spending big $ on hunting guns?

If I only had one week to hunt, I would sure hate to see it ruined because of poor equipment. As long as you're buying the best quality that fits the budget, and not "cheap", you should be fine. Spending $600 on a rifle and optic doesn't sound particularly extravagant to me.

I learned early in life that you can buy cheap and end up unhappy, then buying something better. I now buy better guns then most people after learning that lesson. Also won't cheat on optics, usually spend about as much as the rifle on a good scope.

In 2016 I built 4 rifles and took 5 hunting; a factory rifle B78 25-06, a heavy rifle Rem700 7mmRM, a light rifle Rem700 6mmBR, an expensive rifle [>$3K 25-06 M70 with scope and accessories], and a cheap rifle [<0.3k 308 Arisaka with scope and accessories].
The cheap rifle was just sighting off the duplex for range and only kept them in the kill zone out to 400 yards. The expensive rifle had an elevation turret, and kept them in the kill zone out to 500 yards.
I suspect the point of diminishing returns [with my skill level] is much closer to $0.3k than to $3k.

$400 bucks is not all that much in gun dollars today.

Thats a good price range for budget scopes.. 150-200 for the scope and 30-50 for the rings.. Its about where I like to be. My rifle, while more than what you paid (and I could have made due with a rifle in your price range of 600 all out), was like pulling teeth for me. I had the money in hand, that wasnt the issue.. I had just sold another firearm. I looked at 400 dollar rifles, and there were things that I knew I would end up wanting addressed. I detest a bolt that feels like I'm running a cheese grater. This was the least expensive rifle that met my requirements (or a tikka t3x, which was a long, internal debate in itself). If you dont return it, shoot it and either you'll love it or hate it. If you hate it, you'll probably get really close to making every cent back.. that was a great deal you got. If you love it, you'll never notice the checkering when you fire it.

Best of luck man.

In the late 1950s my grandfather paid ~$190 for a super grade model 70. According to the CPI, that's $1650 in 2017 dollars, and today a super grade retails for about $1450. Personally I think the price is worth it, but I understand it's a luxury to have such a fine rifle.

If you are a trophy hunter, and only get a week to hunt, then you really , for the most part have your best chances within 20 minutes after day break, and within the last 20 minutes of shooting light.
That said, most rifles can be made to shoot minute of pie plate, and most deer can be taken with that shot. Why do I bring this up you ask? Skip the new rifle and top one of your currant rifles with a scope which will extend your prime time to 30 minutes in the morning, and 30 minutes in the evening.
Very good deals on quality used optics can be had, and not very risky considering the makers will repair them, in most cases, at no charge.

I am what I like to call a inexpensive gun connoisseur. I try not to spend over $500 on the gun. Luckily I have a better pay in the last few years so my optics budget has risen to the $300 range. I always try to find a good deal. Like the op I was not always so fortunate so I still try to stay at about $500 and usually put my stuff on layaway. Old habits die hard.

My favorite hunting guns are not expensive ones mostly because I don't have to worry about scratching them up. I do like a nice shiny gun with good wood though but I will never own no $2000 custom gun. I don't own any bottom of the barrel cheap guns either, just like cheap economy cars they have never appealed to me. I would rather buy a nicer model car that is a few years older than a new cheap one. I don't own a huge number of guns but I would rather have one nice one than 3 cheapo's.

It's all relative. In earlier days, a $600 purchase would have taken some patience and creative budgeting on my part. Not so much nowadays (thank goodness).

I am a fan of frugal yet effective guns, too. I don't hunt, but I picked up a couple of .30-06 rifles recently. Average price was about $300.


I feel good about the purchases, and I feel that either gun would do it's part if I did mine. That being said, I do not and will not fault anyone for spending more if they can and care to. We can both feel good about our decisions; this world is big enough for that.

I could never spend $200 on a new scope. I haven't seen anything I'd buy that cost less than 5 or 6 hundred dollars

MistWolf said:

I could never spend $200 on a new scope. I haven't seen anything I'd buy that cost less than 5 or 6 hundred dollars

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Really? Cuz if I could put $250 down on a $500 scope I'd jump on that before you could finish typing your response .

MistWolf said:

I could never spend $200 on a new scope. I haven't seen anything I'd buy that cost less than 5 or 6 hundred dollars

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im the opposite, my most expensive cost just over 200. My cheapest "nice" rifles about 500 (i tinker with every gun i own), my most expensive probably 1200.

Ive sold more expensive scopes and rifles(not horribly more on this one), as i didnt get anything extra from them for my uses.

One of these days when I have a ton of money to spare, id like to buy a piece of shooting "art". Probably a stalking double rifle, custom fitted, top quality wood, matching optic in claw mounts with full engraving.......one of these....

horsey300 said:

Really? Cuz if I could put $250 down on a $500 scope I'd jump on that before you could finish typing your response .

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If I could get a $500 scope I liked for $250, I'd set my wallet on fire and risk sleeping on the couch to get it. However, I have not found a scope with a street price of less than 5 or 6 hundred dollars that I like enough to spend money on