Looking to purchase first rifle

Also agree about a rimfire rifle, though I'd suggest something in .17hmr.

As for centerfire rifles, the Savage Stevens 200 is about the best new rifle for the money in the $300-350 range. Especially if your shooting will be target oriented.

Then get yourself a Bushnell elite 3200 10x mil/mil scope for $200 and a Tally integral bases/rings for $50 and you're all setup with an excellent beginner target rifle.
 
Okay... so went in to take another look at the pawn shop and talked with the owner, everyone I've heard from loves this guy (he's a gunsmith as well), for about an hour. Took a look at the M70 again. Clean rifling, it is NOT the controlled feed, it's a push feed with clean rifling. Synthetic stock with the 3-9x40 buckmaster nikon non-mil dot reticle. The other day he made it sound like he wouldn't let it go for less than the 575 listed, but then after talking for a while I made a snap decision and bought it. Talked him down to 470 out the door with a hardcase.

Not sure it was the smartest thing I've done since I got home and saw mostly "buy a 22lr" responses, but what the heck right? I can always resell for close to the price I bought it for if I don't like it and you can never have to many firearms right? :D I figure since I live in CO and don't like cold weather shooting that much I've got some time and will probably purchase something in 22lr or 223 before I get a chance to go shooting again (for those of you that have never been to CO our coldest month is usually April also the month we average the most snow).

I'm friends with an NRA rifle instructor (4H shooting instructor, etc...) and I'll have him take a more in depth look to make sure that everything is kosher. I feel good about it, in the meantime, but know I've got some stuff to do before I can actually begin going down range with it.

I must admit that I probably should've thought about it a bit longer, but being young (23) and having a decent job I figure it's not the worst thing I could've done. I really like the idea of doing an AR build so maybe I'll do that over the next few months to have something to practice with that's cheaper and get me used to not flinching, definitely don't want to develop bad habits, and also become adequate at 100 yds before I start trying to reach out further. Thanks for your guys help and ideas, also thanks for giving me a new bad habit ;) ...being on this site I mean. Got a LOT to learn.

Once again thanks a bunch for the responses, I'm sure you'll be hearing from me again.
 
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Best bang for your buck is Savage hands down.
Click to expand...

That probably is true in Arizona, but ask guides in Alaska ... Savage guns rust in a New York second there, even the supposedly stainless models, with non-stainless internal parts, and fully stainless parts.
 
If you want to shoot often, i would stick with a 223 or 308. Anything else will burn out a barrel quicker.
 
I've got a Ruger All-Weather in 7mm-08. Myself, my daughter and my wife have all killed deer and antelope with it. The more I shoot it, the more I like it. Our local gunsmith brought the trigger from 5 lbs down to 2.5 lbs. Some will say that this round has better down range energy than the the 308.

You could do a lot worse than this package.
 
My first and only rifle I have ever owned ( now sold ..needed money ) was a Savage 111 in 30.06 was a scope package it cost me about $400 wish I still had it.
 
If it's your first rifle, get a bolt action 22 before you do anything else. Learning to shoot a rifle accurately takes a lot of practice and you'll learn faster without the noise and recoil of a centerfire. Plus you'll save enough on ammo to pay for the 22.

Of the centerfires you've been considering the Marlin is the best, with the Savage a close second. The Mossberg/maverick is a distant third. Don't even consider a Remington 710 / 770.

You'd be far better off with a Marlin and a Leupold scope than anything for similar money that included a cheap scope. Oh, and you really don't want a 7mm Mag for your first centerfire rifle.
 
A few rifles..

Im new to this forum also, found it in a search for an answer to my question.

I have been shooting rifles for about 15 years now, I myself enjoy the long range shooting. My first rifle was a Remington 700 VLS in a 6mm (.236"). This rifle was so accurate, I was shooting a quarter at 250 yards over and over. When I joined the army I sold it, since then I haven't owned any person rifles until about a year ago when I purchased an H&R .308 handi rifle. I used this rifle for deer season this year, I took my first buck at 130 yds with 1 shot to the neck, using a fmj (all I had). Since then I have target shot with this rifle at 500 yds and been consistent. I personally would not use a .308 for long range shooting, but for the cost of the rifle and the cost of ammo, you can save a lot of money and gain valuable knowledge in long range shooting. When your ready to spend big money, find a rifle you like in a .338 lapua. Overall, for target shooting long range up to 400 yds. I would use the .308, be sure to use good ammo. (zero in @ 200 yds)

The image is my .308 H&R with an aftermarket butt stock and forend. On top is a fair priced fixed 6x32 il scope.
 

