Recommendation on first rifle?

[HebrewSamurai]

I am a muzzleloader hunter but I drew some multi season tags this year in Washington. In the past I just kept on using the ol muzzy but I’d like to get a bolt action and push out to maybe 400 max (if the stars align). I hunt western Washington and realistically wouldn’t shoot past 250 on 99% of shots.

Want this rifle to hunt deer/elk/bear or any tags I might draw here in WA moving forward. I’m pretty set on 6.5 creedmore as I don’t want heavy recoil.

The model 70 extreme weather had my interest but a bit out of reach for the budget. The euro optic tikka superlites were recommended but they don’t make my heart flutter at the top end of the budget.

A local store is selling these so I could pay cash and have money left toward a suppressor.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1121282744
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1121282749

thanks for any input!

 

[Boltgun]

Plenty of first rifle recommendation threads, but specifically:

Those Hogue overmold stocks are not my favorite. While comfortable, they flex too much and can contact the barrel. That rifle looks sexy but is close to the price of a Tikka. I have both Howa and Tikka, and while I like both, the Tikka definitely wins for smooth action and quality.

I like 6.5 CM. A suppressor definitely helps tame the recoil though. (It’s not about pain, it’s the ability to spot and follow up shots quickly.)

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I love my Tikka T3X stainless steel lite in 6.5 CM. I had the barrel cut to 20”. The cost of the cutting job and the secondhand rifle came to $650. I put a lot more money into it after that to customize it to my aesthetic (wooden stock and stainless steel bottom metal) and functional (RokStok) desires, but the basic rifle was quite affordable. I have handled many Howa rifles and I don’t think they are nearly as nice. The aesthetic and functional changes would have cost me the same amount. But my starting point with the Tikka - great action, great trigger, great barrel, overall quality feeling - is much higher than the Howa.

You also have a lot more room for customizing the Tikka to make it into a true “one rifle for life” purchase.

The $150 scope on your first build is almost certainly inflated. It is a $150 scope that is just not very good. You really need a reliable sighting device on your rifle. Not a superb piece of glass, but a reliable sighting device.

The price on that first package is inflated. It has cheap add ons that have little or no real value.

A new or secondhand SWFA 6x would set you back $350, but get you a quality optic with excellent resale potential if you wish to upgrade. A pair of decent rings (Sportsmatch or UM) are another $60-130 (assuming you don’t wait for a sale).

If you really want a cheap rifle, get the absolute most basic Howa and then put an SWFA scope on it. The second Howa is the better deal of the two you linked. But I recommend spending the extra couple of hundred bucks to get a Tikka.


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