New to hunting - need some advice on a gun

[ajr5406]

Morning all,

Hunting is something ive always wanted to get into. Ive recently moved to Vancouver, and would really love to hunt deer etc, and put food on the table through hunting.

I still need to get my CORE and CFSC etc, and planning to have these completed in the coming months, but i'd love some input into the best gun to start with (once I have all my courses and licences)? Dont want to spend a huge amount of $$$, but want to get something that will be good for mainly deer hunting within a few hours of the Lower Mainland, as well as Vancouver Island.


Thanks in advance for your help!

[BCBRAD]

Any numbered Savage mod 10, 11 etc is a good solid rifle and will likely out shoot many others. For deer only the 7mm-08 is hard to beat . As for a scope, there are many options but get the best you can afford as the scope may be with you long after the first rifle is gone, don't go to crazy with power though.

[835]

Savage Axis, Weatherby Vanguard, Ruger American..... those are the three "Thrifty" rifles,,,, the Axis has a huge following of guys and a great reputation..
Cartridge? there is alot of good choices,,,, i would tell you .270win..

If you dont buy a package rifle with scope,
Vortex and Bushnell... or a Leup VXI and go for a 3-9 or 3.5-10....

[bearhunter338-06]

If I was to buy another new rifle set up for under $1,000:

Weatherby Vanguard S2 chambered in 25-06 shooting Barnes TTSX 100gr factory ammo. I would top it of with a Vortex Diamond Back 3X9X40 scope with Leapold bases and rings.

Why a 25-06. Low recoil and flat shooting perfect deer caliber and will work on Black Bear, Elk and Moose as well. What ever you do "DO NOT" let anyone talk you into a magnum like the 300 Win Mag or a 7MM Rem Mag

[835]

unless its a Ruger #1 in 338Win mag..

lol

[GotaGun]

Love my 30-06
Run light ammo for deer and heavier if u go for elk or moose etc.

[howa1500]

First gun?
Caliber - WOW huge discussion. Depends on how recoil sensitive you are, but for the most versatility and cheapest to shoot (i.e. practice) you can't go wrong with .308. Plus there are plenty around.
You could also look at .270 and 30-06.
I'd stay away from anything "Magnum" until you are comfortable shooting

As for rifles, there are plenty that come as a package with a scope such as
Savage Axis with Kaspa 3x9 about $450
remington 700 SPS Dm in 270 with a 4x12 for about $550
Savage 11/111 with Weaver 3x9 about $580
Ruger American with a Redfield Revolution 3x9 currently about $730 from cabelas.
You could also look around for a Howa 1500 (japanese rifle - great following)with a scope package (Howa 1500 is what the Weatherby Vanguards are built on) but your probably looking $800+

Set a budget... For roughly $1000 you could get yourself a 2 rifles, (one in .308, and second in .22 such as a Remington 597 with scope for $240) and buy some boxes of ammunition and a range membership somewhere.

Then you could actually do the single best thing, and PRACTICE. I recommend the .22 as it will help teach you fundamentals, they are cheap as hell to shoot... AND then you have a good little grouse/bunny gun.

Full disclosure - Prices taken from the Cabelas.ca website, I'm not an employee, it was just easiest to reference.

[Cami]

Hey
I just bought a RAR compact in .243 and the stock is shit so if you dont want to spend time and money fixing it stay away from it.
I bought it for my GF who is just getting started on everything. After i fixed the stock it will be a nice little gun for her and a great beater gun for me. :) if she lets me use it.
sign up to gunnutz and look around there u will find a good deal on a starter rifle for sure.

[Fisher-Dude]

I'd stick with 308, 270, 30/06, or 7mm/08.

The Savage or Weatherby Vanguards are good for the price, and are serviceable firearms. Don't get a scoped combo as the combo scopes are crap - a VX1 Leupold can be bought separately and be the best bang for your dollar.

You should also sign up on Canadian Gun Nutz and watch the equipment exchange forums, as you can pick up a great used rifle of better quality that you may be happy with for more years than a new Savage or Vanguard. Quality Tikka T3s, Remington 700s, or Winchester Model 70s frequently show up in the $600 range.

[Fella]

The savages will do fine to start, the scopes, rings and bases should be changed as quickly as possible though. Lots of good suggestions already on calibre, I started with a .30-06 and it's been great so far. As has already been mentioned, magnums are great but if you're new to shooting I wouldn't jump right into one.

