody else that says:

1. Get a decent bolt rifle in something between .243 and .30-06. Caliber choice is really not that critical. Its far more important to have a decent rifle and be familiar with it.

2.Get a decent (at least mid-level) 3x9 scope and have it professionally mounted.

3. Buy a box of cheap winchester, remington or federal shells in the same bullet weight you'll be shooting at deer. That's usually going to be somewhere in the middle of the ranges of bullet weights available for the caliber of rifle you choose.

4. Sight your rifle in 2" high at 100 yards.

5. Then buy several boxes of ammunition from different manufacturers, you might want to also try some different bullet weights. Shoot them to see which gives you the best groups.

6. Go buy four or five more boxes of the ammunition that performs best in your rifle.

7. Shoot all but one box through your rifle in practice at different ranges. You'll know how to use and clean the rifle when you're done and you'll know where it hits when you do your job as shooter.

8. Show up in deer camp with something you have confidence in using, shooting and hitting with.

9. Standby for the quiet acceptance and appreciation that will be yours, and be thankful you didn't bring an AR that would make everybody else look funny at you.

added in edit: +1 to the guy who said buy and use a .22 a lot before you go. Rifle shooting and marksmanship =/= handgun shooting and marksmanship.
 
Most has already been said on this topic. I own a Remington 700 in .243 with a Leupold 3-9 scope and think it's a great rifle - for your whole lifetime. If I was planning on shooting it at 200# deer I'd consider a .270 also, but a .243 with 100 grain bullets will get the job done just fine too.

Buying a .22 first and shooting it is a good option. However, I believe that instead you could just get a .243 as a first rifle. The kick is not bad, most people wouldn't flinch with it. I believe that if you were to take the money you'd spend on your .22 rifle and instead just buy more .243 or .270 ammo and have 300-500 rounds down the barrel you'd be better served.

The worst thing you could do is not have practiced enough with your deer rifle.
 
I'm going to chime in too. First, you said hunting rifle without appearing to be a noob or out of place. It should be a bolt or lever action.

Second, you said deer hunting, so that usually means 6mm or larger.

Third, distance mentioned seemed to be 200 yds +. That leaves out the 30-30 and 45-70 (45-70 has the trajectory of a mortar round), plus the pistol rounds.

Fourth, You are new to rifle shooting and more than likely recoil sensitive. That narrows down your selection quite a bit. You will probably want something with a little less than the 308. More than likely 243 or 260 remington.

The 260 does have a bit of an advantage of energy down range and no one would really fault you for that choice.

So, here is my selection for you. Savage mod #11/111 package (decent 3-9 scope) in 260 remington. Savage is known for their out of the box accuracy and decent price.

This will serve you well for a lifetime. Later you might want to reload ammunition. Although 260 ammo isn't quite as cheap as 243, it still isn't bad.
If you do decide to reload, 260 can be made from 243,260,7-08, 308, and 7.62x51 cases.

There, that's my .02 and the reasons for its selection.
 
bambam, now that you've answered a few questions I and others asked, I'll chime in again, echoing what others have said to a large degree and will reiterate starting off with a good .22 for initial safety & marksmanship skills and the overall enjoyment and confidence they bring to the table.

Take a Hunter Safety Class of course.

Hopefully do some squirrel or bunny hunting with the aforementioned .22lr. Helps with developing an eye for moving targets that are pretty small, or small targets that are still, both can be hard to find due to their coloring... which as you'll find out, deer hunting share and have much the same issues, albeit a slightly larger target, but you'll be shooting at a 6"-8" vital zone on old Bambi anywhere from 15 yds away to a football field or two apparently. Read up and learn about the animals a bit. Always helps to know where to place the bullet.

Others here have given excellent advice on bolt action vs lever vs semi and choice of caliber and glass, so I'll defer as there is little I could add that differs.

I will say this... as a kid I learned to shoot my Dad's 1903 Springfield which I liken to a 12 ga in terms of felt recoil. Recoil is not a problem per se, when one has developed good habits. For the amount of moola you would have put down on an AR in .308 w/ optics, you could conceivably buy a .22, a 12 or 20 ga and a used or new .30-06 plus some good glass for the .22 and 06 and with that trio you'd be set for pretty much anything that walks or flies and tastes good.

