Author Topic: Help me pick a hunting rifle (Read 1867 times)

greywolf2112 · « **on:** April 02, 2005, 10:08:51 AM »

OK, all my rifles are EBRs and tactical rifles.

I would like a nice, accurate rifle so that IF I ever decide to get into hunting I will have one.

I am considering all makers - Savage, Tikka, Mossberg, Ruger, Remington, Winchester, Howa, etc.

I would like it to be All Weather (stainless). Synthetic stock. Rugged, reliable, and ACCURATE. Lightweight would be nice as well.

Have had my eye on a Tikka T-3 Lite Stainless. Love the Tikka

However, I am open to others.

Biggest problem is picking a caliber. I guess .308 is a good one for most hunting applications, but would there be a more accurate, flatter shooting, less recoil option? I can reload if I have to.

Robert · « **Reply #1 on:** April 02, 2005, 10:35:19 AM »

You took the words out of my mouth. If I were to have one all-round rifle...I would choose a 308 Winchester or 30-06. Of course there are other great guns, but as far as 'basics'....something in 30 caliber.... 308 Win or better

MickinColo · « **Reply #2 on:** April 02, 2005, 10:48:13 AM »

This is pretty much a loaded question.

I for one think highly of Remington, Winchester, and Ruger firearms. Rugers sometime need a trigger job. As for a caliber the 308 is adequate for most things, as for an all around caliber I much prefer the 7mm Remington Mag. Not knowing where you life or what you might hunt for, thats as good of an answer as I can give.

An opinion on caliber selections and rifle manufactures is a little like A holes, everyone has one.
:wink:

greywolf2112 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 02, 2005, 10:58:43 AM »

I really like the Tikkas, used to have a Master Sporter in .308.

Here are the calibers available in the T-3 Stainless:

.223 Rem., .22-250 Rem., .243 Win., .308 Win., .25-'06 Rem., .270 Win., .30-'06 Sprg., 7mm Rem. Mag., 7mm WSM, .300 Win. Mag., .338 Win. Mag., .270 WSM, .300 WSM

I will most likely do deer hunting in the south, though I would love to hunt elk, ram, or other larger game in the West some day.

Out of the above, what would you recommend as a caliber that will give me the knockdown I need for medium game like this, but not kill me with the recoil?

PA-Joe · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2005, 11:06:24 AM »

Winchester Featherweight in 7mm08
Remington Mountain in 7mm08
Weatherby Mark V Stainless 7mm08 or 240wby.
You also need a 223 for varmint

lama · « **Reply #5 on:** April 02, 2005, 11:25:06 AM »

For flatter shooting without a whole lot of recoil I would go with the 25-06 with the .270 as my second choice. You'll be happy with the Tikka.

buffalobob · « **Reply #6 on:** April 02, 2005, 11:31:24 AM »

A 25-06 will cover everything from woodchucks to mule deer. Recoil is easy. Reloading is easy. Brass is easy to come by. I prefer a 26 inch barrel with it.

For elk it depends on your hunting style. If you want some range on an elk gun then you should consider the7 Rem mag or 300 Win mag. Of course a good tactical 308 is capable of killing an elk at long distances.

I would just go with the 25-06 and if you need an elk gun use one of your tactical guns.

As PA-Joe recommends, I personally use a 240Wby on whitetail deer.

greywolf2112 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 02, 2005, 03:28:50 PM »

Hmm - I must admit that I don't know much about the 25-06.

What size bullet and weights can be used? And how is it better than say a .308? Is it that much less recoil?

Ramrod · « **Reply #8 on:** April 02, 2005, 04:48:21 PM »

If you shoot .308 in your tacticals, then just get a lightweight .308 hunting rifle. You will already know the trajectory. And the .308 will do almost as well as the .30-06 with less than 200 grain bullets.

BackCountry · « **Reply #9 on:** April 02, 2005, 08:42:25 PM »

greywolf2112,

You need not ask which rifle to get, your name says it all.

