First Rifle??? Whats a good choice

[sledforever]

Looking to buy my first gun. Any suggestions about what gun to get?

[moosinaround]

What ya gonna hunt? Are you a big person or a smaller person body size? How much money are you wanting to spend? open sights, scoped? Bolt action, lever action, single shot? A few more ???'s to answer here newbie!! Moosin

[sledforever]

My mistake. Ok to clarify. Mostly moose and deer. Not the biggest guy in the world. Under $1500. bolt acton with a scope.

[Shooter Jr.]

I know lots of guys are going to say it so I'll just spit it out, 30-06.
practically all gun models are chambered in a 30-06, very wide range of ammunition, models, and brands. Also very cheap as well. Mild recoil, great caliber for moose, deer and elk. That's probably a good bet.

[peashooter]

.270, 30-06, 300 win mag. as far as make, try and "feel" how they fit you.

[Poguebilt]

30.06 anything that FITS like tikka ruger savage stevens remington etc.... Go with a 3-9x40 leupold vx-1 and you will have a nice setup

[peashooter]

7mm mag, 6.5mm, 308.

[tristanmac]

30/06 is a good caliber for the game you mentioned. Personally I like the Browning x-bolt running from $900 - $1100 pending whether you want blued or stainless, slap on a 3-9x40 leupold vx-1 and your set.

If you have friends with guns, try them out and see what works for you!

[ROM]

Short fat cartridges, 7mm-08, 308, or 300 wsm subject to recoil sensitivity.

3X9 leopold. 40mm.

Consider stainless rifle and composite stock.

Rifle make is your choice. Nearly all shoot good these days.

R

[moosinaround]

Winchester Model 70 sporter, 3x9x40mm bushnell, chambered in 30-06, 7mm mag, 300 win mag, 338 win mag, or 270 win. Throw on a sling and swivels, and you are shooting. Should bring you in under or close to 1500 smackers!! Moosin

[duckhunt]

Howa 1500 stainless, 30-06, talley rings, and a bushnell 4200 3-9x40mm.

[sledforever]

thanks for all the input. I was thinking either a 30-06, 7mm or 300. Is there any reason to pick one over the other?

[ROM]

All are great rounds. the 3006 might be more pleasant to shoot.

[LukaTisus]

Rifle I use is my Dad's Remington, bolt-action 30-06. I've used his .300 Winchester mag before and I personally like the 30-06 better, mostly because it doesn't blast your eardrums right outta your head when you shoot it. Less kick, lighter (which is good because I'm prone to taking standing-shots, rather than using a rest). I love that gun. :P So I'm a little biased, but it's definitely a great caliber to start with! Knocked down plenty of game with that trusty ol' thing and there'll be plenty more in the years to come!

[HIGHRPM]

If you are going to have only one rifle get a bigger caliber, that way you can change bullet weights and designs for different game. I would recommend based on many years in the field with meat every year, a Remmington 7 mm Magnum, 3 x 9 x 50. The magnum has a big kick but the hit it produces on the animal is huge ! Use 140 -150 grain on deer, 175 grain on moose. The scope I use is the normal 3 x 9 great for bush and wide open plains and the 50 optic is extremely good in low level lighting. The weight difference in scopes between a 40 and 50 mm is virtually nothing, but the amount of light transmitted to your eyes can be a big difference. I have severel different rifles, different calibers, but the 7mm is the one I would use if I only had one. :)

[BiG Boar]

thanks for all the input. I was thinking either a 30-06, 7mm or 300. Is there any reason to pick one over the other?

If I were you I would go with the 3006 or the 7mm. 300 can develope a nasty flinch with some shooters.

Out of the 2 I would get the 7mm because I think its a bit flatter shooting? A well constructed bullet will kill anything with that.

However you will probably here more guys telling you to go with 06' as they are a great all around gun with many bullet weights being shootable, and lots of ammo available.

