first rifle

[benmitchell17]

I know this will have a ton of possibilities... I am new to the whole hunting deal in general. I am interested in figuring out the most cost-effective way to begin my hunting. Mostly interested in deer I am thinking, but would love to get into elk as well as head to my buddy's ranch and try for some boar. I live out west and will be hunting NV, CA, OR most likely. I know I would need the optics and rifle. What would people recommend to get started? One rifle that would be most versatile? I am sure that if I continue down this path I will have no problem spending more money, but it would be nice to really try it out before spending a crazy amount....

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Get a 30-06

try a few guns, tikka, Winchester, browning etc and get the one that feels best to you in 30-06. Put a meopta meopro or a nightforce shv 3-10 on it and have a rifle that is got to go forever.

 

[Dvidos]

Nice

 

[Phil j]

My vote would be for anything in 30/06 you can get ammo anywhere in about any power level you need and can kill anything in North America

 

[ramsdude47]

Another vote for a 30-06.

If you're recoil averse consider 7mm-08 or 6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[tt_johnsclist]

Take your pick from these common cartridges, all will do what you want:
30/06, 280, 270, 6.5 Creed, 260, 308, 7mm-08. Maybe 25-06 on the light end and 7mm Rem on the heavy end. There are many more less common cartridges that fit the bill but ammo is less available.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[6mm Remington]

30-06 is never a bad choice! 280 Remington or 280AI would be right there also.

165 gr. Accubonds or Partitions in factory or handloads seem to work very well in my experience.

6x42mm Leupold fixed power scope sure is a good one. I like fixed power and only have one variable on my rifles. The 3.5-10x40mm or 4.5-14x40mm Leupold with the B&C reticle are fantastic also. The 4.5-14x40mm B&C reticle is the scope I have on my 280AI. I love that scope.

Winchester Model 70 classic sporter or Extreme Weather would be good rifles.
Ruger Hawkeye is a good one. Ruger's scope mounting system is fantastic. Simple - Strong
Tikka's are nice and seem to be shooters from what a lot of folks say.

 

[Titan_Bow]

If you are inexperienced with rifles and marksmanship, I would stick to the short action calibers. 308, 7MM-08, 6.5 Creedmoor. Lower recoil will help prevent bad habits. Any one of those is enough to take down anything in North America, but are ideal if you are sticking to deer and pigs, and the potential elk.
Dont overthink it too much really. Regardless of what the internet will tell you, you dont need to sink thousands of dollars into a high end scope and rifle. (blasphemous, I know)
If this zombie apocalypse dies down some, look at gunbroker.com. You can usually pick up a lightly used rifle there for a good deal. Also look at Ruger Americans, Savage Axis or Savage 10/16 series, both are inexpensive, but provide excellent accuracy and upgrade-ability in the future. Vortex, SWFA, Bushnell
Dont get caught up in the internet hype that you have to be shooting half inch groups at 300 yards to kill something either. Trust me, the first time you see a deer at 300 or 400 yards away, you probably arent thinking, "Man, I got that, I can hit that" You are more likely thinking "wow, thats a loooong ways away!" Concentrate on shooting alot, getting to know your rifle, how it shoots, what ammo it likes, etc. Dont worry about precision. Shoot at pie plates or kids balloons. Something that simulates the "kill zone" Set them out at varying distances and practice shooting off your backpack, or shooting with sticks or bipod to simulate hunting shots.

 

[JBradley500]

6.5cm in a Tikka for the first hunting rifle would be a good start.

Scope would be hard to suggest for me. What kind of money do you want to spend? Do you want to just zero your gun and go hunting or do you plan on dialing your shots with turrets? Any chance of target shooting as a hobby?

 

[slvrslngr]

I’d buy 2 rifles. First one would be a 22lr for high volume practice and the other would be a 308. Hard to beat a Ruger 10-22 for the 22 and hard to beat a Tikka for hunting but plenty of other options. Put a 4x Leupold on both and go burn ammo. Don’t over think it and don’t get sucked into the long range BS. Practice, practice, practice!

 

[jfs82]

Get out with a few people and try a few of their rifles/calibers. But for someone looking to a quality rifle without breaking the bank I'd be looking at TIkka's, Bergara ridges, Sauer 100s prob. 6.5 up to 30-06, sounds a bit like you're in CA, 6.5 is plenty and your ammo choices are more limited being nonlead if you are indeed (something to consider with some of the less ubiquitous calibers).