Sako 75 Grey Wolf

Go to Beretta's web site and check it out, I put in an order for the same rifle.

Good luck.

Ron T. · « **Reply #10 on:** April 02, 2005, 10:11:43 PM »

Tikka... .30/06. A fantastic combination capable of taking most any N. American game with the possible exception of the "big bears".

OR

Tikka in .338 Winchester Magnum... if recoil doesn't bother you... certainly capable of taking ANY New World without doubt or exception.

Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

Handwerk · « **Reply #11 on:** April 03, 2005, 12:30:03 AM »

I would cast my vote also for the tikka. I've bought 2 ss/syn, 1 in 7mm-mag, the other in 7mm-08. I love the 7 mag, but if the recoil is an issue look at the 7mm-08 or .270 then up to 30'06, but I feel for the price the tikka can't be beat.

greywolf2112 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 03, 2005, 03:06:16 AM »

Weel, here is an interesting find - brand new, too:

T3 LITE STAINLESS 7MM-08 REM

Price: $582.40

Shipping Weight: 6.00 pounds

TIKKA SYNTHETIC STOCK, 22 7/16" STAINLESS BARREL, T3 ACTION

Not too shabby, eh?

Wlscott · « **Reply #13 on:** April 03, 2005, 06:56:17 AM »

First, welcome to the board Greywolf (You're a regular over on ARF aren't you?)

I have a couple of buddies who have the Tikka T3 in 300WSM. I also have a 300WSM in a Winchester Featherweight. The 308 will be plenty of gun for you, but if you step up to the short mag, you'll get a flatter trajectory, plus it'll hit a little harder.

The Tikka's are real good shooters too. I'd buy one.

marylandeer · « **Reply #14 on:** April 03, 2005, 07:35:14 AM »

Welcome greywolf, My vote goes for the Tikka T3 lite stainless you just can't beat this rifle. They are great looking, shoot great, have a very smooth action and a crisp light trigger. What more could one ask for in a rifle. As far as caliber my T3 lite stainless is in the trusty old .30-06 and I don't regret my decision. Ammo selection is second to none and it will knock deer down with authority. You can't go wrong with the .308 either, it will do everything the old 06 will do with the lighter bullets. But keep in mind that Tikka doesn't make the t3 in a short action so if you get it in .308 you'll have the same chamber as the 06 with a bolt stop installed (if this matters to you).

Robert · « **Reply #15 on:** April 03, 2005, 09:06:53 AM »

If you go with the 308....you can always go to another larger capacity magnum or other flatter shooting round in a smaller caliber.....but it would be my guess that you will always come back to the 308, both for light/medium hunting and for target shooting at the range. The recoil is nominal for the power that it delivers, and it is renouned for it deadly accuracy for either hunting or match competition. It is no coincidence that it is the first choice of most snipers.

greywolf2112 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 03, 2005, 11:43:41 AM »

Thanks for the welcome, guys. Yes, I am a regular (some would say "irregular") over at arfcom :lol:

I don't know why I seem to have this fascination with getting a whiz-bang "alternative" cartridge. Seems that the .308 overall is the round for me. That or the 30-06. I just wonder if the 30-06 may be a little too much recoil for me.

I think I'm set on the Tikka T-3 Stainless Lite - love that rifle.

poncaguy · « **Reply #17 on:** April 03, 2005, 12:48:34 PM »

The 270 will do for all North American game if you can shoot. For Deer, the 25-06 to 243 are more than enough .So many hunters think you have to have 308+ to kill with. I don't care for recoil at all. even though I shoot a Contender in 357 Max and 45-70. If I were going to shoot a larger round than a 270, I would just go to a 45-70. My current favorite rounds are a 270WSM and 7mm-08.I always believed the old time hunters, Bell with his 7x57 and O'conners and the 270...........all this in my humble opion.... :-D

greywolf2112 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 03, 2005, 12:53:29 PM »

Could someone give me an idea of the felt recoil of a 7mm-08 vs. a .308?

