First Hunting Purchse

Rock Stick or Fish · 02-01-2003, 09:11 AM

I've been debating whether or not to take up hunting the for last year or so, and I've finally decided to do it this year. Today I picked up Blast and Cast's Luepold scope that he had listed in the classified section here on ifish. The next step will be finding a rifle to put it on. I've pretty much decided on an .06, but everything else is up in the air. If you have any advice on what would be a good make, I'll certainly listen to it.

RSF

Firedog · 02-01-2003, 12:44 PM

RSF, if you are looking for an 06 a buddy of mine has one for sale. Don't remember exactly what he was asking but it was around $500. This is a real nice gun, winchester model 70 Featherweight. Built in the 80's. If your interested send me an e-mail and I will get you his number.

[ 02-01-2003, 01:45 PM: Message edited by: firedog ]

SeanD · 02-01-2003, 01:05 PM

I'm real partial to the 30.06 for all around use. Its the perfect cartridge if you want one rifle to do it all. It sucks if you want to justify having lots of rifles, because there really isnt much the 06 isnt good for.

Everyone has a favorite maker, i like remingtons, but i have owned more winchesters. There really isnt much difference in my opinion on quality, the bigger difference is the mechanics of different bolts, extractors, safeties, ect. For a screamin deal on a new 30.06, the local bi mart here has a new savage with synthetic(plastic) stock for $269. Savage gets a bad rap because they are cheap, but their factory barrels are usually more accurate than remington, winchester, and ruger. Iv'e never known anyone that actually owned one that didnt like it. My buddy owns three savages, and he thinks they are great. When i buy a new varmit gun, im gonna go with savage too.

KingFisher85 · 02-01-2003, 01:19 PM

What are you going to be hunting for?
Where are you going to be hunting at?
Is it open country or timber brushy country?

I'm a big time 300 mag guy so if you ask me I would say get a Ruger M77 300 win mag.

SeanD · 02-01-2003, 01:27 PM

I just sold my 300 win mag last night. Just couldn't see any benefit over the old '06.

Rock Stick or Fish · 02-01-2003, 01:41 PM

The plan is to hunt elk in the Blues. I haven't done much shooting in the last ten years, so I'd like something with less recoil.

RSF

Reel Crazy · 02-01-2003, 03:08 PM

My vote-- 300, maybe even a WSM

TheRogue · 02-01-2003, 04:53 PM

I'd rather elk hunt with someone who can drive tacks with 100gr .243 winchester bullets at 200 yards, than someone who can't hit a pieplate with a cannon at 50 yds!!!

Of course, I'm saying don't just go with a big caliber because its "better". Many people can't shoot anything above a 7mm mag because of the recoil. A 300winmag with 180gr Federal HighEnergy loads is my personal limit...and since I don't shoot anywhere near enough, it cost me on a monster blacktail on the last day of the season this year.

The beauty of the '06 is that you can buy factory 130 grain loads that are quite pleasant to shoot, then move up to 150's, then maybe(preferably) 180's. Most of what I've read about the '06 is that the 200 gr pills are just a little too much for the cartridge. With the .300 mags, I think the smallest loads you'll find over the counter are 150's, and they'll generally give out quite a bit more punch than the same 150 in the '06. If you find someone to handload, you can safely load down most cartridges to really "soft" levels.

There is also a difference between actual and "felt" recoil. The felt recoil is based on different factors, such as stock design, total weight, barrel length, kick pad, and some others. I had a lightweight .270 with a 21" barrel most of my life...killed a lot of animals with it, but HATED to shoot it on the bench!! serious muzzle jump, scoped me a couple of times, and the stock never really fit my shoulder correctly. My wife has a 7mmRemMag in the Ruger M77 MKII in stainless/synthetic....24" bbl, with a very heavy trigger and lots of creep. I have a 300WinMag, Win Mdl 70, in stainless/synthetic....26" bbl, with a very crisp adjusted 3lb trigger pull. I hate shooting her rifle, always feels like it's going to jump out of my hands when I'm done yarding on the trigger. Much rather shoot mine, the extra weight of the rifle, the length on the barrel, and the light crisp trigger more than compensate for the extra recoil.

