[K40]

I need some input on a good deer/elk rifle and caliber. Something that I will probably buy used, and rarely shoot except to take game- mainly deer, and if I draw, elk. I know nothing of scopes - I'll pursue that confusion later...any input is appreciated.

[dakotasin]

you are asking one mighty broad question...you don't mention your experience w/ guns/rifles, and how well you might tolerate recoil, or weight requirements of the rifle...soooo, i'm going to assume little-to-no prior experience, and you just want an 'average weight'.

for the rifle, i would look to a remington 700 adl/bdl/mountain rifle.

for caliber, the classic all-around do it all caliber is the 30-06. if you prefer a lighter package, i suggest the remington model 7 in 308 (this is another flexible, 'do it all' cartridge that is grossly underrated).

for scope, the classic scope is a 3-9. for your purposes, i highly reccomend a leupold 2-7, as this is a fine combination of power, flexibility, and weight.

btw, if you remove elk from your list, the list of rifle possibilities and calibers grows exponentially; which means smaller cartridges and less recoil/noise.

good luck.

[Art Eatman]

dakotasin's notions are as good as any you'll see here. I would add that you should meddle around gun stores and gunshows and feel and fondle and get a notion of what fits your own body the best.

Mount the rifle firmly and comfortably to your sholder, with your eyes closed. When you open your eyes, you should be looking right through the sights or the scope.

Assuming you find two or three brands/models that meet this test, all that remains is price and aesthetics. :) It is extremely difficult to find a rifle that WON'T have quite adequate hunting accuracy.

Based on your statements, I'd think that you'd be a bit better off with "more" cartridge than "less". That is, a skilled rifleman who is also a skilled stalker/hunter can do well with smaller cartridges, typically being closer to his target and more likely to be able to place his shot exactly right. Not a put-down; just a fact of life as I see it.

So I guess I'd go with the .308 or .30-'06 as having adequate power without having excessive recoil.

$0.02, Art

[Peetmoss]

Art hit it right on the money. May I also suggest you look at Savage also. They are a good rifle and pretty darn accurate. Plus you can't beat there price. I picked up a Savage in 30-06 package deal (comes with cheasy 3x9 scope and sling) for 349 just before this past XMAS. IMNSHO a good place to start.

[priv8ter]

Winchester Model 70 in .30-06, with any medium price 3x-9x scope...hard to beat that package...

[Stinger]

308 (this is another flexible, 'do it all' cartridge that is grossly underrated).

It is not underrated by anyone who has ever used/seen/read about it. But I personally prefer the '06.

K40,

Good advice here.

To add my 2 cents, check around your local shops. Find one that fits you. Get a good price. Walk out with a new rifle and a :D

Stinger