- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Winter Olympics
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Starter rifle for deer
Posted on 8/14/24 at 7:02 pm to Scruffy
Posted on 8/14/24 at 7:02 pm to Scruffy
My first rifle was a 243.
Just kidding, dad got me a 270 and proceeded to give me a bruised arse shoulder.
Ruger American in 308 would be a great starter rifle. You might be able to find a basically new rifle on some of the forums though. I'd be open to brand and calibers.
Just kidding, dad got me a 270 and proceeded to give me a bruised arse shoulder.
Ruger American in 308 would be a great starter rifle. You might be able to find a basically new rifle on some of the forums though. I'd be open to brand and calibers.
1
Posted on 8/14/24 at 7:10 pm to Scruffy
I have a Ruger American Predator 18” threaded barrel in .308.
Replaced the stock with a Magpul and it’s a great gun for the money.
I liked it well enough to buy my nephew one for his Christmas present though it’s a 6.5cm.
Replaced the stock with a Magpul and it’s a great gun for the money.
I liked it well enough to buy my nephew one for his Christmas present though it’s a 6.5cm.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 7:28 pm to Scruffy
i have 3 7mm-08’s at this point. it’s my favorite round.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 7:36 pm to i10Duck
7mm-08 would be the perfect southern whitetail cartridge if they could keep it stocked, but sometimes availability is the best ability.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 7:52 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
I really appreciate all the info, guys.
I am a big supporter of ammo availability and will likely go .308.
Will go and take a look at all the rifles mentioned and see how they feel.
I am a big supporter of ammo availability and will likely go .308.
Will go and take a look at all the rifles mentioned and see how they feel.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 7:53 pm to Scruffy
.308
.270
30-06
.270
30-06
Posted on 8/14/24 at 8:01 pm to Scruffy
308 still the beat all around caliber, period. It is why it is the snipers choice.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 8:29 pm to Scruffy
quote:
keep seeing people reference Tikka.
Is it really worth the extra $2-300?
Yea. Even if we're $1,500 it'd still be the best overall value in bolt action rifles.
That said, basically anything that goes bang will work. Anything mentioned in this thread is a fine deer rifle. It's the golden age of affordable deer rifles.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 8:32 pm to Scruffy
7mm 08… smooth gun, little kick, plenty of ammo available.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 8:43 pm to oldskule
That depends on what sniper you’re talking to.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 8:57 pm to Scruffy
Check Brownells for a Howa action. I bought one. I like it better than my Ruger. I put a Bell and Carlson stock on it. Nice setup.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 8:57 pm to Scruffy
quote:
Was leaning towards the Ruger American in .308
I have 2 Ruger Americans…one is a rimfire and the other is a Ranch in 5.56.
Both are more accurate than I can shoot.
If you go with the Ruger, make sure and give it a thorough look over before you leave with it. My 5.56 Ranch had a place close to the muzzle that somehow Ruger managed to not machine deep enough to remove a ring of porosity. It was probably a 10mm skip in their machining process on a final pass. I should’ve caught it at the store, but didn’t look it over. I mailed the rifle back to them on their dime and they processed it in a couple of weeks. I figured they would rebarrel it but they just turned it down past the defect (you wouldn’t see it unless I pointed it out).
The American Rimfire had a problem stripping rounds off the magazine and I found out with a little research that some of the bedding blocks were offset and didn’t line up with the action bolts. That was my problem. Called Ruger and they sent me a new stock and it works perfectly now.
All that said, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another Ruger…but when I buy another rifle…it’s gonna have a nice wooden stock (maybe a Tikka T3X Hunter or a Weatherby Vanguard Sporter). I have developed an aversion to my plastic stocked rifles - and I have a bunch of them.
.308 is a fine choice for deer.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 9:00 pm to Scruffy
As a new hunter (age 45) that got my first deer ever this past Christmas, I recommend the Ruger American. Mine is in 6.5 CM, but .308 is also a great round. I put a Vortex scope on it, can't remember the model right now, I'll look later. Now I'm waiting on my suppressor purchase to be approved. Good luck.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 9:24 pm to Scruffy
quote:
Ruger American in .308.
Everything I've read or seen looks positive.
I own a Howa 1500 in .308 and it's been great.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 9:24 pm to LSUSUPERSTAR
I bought an American Ruger 270. Nice gun and son killed his first deer with it. Bought a Tikka 3x 308 and yes it is worth the extra money.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 9:34 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
My grandad gave me a brand new Remington 7400 308 pump action with a cheap scope.
That was 27 years and about 40 deer ago.
The thought of him (as frugal as he was) walking into Planters in Woodville and paying for that thing……put it this way, I have other rifles for deer….but I only use that one.
Buy a quality 308
That was 27 years and about 40 deer ago.
The thought of him (as frugal as he was) walking into Planters in Woodville and paying for that thing……put it this way, I have other rifles for deer….but I only use that one.
Buy a quality 308
This post was edited on 8/14/24 at 9:36 pm
Posted on 8/14/24 at 10:49 pm to kengel2
quote:
My first rifle was a 243.
That papa gave to daddy and daddy gave to me?
Posted on 8/15/24 at 4:49 am to Scruffy
A lot of our older guys use the .243 and its a great round. I'd probably lean 6.5 creed just because he can use it forever. The round can be stretched to beyond 1,000 if they eventually want to go to long range shooting. You could buy a chassis and upgrade the scope and have a round that can get out there.
Then, buy a 300 PRC for both elk/moose hunts with him later on and then again, stretch that out to 18-2,000 yards....
Then, buy a 300 PRC for both elk/moose hunts with him later on and then again, stretch that out to 18-2,000 yards....
Posted on 8/15/24 at 5:20 am to Scruffy
I think this is the best deal going. Threaded barrel, Hogue overmolded stock, accutrigger, and target style action. But I am a Savage guy. And to the guy that said Savage uses hammer forged barrels, they use button rifled barrels. The floating bolt head is what helps them to be so accurate.
Posted on 8/15/24 at 6:05 am to Scruffy
I have a Ruger American in .308 that I have surpassed for my kids. It works very well. When looking at the different guns pull the trigger (literally).
Dry fire them in the store they only complaint I have on the Ruger American is the trigger pull is a little stiff. For a new shooter that can make it easier to jerk the trigger and miss. It is a very good rifle for the price.
Dry fire them in the store they only complaint I have on the Ruger American is the trigger pull is a little stiff. For a new shooter that can make it easier to jerk the trigger and miss. It is a very good rifle for the price.
Page 2 of 4
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News