Recommendations for a .30-06?

[dbdalton]

I'm looking to go Deer/Elk hunting in WA State for my first time. (At 24yrs old i'm a little behind, hehe) And need a proper Hunting Rifle. (The Nagant won't cut it... lol) I'd like recommendations for a Rifle and Scope package, .30-06 caliber, for around the $400 range that makes a good, reliable rifle for a new hunter.

Please post up your suggestions, with prices, and links/pics if ya got 'em!

Thanks a lot!
Dan

 

[brentwal]

Look for a Savage rifle/scope package and you'll be GTG. Also don't let a good deal on a .270 win or .308 slip by, both are fine deer medicine.

 

[Pulsar]

+1 on Savage rifle

i have owned a few and always shoot good

one issue (i set zeros for other people) while setting one in 30.06 with 180 sp
it was beating me up, much more than a savage in 300wm 180sp and a remington in 7mm rem mag 150sp, that i also set that day

i dont know why but that gun could kick

 

[Bwana John]

I'd like recommendations for a Rifle and Scope package, .30-06 caliber, for around the $400

You would be better off with the Mosin than a spending $400 rifle AND scope.

Find a nice used M-700 remington or M-70 Winchester or Comercial Mauser(~$400) and put a nice middle quality scope on the (Leupold VX-II series ~$200). Add good rings and bases (~$65)

You MIGHT be able to find this combo used for less, but dont skimp, it will last you the rest of your life.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

I don't know how often you get to elk hunt, but I certainly wouldn't trust my elk hunt to a $400 setup. Have you seen the scopes on these combos? They are trash, not what I would want for an elk hunt. On the other hand, if you get to hunt elk regularly, maybe you could afford a few botched hunts due to subpar equipment.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

What he said. Don't go with the "package" as set up for sale commercially. Go with your own "package" or combo of chosen rifle & scope.

First, are you willing to go used?

If not then then only way you can get a good rifle new, AND a decent scope and rings, for under $400 is to go with a Mossberg 100 ATR or Rossi single shot, or NEF single shot. Used, you could add Savage or Stephen. You need to spend at least $190-$200 for a scope (or a minimum of $160 for a Nikon Prostaff), plus some *quality* rings & bases, not the crap that comes on the factory combo. Are you ok with plastic stock? If so, then I'd go new Mossberg 100 ATR, or used Stephens 200 or used Savage 110/111, or used Mossberg 4x4, throw on Leupold bases, Leupold rings, and a scope in the form of a Leupold Rifleman, Burris FF2, Simmons Aetec master series, Nikon Prostaff, Sightron S2, Nikon Buckmaster, or Leupold VX1, and you're in bidness. If you want a wood stock, same scope & rings/base, but add a new Rossi single shot and new NEF Handi-rifle to the mix of choices.

 

[woof]

I recently bought a Rem 760 pump action on gunbroker in .30-06. It has cosmetic issues but the bore was perfect. I paid $195. I added a Bushnell 3-9x scope for under 100. It shoots 1.5 inch groups. For $300. I wouldn't go with a 742 but the 760 is as sound as a bolt action and shoots as well as most and there are great deals out there in .30-06 or .308. Here's an example right here:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=108148018

 

[Water-Man]

In your price range, you can only get something decent if it's used.

 

[Bwana John]

Life is waaay too short to shoot ugly guns!

Mossberg 100 ATR
Rossi single shot
NEF single shot
Stephens 200
Savage 110/111
Mossberg 4x4

You aint winning any beauty contests with that list!

Not they they wouldnt work just fine.

 

[dbdalton]

My buddy bought a Remmington 710 Scope and Rifle new for $359 and had no problems shooting his elk last year. lol If the gun fires accurate, whether it's 400 or 4000 won't help it kill the animal any better.

Thanks for the input guys, I'll checkout all the guns mentioned here.

I just can't afford to spend much more than $400-500 on this, it's either cheap gun and hunt, or no gun and no hunt.


-Dan

 

[Bwana John]

If the gun fires accurate, whether it's 400 or 4000 won't help it kill the animal any better.

So then, save your money and take the Mosin, and actually HUNT i.e. sneek up close to um! Many head of game have been taken with Mosin's.

My buddy bought a Remmington 710 Scope and Rifle new for $359 and had no problems shooting his elk last year

How about next year? and the next? This could be the start of a wonderful life long relationship, dont skimp.