[Singleshotneeded]

For just hunting deer I'd go with a .308 or .270 for ammo availability, low cost, good range, and reasonable recoil(also good for elk and moose if you ever want to hunt them). I'd get a stainless synthetic bolt action for better resistance to wet conditions, ease of maintenance, reliability, and accuracy. One possibility is the Ruger American, now arriving in Canada in stainless($550)...if you get tired of the plastic stock in future you can replace it with a Boyd's laminate stock($100 + options) that they're now making. Since the coast isn't, shall we say, a stranger to rain, a Bushnell Legend Ultra HD scope gives you very decent glass and the very good Rainguard coating for shooting in the rain...for about $200. Get it in 3-9X40 which gives you good magnification for longer shots and light gathering in low light.

[Iron Glove]

Like everyone else says, Savage AXIS. 30-06, 308, 270, all will do the trick.
Bought my Son an AXIS in 270 and we are both very impressed how well it shoots out of the box, even with the less than high quality scope. Maybe use the existing scope the first year, ditch it for something better when the Reliable or Italian Xmas sales start.
Alternatively, check out the above noted stores for used equipment.

[MichelD]

Okay, that's enough about guns though my own opinion is that just about anything that goes bang will do.

Now you have to find out about the hunting part.

[300win]

All calibers on here are great! The 30-06 was my first gun, and is a good all round caliber from light loads to heavier loads for moose,Elk,BBears. Welcome to HBC and welcome to hunting. 300

[K-1]

I would think a Remington 783 compact in 308 W. would be a good start. Top it with a Vortex scope that's in your budget, and you will be good to go for a few years.

[buck nash]

Have to agree with fisherdude. Buy a used rifle for your first.
You can get a med-high quality used rifle for less than a low-med quality new one. Plus you can probably sell it it for what you paid if you decide it's not the one for you. Think of it as a free rental.

As for caliber. ..lots of choices and everyone's gonna tell you why there choice is best. Just about any center fire will drop a deer really, but less than a 243 is getting a bit light. My only advice is to avoid magnums and try to go for one of the more common ones like 3006, 270, 308, 7mm08, 243, etc.

[bearhunter338-06]

unless its a Ruger #1 in 338Win mag..

lol


Or 257 Roberts

[bearhunter338-06]

It always makes me wonder how many people will suggest a 243 Win for deer because of the low recoil. The 25-06 is a low recoil round and you can get factory ammo 85gr varmint rounds to 120gr Big Game rounds.

[835]

popularity... id say.

[fyffer]

i shoot a vanguard s2 in 25-06 u are welcome to shoot it if u want to head to the bush one of these days, it shoots 100 gr ttsx bullets in .5 moa. I owned a x bolt, savage 111 and i like the feel and overall accuracy of this gun better then both. That is saying alot since the x bolt is twice the money.

[Kami]

I knew squat about guns when I started out like the OP a few years ago. I wanted something that I could use for Deer, Elk, Goat, Sheep, maybe a Coyote here or there. I settled on a 270 WIN. Only reason being it did not seem to large for smaller animals, or too small for Deer and Elk. I have put about 250 rounds through it by now I'd guess in 3 years. I like to shoot at the range. Since then I learned about muzzle FPS, drop, grains, velocity, ect, ect. I decided to build up my own rounds using a Lee loader. Learned a lot. Now with some experience I sometimes I wish I had a little more power for longer range. I feel confident at 200 yards, but 400 and I am still out to lunch with my 270. Sometimes I want a flatter shooting round. A 7mm mag maybe? a 7mm and a 270 are almost identical in caliber. Maybe a 270 Win Mag would have been better, sometimes I think. Other times I think a 243 is would be a great round. I can tell you this. 1 gun does not do it all. Many of us own a few guns for reasons like I mentioned. If you buy 1, your first gun an want a broad range of use with it, I recommend the 270 WIN. Good caliber. I cannot recommend a brand of gun as I have only owned 1. I bought a Sako A7. Good luck.

[ajr5406]

Wow - thanks guys!!!

Lots of options... Looks like getting something second hand is a good way to start, and then build up from there.

I appreciate all your help!

[moosecamp]

Looks like one question that hasn't been asked. How much shooting have you done? Hopefully you have someone to take you to the range to teach you proper shooting techniques. I would also look at picking up a .22, it gives you the chance to practice your shooting using cheap ammo instead of $25 to $30 a box. I personally started off with a .308, good caliber, can kill almost anything and ammo is easy to find. Good luck to you and welcome to your new addiction.

