Suggestions for hunting rifle
- Thread starter TwoRavens
- Start date
You have many options.
Most 30-06s with reasonable optics will fit your bill, and leave you with some change for ammo. I chose a Ruber M77 chambered in 30-06 and topped with a Buasch and Lomb (Bushnell) Elite 3000 3x9 scope. $700 give or take ten including sling, tax, etc. (I got a great deal on the scope
) Let us know what you decide on.
Most 30-06s with reasonable optics will fit your bill, and leave you with some change for ammo. I chose a Ruber M77 chambered in 30-06 and topped with a Buasch and Lomb (Bushnell) Elite 3000 3x9 scope. $700 give or take ten including sling, tax, etc. (I got a great deal on the scope
) Let us know what you decide on.I'd go with any big name American made bolt action: Remington, Winchester, Savage, Ruger, etc. Another option might be the Sig SHR970, it doesn't have the track record of the others though. As far as caliber, .30-06 is hard to beat. But .308, .270, .280, anything in 7mm or .300 class would work too. The smallest I'd go is with a .270, the biggest- .338 Win Mag. Top that off with a premium scope like a Leupold Vari-XIII or a Vari-XIIand you'll be in business. The total package might be a slight bit over a grand though.
Dan
P.S. Don't cheap out on your rings, buy some decent ones, the price difference is marginal
Dan
P.S. Don't cheap out on your rings, buy some decent ones, the price difference is marginal
Payette Jack
New member
You've got a lot of options, obviously.
My 2 pesos, stay with a .30 cal, you'll find they're a tad more verstile than the 7mm options. Hard to go wrong with a 30-06.
My 2 pesos, stay with a .30 cal, you'll find they're a tad more verstile than the 7mm options. Hard to go wrong with a 30-06.
30-06
Many makes around $500 (maybe less)
BURRIS Rings and Mounts $100 or so.
Scope to taste. $200 or so.
Far less than grand.
My rig, a stainless Savage 116 fsak 30-06 with Burris rings/ mounts and a Tasco world class 3x9x40 and a spare magazine ran me less than $700. That spare mag cost a lot though.
Whats cool about Savage, is even in the Belted manums the price stays reasonable. hell a savage safari .375 only runs around 800.
If I had a more traditional rifle in mind, I'd give the New CZ 550 "american" a very close look. Nice bluing, excellent wood to metal fit, controlled round feeding and solid express sights. LARGE mounting area for a scope ( a LOT more metal than a winchester), overall a great looking weapon. they shoot well too. My NEXT rifle will likely be a CZ.
Many makes around $500 (maybe less)
BURRIS Rings and Mounts $100 or so.
Scope to taste. $200 or so.
Far less than grand.
My rig, a stainless Savage 116 fsak 30-06 with Burris rings/ mounts and a Tasco world class 3x9x40 and a spare magazine ran me less than $700. That spare mag cost a lot though.
Whats cool about Savage, is even in the Belted manums the price stays reasonable. hell a savage safari .375 only runs around 800.
If I had a more traditional rifle in mind, I'd give the New CZ 550 "american" a very close look. Nice bluing, excellent wood to metal fit, controlled round feeding and solid express sights. LARGE mounting area for a scope ( a LOT more metal than a winchester), overall a great looking weapon. they shoot well too. My NEXT rifle will likely be a CZ.
If you want both elk and deer, .30-06 is probably the best bet. Otherwise I would recommend either .270, or my personal favorite, .308. Both of those would work for elk, but are just a bit light.
As far as rifles go, for hunting I would go with a Ruger Stainless (All Weather) Ultralight. You carry your rifle more than shoot it. There is no need for a lot of meat on the barrel if you are not planning to take more than a few shots at your quarry. Rugers need a trigger job right out of the box, but so does most everything. Also, I am not a fan of the silver and black attack, but it gets the job done. If you like blue steel and wood, they have an Ultralight in that, too. The ring system is damn tough, and comes with the gun. Rings for other rifles are seperate, cost $50 on up for good ones, and their design seems like an afterthought to me.
The wisdom that I like to listen to says that you should spend about the same on the scope that you did on the rifle. I like good optics, since that is my connection with the target (until a bullet gets there). To me that means Leupold VariX 2 or 3. I wouldn't go for any power above 3-9. I consider 2-7 more ideal. If you are hunting elk in timber, you'll appreciate the availability of the low power setting.
Good shooting
As far as rifles go, for hunting I would go with a Ruger Stainless (All Weather) Ultralight. You carry your rifle more than shoot it. There is no need for a lot of meat on the barrel if you are not planning to take more than a few shots at your quarry. Rugers need a trigger job right out of the box, but so does most everything. Also, I am not a fan of the silver and black attack, but it gets the job done. If you like blue steel and wood, they have an Ultralight in that, too. The ring system is damn tough, and comes with the gun. Rings for other rifles are seperate, cost $50 on up for good ones, and their design seems like an afterthought to me.
The wisdom that I like to listen to says that you should spend about the same on the scope that you did on the rifle. I like good optics, since that is my connection with the target (until a bullet gets there). To me that means Leupold VariX 2 or 3. I wouldn't go for any power above 3-9. I consider 2-7 more ideal. If you are hunting elk in timber, you'll appreciate the availability of the low power setting.
Good shooting
Legionnaire
New member
Agree with Caffino's perspective, but would recommend the Remington Model 7 as the platform. Get the stainless synthetic version in .308, and put a Leupold VX-II 2-7x compact on it. Rumor has it that Leupold is phasing out the VX-II line and you should be able to find good deals on the scopes.