Need recommendation for a deer hunting rifle

[asianpersuasion]

So a buddy of mines wife called me and was wondering what she should get him for Christmas. I recommended a rifle to her and she liked the idea. Since I don't hunt I figured that I should ask you guys what she should get him. So what are your recommendations and what's a good price for it?

Thanks
Chow

 

[LACamper]

Depends on how much she wants to spend. A Remington 700 in .308 would be my first choice. If she is budget limited pick any bolt surplus rifle- Moison, Enfield, Mauser (1st choice for a hunter) , etc. For something in between or non-military either a Winchester or Marlin .30/.30. SKS is also a popular hunter if you want to get him into shooting...

 

[CajunTim]

If I was after just a hunting rifle it would be a Savage-Stevens probably in some type of a .30 cal

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/14610

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/14607

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/14612

 

[asianpersuasion]

From what I've read on different boards Savage is a good choice. Thanks for the links. I don't think price is an issue. She makes like $40 an hr.

 

[bigdaddyb]

Depending on budget, I'm a real fan of the Encore.

I'm also a fan of bullets in the 270/7mm size range. Folks in these parts consider the .270 to be the ideal deer cartridge.

You haven't been offered any bad advice in the other posts. I'm not a big fan of the 30/30, but that's a personal preference. LOADS of deer have been taken with every cartridge and rifle mentioned thus far.

How well do you know the husband. Does he like to tinker with stuff? Does he jump into a hobby and go nuts? If so, he'll like the Encore. If he dabbles in several hobbies, he'll like the low maintenance and stability of the Rem 700 or the Savage platform. If he's a military buff, he'll find hunting with the Mauser, SKS, etc. very satisfying.

These factors and $$ will drive the final decision.

brianb

P.S. I'm doing the same thing for my boss right now. He doesn't hunt currently, but wants a rifle to take his son hunting with. We're going the Encore route with Bantam stocks. That way the gun can be made to grow with the boy.

 

[asianpersuasion]

My friend probably will want something that he can put away and pull it out when he goes hunting. I told him about Bill's 7mm rifle he had. He was interested in it. I'll have to look around and see what I can find.

 

[Danny]

depends on the hunting conditions:

Short alot of brush under 100 yards - 30/30, 243, 270

Medium to long or open areas - 270, 308, 7mm, 300 WSM, 270 WSM, 338 Laupa


My personal choice would either be a Remington or a Savage in 308. I have a savage in 308

 

[nastynewt]

Im with LaCamper you cant beat the Remington 700 in .308

 

[Jon]

From what I've read on different boards Savage is a good choice. Thanks for the links. I don't think price is an issue. She makes like $40 an hr.

 

[spanky]

+1 for Savage

 

[Jon]

+1 for Savage

Yea seriously though Savage makes nice rifles. I'd either go Savage or a Remington 700.

 

[asianpersuasion]

can someone explain the difference between these three? which one would you choose out of the three?

the remington with scope chambered in 7mm
http://www.academy.com/index.php?page=catalog&target=weeklyad&pgNum=4

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_62/products_id/14606

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_62/products_id/14607

or should my friends wife spend more and get one of these? what's the difference are the ones below and above? just wondering what makes the difference? is the accutrigger worth the difference?

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_62/products_id/14430

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_62/products_id/78360

thanks

 

[CajunTim]

I have the 12FV .308 and like it, if he plans on plinking and shooting for accuracy and groups I would say get it. It is two+ pounds heavier than the others, I believe all of the Savages are going to be free floated barrels. I use mine for hunting and punching paper. I don't walk far to my stands so the extra weight doesn't bother me. My scope is a 6-24x50 which adds more weight vs. a 3-9x40. With bipod mine weighs in at 13.4lbs. The heavier barrel should be more accurate at the range as the barrel shouldn't heat up as fast as a sporter barrel.

If it will be a strictly hunting rifle and going to the range just to sight it in no need for the heavy barrel.

The remington I don't know much about it, I believe the 710 is being replaced by 770 for what reason I don't know.

 

[rhettro]

I have a winchester model 70 in .270 with a simmons 3x9x50 scope. Got it in a trade but don't really rifle hunt. Love to hunt with bow only. I would let it go for $375 or so.

 

[asianpersuasion]

I have a winchester model 70 in .270 with a simmons 3x9x50 scope. Got it in a trade but don't really rifle hunt. Love to hunt with bow only. I would let it go for $375 or so.

pm sent

 

[LouisianaCarry]

AR 10

/thread

 

[LACamper]

Speaking of the Savage, I stopped by last Sunday morning to shoot the IPSC match at nick's. Unfortunately, my Sprinfield .45 isn't much good in a .22 rifle match that they were shooting instead. I was surprised to find 3/4 of the shooters using Savage bolt guns instead of 10/22's. Those were accurate and cheap. I was planning working over my still factory 10/22, but now I'm considering selling and buying a Savage.

 

[Craig]

Cabela's is advertising a Remington 700 SPS in .270 or .30-06 for $399. It comes with two stocks (adult and youth)

Reg. $599
Sale $429
Rebate $30
Total $399

Price good thru 12/2

 

[Manimal]

Depends on how much she wants to spend. A Remington 700 in .308 would be my first choice.

I would agree, or even say .30-06...both are perfect and either one can kill any game in all of the Americas, .30-06 being the better for big game with commercial ammo. Hand loaded ammo can put the .308 a touch beyond .30-06 commercial, and hand loaded .30-06 ammo can make it on par with .300winmag commercial.

Like I said, either one is great & perfect for hunting in all of the Americas.

I might suggest the .30-06 -only- because its the most popular hunting rifle in the entire world and ammo can be bought anywhere that sells it. .270 is second. And .308 is gaining in popularity.

 

[my-rifle]

I can't address the civilian deer hunting guns, but I can say with some certainty that if your friend's wife goes with a military surplus rifle the Yugoslavian M24/47 Mauser in 8mm is the way to go. An excellent one with a beautiful bore can be had for $120, and I can vouch for them. The rifles were made in 1924 and re-barreled in 1947 - just in time for the debut of the SKS and AK47. They were put away in cosmoline almost immediately. I have four, and they can hit the 14" gong at 250 yards over iron sights so often that it's boring.

The 8mm round is probably the hardest-hitting military surplus round, and will vaporize a deer's organs on impact. Furthermore the Yugoslavian Mauser is better made than the German one by a long shot, and the action is smooth. The Mauser bolt design is probably the safest on the market and is the basis for many modern bolt-action rifle designs.