Whatever you buy, make sure you get out and shoot it, a lot. When you start getting "flinchy" with it (and it's easy to do, even with something smaller), get yourself a nice little .22 to shoot for a while....get's your form back, since you can go through the motions without it clobbering you. I had to do that last year on the advice of a friend, and I'm happy to say it really worked!!

TR

Rock Stick or Fish · 02-01-2003, 05:36 PM

Another catch... I'm left eye dominant. I was playing around with my scope and it was way easier to use my left eye than my right, far more relaxed. I double checked with all of the "finger tests" and I can't freaking believe it, my eyeballs are lefties.

How does this factor into my decision? :depressed: Okay, I searched and read the thread on this. It isn't pretty.

RSF

[ 02-01-2003, 06:56 PM: Message edited by: Rock Stick or Fish ]

biederboat · 02-01-2003, 05:39 PM

My $.02 worth is don't buy a rifle that is too light. I have two rifles, a 300 win mag in a Ruger M77 that I dearly love but I also have a 25-06 in an old Enfield Mauser action that is heavy as a load of bricks but I CAN'T MISS (maybe don't miss is a better term) with this gun. You also feel less recoil. Slugging around the Blues all day is a chore but I do it with both (no, not at the same time, just for deer or elk). As much as I love the crispness (and it's safety, and it's ejector plate) of the Ruger, I am considering finding another Enfield for Elk. Maybe I can just weld on a couple pounds of steel to the Ruger??? Drill the stock out and fill it with lead?

Good luck,
Biederboat

Cutter · 02-01-2003, 06:14 PM

Here is what I hunt with to show I'm not too biased. M100 Winchester 308, wood stock.
And Now.
Here's my .02, go with the 06, it's really an all around cartridge. You can buy the ammo just about everywhere, and it doesn't cost you a small fortune to shoot it. My father-in-law shoots the 338 mag weatherby, about $50 a box and he can't hit squat.

Now if you are going to be out pounding the brush and doing a lot of hiking, look into a synthetic stock, they really take a beating, I have had to redue my stock twice already.

If I was to buy a new gun right now I would get a Remington 700 in either the 06 or 7mm.

Good luck

Firedog · 02-01-2003, 07:40 PM

I agree with what some of the others have said about the 06 being one of the best all around Calibers. It can do most anything you will probably want. I personally am using a .280 for deer and just bought a .300 wby mag for elk. I do all my own reloading so ammo price isn't a real factor. But if you start getting into factory ammo fo some of the magnums it starts to get expensive. 06 ammo is easy to find and comes in multiple dif. bullet wieghts as mentioned before.

I prefer Remington guns, just because I like the model 700 action the best. All the major makes offer excelelnt choices though it is kind of like asking someone if they like fords or chevys better. The link at the bottom of my signature to Acurtae arms page offers a lot of good gun advvice also. Good luck.

[ 02-01-2003, 08:44 PM: Message edited by: firedog ]

eightball · 02-01-2003, 09:06 PM

Rock Stick or Fish; I'm a lefty. Remington, Savage and Sako make left handed guns. They are easy to adapt to. I'm partial to Remingtons. Bought my boy a Sako last year. Sweetest shooting 7mm mag I've ever fired. Felt recoil is less than my 7mm Rem. And way less than the 7mm Mag Savage I bought for my daughter. Very accurate rifle.

42F&H4LIFE · 02-01-2003, 09:31 PM

rsf here's my two cents .I agree that the 06 is the best all around caliber I my self shoot mossberg 7mm rem. mag. I shoot 154 grain hand loads which is just right for this gun. if I were to shoot a larger caliber especially with a synthetic stock Iwould consider having a muzzle break, I know it sure helped my uncles 338
4life

Tilla · 02-01-2003, 10:06 PM

I like the 7mm, everything from Antelope to Moose. Nothing has ever walked away. (The Moose was a bit indifferent for a few seconds to the first shot though)

bait boy · 02-02-2003, 08:02 AM

RSF,
There is a rem 700bdl .06 lefty bolt action for sale over in the classifieds with a scope. Might be just what you're looking for.

Day Late · 02-02-2003, 12:01 PM

I bought a Remington 700 ADL (30-06) in 1971 and put a Bushnell 2.5-8 scope on it. It has never let me down. Hit the deer or elk where you're supposed to and it goes down (or at least doesn't run very far). When it's too brushy, I break out my Remington Gamemaster pump (30-06) with open sites or the trusty Marlin .32 lever that I've had since I was a kid. I think 30-06 is a terrific all-around cartridge for any big game Oregon has to offer.
My 2 cents. :smile:

Day Late

Mtn Man · 02-02-2003, 01:51 PM

I agree with most here, I would go with either a 30-06 or a 7mm REM mag.