I hope you learn to love hunting as much as I and others do. Even if you get skunked (and you will), it's not about the kill, more about the love of nature and being outdoors. It's certainly a different pace than city living with its fast paced movement. Some critters, like deer, tend to move slowly until they need to boogie and boy howdy can they scamper. You can pass on shots and should at times. (the old confidence in yourself and your rifle thing)

Hunting for your rifle... enjoy the stalk, learn more about your quarry. You're already asking the right questions and being steered in the right direction by good people who know. Go slow at first until you find the one. There's a lot of choices available, each has their own quirks, fans and foibles. What is right and tastes good for me isn't always what you want or need or suits your tastes.

But the hunt...be it for firearm or critter, that IS the thing. Good companionship always makes it better. ;)

and be safe...
 
I would buy used if you dont plan on hunting alot. All my guns were pre-owned and they work very well. Get yourself a cheap 30-06, or even a good cheap Mossberg 500. Not sure if buckshot is legal in your state or if you can use shotgun on private. But a decent shotgun with a 4x scope and a box of slugs or buckshot should do you well.
 
I hunted in northern Michigan with a pump action Remington rifle in 35 caliber that worked well for me. My hunting buddies all had 30-30 carbines. Longest shot for me was approx 75 yards in heavy timber and swampy country.

Plan to bring plenty of warm clothing and a compass. It's easy to get turned around in unfamilar country.

Jack
 
Well, this last page has changed the conversation quite a bit, but I still want to ask something based on this quote. . .BTW, I could have quoted 4 - 5 posts of similar material. . .
I agree with everyone here so far get a Winchester model 70 chambered in .270 Win(warning this recoils quite a bit for someone not used to hunting weight bolt actions)
Click to expand...

I started hunting at age 12 with a Winchester made 1917 Enfield which had been "sporterized" by my dad, grandfather and a local gunsmith. It has a 4x Weaver of 50's - 60's vintage on it. I killed a lot of deer with that rifle and an Elk too.

BUT

If I were hunting deer or smaller game only at 0 - 300 yards, I would have something smaller lighter and with minimal recoil. 20 years ago, the 243 Win had a bad rep for killing deer, but I would gues this was with the ol' $5 - $8 /box bullets of the day. Nowadays, with a newfangled super bullet properly matched to the 243 Win's velocity, I think it would be a super rifle.

260 fit's that role well also.

Also, if I wasn't likely to get a 15 yard shot, but I might go as far as 300 at the outside, a standard 6x is a super optic. Sure, you won't be able to tell cool stories about pulling up on a 25 yd deer at 12x or missing a chance at a 100 yd deer moving from 3x to 9x, but who cares. . .It is about putting meat on the table and getting a rack hanging out of the back of the truck.

Last, there was a post about being a good sportsman and being ethical. Yes, this is important. I probably wouldn't cry if one got away from me, but I'm the type who knows how far I can shoot and puts the bullet on the mark or darn close. Killed this year's deer with a slug through the heart. I also had a bad day at about 15 where I got on a good doe antelope and shot her. She must of stepped or I just screwed up. She was about 100 yards away. I chased her down to the last shot of ammo I had. . .I finally got a "good" 300 shot with her stopped and put a kill shot in her. It does feel bad, but hunting is about knowing your limits, working within them and getting the job done when things go wrong.
 
alrite fella i would like to put my $.02 into the fray. as if you aren't probably confused enough as everybody has a different opinion. so, my opinion based on cost effectiveness and also NOT sacrificing quality in the least would be a weatherby vanguard series 2 in either .308 win,personal fav of mine, or 7mm-08. both of these are short actions which will save you a quarter of a pound from a long action. scope: i agree on the 3-9x40mm in either a leupold vx2 or a redfield which is made by leupold. get a regular duplex reticule so you won't be confused with so many lines and hold-over points. rings and mounts: leupold dual dovetail 2 piece bases with dd leupold rings. ammo: a good premium mid-weight bullet for caliber nosler partition. sight-in at 100 yards 2" high so should be dead on at 200 and around 8" low at 300 which all you would have to do is hold at the top of the back at 300 right on or right behind the front shoulder and squeeze the trigger. this set-up should be around $800-900 depending if you find a deal or two.
good luck and let us know what you decide and how it performs,
 
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