[Essential]

First things first. My name is Josh, I'm 25, I live in northern California and I'm glad I found this message board!

I'm going to go deer hunting for my first time this year. I have b zone and c zone tags for Northern California.

I have a few questions. One, I know that I want a .270 rifle, but I'm not sure which brand to get? Also, I don't know what kind of scope to get. I'm looking at a $1000 budget so if anyone can recommend something in this range. My buddy tells me I HAVE to get a Leupold scope, but for half the money I could get a Simmons or something. Please give me your opinions on that.

Also, does any one have any general advice for me? Should I take my Kimber .45 with me when hunting? Any web sites that I can go to with hunting tips?

Ok, I can't think of anything else right now, but thanks in advance to anyone who helps me out.

Also, anyone else hunting up here this year?

[repsychler]

Don't get cheap on your optics! Are you gonna be happy about the money you saved if scope problems ruin your hunt? While I do own Simmons and Bushnell scopes, I also own a Leupold and I wouldn't trade it for all the Bushnells in Korea. With a $1000 budget you can easily fit a decent leupold scope into the deal. (You don't have to shell out for their top end product to get a fine scope with a lifetime warranty)

And if you think Leupold is pricy, check out some of the real top end scopes. :what:

[redneck]

There are several good threads going on in the rifle section on deer rifles right now. They pop up all the time, so you could probably find some good stuff if you searched that forum for deer rifles also.
You might want to post a thread on scopes in the rifle forum as well. That gets tossed around pretty frequently, but there will be different answers depending on the circumstances you'll be under.
Good luck.

[Essential]

Ok guys, thanks for the replies and I'll post in the rifle section about the gun.

Anybody have any tips for hunting up here in Northern California?

Thanks again!

[Keith]

The best thing you can do is to get out there and stalk deer with a camera, or just see how well you do at finding them, how close you can get, etc, prior to the season opening.

The weapon used is about 1% of hunting. Ten percent of hunters take 90% of the deer (or something like that), and those guys are successful because they practice and remember what they learn, not because they have a better rifle.

Keith

[Essential]

Keith:

Great advice. I was already thinking of scouting out some areas and your advice confirms my decision to do so. I'm getting excited just thinking about that. Should be a great way to spend a weekend.

Thanks for the advice.

[Newt]

You should check out the line of Tikka rifles. They're IMHO some of the finest rifles for the buck (no pun intended). Gave 550 for mine and it came with rings for the scope too. Probably a little bit of price variance between here and Cali, but you should still be able to easily fit that into your budget. Also, I've heard quite a few people talking about the Savage 110. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on the Savage model no. Lots of praise on those lately.

Newt

[Art Eatman]

Generic advice for beginning riflemen: Feel and fondle until you find the mix of nearest-perfect fit as well as aesthetics and price. There are almost no modern bolt action rifles that won't shoot plenty accurately for hunting.

On a $1,000 budget, I'd search online for the best price for a Leupold Vari-X II 3x9. Without even trying, I see that SWFA's ad in the new Shotgun News has them for $270. Since I've been using Weaver or Weaver-style rings and bases for over 50 years, I'll natcherly call them good. :)

Heck, for a $1,000 budget, there could be enough left over for a .22 rimfire for eye-finger coordination practice!

:), Art

[one-shot-one]

welcome.
Leupold is an excelent choice for scope, upper middle price range for 3x9 or 2x7 power vari-x II.
if possible on the rifles try to find a way to test fire the modles that you are interested in, this helps to assure that the stock fits you and is comfortable enough for target practice.
in .270 i have shot or owned: savage 110, winchester mod. 70, remington 700, and ruger. all have been good hunting rifles with the winchester being the least comfortable at the target bench for me (it is a fit thing).

[Tommy Gunn]

I would put more money into the scope than in the rifle. Most rifles are more accurrate than the marksmanship ability of most people. I also recommend that you get a leather military sling, its a shooting aid for better accurracy if you know how to use it.

[Essential]

Thanks again for all the advice, I really appreciate it.

Looks like I'm going to go out with a couple of guys that own the gun store I shop at. They all have a few different .270 rifles so I will be able to shoot and test quite a few different brands.

Art:
I already bought a 10/22 earlier this year so I've got my .22 already :D

[Doc]

tikka is a good choice. remember you can always buy more guns
people often overbuy or underbuy (just like with computers &
other toys)

Savage makes a very reliable inexpensive rifle.
Howa is also inexpensive and reliable.

As a step up Tikka, Winchester and Ruger

and finally stuff that 's out of the budget.

GET A GOOD SCOPE!!!
When I got my first deer rifle (which I still have and shoot) I bought
an inexpensive scope. It was poor quality, I replaced it with a leupold.

Consider Nikon for scope, other than that you would be reinventing the wheel:
trying to replace the Leupold with a similar scope.

Do several searches for scopes and deer rifles and scopes here at TheHighRoad
and you will find lots more good info

Doc

[labgrade]

I would concentrate on how to locate & get within reasonable range rather than equipment - for now. That & safety (foremost) + markmanship.

