Help Needed Selecting Deer Rifle for Gift

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Lennyjoe said:
If she’s dabbling with a chance she may lose interest go with something like a Savage 110 in .243. If she’s definitely into it and ready to stay then spend some more $ and go with a higher quality set up.
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Do you notice the OP said his wife is sniper-trained ex-military and has an opinion? A Savage 110 is a good rifle, IMO, and .243's a good round, but both may be a tad light for her taste. Especially when it involves a synthetic stock which can also lack the backbone to provide accuracy.
 
Have a look at the Savage 110 Classic. Good looking for a Savage, classic wood and steel, adjustable LOP and comb to ensure fit, and a "proper rifle" . 243 Win or 6.5 CM?
 
redneck2 said:
My X-Bolt has a 26” barrel, but with decent glass it’s gonna be way outside your budget. With a VX-3 it would be +/- $1,200. It is ultra accurate

You could maybe look at something like a Howa or Weatherby Vanguard and a 4-14x40 VX-3i scope. That would be pretty sweet IMO
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I have to admit that personally I love my lightweight Savage .222 all stainless and synthetic... She likes the heavier long guns. Those who suggested the Savage, personally that would have been what I would have gone with if buying for myself.

When looking into the Weatherby Vanguard found something interesting... that the Browning BBR is basically the same rifle as the old Japanese made Weatherby Mk V.

I am leaning toward the Browning BBR which is from around 1980 (or so the daughter of the collector who passed away thinks). It is an excellent condition, and the wood is stunning. Complete with Nikon 3x9 scope for about $650US, which seems like a reasonable price.
 
Grovest said:
I have to admit that personally I love my lightweight Savage .222 all stainless and synthetic... She likes the heavier long guns. Those who suggested the Savage, personally that would have been what I would have gone with if buying for myself.

When looking into the Weatherby Vanguard found something interesting... that the Browning BBR is basically the same rifle as the old Japanese made Weatherby Mk V.

I am leaning toward the Browning BBR which is from around 1980 (or so the daughter of the collector who passed away thinks). It is an excellent condition, and the wood is stunning. Complete with Nikon 3x9 scope for about $650US, which seems like a reasonable price.
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I'd buy it if the woods nice, but I like wood and blue rifles, and I like Browning's.
I'd check with your wife first tho, the bbr is a true sporter and basically a 9 lug shroudless Abolt.
It's not going to handle the same way as a precision rifle like the c3a1
 
For the price, performance, and customer service, its hard to beat the Ruger American. I have one in 6.5 CM and I love it.
 
Others have already said to let her pick the rifle and I find this to be excellent advice. You're not dealing with someone who knows little to nothing about rifles. She knows a fair bit, it would seem. Let her choose.
Drive her to the shop, tell her why you're there and turn her loose. She's intimately familiar with 7.62x51 and there are many good rifles chambered for it. It's quite capable of putting down deer at your ranges, too.
 
LoonWulf said:
I'd buy it if the woods nice, but I like wood and blue rifles, and I like Browning's.
I'd check with your wife first tho, the bbr is a true sporter and basically a 9 lug shroudless Abolt.
It's not going to handle the same way as a precision rifle like the c3a1
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I thought the BBR used an action which similar to the Mauser 98, which the c3a1 used. I guess I should be looking at Browning's predecessor to to the BBR to get a similar action.

She does love fine wood from what she liked when I did manage to get her into a Gun Shop which is what attracted me to Browning.
 
Browning did bolt a bolt gun on the 98 actions, which I believe was called the Safari. it was the predecessor to the bbr as I understand it.

Nothing wrong with the Bbr for that matter. The big 9 lug heads probably one of the stronger designs available, it's smooth, and from what I understand (only handled, never fired a bbr) they are quite accurate.

The only reason I mentioned anything, is that the FEEL of a sporter rifle won't be the same as what is basically a precision rifle. Stock design, balance, and ergos on a sporter are ment for different usages. Again might not make a difference, but unless she handles a sporter, even a heavy one like the bbr or safari, it's hard to say that shell LIKE it from past experience.

