New hunters. Cheap vs expensive? What do I actually need and what are realistic expectations?

[TaperPin]

I got frustrated by lots of people that talked about it but never followed through.

Very true.

 

[roosiebull]

Hell I'd go a bit further and say there is no need for an expensive combo no matter your experience level. It's simply a want.

I agree, and most of the expensive gear will not make us more effective as we like to think.

Things like alpha glass can be argued as making you see more game, but before I had good glass, I just had a different strategy… I still found the critters, I just went about it differently

Good packs certainly are a great luxury, but before I had a good pack, I just suffered more, but I still got them out of the woods.

It’s all pretty easy to justify if you can afford it, but claiming it’s needed is just lying to yourself and others, I proved it for a long time, and many still do

Luxury and necessity get crossed up a lot

 

[ReddingArcher]

Like others have said, you dont have to spend a fortune on a rifle and scope set up. A buddy wanted to get into hunting but didnt want to spend much, I told him to try out one of the Savage Axis 2's. He bought it in 25-06 with a Nikon scope for like $350 out the door. I was damn impressed by how well it shoots! In fact its still sitting in my safe cause he never really got that into hunting. I need to shoot something with it just to get it broke in.

 

[hereinaz]

Like others have said, you dont have to spend a fortune on a rifle and scope set up. A buddy wanted to get into hunting but didnt want to spend much, I told him to try out one of the Savage Axis 2's. He bought it in 25-06 with a Nikon scope for like $350 out the door. I was damn impressed by how well it shoots! In fact its still sitting in my safe cause he never really got that into hunting. I need to shoot something with it just to get it broke in.

There are lots of things I wanted to do… still have some of the gear and wasted money.

That’s one reason I try to keep a full backup set of gear so it’s easy for a friend to try. Lower the barrier to entry for more. I don’t even charge for ammo until they are hooked. It’s fun seeing friends shoot and get excited about ringing steel.

Make them buy ammo and tags, 90% of hunts can be done with what gear you have.

Ultimately, most really won’t or can’t dedicate the time because of family, work, or other limitations. Sometimes I think we don’t realize how much time we spend, besides money.

 

[ReddingArcher]

There are lots of things I wanted to do… still have some of the gear and wasted money.

That’s one reason I try to keep a full backup set of gear so it’s easy for a friend to try. Lower the barrier to entry for more. I don’t even charge for ammo until they are hooked. It’s fun seeing friends shoot and get excited about ringing steel.

Make them buy ammo and tags, 90% of hunts can be done with what gear you have.

Ultimately, most really won’t or can’t dedicate the time because of family, work, or other limitations. Sometimes I think we don’t realize how much time we spend, besides money.

Great point on having extras and I do have a few rifles people are welcome to try out. He was gung ho on buying his own though. He's a younger guy with 3 younger kids and coaches soccer so his time is limited. I still remind him every year to pick up tags before the season but he's got too much going on and hunting isnt really a priority. Hopefully one day he'll make it out with me.

 

[hereinaz]

Great point on having extras and I do have a few rifles people are welcome to try out. He was gung ho on buying his own though. He's a younger guy with 3 younger kids and coaches soccer so his time is limited. I still remind him every year to pick up tags before the season but he's got too much going on and hunting isnt really a priority. Hopefully one day he'll make it out with me.

I have lots of friends like that. I remind them and offer to do everything but get the tag. They aren’t serious. It’s OK.

I got burned one time by one guy that I did too much. He called me the night before our hunt and said he couldn’t go till the next day. Then couldn’t the next day. Then spent half a day.

Took me a while not to hate him a little. I just realized it was on me for pushing to much.

You can lead a horse to water but can’t make them drink…

I have his rifle in my safe to sell cause he hasn’t shot it since we went out to zero it.

 

[bnewt3]

I have strong feelings on this. There is alot of elitism in everything, hunting is no different. I don't begrudge people that have the money(or maybe not) to build a new super awesome, amazing UL rifle every year. I begrudge the people that try to make it out like that's the only way to do it.

From my experience and observation, there is a steep increase in the quality/package available up to about $1000(&800-1200) and then a less steep decline in the ROI past that range. But as you pointed out there are plenty of shooters below that range.

I also believe in spending a bit more to potentially get alot more.....WHEN the budget allows. Sometimes the budget isn't there for that but maybe there is enough budget for something cheaper that shoots. And really that's all any of us need.

Let us also not forget that crappy triggers force us to develop better trigger control, a less than buttery action forces us to slow down and remember that slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

 

[rideold]

There was a good discussion about affordable rifles on Hunt Talk a while back - https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/ranking-10-common-bolt-action-hunting-rifles-under-750.291265/

 

[robtattoo]

One of my first scopes was a Primary Arns 3-9x44 Classic. $95 new with warranty.
It's been on 8 rifles now up to a .308 & has still to lose zero on anything. I was so impressed with it, I outfitted all my ARs with 1-6x24 versions. That 3-9 has outlived every Vortex & all but 1 Leupold I've owned.