[Poguebilt]

price out the cost of bullets before you make your choice... you have more weight options with the 30.06 and can most likely shoot twice as much which will make you a more confident shooter/hunter :-D

[bearhunter338-06]

Once again why do these seasond shooter always recomend a Magnum rifle for a first rifle, heavy recoil makes for posable flinching.

30-06, 270, 308, 7MM-08, these 4 calibers will do anything any of the "Magnum" calibers will do. You never mentioned if you have any experiance with any firearm at all. So I would recamend eather the 308Win. or the 7MM-08. Both these calibers are mild recoil, giving less chance of developing a flinch. Both have tacken there far share of deer, moose, elk, bear, and you wont be under gunned.

After a few years of shooting under your belt, then look into purchesing a Magnum like the 338 win. mag.

[North]

If I were you I would go with the 3006 or the 7mm. 300 can develope a nasty flinch with some shooters.


I agree with this. I started off hunting last year and bought a 300 Win Mag at the recommendation that it was the "do all" rifle. It was capable but I never enjoyed shooting it and as a result did not practice as much. After one season with it, I sold it and bought a .270 win and havn't looked back.

I put more rounds through it and am more confident with it.

Everyone is different but if you don't have a lot of shooting experience go with a .270 or 30-06. Great all around calibers, cheaper bullets and more then enough for deer or moose.

[sledforever]

You never mentioned if you have any experiance with any firearm at all. Good point I have gone shooting with friends etc. but never more than 5-10 shots per gun they had. a 300, 308, and 30-30

[steelhead]

..............................

[bearhunter338-06]

Good point I have gone shooting with friends etc. but never more than 5-10 shots per gun they had. a 300, 308, and 30-30


So by 300 I assume you mean 300 win. mag. How did you shoot it, could you spend a day at the range sighting it in, maybe shooting 20 rounds. How was it compared to the 308win. Did you shoot one better then the other. By the way the 308 will do everything the 300 win mag will do out to 300 yards, which is further then you should be shooting being a new shooter. No a magnum will not extend your range, if any may hinder your shooting ability.

[Ruger4]

Go see Mark in Vanderhoofen , grab a new Win 70 s/s in 308 , grab a Burris fullfield II while your there and live very happily ever after. Mild recoil , kill anything , good ammo selection , tons of factory ammo to choose and voila your a happy camper :mrgreen: shoot lots , have fun , get better and better and better , happy ending !!

[tuffteddyb]

find a rifle that you like and fits you well,
caliber wise i would go with a 7/08.
like said before got talk to marc at OSS.
knows his stuff and wouldnt steer you wrong.

[sledforever]

find a rifle that you like and fits you well,
caliber wise i would go with a 7/08.
like said before got talk to marc at OSS.
knows his stuff and wouldnt steer you wrong.

What is the full name behind OSS? Never been there before but would like to check it out. From what you say sounds like he would be a great guy to talk to. Thanks

[Downtown]

Looking to buy my first gun. Any suggestions about what gun to get?

First Gun should be a Pellet Gun, and practice a lot like tentousand pellets or so, then graduate to a 22rimfire and practice another few tousand.

You would not want to shoot at an Animal without being certain that your Bullet will hopefully kill instantly would you. Its not a choke for the Animal and should not be a Fun for you.

By now a few years have past and you are still Eyballing the "Real Guns".
As for caliber suitable for Moose get the biggest you can handle without flinching. Moose are a huge animal and a rutting Bull can swallow bullets then take off into a River and drown going into a logjam where you are unable to recover him.

In North american calibers I prefer a 338 Winchester magnum with 250 grain slugs. Nothing fancy but will do Justice to this majestic Animal. No matter what anybody tells you here, allways allways look for a broadside shot right into the Heart which is much lower then most Hunters think.

