About to purchase my First Rifle.
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About to purchase my First Rifle.
Well my dad just came back from elk hunting around utah. I decided to surprise my old man and spend some time with him hunting. So my question to you gun gurus is which rifle would be something that would impress my pops but still a great rifle to kill some bucks....
As you can tell don't know much about guns so I wouldn't mind getting enlightened....
Thanks guys,
As you can tell don't know much about guns so I wouldn't mind getting enlightened....
Thanks guys,
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what all are you hunting? something like a 7mag will almost be your best bet. there are several loads that will bring anything from whitetail to elk down. same caliber, just different load.
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There's no need to go magnum crazy unless you're shooting Grizzlies. Go for a .308 Savage 10 or Remington 700. They're both outstanding first rifles; in .308, ammo and loading information (if you intend on reloading your own brass in the future) is plentiful. You can't go to a gun store without finding a wall of .308 hunting and target ammunition. It's more accurate than .30-06 by a hair or two and can still reach out to 1000 yards consistently and accurately. There are 'better' rounds out there for more specific niches, but none will be cheaper to shoot or easier to find. .308 is pretty much the best 'do-it-all' round on the market, bar none.
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reason i recommended the 7mag was him possibly bringing it elsewhere to hunt different game. thus, the different loads it provides is great for that, can take down an elk, then use a cartridge that will drop a deer without much damage to the meat.
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zoo the 7mm is pretty beefy and still provides a good variety of power to punch down elk deer etc. they run around the 600+ range right?
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I'd say 30-06 or a .308. You can pick up a new Remington 700 in either usually for less than $500, think I paid $475 at Carters Country (gun show would be cheaper of course). Just have a Bell & Carlson stock, Leupold 20x Scope with the varmint sights (I didn't spring for the more expensive with the MIL-Dot sites). Still need to do more work to but it's been side tracked because I got it late March and our property where I prefer shooting because I can do what I want (LOL!) is way way to hot/overgrown during the summer (Plus it's even worse this summer due to extreme drought and wild fires close by). I'll be playing with it more and my S&W M&P 9mm (when 9mm was harder to find a few years back my dad picked up like 2000 rounds and I wanted something to plink with other than the Browning Hi-Power) I got this summer. Still would like to have Barrett M28A1 just to kinda keep, if I was going to build a LONG distance rifle I'd CheyTac .408 or something after a few talks with RCC about them.
EDIT: Hopefully RCC will see thread. I know some think after all the crap on the forums we'd hate each other, but he's one of the coolest people I've met in the car stuff. His knowledge of anything firearm related is ungodly. If anyone can give you the best recommendation it would be him because the guy has probably shot everything LOL!
EDIT: Hopefully RCC will see thread. I know some think after all the crap on the forums we'd hate each other, but he's one of the coolest people I've met in the car stuff. His knowledge of anything firearm related is ungodly. If anyone can give you the best recommendation it would be him because the guy has probably shot everything LOL!
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My favorite for smaller large game like whitetail is .257 Roberts. Good luck finding a rifle chambered in that though. With that said, I've also taken whitetail with .7mm-08, .308, 8mm Mauser, and .45-70. As you can see, many calibers are equally effective.
If you want a bolt action, I'd go with .7-08, .308, or .30-06. All 3 are capable of taking elk too. I'm not a magnum fan, but they are good for very long distances if you really need that. Most people with magnums don't. The Savage 10 and Rem700 are both nice. The Savage has a great trigger and is well known for out if the box accuracy, and the Rem has a better aftermarket. Sako, Tikka, and Weatherby all make nice rifles. There is also the Marlin XL7 or XS7 rifles that are pretty much a copy of the Savage 10. There are also many surplus rifle that will work too. I really enjoy hunting with my Mauser.
If you want a semi, I'd look into an AR chambered in something like 6.8 SPC.
If you want a lever gun there are many options too. .30-30, .35 Rem, .45lc, .444, .44-40, .45-70, .454 casull, .44 mag etc.
My advice is to go to a shop or 3 and handle them. Pick the ones that feel best to you. Keep weight in mind if you'll be carrying it much vs. setting on your *** in a stand/blind. Think about length if there is a lot of brush to deal with. Narrow them down, and choose a caliber that a) you can afford and b) you'll feel comfortable shooting. Since you're not a shooter, I'd recommend something with light recoil to begin with.
If you want a bolt action, I'd go with .7-08, .308, or .30-06. All 3 are capable of taking elk too. I'm not a magnum fan, but they are good for very long distances if you really need that. Most people with magnums don't. The Savage 10 and Rem700 are both nice. The Savage has a great trigger and is well known for out if the box accuracy, and the Rem has a better aftermarket. Sako, Tikka, and Weatherby all make nice rifles. There is also the Marlin XL7 or XS7 rifles that are pretty much a copy of the Savage 10. There are also many surplus rifle that will work too. I really enjoy hunting with my Mauser.
If you want a semi, I'd look into an AR chambered in something like 6.8 SPC.
If you want a lever gun there are many options too. .30-30, .35 Rem, .45lc, .444, .44-40, .45-70, .454 casull, .44 mag etc.
My advice is to go to a shop or 3 and handle them. Pick the ones that feel best to you. Keep weight in mind if you'll be carrying it much vs. setting on your *** in a stand/blind. Think about length if there is a lot of brush to deal with. Narrow them down, and choose a caliber that a) you can afford and b) you'll feel comfortable shooting. Since you're not a shooter, I'd recommend something with light recoil to begin with.
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there is a reason snipers use 308's..... just saying
If your not going to be hunting a ton, buy a decent gun and ammo, 270, 308, 30-06 are all great guns. 7mm is too, but the ammo can be higher.
If you think your going to be going to the range a lot or at all, i recommend getting a bull barrel, much more accuracy when multiple shots are involved.
If your not going to be hunting a ton, buy a decent gun and ammo, 270, 308, 30-06 are all great guns. 7mm is too, but the ammo can be higher.
If you think your going to be going to the range a lot or at all, i recommend getting a bull barrel, much more accuracy when multiple shots are involved.