More Advice On Deer Rifle - New Customer
I've got a limited budget (say $650.00 for the rifle max.) and live in N.J. so I would be rifle hunting whitetail in PA or NY mostly. I will probably hunt other game over the years but nothing like big bears. I have pretty much settled on the 30-06 or 270 WSM (or should I instead be thinking 7mm WSM) and I've taken a liking to the Tikka T3. I have been told to consider the Remington 700, Vanguard, Winchester 70 and Rugers.
I know it's kind of a broad question but my pockets aren't deep and I want a quality bolt action that I can use for just about anything that may come up. If I can save even a bit of that 650.00 and use it for other things like a scope so much the better.
In coming years I might take a trip out west for pronghorn or Mule deer but that's the exception rather than the rule.
I'm thinking 30-06 because of the versatility but that's why I've come to the experts. Up to now it's been shotguns and slugs. I need something new.
BTW - Has anyone bought the new 460 S&W? The gun really has my intrest and I may tap in to the 'special fund'.
Thanks to everyone in advance.
Chuck from NJ
I know it's kind of a broad question but my pockets aren't deep and I want a quality bolt action that I can use for just about anything that may come up. If I can save even a bit of that 650.00 and use it for other things like a scope so much the better.
In coming years I might take a trip out west for pronghorn or Mule deer but that's the exception rather than the rule.
I'm thinking 30-06 because of the versatility but that's why I've come to the experts. Up to now it's been shotguns and slugs. I need something new.
BTW - Has anyone bought the new 460 S&W? The gun really has my intrest and I may tap in to the 'special fund'.
Thanks to everyone in advance.
Chuck from NJ
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Like You said.....30-06....! Because of the versatility...I never leave home without it on hunting trips...110 grain to 220 grain Bullets make this caliber Good for Varmits to Grizzlies.....
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff0 -
OleDuk seconds what the Captain said. .30-06 (It's a beautiful thing).
OleDuk[:D][:D]
"Disperse you Rebels; Damn you,throw down your arms and disperse!"
British Major John Pitcairn, April 19, 1775. He fell at Bunker Hill two months later.0 -
30/06 in a Ruger stainless.
I WOULD RATHER BE DUCK HUNTING.0 -
I hate to disagree with everyone, but the .270 can do anything the 06 can, and can do it flatter, with less drop, and kick. [:D]
If you pick your shots carefully the .270 will handle uo to elk, and definately be capable of taking pronghorn, muledeer, and the whitetails you will enbrater in PA. The Savage or Weatherby Vanguards are ecellant rifles as well as being cheap. Just my 2 cents.0 -
[8D]Yo chuck, two of my WBYs are 30-06 and I also have a WBY 270 MAG, so that area is pretty well covered.You'll never go wrong with the '06 and for hunting you can get the Stainless Steel Vanguard synthetic-with scope-pre-sighted, for under $550 another no loss purchase, I agree with B.C. the 270 is one flat shooting lower recoil wonderful cal. you just give up some variety in bullet size availability. You're pretty well covered, good luck[:)][:p][:p][:D] JIMBO
On your mark-get set- go away!!0 -
I'm originally from "Joisey" and have hunted PA whitetails for 36 yrs. I also hunt every few years in Colorado for elk and/or mule deer. The 30-06, in my opinion, rules. I use flat shooting 165s for deer and Federal High Energy rounds for elk. I've never felt under or over-gunned by anyone east or west! 0 -
Get a remington 700 ADL in .270 you could also try 7mm rem mag. (both much better than 30-06 ballisticly) and a leupold vx-1. You can get that for about $600 and that will handal anything you can through at it. GOOD LUCK[:D]
"A good scope can end a bad situation"0 -
Both are great choices. I would suggest a good used rifle, which can be had for less money, leaving some of your budget for a quality scope. Most of us started with a good new rifle and a cheap scope, and that is just not the way to go. 0 -
Buy the 30-06 it covers 100 to 250 grain bullets. Ammo for weatherby rounds are budget busters, new calibers may go the way of the .357 maximum. The 30-06 is here to stay, ammo is cheap, premium bullets will stop any North Ameican animal walking and it has no hidden bad habits. since it is not sexy you can usually find a real nice used one with good optics for 400 bucks. 0 -
I like the Savage Model 99 series of rifles and the 300 Savage round or the .308 would do fine. [8D]
Greg
Former Marine
A N G L I C O0 -
You also HAVE to look at the Browning A-bolt in .270 or .270WSM. Sweet shootin accurate nice feeling, and high quality rifles. I like mine so much that I don't know if I'll buy anything other then a Browning A-bolt during future purchases. 
