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Hunting Rifle

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SkinnyGrey

SkinnyGrey

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I am going hunting for the first time in November (Elk in Oregon). I was wondering what rifle to buy for this trip. I would like something sporty and sleek yet durable. If anyone has any suggestions I would very much appreciate it.

Thanks in advance!
 
How much rifle experience have you? How much hunting experience?

Anyhow, to a great extent the fit of the rifle is the Big Deal. Length of pull from butt to trigger is important; it would be a variable for short-armed folks vs. long-arm types.

Pretty much any rifle you find will be plenty accurate for hunting. Cartridge? I'd suggest a .308 as a good choice. Nothing at all wrong with a .270 or .30-'06. If you're a fairly experienced shooter, the .300 Win Mag works, but the recoil is greater than the aforementioned.

Scope? A fixed 4X or 6X is as useful as a variable, although most any of the roughly-$200 3x9s work well. The thing is, most of the time when actually hunting, a variable is set toward the low end of magnification in order to have a wider field of view.

Decent binoculars are a Good Thing. Using a scope to look over country is a no-no, since other hunters strongly resent even a moment in your crosshairs.

I'm not meaning to be talking down to you, but as I said, I've no idea of your background experience...
 
Tika Hunter in 30-06 would be my pick. Plenty accurate and will leave you more than enough money for a low power scope. I use a Weaver K4 on my rifle. If you are hunting thick timber or brush a high power scope will hinder more than it will help. Remember Elk are not up armored and bullet proof so the need for a uber mag is not that great. 06 and it's off spring are plenty capable. Most guys I know use a 7mm Mag.
 
fairly light weight 06 or 7mag would be ideal. Something on the lines of a rem cdl or ruger hawkeye would fit the bill.
 
I have a rem 700 SPS in .308 and I like it, but if I had to do it again I would buy a Tikka t-3. After shooting my buddy's I fell in love with it.
 
What part of Oregon east or west? I've killed a lot of western oregon elk, Roosevelt's elk is what their called and my 06 does it very well when loaded with Barnes TSX 180 gr bullets. I use a 4X Leupold and really like the combination. Frank
 
Yeah, which part of OR? If coastal, I'd find a rifle that fit me well and was "water resistant" like with a synthetic stock. Might not need stainless barrel, but it's nice working through damp brush and foggy grasslands. For scope on the coastal side, it would be a Bushnell Elite in modest power because of their proprietary "Rainguard" lens coating. It does help in the damp to reduce fogging - and fogged up scope means no shot.

For rifle, jeez there are all sorts of choices here. Marlin XS in 308 could be nice. Tikka T3 in the same caliber, or in 30-06 or 270. Either of the latter will hit your shoulder a bit harder due to the weight of the rifle, but it should not be any big deal. Moving down the food chain a bit, you could go for a Mossberg ATR 4x4 in '06. It's a decent shooter and cheap enough. Moving up the food chain, you could go with a Winchester Featherweight or a Browning X-Bolt Stalker. TC Venture in 308 has very sleek stock and overmolded grip panels. Some folks find this to be a very good fit. These rifles are all bolt actions.

If you think you might be interested in a lever action - maybe look at the Browning BLR in 308. It's a fine rifle that accepts a scope or peeps and will do the job too. So would a nice used Svage 99 in 308.

Speaking of fit - cruise the used racks in your area. See if something feels especially good coming to shoulder. If it does, think about that rifle or a close cousin. Then get some range time with it, that will count for a lot. Range time and familiarity mean a bunch when in the field.

Good binocs are a must - just like Art said.
 
For hunting in western Oregon, I would have a stainless barrel and action, and either a laminate or synthetic stock. For elk, I would have a .308, .270, or .30-06. I would load it with heavy Nosler partitions, or a Barnes solid copper hollow point.

Put whatever scope makes you happy, but I wouldn't go for too much magnification. If you're getting a shot on an elk, it's a pretty big animal. You're not trying to hit a little prairie dog at 600 yards here. With any of the calibers mentioned, just put the crosshairs behind the elbow, or on the shoulder, and kill it.
 
For hunting in western Oregon, I would have a stainless barrel and action, and either a laminate or synthetic stock. For elk, I would have a .308, .270, or .30-06. I would load it with heavy Nosler partitions, or a Barnes solid copper hollow point.

Put whatever scope makes you happy, but I wouldn't go for too much magnification. If you're getting a shot on an elk, it's a pretty big animal. You're not trying to hit a little prairie dog at 600 yards here. With any of the calibers mentioned, just put the crosshairs behind the elbow, or on the shoulder, and kill it.
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Sound advice. Skip the fancy grade walnut stocked customs. You won't cry so much the first time you drop it on a pile of rocks, fall down with it, or drop it out of a tree...I've done any of the three at least once.
 
I'm a huge fan of buying top quality only used, look around and if you can find a top shelf 270-300 with a good Leupold scope you won't be disapointed. I find these for $350-$650 more frequently than I can afford.
 
ColtPythonElite said:
Sound advice. Skip the fancy grade walnut stocked customs. You won't cry so much the first time you drop it on a pile of rocks, fall down with it, or drop it out of a tree...I've done any of the three at least once.
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You are correct, of course. My hunting rifle has a laminate stock for that reason, but the fancy walnut is just so beautiful.
 
Savage or Howa if you want a good rifle at a reasonable price. 30-06 is a great everything cartridge for North American game.
 
Whatever you get , do it soon...
I never have much luck getting a rifle reliable and sighted in with only 3-4 weeks time. Make sure you shoot it enough to be comfortable with it and make sure your scope will stay accurate.
 
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