help me pick out a rifle

[Gringo31]

Another vote for Savage in 30-06

[GoldTip]

I'm not real partial to any specific make of gun, I have Ruger's, Brownings and Remingtons and have been happy with them all.  All shoot out of the box plenty accurate for big game hunting.  I'd focus most on caliber and just find a reasonably priced gun in that caliber that fits you.  Honestly sounds as if your more of a bowhunter, so your probably not going to shoot the gun a lot, so I'd stick with something that is not huge on recoil and fairly inexpensive to shoot, so that when you do have time at the range you can spend it shooting, and not letting your shoulder quit hurting.  All the specifics you've mentioned, I'd probably suggest you go with a 30-06.

[rasbo]

30-06,remington or ruger

[brokenvet]

That would be perfect for what you're looking for, and the price is right. The scope is decent too so there wouldn't be a need to change anything.

If you buy new, I was going to recommend getting a 30/06 in maybe a Savage 110 or a Weatherby Vanguard.
[/quote]

Great choice here and if you get tired of the 30.06, the Savage 100 is designed so that the average Joe can replace the barrel out in the field into a different caliber.   MidwayUSA has barrels in different calibers for $134.99 and up.

[Huntbear]

I am in the market for a new rifle. Don't have to much to spend but could probably go up to $500 without optics. I am not married to a caliber but need something to take down bear or elk. Probably will be using it most for bear as I bowhunt for elk and deer. I just want to see what ya'll recommend.

Some questions first off...

How well do you handle recoil?  Do you have any kids that may use this rifle as a beginner hunting weapon?  Do you reload?  Do you want an ulralight type weapon or no problems carrying around a 10 lb. gun by the time you get scope and ammo included??  Do you hunt east or west side?

7mm-08 up to a 338 WM will work....   Personally, I like short action stuff.  So any caliber based off the .308 Win. or any of the Short Mags would be my choice..

Personally for a 300 yard and less gun, you can not beat the .338 Federal.  You want more range, jump up to a 300 Win. Short Mag...   Still a short action, less weight to carry, and will get the job done.

[jackmaster]

270 or 30-06, people buy these great big caliber guns to kill bear, well you dont need to, just learn how to shoot your animal properly...... read all about jack oconner, killed everything with a 270 and i mean everything that a fella can hunt

[Special T]

Every animal has been killed with an 30-06. It is my one scoped gun.  The MOST important fact about 06 is the availability of ammo. You can buy light 110 grain pills that shoot a little flatter or 22o grain to really lay the smack down. I would also add that you can purchase Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Rounds if a member of a affiliate club for CHEEP.     Just some of the reasons i use a 30-06

[Swannytheswan]

I am in the market for a new rifle. Don't have to much to spend but could probably go up to $500 without optics. I am not married to a caliber but need something to take down bear or elk. Probably will be using it most for bear as I bowhunt for elk and deer. I just want to see what ya'll recommend.

Some questions first off...

How well do you handle recoil?  Do you have any kids that may use this rifle as a beginner hunting weapon?  Do you reload?  Do you want an ulralight type weapon or no problems carrying around a 10 lb. gun by the time you get scope and ammo included??  Do you hunt east or west side?

7mm-08 up to a 338 WM will work....   Personally, I like short action stuff.  So any caliber based off the .308 Win. or any of the Short Mags would be my choice..

Personally for a 300 yard and less gun, you can not beat the .338 Federal.  You want more range, jump up to a 300 Win. Short Mag...   Still a short action, less weight to carry, and will get the job done.

well the biggest recoil I have shot is a .300WSM and it was fine I only have one other rifle right now and it is a 30-30, no kids, don't reload, don't care to much about weight and I will be hunting mostly wetside....

[cedarriver]

 I'd stay with a 30 cal. or above. Bigger wound channel for fat bears.

[Huntbear]

any of the .308 based cartridges will do the trick from the 7mm-08 on up.   I still like the .338 Federal for an all around gun on the wetside.   If you want more OOMPFFFFF you can bounce up to a magnum..   But you bounce up in price on your ammo since you do not reload. 

[ellensburgpo]

270 or 30-06, people buy these great big caliber guns to kill bear, well you dont need to, just learn how to shoot your animal properly...... read all about jack oconner, killed everything with a 270 and i mean everything that a fella can hunt

270, 30/06, 308. They are boring, but they get the job done. Ammo is cheap and readily available. I've had great luck with Weatherby vanguards and ruger m77 mark 2's which can be head cheap. Kinda Like a ford truck, nothing fancy, but gets the job done.

If youre feeling frisky try a Weatherby vanguard in 257 Weatherby mag. Ammo would be a more expensive but a very capable gun. Most new guns from big company's are pretty darned good. Kinda have to go out if your way to get a crappy rifle anymore.

[akashasdaddy]

I have a savage accutrigger in 30-06 with a nikon 4-12X40 scope all tolled I payed just over 500 for the entire set up. I am very green when it comes to hunting and shooting but I easily put 3 inside a 50 cent piece at 100 yards consistently; so the Savage has my vote and you can't really go wrong with an 06 it will put down anything in Washington.

[skybusterbo]

300 wsm....enuff said

[carpsniperg2]

Tikka...

Why don't you like tikka...I have only heard good things so I am curious?

He is just messed up. Don't mind him

You will hear only a couple things bad about the tikka's the stock and the clip. Flat out they are the best shooting gun around the 500 mark out there. We have 5 of them and every one shoot's lights out. I have been around 30+ of them and they are all great guns. If you don't like the stock buy a after market one, there is a lot popping up now days.

I would say the one all around gun I would go with is a 270 wsm. I am a big fan, I never thought I would be but I really love them. Will kill anything that walk around here.

[Swannytheswan]

Tikka...

Why don't you like tikka...I have only heard good things so I am curious?

He is just messed up. Don't mind him

You will hear only a couple things bad about the tikka's the stock and the clip. Flat out they are the best shooting gun around the 500 mark out there. We have 5 of them and every one shoot's lights out. I have been around 30+ of them and they are all great guns. If you don't like the stock buy a after market one, there is a lot popping up now days.

I would say the one all around gun I would go with is a 270 wsm. I am a big fan, I never thought I would be but I really love them. Will kill anything that walk around here.

Thats what I thought...