No question that a decent rifle/optics combo is a better way to go, but if you're scaring away the critters before you get "close enough," it won't matter.

Hopefully, yer gun shop buds will go a long way to making you a hunter rather than "just" a shooter.

Plenty game taken with "mere" iron-sighted .30-30s

& please do take in the spirit intended.

Zip wrong with a decent scope/long-ranger (I have & love The .270 - a wonderful round, & it's most certainly scoped), but that "10% take 90% of the game" is by decent hunters, not by decent shots - usually - & there IS a big difference.

Hunters eat a lot more personally-kilt game than do shooters. Takes both, but equipment figures in a lot less than does hunting ability.

Dear Old Dad left me his old .270 "stoked" ;) with a 4X Gibson optic. Totally substandard by today's merits & I can't begin to tell you how many fell to its devices.

$1K!? Where to start?

I'd learn to hunt before I drop the money on equipment. The whole "teach a man to fish" aspect, huh? ;)

[crowsnest2002]

You've been saying guns & scopes (Sightron #1):D WHAT about clothing. Clothing is very important as well. You definately dont want to be hiking around in tennis shoes! Or its blizzarding and all you have is a sweat shirt, that just wont work, you'll be freezing your feet off..... Whats your conditions and terrain like Essential???????

crow

[ReadyontheRight]

I'm not sure what deer hunting is like in Northern CA, but I would suggest a good set of binoculars -- like ~$200 Steiners. Deer can be very hard to pick out of the background, and no scope will give you the field of view of a good set of binoculars.

http://www.ritzcamera.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&productId=76519&topCategory=&cat1=1017&cat2=6096958

If you will be hunting in a forest, a good deer stand can help. Learn to look for deer sign, get to know the territory and set up a stand and shooting lanes well before the season -- portable or permenant depending on where you're hunting. Along with understanding the terrain, the ability to stay in one spot for a very long time delivers deer. Stay in your stand over lunch time and let the other hunters kick deer out to you. Of course conditions may be different in CA.

Remington, Winchester, Savage, Ruger. For non-us-made bolt actions, Tikka, Browning, Howa. All have a different "feel" and different safety and magazine configurations. I like a removable box magazine and a safety that allows you to work the action while the safety is on. Not all allow this, so check it out and get one that makes mechanical sense to you.

The low-end Leupold scope works for me. I am eyeing a Weaver Grand Slam -- they seem a little brighter than the Leupold VariX II -- but I first need a Tikka to put it on. Someday.

[Elkslayer]

Do not shoot at game beyond your known ability. Game animals are not targets. It is better to go home empty handed than to go home knowing you took a shot you shouldn't and lost a wounded animal.

Practice shooting and range estimation.

There is a difference between hunting and getting close enough for a shot and sniping from a distance. There is a point where distance seperates hunting and sniping.

Sorry if this sounds like a lecture but there is a couple of burning threads on other hunting/shooting boards on this subject.

And I truely am glad to welcome a new hunter to this wonderful sport. Good luck and hunt hard.

Elkslayer

[tasunkawitko]

another vote for sightron (http://www.sightron.com/index.php?action=view_category&cat_id=1044399343) . great price PLUS a warranty identical to leupold's (http://www.leupold.com/products/scopes.asp). another couple of good things about sightron are that they are built ruggedly and have great optics (japanese). finally, the sightron people are just plain good to work with. very friendly and accomodating.

as for the rifle, i recommend a cz (http://www.cz-usa.com/_p/p02.php) or a charles daly mauser (http://www.charlesdaly.com/html/products/firearms/rifles/rifles.asp) . these czech and yugo mausers are excellent choices. you get MUCH MORE rifle for the buck, in my opinion. tikka (http://www.tikka.fi/rifles_1.html) rifles are also EXCELLENT. the only reason i do not have one is because i prefer a mauser-style action over a push-feed type

[lycanthrope]

Just a thought. Should you choose to modify the rifle (stocks, triggers, etc.) the Remington 700 has a TON of aftermarket accessories.

They also shoot very well.

Are you sure you don't want a Remington Sendero? Fluted heavy barrel, bedded action and all for under $750. Enough left over for a Leopold if you look.

Only problem is......no .270. But why not a 7mm? hehe.

[Johnny Guest]

- - - I've shot one a fair amount, But it is one of the fairly specialized class of "bean field" rifles - - Long and heavy, more suited for setting up on the long, wide senderos or across the cultivated fields, than for carrying much. I've a lot of respect for the type, but it is truly not as versatile as a medium weight sporter.

Essential, pride of ownership in a brand, spanking, new rifle is very nice, but I'd be very tempted to make the rounds of smaller sporting goods and gun shops where they take trade-in rifles. There are a LOT of excellent used rifles on the shelves which have been swapped when someone was doing an upgrade. They can sometimes be had for hundreds of dollars less than the same thing on the "New" rack, and most of the used ones will have a scope mount in place - - And possibly even a high grade scope already mounted.