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I think you did great getting the package down to $470. You won't regret it in time. If you are a complete novice to firearms, buying a cheap .22 would be very useful. The model 70 you bought will do nothing but stabilize or go up in value as the years go by. I believe it's a better purchase than a mass produced savage or remington.
 
So what cal was the model 70 he got, I saw him say it was 7mm but was that 7mm08 or 7mmMag? If it was the 7mm08 you did well if it was the 7mmMag IMO it is a little to much gun for your first rifle.

IMHO for a good cheap first rifle you cant beat and my picks would be a Weatherby Vanguard, Howa 1500, Marlin, Marlin XL7/XS7, Any Savage "other" then the Axis/Edge (ie: 10/110, 111, 12 ect). If you can afford a little more then you cant beat a Tikka T3.

I will also agree that you should get yourself a 22lr bolt action of some sort, their is alot of quality rifles to choose from in the $100 to $200 mark and as far as glass goes if you look around alot of places have good glass on sale.
 
bargin priced rifles

Matt,interesting post on first rifle purchase.I am a guy that has owned rifles for many years.I recently got into entry level rifles for fun.Here is what I found out.I currently own a Savage Edge(axis),Remingtons 710,770,Marlin x7,
Mossberg ATR,Weatherby Vanguard.I have fired all of them along side with some high dollar models I own from all those makers.All fired at the same range,same types of factory ammo(.243,7mm-08,.308,.270,30-06,.223).While some were better than others in performance,they all had one thing in common.From a rest they all shot under 2-3" groups at 200 yards.The folks I know here in Florida like the smaller calibers for deer and hogs.Any scope package deal will have a moderate quality scope.Get a better quality scope down the road and a lazer bore sighter,then off to the range with your choice of rifle/scope combo.I personally don't like draging $700 rifles or $1000 rifles through heavy brush,etc.That is why I will always like entry level rifles.I have spent more on some scopes I own than you would spend at Walmart for a Remington 770 scope package rifle that will work in the field.Guardman
 
REMEMBER

if you buy a rifle like the Winchester and decide you don't like rifle shooting you are better off; top shelf guns resale for more, and you lose a lot a less. But, and there is always a but in life, if you do like it, you have a nice rifle to pass on to whomever!
 
Hey All,

Sorry got sick over the weekend and got behind on work so haven't been able to check in on this site in a bit. Regardless... I still plan to buy a 22 and possibly a 308 or something of the like :D As far as the caliber goes it is in fact the full 7mm Rem Mag... I know big bullet (read loud and large recoil) for a first rifle which is why I want to first get a 22 and something else that's pretty small or cheap to learn with as well. I just figure that for that price I couldn't really beat it. I only took one photo, attached. With the rifle, nikon buckmaster 3-9x40, scope covers, harris bipod, snap caps (i believe in them), rifle cleaning kit, and 25 rounds I totaled up a bill of 650 after all taxes fees and what-not, including a hard case. I don't think that's bad at all... :D
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Nice job! I personally like the 7mm mag better than the 7mm-08. With it you can hunt virtually any N. American game animal. You don't have to shoot full bore 7mm mag rounds. Get a handloader to work you up some milder loads and you won't even feel the kick with that gun. Good luck in your firearms purchase and join the NRA if you haven't already. "The rifleman's rifle" - the Model 70 Winchester. The only disadvantage with a push feed is don't try to shoot upside down. The cartridge will fall out! P.S. what is that ghostly image below your gun?
 
Thanks,

I do intend to buy reloading equipment so that the cost of rounds goes down for me as well as I would then have the ability to create some lighter loads as you suggested.

The image beneath the rifle is the reflection of the tv off of the glass, which if I had to guess as to what it was, it looks like the local Channel 4 news cast :D
 
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