Looking for a rifle recommendation

[JnWaco]

Hi. I'm new and I'm looking for a recommendation for a new rifle.

It will be mainly for deer hunting, practially speaking, but would also like to shoot for fun out past 200 yards or more. My dream is to go elk hunting one day, so something sufficient for that as well. I like the bull barrels and heavy barrels, but realize those might not be the best thing to tote around hunting Elk.

I mostly bowhunt, but I do have a Ruger M77 .243 and was looking for something a little bigger, and was thinking a .308 or .30-06. I talked with a local gun shop owner and he highly reccomended the 0.30-06 over the .308. I'm indifferent, since I am no expert. I'm not ruling out something a bit bigger, either, but mostly looking for suggestions on brand and model.

My budget is probably $1,500 for rifle and scope. I could stretch that for a custom gun, but it seems customs start out at $2,200 or more without the scope.

I looked today at a Remington 700 SPS Varmint and a Savage or some sort - both priced between $600-800 with the heavy barrel in the .308. The gun shop owner had a used .30-06 Sako that he said was $1,500 new that he would sell me for $1,020 with the scope (I think a Nikon of some sort). It was not a heavy barrel, and it had the gray synthetic stock with stainless barrel. Not sure what model it was.

 

[Abel]

30-06.

You don't need a heavy barrel to shoot far. A Sako is wayyyyy better than a new Remington 700. But if it were my cash, I'd look at the new winchester M70 Featherweight, the Browning X-Bolt, the Savages with the Accu-Trigger, or a CZ.

 

[Bird Dog II]

I agree with Abel pretty much right down the line. I actually think every rifleman should own a Model 70 .30-06. I own a .308 as well and it is a great round to load and shoot, but if you really want to Elk hunt with this new gun, get a .30-06.

 

[JnWaco]

Thanks for the recommendations! The Sako seemed really nice, but then again, I'm attracted to shiny things. I'll check some of those out. I just ran across the CZ550 and was checking those out. Pretty nice.

I will probably hunt elk once in my life, since I'm from TX. I'm attracted to the heavy barrels, but it's just because they look neat. After holding quite a few of them, I know I probably wouldn't want to lug it around Colorado at 7,000 feet for a week. But then again, I hate to pick a rifle based on one hunting trip. Mostly white-tail, some coyote, and shooting at a range on the weekends.

 

[likerifles]

Buy the Sako. Just make sure it shoots straight, and that the scope is of decent quality.

 

[Abel]

A big barrel isn't good for anything but adding weight & dissipating heat when you shoot a box of ammo at a time. For what your are describing, you want a regular sporter contour barrel.

 

[JnWaco]

Is there any way I can tell what model Sako that was by the stock color? It was synthetic and it was gray instead of black. Barrel was stainless. I should have written down what model it was. It did not look to have been shot much, but then again, all of the gun shop owner's guns were squeaky clean when I looked at them.

 

[likerifles]

Ask the owner what model it is. There are no cheap Sakos.Just make sure that it is accurate. Should shoot 1 inch or less. With a used rifle you can test it. New ones you hope for the best. Check out Sako web site for model.

 

[JnWaco]

Thanks guys for helping the newbie.