I don't know what your time frame is, but I'd suggest you so a bit of shopping around. Try to have your rifle in hand in plenty of time to make several trips to the range so you can get the sighting-in and tweaking done. And a second-nature familiarity with your rifle makes for a LOT of confidence. Once you're sighted in, get off the shooting bench and practice from sitting position - - Probably the most useful hunter's shooting position of them all. Don't neglect to shoot from standing unsupported as well. If nothing else, this will teach you the maximum distance at which you should take an offhand shot. Do yourself a favor and LEARN this limitation. Nothing kills the joy of a hunt like knowing you have a gut shot animal out there somewhere. HUNTING is a lot more than just killing something . . . The fact that you are seeking advice indicates you want to be a good sportsman. Welcome to the wonderful world, sir.

Best,
Johnny

[lycanthrope]

I disagree on one point. If I had $1000 and I was going to buy ONE rifle to do the work for a long while, I wouldn't buy used.

I think it makes a difference to lap in your own barrel and know how your gun was treated. How many new hunters know what a bad throat looks like? How many even look?

However, knowing you can shoot a gun accurately and knowing it fits you is priceless.

Remmy 700's and teh Win model 70 work great for me. I have a Browning A-bolt Medallion that just doesn't work for my frame, no matter how pretty it is.

[Essential]

Thanks everyone for all the advice!

Crow: The terrain around here is goes all the way from flat to very steep. Weather is HOT and dry. Since I haven't been out hunting much, I can't get real specific on the terrain.

Everyone: Thanks for all the advice and the links to equipment. I've been doing a lot of research lately and your help is really cool.

Well, I think that I got a great deal on a rifle. An older guy that I work with overheard me talking about buying a rifle and he mentioned that he would sell me his. It is a pre '64(I think it's '64, might be 69?) Winchester model 70. It has an older Leupold Vari II 2-9x scope on it. The best thing is the guy still has the original box of shells, it was a box of 20 and only 6 were missing. The guy had only shot 6 bullets out of this rifle and he sold it to me (including the 14 remaining shells) for $175 bucks. The rifle looks brand new and shoots pretty dang good. I am definitly happy about this as it gives me more money to buy boots (Thanks Crow) and binoculars (thanks ReadyontheRight) and some other stuff that I need.

Again, thanks everyone for your help and good luck this deer season!

[Elkslayer]

So,,, what caliber is it in??? Is it a Winchester M70? Inquiring minds need to know! :D

[Essential]

Elkslayer: It is indeed the M70 in .270 caliber. I can't believe I forgot to put that in! I was so excited I didn't even realize I was forgetting a very important piece of information.

Now I just can't wait to use it on a buck :D

[WYO]

Now that you have the firearm acquisition out of the way, I would spend some of the left over money on an entry level GPS unit and some topo maps, and start learning your intended hunting area. I find that the quality of my "outdoor experience" is enhanced the more I know about the particular area. In addition to trying to figure out the habits of the animals in the area, start figuring out the likely places that they will go to get away from people when the season starts in earnest. Good luck!

[labgrade]

Ahhh ... I just must.

Blow off the GPS. Get a decent enough compass, learn how to use it & I would never discount the topos (I never travel w/o 'em). GPS is great if you've some extra folders, but map & compass been doping us A-OK for a few hundred & if on a budget .....

No question. Learn your area AND MOST IMPORTANTLY what the critters are doing (& when) in it.

Learn TO HUNT - not just see the quary (we all got to watch nice bucks running over that next ridge & it is exciting in its own right), but if you want to actually bring home dinner, you muct learn theiur habits & be able to get close enough to shoot them reliably (read that humanely).

Big difference.

& nothing like tagging a nice big game animal that you've sucessfully ended up within way closew distances - even if you never get to do anything other than tyalk about it = it got away. A true hunting story.

[nygunguy]

Be a hunter, not a shooter. Learn as much or more about the game that you're hunting as you do about the firearms. I know lots of shooters who take deer every year but have never really hunted them.

My first deer gun was an Iron sighted M94 .30-30 that my Dad paid $45 for. I got my first buck with a Mossberg .20GA bolt action shotgun that didn't even have a back sight, just a bead up front. It took me a while to get good with those weapons but almost 40 years later I thank God that that's how I started.

Sounds like you have a CA handgun license. Why not try a hand gun like the .44 mag? You'll need to get'em in close and most certainly will be frustrated, but the experience is well worth it.

Why not try bowhunting at first?

Remember its more about hunting than shooting.

[rebbryan]

i've got a savage 111, never shot any gun other than bb before and shot a decent 2' inch group my first time out with it, w/ the poopy trigger and scope. replace the trigger, unless you get one of the new ones with the bitchin trigger, and the scope.

may also want to look at a steyr mannlicher (wrong spelling i'm sure). guy who used to post here but got banned has one, trigger on that is like sweet lovin'