I would not get a light weight gun, I don't care for synthetic stock either. Don't worry to much about the weight being to much, you will get used to it. My deer rifle is a Ruger 1 in 25-06 with a varmint barrel, I thought this was pretty heavy at first, but you get used to it. Especially now that I hunt with a muzzleloader, it is much heavier and I don't have a sling on it. If you start with a heavy gun you will shoot much better as it has less felt recoil and is steadier to hold. If you get something with a heavy barrel realise that you will need to shoot off of a rest.

MM

maggot · 02-02-2003, 03:29 PM

someone had a "pump" .06 in the classifieds for 150.00.........excellent starter...Im a 7mm guy...havent had to do much tracking with that caliber.

elkaholic · 02-02-2003, 07:39 PM

I agree with the .06 and 7mmmm. I use the 25.06 just because I hunt more open area and use it for all pyrpose. I have found that the best thing for me was to get a gun/stock style that fits and after the usual makers I ran across a 22-250 in Parker Hale-bull barrel. That is why I use the 25 now, it is custom barrel./mauser action on a Parker Hale stock and I can drive tacks. I know 120 grain is a little on the light side for elk. I guess ideally if it was a 30.06, I would have the perfect gun.

I do have a few buddies that swear by their 270's.

Rock Stick or Fish · 02-07-2003, 07:44 AM

I decided to buy the Savage in 30'06. It was on a pretty good special at the sportsman's show, along with the Howa(290 and 350 respectively) The howa was quite a bit smoother, but I liked the saftey of the savage better. So I'm the owner of a 111F

The hardcase was $11, cleaning kits were %20 off, and slings were $5 at michaels stand.

I don't really like the stock, does anybody know if the 110 and 111 take the same aftermarket stock?

Another question, has anybody had any experience with Brawnell's Action Magic? It sounds like it would be a good product for smoothing out a savage.

RSF

SeanD · 02-09-2003, 02:35 PM

Right on rock, you made a wise purchase in my opinion. Make sure you have a nice one piece cleaning rod, some shooter's choice, and break that barrel in right.

Cant help you on the action magoc, never heard of it, but as long as the thing locks up tight, and feeds properly, you are all set.

Grantspastor · 02-09-2003, 08:52 PM

Rock...you'll be happy with your 06. There are better calibers for given situations but not many that are as versatile. If you ever take up handloading you'll find the selection of .30 caliber bullets is extensive.

Being right handed and left eye dominant won't help you, but with a scope you can learn to shoot well...a lot of time at the range is the key. The cross dominant problem would be more problematic for shotgunning.

Rock Stick or Fish · 02-09-2003, 09:06 PM

One of the reasons I decided to go with the savage is that I can shoot it alot to decide what I want to do if I want a better rifle. I can spend a month shooting it lefty and decide if I want to buy a lefty rifle, or I can just keep going right.

I went through the better part of a box today without realizing that my scope was set for farsightedness. I've got that fixed now and I'm rearing to get back on the range.

RSF

Dr Strangelove · 02-10-2003, 11:12 PM

I have a stainless synthetic Browning A-Bolt 06 with 3-9X Compact Leopold that groups 1" at 100yds out-of-the-box with 165gr loads at 2777fps w/ IMI factory loads. Alternatively the Hornady Light Magnum loads nearly turn the 06 into a 300WinMag via velocity increases with a special powder design. The BOSS system is available to reduce recoil, speed your deafness, and accurize groups by 50% or better.

The 06 is easy on the shoulder and should kill anything in the Northwest under 250yds (my limit). How could you ask for more? And it's got a detachable magazine. Makes loading and unloading a snap, literally, without cartridge fumbling/dumping.

Check out gunsamerica.com, auctionarms.com, and gunbroker.com for good deals on new and used guns. If I didn't get the rifle I did, I'd consider the Browning BAR in a Mag caliber to soften the recoil, or a lightweight .308 like the Remington SS Model 7 or Steyr Scout (pricey).

Happy Choosings, Doc