I REALLY think it would be best to go handle more rifles till she can say for sure on what stock designs ,weight, and balance she likes.
If there are any local rifle forums, might be able to find someone with a decent spread of shapes to try out, without ever dealing with the store.
 
1911 guy said:
Others have already said to let her pick the rifle and I find this to be excellent advice. You're not dealing with someone who knows little to nothing about rifles. She knows a fair bit, it would seem. Let her choose.
Drive her to the shop, tell her why you're there and turn her loose. She's intimately familiar with 7.62x51 and there are many good rifles chambered for it. It's quite capable of putting down deer at your ranges, too.
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Just looked into the idea (road trip to a few of the gun shops near Toronto) and all have closed thanks to Covid (online sales only until after her Birthday). So although a great idea, unfortunately not practical.

I had thought about the 7.62x51 / .308 but, after shooting the 300WM in competition years ago (US Sniper Rifle which I believe is Rem 700 based), her preference was for something a little heavier hitting. The 30-06 seemed to be pretty close but more economical (shells can easily be found on sale about 2/3 the cost of the WM).

Perhaps I have my answer there. Maybe should hunt around more for a good used Remington 700 Long Range. From what I have read, that is about as close as one can get to the US Army Sniper rifle in use in the 90's but with a wood stock.
 
My suggestion would be a homemade birthday card with a picture of a Bergara B-14 HMR and SWFA 10x scope inside. That’s about 11 1/2 lbs and based on the 700 action with refinements. Leave a blank check as well and give her the option on what she wants, even if it isn’t a rifle after all.
 
I do understand that this is a gift, but with something as personal as a rifle I would let her pick out her own. It may be more fun going to some gun shops and looking for it together.
 
Grovest said:
I had thought about the 7.62x51 / .308 but, after shooting the 300WM in competition years ago (US Sniper Rifle which I believe is Rem 700 based), her preference was for something a little heavier hitting. The 30-06 seemed to be pretty close but more economical (shells can easily be found on sale about 2/3 the cost of the WM).

Perhaps I have my answer there. Maybe should hunt around more for a good used Remington 700 Long Range. From what I have read, that is about as close as one can get to the US Army Sniper rifle in use in the 90's but with a wood stock.
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This is more or less what I was thinking. From what I've read, to 800yds, .300WM won't really get you that much extra over .30-06 while using 30% more powder. I'm thinking the WM shows you more when you're shooting 1000-1500yds. Everything I've understood about .30-06... in the right hands, it's good to 1000yds, but you wouldn't usually want to shoot deer that far. If she wants it to hit harder farther out, .30-06 can be loaded with bullets up to 220gr... long for diameter, lower velocity than 150-180grainers, but higher BC. The rifle itself... I've seen where Rem.700 actions have been barreled long and heavy.
 
WisBorn said:
I do understand that this is a gift, but with something as personal as a rifle I would let her pick out her own. It may be more fun going to some gun shops and looking for it together.
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I generally agree about letting her select her rifle, especially considering her training and opinions. One problem I see is if the gun shop sales staff are as sexist as the OP said, or gave the impression, it can take a good bit of the fun out of it. OTOH, I wouldn't mind being a bystander at the range when she shoots circles around them.
 
Grovest said:
Wife has been hinting at wanting a Rifle for her Birthday recently, as she wants to take up deer hunting and target shooting.

As deer roam the fields around the house, looking for something suitable for 200 to 800 yards so one can hunt from the porch so to speak. Since don't want ammo to break the bank decided on going with 30-06. Budget is between $500 and $750 including scope and don't mind going used.

This is were things get complication. She hates my Savage .222 which I use for varmints. Her complaint is that she finds it too light and that it feels and handles like a toy.

She learned to shoot in the Canadian Armed Forces in which she served for years, before being forced to leave due to health problems. Only hint she has given is that she would like a rifle which handles more like the Parker Hale C3A1 she trained as a sniper with after earning her Distinguished Marksman badge with an FN FAL.

Any suggestions?
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Hello Grovest, i no longer have my wife, but if she wanted a rifle with the requirements you listed this is what i would get her.

