Pistol shooters needs rifle help

[sar]

Pistol shooter needs rifle help

Starting rifle shooting (as if I am spending too little on pistols and trap already) and need some advice from the board. I will be doing target shooting and some deer hunting. I was thinking a Remington 700 in either 30-06 or .308. Any thoughts, thanks.

 

[MrMurphy]

The .308 will whack any deer you see with proper shot placement and performs the same as the .30-06 inside 300-400 yards (most deer shots are 100 yards or less). Slightly less recoil and the .308=7.62 Nato, so cheap surplus ammo for plinking is still quite available. It's the round used by our general purpose machine guns (M60, M240).

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

I'm on my second Remington 700 BDL. This one is 30-06 which means one can find ammo for any critter in North America.

Will probably trade it on a BDL with detachable box mag, though. Also want a rifle I can open the bolt without disengaging the safety.

Currently sports a Leupold 3x9 w/40mm.

All in all, can't be beat. In fact, IIRC, the 700 action is what marine corps snipers use.

 

[sar]

Is there any reason to debate 30-06 vs. 308 for my purposes or would that be splitting hairs?

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

".....Is there any reason to debate 30-06 vs. 308 ...."

Probably not. One is long action; the other medium. Both are popular enough that you wouldn't have trouble finding ammo. Although I would guess the 06 ammo is a bit more plentiful.

Ballistically, if I didn't know which caliber I was reviewing, I wouldn't know which was which. That means that they are almost identical in energy, velocity, etc.

I've heard that a bear shot with a 308 will go down swearing it was an 06.

My other 700 was 270. Ammo was not as plentiful as the 06 but ballistics were almost identical.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

This is a topic as big as all outdoors (no pun intended).

Personally, I don't think you can go wrong with a .30-06. Or with a .308, for that matter.

(As an aside, isn't New York a shotgun-only state for deer?)

 

[sar]

(As an aside, isn't New York a shotgun-only state for deer?)

It is but I have relatives in PA and WV who are taking me deer hunting this season.

Got lucky, a guy at my range has a Sako 308 he never used and is willing to part with it for a discount.

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

"..who are taking me deet hunting this season. "

I've never hunted deet. Probably tastes like chicken.

Just kidding.

Seriously, you've hit gold with the Sako 308.

Does it have a scope? If not, then I've got four words: "Get the very best you can afford." O.K. seven words, but who'se counting?

It's no understatement to say that the scope is at least as important as the rifle/caliber.

Many make a mistake in buying a quality rifle and scrimping on the scope. Inevitably the scope fails at the worst possible time.

 

[sar]

Those deet are pretty hard to track but I hear they are good eating.

Fixed the typo.

It is a synthetic stock with stainless barrel (Sako 75). He let it go for $900.

No scope, any recommendations?

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Scopes for the terrain you'll be hunting in.

PA and WV have thick woods. Shots aren't going to be very far, probably.

I would probably go with a fixed power. Variables are nice but more expensive for comparable scopes. I usually settle on one power on my variables and use nothing else. I.e., it's usually a waste of money for me to use variables.

A four power would be about right for shooting in timber country. Stick with brand names, Leupold, Nikon, etc. I think that for a 4 power fixed scope I would even consider Simmons.

Variable power scopes have more that can go wrong. Plus, they cost more because a good variable power must recenter to it's exact point of impact every time you change powers. The cheaper ones don't do that.

Besides, in thick woods you'll probably use a lower power anyway.

Sources? Try www.cheaperthandirt.com or www.cabelas.com or even your local Walmart.

I've bought used scopes but stay away from that these days. The last used scope I bought was because it was a collector's item and not made anymore.

Good hunting, amigo.

 

[MrMurphy]

Leupold, Burris, Nikon or IOR Valdada in 4X or 6X fixed would certainly do it for heavy brush and close range (under 150 yards).

Nice rifle, price is a bit steep but for a Sako, reasonable.