Greybeard · « **Reply #19 on:** April 03, 2005, 01:13:56 PM »

Quote

Could someone give me an idea of the felt recoil of a 7mm-08 vs. a .308?

Same rifle model, same bullet weight, same recoil. BUT generally the 7-08 is used with 140s and the .308 with 150s or heavier. So there is a slightly greater recoil to the .308 the way both are routinely used.

poncaguy · « **Reply #20 on:** April 03, 2005, 01:34:09 PM »

7mm-08 seems very mild to me, shooting a Encore rifle less ....than my 270 WSM

Grubbs · « **Reply #21 on:** April 04, 2005, 06:20:00 AM »

I'll second the T-3 7-08 recommendation. They are real shooters.

buffalobob · « **Reply #22 on:** April 04, 2005, 04:01:51 PM »

a 25-06 moves a 100 gr bullet @ 3300-3400 fps and this is a good deer bullet. Energy is just under 1000# @ 500 yds
If you want heavier bullets you can go up to 115- 120 gr @ 3100-3200. Energy is just under 1000# @ 600 yds

For chucks I shot 75 gr HPs which come out screaming
@ 3700 fps.

You will love the low recoil and great flexibilty of the cartridge, especially in a light gun.

MickinColo · « **Reply #23 on:** April 04, 2005, 04:20:07 PM »

greywolf2112,

You can sit on the porch and piddle with the puppies or jump off and run with the big dogs. Questions about felt recoil between the 7-08 and the 308 in are just about nonsensical. In like weight bullets they feel about the same.

buffalobob · « **Reply #24 on:** April 04, 2005, 05:17:18 PM »

You can run with the herd or try some thing new. A fast 240Wby or a fast 25-06 is just way too much fun.

Wlscott · « **Reply #25 on:** April 05, 2005, 03:24:37 AM »

Quote

Could someone give me an idea of the felt recoil of a 7mm-08 vs. a .308?

Like Graybeard said, there's not a dimes bit of difference between two of the same rifles shooting the same weight bullets.

I have one that I bought for my daughter in 7mm-08. I load 120 grain bullets at around 3000 fps and she shoots it quite a bit. She's 12 years old with a very slender build. The recoil doesn't bother her at all.

kenjs1 · « **Reply #26 on:** April 05, 2005, 03:38:05 AM »

greywolf - It sounds like you are like me and not a big fan of recoil. I think I have what you would like - A Browning Stainless Stalker in 260. Unfortunately it seems like I have the only one I have ever seen. The Tikka's are great by all accounts but I hate they way they feel - no matter how hard I try to like them. If youlike them by all means go for it. I think the perfect caliber for you is a 6.5x55. Too bad CZ doesn't make a synthetic stainless.

glock29 · « **Reply #27 on:** April 07, 2005, 04:22:56 AM »

I would go with the Winchester 70 Classic Stainless/Synthetic in, NO JOKE, either 300 Weatherby or in 375 H&H.
Yes, they recoil a little but either cartridge will allow you to take ANY North American game without a problem. If you intend on EVER hunting big bears with this rifle, go with the 375...you won't regret it.

There is NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH HORSEPOWER (or GUN) !!!

jim21 · « **Reply #28 on:** April 23, 2006, 02:17:54 PM »

Now this might sound like a advertisement but I would think about a Remington model 710 in 7-08 or 300mag.The Rifle has gotten some good
reviews from G&A and from Shooters Magazine.And the best part is there
not high price.

Doublejake · « **Reply #29 on:** April 24, 2006, 08:41:42 PM »

I would have to say, the BEST is a 30-06. Although many are adequit and will get the job done. The 30-06 is what me and my whole family use, speaking of it, I think I have read that the 30-06 is caliber of choice for deer hunters, but I'm sure someone else would disagree since they love their gun of choice such as I. Use what you like for your area as long as it's above a 243 or 25-06. Those would be minimum calibers.