As for the Rifle itself, buy quality, buy a Bolt Action. A Rifle without open sights is now in style but should not be considered unless you are planing to have a competent Gunsmit putting open sights one afterward (additional cost about 250.**)

Of course you want to have a Scope which should be Waterproof, shockproof and variable. I personally had good Luck with Leopold but i am shure there are many good others less expensive.

Detachable Scope mounts come in very handy too. You can remove your Scope during transport or when searching for a woundet animal in dense cover.

Nuff said ---start with the Pellet Gun.

[sledforever]

First Gun should be a Pellet Gun, and practice a lot like tentousand pellets or so
Already have done the pellet gun. First gun was a pump action BB gun. Meant first gun big enough to take down big game.

[eaglesnester]

Remington 700 BDL in 30/06 22 inch barrel at around 850 bucks or so. A real tack driver. Remington 700 BDL in 7MM remington Mag in 24 inch barrel at around the same price. A Remington in 308 would also make a nice first rifle. The above listed firearms and calibers will take any game in North America at reasonable distances save the great bears and it will do them too in a pinch. Ammunition is commonly available and reasonably priced. A 270 is also a nice caliber. You have lots to choose from and good luck.

Cheers & Tighter Groups: Eaglesnester

[Manglinmike]

If moose is on the menu I would just go ahead and stick with the 30cals,you well have better sectonal density and a wider range of bullet weights.You can shoot 150s for deer and if a moose trip is in the works then up yhe anti to 180s, as for what actual cal to buy thats up to you all of the 30s are good I like the 300win and 300wsm but I dont mind the gun fighting back alittle,the tried and proven 30-06 like the boyes have said is enough gun for pretty much any critter that walks in B.C.The real differance between the 06 and the bigger harder stronger faster ones is do you want to see you moose sag to the ground of do you want to see him bounce! Personally,I'm a bouncer

[Phreddy]

There's a very good reason why the 30:06 is in just about every reply in this thread, as well as the same thread in other forums. It is a good, reliable, do-all rifle that, equipped with a good leupold or Burris (maybe Vortec, but I'm told they're still working on some refinements) scope will do a nice job on any game animal in North America.

[Whisky Creek]

.30-06
Any modern bolt action that suits your personal preference.
Check Sigard's to see what he's got or if you aren't opposed to a used rifle, take a look at the Equipment Exchange section at canadiangunnutz.com
There are lots of rifles trading hands there everyday and some decent deals to be had if you are quick.
CLINT

[AT&T]

So by 300 I assume you mean 300 win. mag. How did you shoot it, could you spend a day at the range sighting it in, maybe shooting 20 rounds. How was it compared to the 308win. Did you shoot one better then the other. By the way the 308 will do everything the 300 win mag will do out to 300 yards, which is further then you should be shooting being a new shooter. No a magnum will not extend your range, if any may hinder your shooting ability.

I enjoy the couple posts here on the 300wm. I love both if mine but for general shooting other calibres are easier for most folk. Especially starting out. I would not want to sit down and shoot several boxes out of my Ruger no 1 either. 30 06 308 are much easier and yes are great out to 3 4 hundred yards. Farther than most guys shoot anyway. The 30 06 is still an amazing BC rifle.

[eaglesnester]

30/06 is a good caliber for the game you mentioned. Personally I like the Browning x-bolt running from $900 - $1100 pending whether you want blued or stainless, slap on a 3-9x40 leupold vx-1 and your set.

If you have friends with guns, try them out and see what works for you!X2 30/06, look at the Remington 700 BDL with 22inch barrel. I have one and it is a tack driver at 400 yards with Burger 175VLDes. It is short enough to be very handy when road hunting or in thick brush but not so short as to be inaccurate at distance.

[tightgrouper]

I too am a very new shooter just finishing my second season. I started out with the 30 06 which is great but I wish now that I had started with a 270 so that my second rifle could be a larger hitting round. I am shopping for a new rifle now and find that 3006 is so mid range that I am kinda thinking whats the point. My 3006 is good enough. But I still want something new but different..

