Budget hunting rifle

[camolife84]

Looking for a good starter gun for western adventures never shot long range before or had to hike through the mountains. Looking for something under 600 that would be light weight and still be sufficient for long range shooting.

 

[wesGiddingshunt]

If you’ve never had to hike through the mountains I don’t know if a guy should just pick up “long range shooting.” Other than that though my buddy has a ruger American 6.5 that shoots pretty good for pretty cheap.

 

[camolife84]

I'll correct my statement I've never had to hike several miles and set up camp to hunt I'm from the east coast and hunt hardwoods where shots are at most 150 yards

 

[DoubleDown]

Safe a little more and get Tikka.

 

[All American Boy]

Savage 30-06 with a Burris 3x9 will get you under $600.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Nothing will compare weight/accuracy wise in that price range to tikka

 

[16Bore]

Safe a little more and get Tikka.

Or buy a used one.

 

[OXN939]

Looking for a good starter gun for western adventures never shot long range before or had to hike through the mountains. Looking for something under 600 that would be light weight and still be sufficient for long range shooting.

You'll get a lot of suggestions for Tikkas; they are the unofficial rifle of Rokslide. My big suggestion is this: get whichever rifle you decide on set up with quality optics, bases and rings, and then spend your money on ammo getting to know it forwards and backwards rather than all of the gucci gear social media would have you believe is a prerequisite for Western hunting these days. Figure out how difficult it *actually* is to make consistent, ethical shots at 300 or 400 yards. Long range shooting takes a lot more time and effort than most think.

 

[hodgeman]

While it's true that Western hunting will typically involve longer shots than on the East Coast... true "long range shooting" is another animal entirely. Almost any western hunt can be done with 200 yard shooting and if you can stretch it to 300...you'll pass up very few reasonable opportunities.

You can get a bunch of good rifles for hunting the west for a reasonable price- I've used Tikkas, Savages and Ruger Americans with very good results. None of them are the lightest rifles available, but all can end up with a scoped weight of 7.5-8 pounds...which is very much portable and easy to shoot.

 

[Dirt Wagon]

What rifles do you use now? Chances are you have a gun that will handle Western hunting.

 

[EmperorMA]

Ruger American or Winchester XPR. Get good glass and practice with an accurate load.

 

[NVVAHunt]

We’re in a weird time where cheep rifles have somehow become stupid reliable and way more accurate than they should be. Tikka’s are great but may be at the top of tour price point. Ruger Americans are a cheaper option and are generally really reliable and accurate. I worked up some loads for a relative in 30-06 and a friend in 270 for their Ruger Americans and got really good results. They can be bought around $300-350 which is pretty cheep.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wyosam]

Browning AB3 is another cheapish rifle that I have found to shoot well. $10 trigger spring has given it a far better trigger than it should have at it's pricepoint. My wife has a compact in 6.5CM that shoots tighter groups than my Tikka. Might be the least picky rifle I've ever seen. I've yet to find factory ammo that it wont shoot sub MOA.

 

[CCH]

Is the $600 for the rifle or for rifle and scope? Very different considerations. $600, particularly if you go used, can buy a lot of rifle -- more than the very serviceable econo-rifles mentioned. However, if that includes scope, you are looking more at the Ruger American or similar.

 

[Formidilosus]

Looking for a good starter gun for western adventures never shot long range before or had to hike through the mountains. Looking for something under 600 that would be light weight and still be sufficient for long range shooting.

You need a long range practice gun, not a long range hunting gun.


I see a lot of rounds fired a year. It takes around 500 rounds a year of real focused and STRUCTURED practice to be capable at 300 yards from field conditions. I’m not talking about 300 yards over a corn field, or proned out with 5 minutes to fiddle- 300 yards at an animal in mountainous environments, that is going to give you sub 30 sec to kill it. Range it, throw down the pack, figure wind hold, dial/hold for elevation and wind, and break the shot.

500 rounds leading up to season for 300 yards. Double that to 1,000 rounds for 400 yards. Double that again for 500 yards. And again, and again.

There is a very clear pattern that becomes apparent that after that intial training to be honestly capable at 300 yards, the round count for each year doubles for each 100 or so yards.
No one is shooting normal weight big guns a thousand plus rounds a year. PRS shooters don’t shoot thier match rifles 4,000 rounds a year in practice, even though they’re small 6mm’s. Most have 223 trainer rifles.


The best favor you can do yourself is to get a reliable, accurate, 223 with 1-8” twist or faster barrel, attach a completely reliable scope to it, buy a case of 77gr match ammo and shoot it all this year away from the bench. By the end of it, you won’t need to ask about what rifle for western hunting.

 

[KChunter71]

Tikka T3x lite in 6.5 cm, 308, 270, 30-6, 7mm for $560 if $600 is for the gun only. T3x in a common caliber will work great. Put a leupold vx3 4.5-14-40 or 50mm on it and get to the range and learn the gun and round you chose. Your going to get a lot of answers here. A used Remington 700 bdl is a great option too

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

I’m going to suggest a ruger American or browning AB3. Both those guns out shot my Tikka t3x that was the same price as both rifles together. My Ruger American is 300blknout out is the best shooting rifle I’ve ever shot.
Hard to beat the American at its price point.

 

[OneRingTrTa]

Best bang for the buck, in roughly the order I would rank them...
Ruger American.
Howa.
Tikka.
Weatherby Vanguard (also a Howa).
Savage makes decent rifles, but I don't like them. Remington's barrel quality has gone down hill. And I just don't have enough experience with some of the other things on the market (Mossberg, etc.) to offer a valid opinion there.

 

[Eltigreblanco]

I picked up a ruger american in 30-06 for $299 and have been very happy with it

 

[Wilderlife]

Weatherby Vanguards are underrated rifles, in my opinion. I've owned one for close to 10 years and have shot an enormous amount of game with it.

I had a Tikka T3 and sold it, but it was a great rifle. I bought a Sako L461 instead as that rifle fills a different niche for me. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Tikka for a cheaper mountain rifle.