You are knuckle-dragging ape with a gun.0 -
Hey Chuck,
the Wal-Mart here in Joplin, Mo.
has a Mossberg rifle i think in
30-06 for $244.?? drilled and tapped
with scope mounts and a sinthetic
stock.
you can't beat that with a stick [:D]
Shadow620 -
If your talking $650.00 for just the rifle you have a lot of choices, you should check the auction site here and I'm sure if you narrow down your choice of caliber, just go to the home page gunbroker.com, then on the left side of the page click on modern firearms (rifles), when the new page loads, click on bolt action, then narrow your search to whatever caliber you want and put that in the search box. You'll find pages of rifles. If you have a friend with an ffl you're in business. I recently got a ruger 25-06 with a scope for 500 bucks + 20 shipping. Couldn't have done much better for a like new rifle. The 25-06 will work on any deer or antelope. For versatility and moving up to elk or bigger the 30-06 or 270 are great choices. Just take your time try different searches, ie ss, stainless, fluted, scope, keep going back to the bolt action home page and try different manufacturers and sooner or later you'll find one you will be happy with. All the sellers have ratings and most people like to go with sellers with multiple positive ratings to cut down on potential fraud. Good luck, the shopping here is very entertaining.
Common Sense is an Uncommon Virtue.0 -
The 270 may be ballistically better than the 30-06 up to 150 grains, but that's as far as it goes for the 270. The 270 can't, no way, no how match the versatility of the 30-06, simply because there is a larger range of bullets for the 30-06. I would definitely agree with the adage that the 30-06 rules. Seems like on Gunbroker, people are selling 30-06's really reasonably, probably because of all the hype of the new short magnums, but they'll never undo the loyalty or the history of the 30-06, no matter how good they are. 0 -
I agree with the majoity on the 30-06 just wanna put in a vote for the ruger model 77 nice feeling gun, great trigger(on mine)right outa the box.I bought one in 257 roberts and it accounted for 2 south carolina bucks in 2 shots 0 -
For NY or PA these calibers are both too much. Stick with a 7mm08, 6.5 or good middle caliber. Some great Tikka's were up on Gun Broker for your price!
Sako Fan0 -
Browning A-Bolt.
I love the 60 degree bolt throw.
Mine's the Composite Stalker in .270.
Topped w/a 3-9x50 Leupold Vari X II.
Bought it on a whim out of a Pawn shop
for $500,slightly used.Hadn't given any
thought to replaceing the Ruger MkII .270,
but knew it was a heck of a deal.Figured
I'd keep the one I liked best.Nothin' wrong
with the Ruger,but it dissappeared real quick.
BW
IT'S WHAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEMSELVES THAT MAKES THEM AFRAID.0 -
trying to push a 220gr pill from the 30-06 is like putting a 4 cyl gas motor in a tractor trailer (unless you are a 100yd shooter). The best, and IMHO heaviest pill that the 30-06 can efficiently move is the 180gr and I tend to lean more on the 165-168gr in that case volume.
That being said,..choice of rifle for the casual hunter is a non-issue as they will all do plenty well enough to 200yds that a "hold on hair" style of shooting will be plenty skillful for the harvest.
My choice of those mentioned is the 7mm WSM. There will always be more offererings of bullet style and weight in the 7mm over the 270, so finding the better factory load will be that much easier. YMMV
why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
Got Balistics?0
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