best rifle for medium-large game?
- Thread starter Matt King
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R.W.Dale
Member
Basically ANY name brand rifle will serve you for many trouble free years, find what you like and buy it.
As for caliber, for the beginner whois looking for a jack of all trades rifle it's hard to beat 30-06.
As for caliber, for the beginner whois looking for a jack of all trades rifle it's hard to beat 30-06.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
In today's world, it's really hard to find a bad rifle.
Go to some large gun store with a wide selection, or go to a gunshow. "Feel and fondle" to find a rifle that fits you.
Mount the rifle to your shoulder with your eyes closed, just like you were gonna shoot. When you open your eyes, you should not have to move your head to be looking right down the barrel or right through the sights--whether iron or scope. (It's simple to shorten or lengthen the stock for proper length of pull that's right for your build and arm-length.)
After that, it's price and looks.
Art
Go to some large gun store with a wide selection, or go to a gunshow. "Feel and fondle" to find a rifle that fits you.
Mount the rifle to your shoulder with your eyes closed, just like you were gonna shoot. When you open your eyes, you should not have to move your head to be looking right down the barrel or right through the sights--whether iron or scope. (It's simple to shorten or lengthen the stock for proper length of pull that's right for your build and arm-length.)
After that, it's price and looks.
Art
rangerruck
Member
id say for a smallish rifle cal. go the old 6mm remmy with 90 to 100 grn bullets, much better than a 243. For a bit more pomp you will barely beat a good 308 or 30.06. lots of different round sfor both.
Don't Tread On Me
Member
Best price/performance is Savage. Every penny you pay goes into accuracy. It isn't the most refined rifle, but it does the job. This is universally agreed on.
Other brands will offer you more pretty, but not necessarily more accuracy.
Other brands will offer you more pretty, but not necessarily more accuracy.
beerslurpy
member
Go to a gun store and fondle them all, work the bolts, dry fire to feel trigger and swing it around to check balance. Dont sweep the barrel across anyone's head or do anything alarming- that will wear out your welcome in a hurry.
I never even heard of tikka before I held one, but I liked the feel of it the most and bought it- it later turned out to be super accurate so I was doubly pleased with it.
I never even heard of tikka before I held one, but I liked the feel of it the most and bought it- it later turned out to be super accurate so I was doubly pleased with it.
I'm an avowed Savage fan but I'd give CZ's 550 a good look thse days too.
.30-06 of course.
.30-06 of course.
brentwal
Member
A Savage in either .308 or .30-06.
Thefabulousfink
Member
It really depends on how much you want to spend. There are some really good new bolt actions in .308, .30-06, 6mm, 7mm, and the list goes on. the .30 caliber rifles are probably the best for both medium and large game. If you mostly hunt and ranges under 150 yards a 30-30 might even work for you.
If you want a good hunting rifle on a budget, check out the mil-surplus. Some of the old standards like the K98 (8mm can get pricey), 1903(.30-06), 1917 (also .30-06), or the Brit Enfields (.303) can be bought and made into goog shooters for a few hundered $$.
I bought my 1917 from my friend's grampa years ago for $150. Now that I have the money to afford a modern rifle, I just don't feel the need to replace it.
If you want a good hunting rifle on a budget, check out the mil-surplus. Some of the old standards like the K98 (8mm can get pricey), 1903(.30-06), 1917 (also .30-06), or the Brit Enfields (.303) can be bought and made into goog shooters for a few hundered $$.
I bought my 1917 from my friend's grampa years ago for $150. Now that I have the money to afford a modern rifle, I just don't feel the need to replace it.
db_tanker
Member
In Texas...you can get a 308 and know you will have enough gun for anything.
Of course...you can also go with a 444 Marlin or 45-70 Govt....within 150 yards, you will lay anything low.
D
Of course...you can also go with a 444 Marlin or 45-70 Govt....within 150 yards, you will lay anything low.
D
SolaScriptura139
Member
I really enjoy my Savage III in 7mm Rem. Mag. Only cost about $450 with scope from K-Mart (3 years ago, however).
carnaby
Member
I like my Savage .300 win mag, will take anything from deer on up. $424 + $15 shipping + $FFL from JDyer. Comes with an OK, but cheap scope too.
MachIVshooter
Member
.30-06 is without a doubt the most flexible cartridge out there and is capable of taking any game animal on the planet. Also, you will be able to find ammo in just about every big box or back woods general store. It's incredible popularity also means that you can get it in any rifle that is available with a standard length action.
Other very versatile cartridges are the .308 win., .280 rem., 7mm rem mag, .300 win mag. .270 is another good one, but bullet selection tends to make it less suitable for truly large game. The .280 is a more flexible cartridge than the .270, albeit more difficult to find.
Most would consider the 7mm rem mag to be the runner up for the good old '06. It is, IIRC, the second most popular sporting rifle cartridge in the US.
Other very versatile cartridges are the .308 win., .280 rem., 7mm rem mag, .300 win mag. .270 is another good one, but bullet selection tends to make it less suitable for truly large game. The .280 is a more flexible cartridge than the .270, albeit more difficult to find.
Most would consider the 7mm rem mag to be the runner up for the good old '06. It is, IIRC, the second most popular sporting rifle cartridge in the US.
30-06 lover
Member
I can tell you that I have personally had a terrible experience with Savage bolt rifles. Mine basically fell apart. The whole Savage bolt gun experience was bad. I would take a long hard look at a Rem 700. They are very accurate, have a solid reputation, and is a well made rifle. The best way to know what gun to buy is too ask what other people have. I have had people tell me "Go with a CZ, they are good rifles" only to see them hunting with a Win 70?! People buy what they think is best, and if it is good, they hold on to it. I sold my Savage, but I have a Rem 700 that is a keeper. For numbers sold nothing compares to Rem 700 followed by Win 70. That says something to me.
For caliber, I personally like to hunt/shoot a 308 Win. The recoil is mild, the round is very accurate, knocks the hell out of animals, cheap to shoot, easy to find ammo, wide selection of ammo, is chambered for short action, and can be used from coyotes to elk without missing a beat. 30-06 is a close second and used to be my go to round, until I realized I HATE long action rifles. Good Luck!!!
For caliber, I personally like to hunt/shoot a 308 Win. The recoil is mild, the round is very accurate, knocks the hell out of animals, cheap to shoot, easy to find ammo, wide selection of ammo, is chambered for short action, and can be used from coyotes to elk without missing a beat. 30-06 is a close second and used to be my go to round, until I realized I HATE long action rifles. Good Luck!!!
Stiletto Null
Member
Nifty thing about M48s: they're intermediate-length.
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