Remington 700 Long Range bull barrel in 30-06
https://www.budsgunshop.com/product...gton+700+long+range+4+1+30-06+springfield+26"

Primary Arms 4-14X44 Mil Dot
https://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-4-16x44-sfp-riflescope-mil-dot-reticle
 
Get her a gift card for the gun store so she can pick.

Better yet, take her to lunch/dinner and then the gun store and let her pick what she wants. That way, she can hold everything, decide what feels best for her and you’re just there to pay for it.

Some gun store people can be sexist but when they see her handle it that usually goes away, especially if she already knows what she likes. Find the counter person who is more interested in finding her the right gun than the fact that she’s a woman.


Also.....does she do lessons?
 
Grovest said:
Wife has been hinting at wanting a Rifle for her Birthday recently, as she wants to take up deer hunting and target shooting.

As deer roam the fields around the house, looking for something suitable for 200 to 800 yards so one can hunt from the porch so to speak. Since don't want ammo to break the bank decided on going with 30-06. Budget is between $500 and $750 including scope and don't mind going used.

This is were things get complication. She hates my Savage .222 which I use for varmints. Her complaint is that she finds it too light and that it feels and handles like a toy.

She learned to shoot in the Canadian Armed Forces in which she served for years, before being forced to leave due to health problems. Only hint she has given is that she would like a rifle which handles more like the Parker Hale C3A1 she trained as a sniper with after earning her Distinguished Marksman badge with an FN FAL.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

GIFT CERTIFICATE to your favorite gun store where SHE picks and then you both go to dinner to celebrate.
 
OK, I'll admit I had to look up the C3A1 -- if you'd said heavy-barrelled Mauser 98 I'd have been right there. If she's a Mauser 98 fan, the Ruger 77 or Kimber 84M actions are cousins.

Letting her have the pick of the gunrack is a great idea. She may appreciate carrying something a bit lighter than the 15.9 lb. C3A1 -- the economy Kimber 84M Hunter weighs less than half that.
 
Y'all know there a light vs heavy arguement going in another thread here? :D

I know people who say "we carry a rifle a lot more than we shoot it." When you're shooting the deer from your back porch, or the rifle rides around in the pickup, the weight don't seem to matter near so much.

Now, thinking of Mauser 98's, there's probably been plenty of 'em rebarreled with a 26" heavy barrel in .308... course then there's custom stocks, etc...
 
Just got home from looking at guns with her, so thought I would post how things went.

Turned out the focus of his collection was classic big game rifles, so everything he had was on the heavy side for my taste... but she liked what he had.

At first there were two she liked, a Winchester 70 Safari and a Remington 1885, until he pulled out his pride and joy, which she fell in love with. His baby was an early steel sighted Browning High Power Olympian from the sixties.

After some pleading he agreed to allow her to give the gun a try.

Out back he had a makeshift range (if you can call an open field with a bunch of coke cans tossed around it a range).

He tried for a can about 150m out, which he missed, before nailing one at about 100m. Then it was her turn, she nailed the one he missed on her first shot.

Then it was my turn. I don't think I'd be able to hit the side of a barn with that thing. Firing it damn near took my arm off... I have never in my life fired a gun with that much recoil. Not sure if it was the gun design, or the calibre, as it was the first time I have ever fired a 458.

When he told me what the rifle was worth, my jaw dropped. She definitely isn't getting one of those for her Birthday.
 
She might already be spoiled by the Browning, but it seems to me she'd like a Tikka T3.

It's very popular here both for hunting and also as the platform of choice for long range rigs.

It's also made in about a hundred flavors from blue and wood battue hunting rifle via black plastic tactical to competition laminate and stainless

With a 10X mildot it would be a very familiar sniping rifle

t3x_battue.png
tikka_t3_tac[1].png
t3x_sporter.png

The Canadian Rangers chose a version manufactured by Colt as their new rifle. The C19, it can be bought as the Tikka T3x Arctic
Tikka-T3x-Arctic-0.jpg
 
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