Friends dont let friends buy Rem 710's

 

[9x19sig]

I had one of the Savage 30-06's right before they switched over to the accu-trigger. I thoroughly enjoyed that rifle, but I ended up trading it and buying an older Remington 700 in 30-06.

I would honestly recommend looking for a used but excellent condition 30-06 from Winchester or Remington. If you look enough you will find a real gem for a relatively good price.

I ended up finding my Remington for $375 in the newspaper after looking for a few months. It is in about 98% condition and was produced in 1969 I believe.

New Savage for $400 or nice older Remington for about the same price, you decide.

edit** Like others have said if you find a nice used gun for a great price don't worry so much about the caliber..... .308, 30-06, .270, 7mm-08, etc. will all work very well for deer and put them down in a hurry.

 

[jbauch357]

Curious what the general concensus is of the Winchester Ranger?

I've had mine topped with a Bushnell 3x9 for 15 years now and haven't had a single complaint other than how easily the bluing seems to be coming off...

 

[22-rimfire]

My suggestion is a Remington Model 700 BDL either new or used. It is my favorite meat getter.

 

[springfield30-06]

Doesn't Remington have a Model 700 ADL that is less expensive? I thought the ADL was basically a BDL but without the magazine floor plate.

 

[Shawnee]

First: Don't buy a "package" deal from anyone.

Second: Don't buy a 30/06.

Third: Figure on spending at least half of your money for the scope.

Fourth: Save up some more money and then go shopping.

 

[Hutch]

First: Ignore Shawnee's Second commandmant, and get the '06.

No better choice for your needs. Ammo is everywhere, and you can get a wide variety of bullet weights.

 

[WNC Seabee]

with the OP's original question in mind...

At 24 years old, on a budget....get what you can. Don't let the "you better buy the best darn thing now or you're screwed" mentality get to you.

I've got one of the Savage 110 PACKAGE deals in .30-06 that came with an admittedly inferior scope (Simmons 3-9x?). That same scope still let's me shoot 2-3" groups at 300 yards (180 gr) 7 years later. It's taken 3 mule deer and several white tails, all with single shots.

Get what you can now so you can go hunt and enjoy it; worry about getting the one to last a life time when that's YOUR priority.

 

[WNC Seabee]

Looks like someone thinks the cheap Savage is worth keeping over the "nice" Remington...

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=379455

 

[elmerfudd]

I'm with Hutch. If you plan on hunting deer and elk, then the 30-06 is an excellent choice. Weaker cartridges like the .243 and .270 just don't measure up for elk and more powerful cartridges like the .300 Win mag are probably more than you want to handle when you go after black tails. The 30-06 on the other hand will handle either one and do it well. What's more, you can find a wide variety of cartridges available just about anywhere with a sporting goods department. Try that with a .270 WSM.

If you plan on hunting in western Washington though, the Mosin Nagant is probably all you really need. Unless you spend a lot of time glassing clearcuts, you're unlikely to ever get a shot at much over 100 yards. The woods are just so thick around here that 90% of your shots will be 75 yards or less.

 

[Hypnogator]

???????????????

If you plan on hunting in western Washington though, the Mosin Nagant is probably all you really need. Unless you spend a lot of time glassing clearcuts, you're unlikely to ever get a shot at much over 100 yards. The woods are just so thick around here that 90% of your shots will be 75 yards or less.

? The last Elk I shot was above Wenatchee, and was a 275 yd shot across a canyon. Used my Rem 700 in .300 Win Mag. One mighty tasty critter!

 

[scrat]

+ what ever the count number is on the savage. great gun

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

You aint winning any beauty contests with that list!

This is true, BwanaJohn, but I'm dealin with his budget and his question. My recommendation is to "go used" and get a Rem or Win or Savage with a wood stock. Find one in distress for a song at a gun show round about early December when most guys have done their hunting and need Christmas money.

 

[cbrgator]

Slightly over 400... BUT unmatched as far as value.... Stevens 200 with a Nikon Prostaff. If you are as good as that setup, you are more than good to go.

 

[doc2rn]

Rack grade Garand from CMP is $445.

If you can find a Ruger 77 MKII in .30-06 or .308 you will have a nice rifle also but you might have to buy optics.