Entry Level Rifle Help

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  • meyer4589

    Expert
    Rating - 100%
    38   0   0
    Feb 25, 2011
    841
    28
    Highland, IN
    I've been looking at an entry level rifle to maybe take on a bear hunt or to use for deer if I ever go out of state, as well as using it as a shooter at the range.

    I've looked at the Remington 770 and I don't know which caliber would be the most practical/cheapest to shoot.
    .243 Win
    .270 Win
    7mm Rem Mag
    .30.06
    .300 Win Mag
     

    Fordtough25

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 99.1%
    110   1   0
    Apr 14, 2010
    6,898
    63
    Jefferson County
    I like 30-06 myself, battle and hunting proven time and time again. The shells come in too many versions to count, from regular GI ball ammo to Hornady ballistic tip hunting rounds. :yesway:
     

    sepe

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Jun 15, 2010
    8,149
    48
    Accra, Ghana
    If you were thinking about black bear, whitetail, and mule deer at some point, a .270 could get you there. One question though, are you set on the 770? I've looked at them and wasn't all that impressed. Howa and Savage have nice rifles around the price of the 770.
     

    sepe

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Jun 15, 2010
    8,149
    48
    Accra, Ghana
    If you've got a Wal-Mart by that sells guns see if they'll let you check out the special order catalog and run some prices. If you find something that looks interesting check out some local shops or Cabela's to see if they have any and do another price check. Wal-Mart quoted me $35x for a Howa Ranchland 1500 (with a junker scope) but looking around online the same rifle was just over $500. GunBroker has a Howa 1500 30-06 for $369.99 as a buy it now.

    Howa offers all the calibers that you listed and Howa makes the actions for the Weatherby Vanguard. Tells you that they're making some decent rifles. The Weatherby isn't much more than the Howa (from what I've seen the Vanguard is about $30-50 more for the same caliber).
     

    oneshotonekill

    Sharpshooter
    Rating - 100%
    11   0   0
    Jun 10, 2009
    547
    16
    Over by the lake.
    I'll second the vote for a .30-06, for as long as that round has been around, and as popular as it still is, it is hard to beat. Extremely available in many different variations.

    As far as the rifle, I would say save a few more dollars and get into the Savage rifles. They are very accurate with very good triggers, and available for just a few more dollars.
     

    Yeah

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Dec 3, 2009
    2,637
    38
    Dillingham, AK
    Go 243 Win for the game you listed.

    30-06 was great when it was the only real choice. Heavy bullets were great 20 years ago. But, since killing animals is all about the bullet, and bullet construction has improved by leaps and bounds in the last 10 years, take advantage of that fact and go 243 Win.

    I would not buy a 770 though. Howa 1500/Weatherby Vanguard is a better choice at a similar price.
     

    dross

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jan 27, 2009
    8,699
    48
    Monument, CO
    I'd look at at Thompson Venture in 308. 308 is like a 30 06 with 270 recoil, and the Venture is in that price range with guaranteed MOA accuracy.
     

    dross

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jan 27, 2009
    8,699
    48
    Monument, CO
    Go 243 Win for the game you listed.

    30-06 was great when it was the only real choice. Heavy bullets were great 20 years ago. But, since killing animals is all about the bullet, and bullet construction has improved by leaps and bounds in the last 10 years, take advantage of that fact and go 243 Win.

    I would not buy a 770 though. Howa 1500/Weatherby Vanguard is a better choice at a similar price.

    I have a 243 I'm going to sell. It's a Thompson Icon, and it's a tackdriver, but the problem is that 243 is a barrel burner. This rifle shoots under an inch with everything I've put through it, though.
     

    mrdryoung

    Plinker
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jan 24, 2011
    76
    6
    Lafayette, IN
    I would definately reccommend Savage 10/110. As far as from the factory shooters, they are hard to beat. Remington 700 isn't a bad choice either (770 is bad). I know Walmart has the 110 w/scope(cheap) or 700 w/scope(cheap) for $397 for either. As far as caliber, the 06 will be able to take anything in north America.
     

    shooter1054

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Jan 22, 2011
    1,573
    38
    South Indianapolis
    I'm not disagreeing about the 30-06. I am however throwing in a hat for the 300. shoots the same bullet a little bit faster and flatter. Gives you a little more range and a little more "thump". That said, I think any caliber you listed will serve your needs if you do your part.
     

    kludge

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    5   0   0
    Mar 13, 2008
    5,360
    48
    As for the rifle, in your price range $300-$400, I would take the Marlin XL7 or XS7. Second choose would be the Stevens 200, especially if I planned on a custom barrel, trigger, or stock at a later date. The Marlin is just as easy to swap barrels on as the Savage/Stevens platform though, so either way you go, you can choose one caliber now and then get another barrel and swap them depending on what you're hunting.

    For instance... get a long action Savage/Steves or Marlin and you can choose from probably a dozen or two different cartridges with another $200-$300 barrel.

    For less expensive ammo, I would reload. None of the cartridges you mentioned are really all than inexpensive, unless you shoot surplus ammo from the CMP in .30-06.

    For deer and black bear I'd probably go with something in the .25 to 7mm range.

    So --- .257 Roberts, .25-06, .25 WSSM, .260 Rem, 6.5x55mm, 7mm-08, .280 Rem, .284 Win, .270 Win.

    If it was east of the Mississippi woods gun, I'd take the .35 Remington. If fact, the .358 Win wouldn't be a bad choice no matter where you were and no matter what you were hunting, with the right load.

    If I could have ONLY ONE rifle for the Lower 48 it would be the .280 Remington or .284 Win. If I had to include Canada and Alaska it would be the .338-06 (OK, actually it would be a .338/280 IMP). People would say to split the difference and go with a .30-06, but I would take either a .280 Rem or a .338-06 instead.

    If I could have two rifles they would b a .260 Rem, for deer and smaller, and a .338-06 for everything else. You could do both barrels on the same action.

    (Having a .22LR and a 12GA shotgun is a given.)
     

    jdklvans

    Plinker
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Dec 18, 2011
    24
    1
    Michiana
    I just got done researching a Marlin XL7 in a .270. That is my final choice now. It had a really good review and the price was very good. (cheaperthandirt.com had the XL7C for $285, plus shipping and FFL charges. It was cheaper than the Remington 700 or Savage 110. Check it out.
     

    Kaiser

    Marksman
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Dec 13, 2011
    230
    16
    lafayette area
    30-06 is agreat rifle have a sportized model my father bought at Kmart in the 60's this rifle still shoots great ammo easy to find great round it has killed 7 or 8 bear in it's days with my father
     
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