[ajr5406]

Moodecamp - I've only shot a rifle a handful of times. I have some friends that hunt a lot who are able to take me out and show me some basics.

I like the idea of getting a .22 for practice. Any suggestions, or will any old .22 do?

[ajr5406]

Moosecamp, not moodecamp... Damn spellcheck.

[moosinaround]

Well, it's been discussed on here many times. General consensus is "don't go magnum"! Go 30-06, or 270 win. I'd look at a savage, or a weatherby for cheapies. If you can stay away from package scopes, spend a bit extra and put on a bushnell, vortex, or leupold, 3-9x40. My 2 cents, like everyone else!! Moosin

[BCBRAD]

Moodecamp - I've only shot a rifle a handful of times. I have some friends that hunt a lot who are able to take me out and show me some basics.

I like the idea of getting a .22 for practice. Any suggestions, or will any old .22 do?

A CZ 452 is < 2moa rifle, easy to get hits on a 4 " target at 200m on a calm day, recommend a Bushnell 3200 Tactical 10x for it................this set up will teach you allot .

[Redneck Rocket]

Faced with a similar decision to you, I bought a Marlin XL7 in 270, never looked back. Great gun, shoots really tight groups. Happy with the caliber.

[Amphibious]

.308 .270 .30-06

Stainless bolt action

Leupold or Vortex.

2-7x33 or 3-9x40


Hunt.

[.30-06 camsavbc]

With advice from HBC members I started with a 22lr (my choice was Savage Mark II $200) for practice (over 1000 rounds) and now I have a great rabbit, squirrel and grouse gun with confidence. Then I bought a Savage Axis in 30-06 ($300) without the scope that I bought separately again like has been stated here the package scopes are junk. Now I practice, practice, practice and with advice here on ammo I have found 1 in particular that my rifle groups well with so that is what I will keep practicing with and then hunt with this fall. The advice from this site is paramount to help make good choices without wasting money and doing what is necessary to become a good hunter. The most common advice I got was shot placement is key not caliber and for this practice is the only way to accomplish accurate shot placement. I am now addicted to shooting my rifles and cannot wait 'til tomorrow to go shooting! Enjoy the process and good luck with your courses!

[todbartell]

Buy a Tikka t3 270, install Limbsaver recoil pad. Vortex Diamondback HP 3-12x42 scope in Talley rings. ENjoy

[howa1500]

Moodecamp - I've only shot a rifle a handful of times. I have some friends that hunt a lot who are able to take me out and show me some basics.

I like the idea of getting a .22 for practice. Any suggestions, or will any old .22 do?

Kind of depends again... But you can't beat a good old Ruger 10/22 or a Remington 597. They are both semi-auto, so no bolt handle practice... but both guns are cheap, and you will always keep

[Bro 300]

outdoorsmanforum.ca Check this site for used rifles and scopes. Always lots of good deals on there

[dino]

Listen to fisher dude, most used rifles arent even broken in yet. You need to tell us what kind of hunter you are"likes to road hunt" or "likes to hike ".

[ajr5406]

Dino - ive only been out once, but I am more of a hiker anyways, so "likes to hike" is probably more me. Im also not small either (6'4'', 98kg), so not too worried about the guns weight etc.

Thanks again for all your advice!

[Bro 300]

Uhuh, 6'4 and 98 kg. Should make a great packer.

[Chiron]

Practically all the game shot in almost 50 years of hunting were within 200 yards.

#1 recommendation is a 45/70 Marlin Guide Gun using 320 gr Leverevolution cartridges. Its range is up to 200 yards. Recoil is hardly noticeable. The rifle is small, light & fast & easy to use & carry. With a proper load it can be formidable capable of killing anything that moves with ease. A great gun for thick brush.
Both my wife(Eve) & I have been using the 45/70 GG for around 10 years & the moose & deer shot so far dropped quickly & only needed one shot each.

#2 is the 308 Winchester. My regular hunting partner LT aka LOVER 308 since 1967 still hunts with the same rifle & has been very successful with it usually requiring only one shot. Recoil is not an issue. Loaded with 220 gr it will do for a grizzly gun. 30-06 would be #3.

My first rifle was a 30-30 Win bought in 1965 at Charlie Lake BC from Foxy Wolf.

This is the exact setup I have now - Marlin 45-70 (with Leverevolution reloads) and a 308 win in Browning BLR. I like my lever actions.