 

[Formidilosus]

I know this will have a ton of possibilities... I am new to the whole hunting deal in general. I am interested in figuring out the most cost-effective way to begin my hunting. Mostly interested in deer I am thinking, but would love to get into elk as well as head to my buddy's ranch and try for some boar. I live out west and will be hunting NV, CA, OR most likely. I know I would need the optics and rifle. What would people recommend to get started? One rifle that would be most versatile? I am sure that if I continue down this path I will have no problem spending more money, but it would be nice to really try it out before spending a crazy amount....

What is your shooting experience?

 

[benmitchell17]

thanks for the response! sounds like I need to shoot some of these. Several votes for 30-06 for verstility. How do you all compare that to a 7mm? I have limited experience for sure

 

[JollyRoger]

Are you an experienced shooter?

Lots of recommendations for the .30-06. It’s a classic, tried and true, do it all cartridge and it flat out works. However, having had a .30-06 as my first big game rifle it would not be my pick at all. It could have been my particular rifle (under 8lbs all up and no buttpad), or the fact that I was 16... but that thing was punishing and not fun to shoot. If it’s not fun, practice is cut short. If practice is cut short, it’s tough to gain the skills you need.... and you’ll be more likely to make poor shots hunting and that can have a lot of negative outcomes. I didn’t start feeling like I knew what I was doing until I started shooting cases of 223.

If it were me, I’d go something much lighter like a 7-08, 6.5cm, or 308. Ammo for these is everywhere and can do the job. Get a good rifle (Tikkas are my preference lately), a boat load of ammo, and practice those fundamentals


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Formidilosus]

I have limited experience for sure

Then I will go against what everyone is suggesting. You need to learn to shoot first. You won’t with anything approaching 30/06 recoil. Even the 6.5 is too much in light rifles to practice and learn on.


If this was about bow hunting, no one would be saying you have no experience with archery, “get a 60lb bow to start just in case you hunt elk”. No, it would be a 30-40 pound bow and learn to shoot. Don’t fall in the trap of “maybe” (Elk). Stick with what you will (deer/pigs).

You want to hunt deer and you need to learn to shoot. The absolute best thing you can do for your future hunting and shooting ability is a good, fast twist 223 with an truly reliable scope, and two cases of ammo. Most won’t listen and most are stuck in a perpetual cycle of questions and “problems”. The few who do, usually fill arks. The correct bullet from a 223 is absolutely devastating on deer much farther than most will shoot one. It’s also inexpensive to shoot at sub $500 per thousand round case for good ammo to practice, recoil is low enough for everyone to shoot a hundred rounds in a sitting without anticipating/flinching, and because of the low recoil you get to watch and learn from every round fired.


2,000 rounds in a year with a solid 223 learning the shot process and running the gun consistently from field positions= you can be turned loose with nearly any rifle and be competent. When you actually do go for elk, you won’t have as many question on what you need.

 

[elkguide]

Form hit the nail on the head. Something in the .22 caliber family is definitely where to start. Once you have put a LOT of rounds down range and become familiar with a rifle then go for a higher recoiling rifle.

 

[JollyRoger]

.....It’s also inexpensive to shoot at sub $500 per thousand round case for good ammo to practice.....

Form... what ammo are you using for that price? My T3X loves 77gr Federal GMM, but its $15-20 per box.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Formidilosus]

Form... what ammo are you using for that price?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hornady Frontier generally does well. 68gr it 75gr. It’s jot “sub MOA” but it’ll consistently do sub 2 MOA for 10 rounds. For practice there’s no issue with 10-12” targets at 600 with it. You

 

[Deerfield]

I’d buy 2 rifles. First one would be a 22lr for high volume practice and the other would be a 308. Hard to beat a Ruger 10-22 for the 22 and hard to beat a Tikka for hunting but plenty of other options. Put a 4x Leupold on both and go burn ammo. Don’t over think it and don’t get sucked into the long range BS. Practice, practice, practice!

This

 

[TREE ‘EM]

There are lots of good choices out there.
I suggest that you buy a .22lr and centerfire rifles of the same make so you can get some practice and build familiarity with the .22 which will translate to increased proficiency with your center fire rifle.
Same goes for optics.

Your personal budget will dictate what brand and model you buy.

For example, matching Ruger American rifles with Leupold Rifleman 3-9 scopes can be done for $1000 new and $700+- used.

Tikka T3x & T1 with leupold VX3I 3-10 scopes will set you back about $2000

As to caliber of your first centerfire, try to find friends rifles to shoot to determine your recoil tolerance level.
If that’s not possible or practical, if you’re under 35 buy a 6.5 Creedmoor if you’re 35 or older buy a .270 Win.