We're really in the glory days of good quality, accurate, reliable & inexpensive rifles. Rem 700 ADL from Walmart, Savage Axis, Ruger American etc.... all south of $500. I hate to suggest mossberg, but I have a friend that swears by his & I've butchered too many deer of his to argue with the results. I think that was around $300 The used market, especially at this time of year, is awash with sub $400 rifles.

 

[keystone112]

I would agree that used rifles can sometimes be a good deal.

For reasons that I haven’t fully figured out yet, the most accurate rifle I own (and I have a bunch) is a used Remington 700 ADL synthetic in 308 Win. I won that auction for $425.

 

[z987k]

The only thing I would add is not to go completely Amazon cheap on the optic and rings/bases. I don't want to know how much time, frustration, discouragement, and precious ammo budget I've wasted over the years chasing a zero that wouldn't hold.

Probably worth forking over the $300 for an SWFA right up front.

People really need to stop it with the SWFA scopes. For all intents and purposes they don't exist. If do manage to get an order in for one you'll wait a year to get it.

No. It's just not realistic. We've got to move on for the most part.

For a brand new hunter that isn't going to be shooting past 150 or so for a bit, that POS nikon on the savage axis will work good enough. When and if they want to do more they can get a better setup. It's much more important to get them in the field then having unobtainable gear.

 

[Chris_in_Idaho]

People really need to stop it with the SWFA scopes. For all intents and purposes they don't exist. If do manage to get an order in for one you'll wait a year to get it.

No. It's just not realistic. We've got to move on for the most part.

Mine shipped same day 3 weeks ago.
It's a 10x not a 6x.

 

[Evlshnngns]

I've had a lot of luck on cheap rifles, not so much on the cheap optics.

 

[Formidilosus]

People really need to stop it with the SWFA scopes. For all intents and purposes they don't exist. If do manage to get an order in for one you'll wait a year to get it.

No. It's just not realistic. We've got to move on for the most part.

For a brand new hunter that isn't going to be shooting past 150 or so for a bit, that POS nikon on the savage axis will work good enough. When and if they want to do more they can get a better setup. It's much more important to get them in the field then having unobtainable gear.

I average about 3-4 days looking per 6x I buy.

 

[Towhee]

My Savage Axis II .243 was fine, and if it wasn't for the shitty bolt lift I'd still have it. Probably never would have upgraded from a "budget" rifle if the Ruger American stainless had been in stock at the time.

Good features to look for > specific brands. Unless it's a shitty product. Like the Savage Axis bolts.

 

[ArcherAdam]

My Savage Axis II .243 was fine, and if it wasn't for the shitty bolt lift I'd still have it. Probably never would have upgraded from a "budget" rifle if the Ruger American stainless had been in stock at the time.

Good features to look for > specific brands. Unless it's a shitty product. Like the Savage Axis bolts.

I have the same gun. It's a tack driver. I think we have the same issue with the bolt. It's so light that even the slightest movement will taken it out of battery. The trigger will still "click" however the round doesn't fire. Actually cost my son the first 2 deer he ever shot at since we were close and he cycled another round through.

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

 

[Unclecroc]

The used market is a budget shoppers friend. It may even help to go with him to help him look for a solid rifle if he is unfamiliar with what to look for in a used rifle.
You can buy the low end vortex at local shops in my area for around $100 for a 3x9. It’s by no means a brag worthy optic but they’re clear and seem to do ok for weekend warrior style hunting.
Then take the money saved and buy ammo and other gear.
If someone told 20 year old me that nobody cares how fancy of a rifle you shoot and it won’t make you a better shooter, I would’ve saved alot of dough.

 

[wind gypsy]

I know of some rifles a new shooter can use for free - the best deal in shooting sports. Free! It’s like penny slots at the casino - cheap entertainment, albeit a little boring.

For four decades the go-to first rifle in our family has been a used 243 or 6mm Remington 700 made in the 60’s or 70’s. If you are a bargain shopper these pop up in odd places with a few scratches and slight bluing loss for under $200. At those prices, shoot it for as many years as you want and you’ll be able to sell it for at least what you bought it for - just like renting it for free. I‘ve had a few - when money was tight I’d shoot one a few thousand rounds, sell it and buy another.

The Remington 700 parts you add on this rifle can always be used on a different gun when you upgrade. I would buy a gun, swap out the stock and trigger, keeping the old wood stock and factory trigger for the time when it was put up for sale.

I always have one of these free rifles and they naturally become loaners.

Yep! If i had a buddy or person i trust that didn't have the $ for a rifle but wanted to hunt, they can and have borrowed rifles for free. I've lended rifles to friends who make well into 6 figures but only had shotguns/muzzleloaders that are allowed in their midwest states so they could have something more appropriate for a one off elk hunt.

Sold a m700 ADL 270 with a nikon prostaff 3-9 that sat in my safe for $400 recently. Worked just fine for me killing whitetails before i started geeking out on rifles.

 

[sndmn11]

Open sights saves a lot of money and doesn't have the issue many scopes do...

 

[jonpall]

I average about 3-4 days looking per 6x I buy.

I wish I had that kind of success. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places but I've about given up on getting one any time soon.