[000buck]

Just bought a weatherby vanguard in 308 win equipped it with a Nikon monarch 2.5-10x50 took it to the range today to sight in at 100 with 150 grn Winchester superx by the end of the day it was grouping Less than minute of angle right out of the box. 3 rounds in the size of a quarter..... I'm pretty damn happy with that and didn't spend $1000.00 on a rifle. I highly recommend it. ( I own several " high end" rifles that offer no better performance.) it infact cut a tighter group than a sako 30 06 that was being sighted right beside me with premium hand loads....

[dino]

Dino - ive only been out once, but I am more of a hiker anyways, so "likes to hike" is probably more me. Im also not small either (6'4'', 98kg), so not too worried about the guns weight etc.

Thanks again for all your advice!

Looking back I have a few rifles that sit in the safe and dont get used very often. I am a hiker and hunt the high country so a magnum calibre is what I use. I would sujust something in stainless. Magnums are good for longer distance shots so a good scope with good rings is a must. I also use a tall telescopic bipod If your planning on long backpack hunts then you will want something different, the recoil on a magnum is not an issue with me either is rifle weight with my style of hunting. There are a few different styles of hunters and hunting, try and foresee the style you want to use then research the best gun for that style. My best advice is not to buy an under powered poor quality scope and rings rifle. Stainless is not a must but if you hike alot a blued rifle will corrode. If you are planning to just timber hunt then dont listen to this advice, I use a different rifle for that type of hunting. My advice is based on the style of hunting I do, the area I hunt and by trial and error with different equipment. Like I said earlier try to match the rifle to the style of hunting you plan on using.

[ajr5406]

Thanks to everyone for your feedback and advice. Exciting times ahead, once I complete all my required courses etc

[.264winmag]

Savage axis or 110/111, best factory bang for buck. .270, 30/06, 7rem mag are plenty of punch up to moose and ammo is cheap and readily available. Happy shopping:)

[ajr5406]

Ok, lots to think about for a hunting rifle - thanks!

Seems like a 22 is a great option for practice. How much can I get a cheap, used 22 for? Anything particular I should look for, or will any old thing work? Would be good to have something to practice with as well as shoot small stuff with too?

Thanks.

[.264winmag]

I have a ruger 10/22, works well but trigger is horrible. Any cheap bolt action should do the truck practice wise and for small game. Would say $200/less should get a decent 22lr

[BRvalley]

for a 22, I'm partial to savage for bolt action, and marlin 60 for semi

[Peter Pepper]

I like my savage axis in 25-06, sweet round for black tail, but ammo is more $ than more common calibers. Maybe .270 or 30-06 for a more common ammo.

I recommend those raised scope rings you can look thou to use your iron sights (If you get a gun with iron sights).

Btw the gutting and meat processing part is easier than you probably think it is. I'm self taught in all aspects of hunting, (thanks to info from this website) I only wish I'd started years ago!
Good luck, have fun. Hunting is awesome!

[.264winmag]

Personally I would stay away from the high see through rings for hunting application, your cheek weld becomes an unsteady chin weld and sight picture becomes horrible with extra high rings. Keep the magnification of your scope down to 3x or less on bottom end if worried about close shots. You should be spending more $ on optics,bases,rings than you spend on the rifle. This will save you a ton of grief in losing zero etc. The best rifle in the world aint worth nothing without quality mounts/optics. I do however run the see through mounts on my .22lr, use the iron sights on grouse in close and scope is sighted in for 50 yds for longer shots.

[ajr5406]

Went into an outdoor store today to look at a few rifles, and the guy I was talking to said the Savage Axis might be too small for me (being almost 6'4'').

The gun looks great, especially for the price as a starter rifle, but curious if any taller guys have feedback on this gun being too small?

Thanks

[Darksith]

ok my turn...why not.

I would buy a USED .270 or .280. I recommend the .280 over the .270, but the .270 is more common.

Definitely go used what ever you buy, hell thats all I buy. You can get some great deals out there. Stay away from magnums until you learn how to shoot. I am amazed at how poorly many people shoot, they end up with something that is a little too much and develop a pull or a flinch. I have spent lots of time at the range, and watching guys try to sight in their new setups is brutal, simply because they can't put a decent grouping on the paper to dial it in. Learn to shoot, learn to shoot well. That means you need cheap ammo and lots of practice, something like a lead sled is a great tool to learn how to shoot with.