[#49]

There is a ton of 30-06 Huskys on Tradex for decent prices.Great guns that were built with pride and quality that is sometimes hard to find these days.

[cariboo crawler]

There is a ton of 30-06 Huskys on Tradex for decent prices.Great guns that were built with pride and quality that is sometimes hard to find these days.
long live the huskys
I grew up hunting white tail and muleys with my grandfathers hand me down 270 win. I still use it once in a while but have now gone to a 300 win mag. I wouldn't recommend a mag rifle as your first. My mag sat in the locker for 5 yrs because I hated the recoil and the trigger pull. Finally had a former BC marksman set the trigger and put on the best recoil pad I could find (Pachmayer) now I can take it to the range and not flinch with it.
My hunting partner has shot everything from whiteys to elk and moose with his 30-06 and would never shoot anything else. I agree . I just purchased a 30-06 for my 15 yr old son . the guys on this website sold me on the 30-06 as well.
there's just to many good things to say about it.
Go 30-06 you won't regret it!!!

[C.Groves]

I just bought my first rifle for just over $1500.00

I picked up a Browning X-Bolt Stainless Steel Stalker .270WSM with a bushnell 3200 Elite DOA 600 3-9x40 scope.

The bullets are going to be more expensives being a Winchester Short Magnum but it puts out more speed and range then a 30-06. Definitely happy with my choice.

I took alot of input from guys on here before I got my rifle the other day and in the end it was my choice and I was really satisfied so look around for your personal liking and you can't go wrong!

-Groves

[C.Groves]

I just bought my first rifle for just over $1500.00

I picked up a Browning X-Bolt Stainless Steel Stalker .270WSM with a bushnell 3200 Elite DOA 600 3-9x40 scope.

The bullets are going to be more expensives being a Winchester Short Magnum but it puts out more speed and range then a 30-06. Definitely happy with my choice.

I took alot of input from guys on here before I got my rifle the other day and in the end it was my choice and I was really satisfied so look around for your personal liking and you can't go wrong!

-Groves

I am actually going with a 30-06 now. Can to realize that being a new hunter I do not need a magnum as the higher grain win/rem bullets are just as lethal and $10-15 cheaper.

[buck nash]

I am actually going with a 30-06 now. Can to realize that being a new hunter I do not need a magnum as the higher grain win/rem bullets are just as lethal and $10-15 cheaper.


Good decission I think. Price ammo is something to consider for your first centre fire. You're gonna want to shoot it lots in order to feel totally comfortable with it. You don't want the high price of ammo keeping you from shooting often enough. I often shoot 4-5 boxes in a day out, which is expensive enough with a 270 win. I wouldn't do that if I was paying $40+ a box.

[.300WSMImpact!]

my biggest mistake I made buying a gun was buying a big caliber. 270 and 30 06 are great guns and cheap shells, then make sure you get a GOOD scope, pay less for a gun (buy used) pay more for a scope, by quality!

[Scouter Bear]

One thing to be looking at is the distance that you are going to be shooting at. I have a Remington XHR in 30-06 with a Leopold VX1 3X9X40 and is great, but if you are looking to shoot more than 300m you should be looking at a 7mm or a 300win mag. they shoot straighter over a longer distance.

That is my 2 cents worth. Good luck.

[BCBRAD]

With a $1500 budget, I would look for a used Sako, either a 75 or 85. these can be had for 900-1000 dollars in new condition and usually come with the rings. Also, look for a used Leupold scope, 2x7, 2.5x8, 3x9, or a fixed 6X ,lots available in the 250 to 350 dollar range, you won't be paying tax either. Any caliber between 270 and the 300 mags are popular on the used market. And , anything you buy new will be the same value as used after one season and if you don't like the choice you made you can get out from underneath it and probably make a few bucks...........this is from a person who normally buys new but will buy used if its a very good deal.