Buying first scoped rifle

[Buckhunter24]

I'm going to buy a new rifle in the next few weeks and would appreciate anyones input. I am looking for a gun and scope. There are ton of choices and prices. I buy all 4 big tags, usually only fill the deer tag but want a caliber good for all 4. I am leaning toward 30 06 but am open to others.

I like what I read about the model 70s, but the savage with a scope is so cheap its got me thinking.

I have only shot with a scope a few times, and have hunted almost exclusively with muzzleloader and lever action. But I would like to do a mule deer hunt in 2020 out of state and want to make the most of it. Seems lile a scope will really help, I have never hunted mule deer though.

Thanks

[CaNINE]

For general purpose hunting the 30-06 is a very solid choice.  I'd go with a Savage but consider investing more in a better scope.  A 3-9X Leupold atop a stainless steel composite stocked 30-06 will handle 90% of your hunting needs.

[Woodchuck]

30 06 is a great choice for a "do it all" caliber. Test fit many makes and models so you find what fits you best. 

[jrebel]

You can't beat a savage.  They come with nikon 3x9's wich will serve you well until you want to upgrade.  30-06, .270, 7mm-08, .308, 300 win mag.  Lots of calibers that will fit your need.  Find a good deal on a rilfle that fits you and get'r done.   

Used rifles scope combos are also a really good option.  You can save money or pay the same but get upgraded optics. 

[ghosthunter]

I have hunted a 30 06 for 35 years. And it is death to anything it hits. But now I am leaning towards a 7mm 08.

I got my grandson a o8  Savage few years back and it is a sweet little gun. With loadings available for it you could hunt anything in this state till ya leave this earth. 

[buckfvr]

Buy the best rifle you can afford, then match it up with the best scope you can afford.........cheap combo packages are just that.......cheap, especially the scopes.

I would look at both Savage and Ruger.  And then I wouild look at scopes in the price range you want.

[Billy74]

I got a savage 30-06 and scope package a few years ago.  Be aware the scope that is prepackaged wont always be whats advertised.  Mine was a weaver 3x9 and not a bad scope but i always had the intention of replacing it. It always seemed to be off.  I did check to make sure it was tight but just never held a zero and never grouped well at 100yds.  Put a leupold on this year and it is much improved. If you do go with a package deal i would at the very least pull off the scope and re-mount it with loctite


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[JJB11B]

cant go wrong with a Ruger American either, I have several, I am hunting with a Ruger American .270 this year. Hunted lots of coyotes with my Ruger American Predators in .22-250 and 6.5 Creed as well. Superbly accurate rifles in my humble opinion,

[Taco280AI]

I'd get a Tikka or Wby Vanguard before a Savage. Just my preference.

[Zardoz]

I've only used a Ruger 30-06 for all my hunting over the years. Hunted 20+ years in Colorado when I lived there. I took deer, elk and antelope with it with no problems. The key was having a quality scope. Oh, and practice, practice, practice. Find which load your gun prefers, it does make a difference to try different brands and weights to get it dialed if using factory ammo. Good luck.

[Stein]

The 30-06 is the perfect caliber, several studies have proven that beyond doubt.   

I wouldn't buy a combo, you will end up throwing the scope away.  Buy the rifle then buy the rings and scope.  If you are on a tight budget, go with the Savage Axis or Ruger American and put a Vortex Diamondback on it.  You should be in the $500-600 range out the door with everything.

[CP]

Take a look a the Thompson Center Compass.  I bought one on a whim last year and it's the most accurate rifle that I own.  It's also the cheapest.  I don't think that they come in 30-06 but 308 has almost identical ballistics. 

[chukar hunter]

Always been a 7mm fan myself.  Picked up a christiansen arms two years ago and it's a tack driver.  Leupold to top it off as well.  VX5 3-18.  Total setup at less than $3k. 

[savagehunter]

My son just bought a savage on here for 250 bucks with a leupold scope . First group at 100 yrds was half inch. I own 7 savage's all shoot moa or less . Personally I'd buy the rifle alone and get a different scope than comes in the package deal.

[Okanagan]

30-06 for a do all rifle, which was my first scoped rifle and has been my do all rifle since 1976.  Nothing sexy but can't be topped for pure function and boringly available ammunition from city big box sporting goods to the most isolated country store.

Ditto what others have said re the Savage package scope.  The one on my package was a Simmons Whitetail 3-9x40 and it was utter junk.  Scope ring threads were stripped, either as it came from the factory or I stripped them the first time I touched them.  Scope windage and elevation adjustments did not work.  Replaced it with a Leupold 3-9x40 and went forth and slew all manner of big beasts.  My Savage synthetic stocked cheap rifle was light weight to carry and consistently shot 3 round hunter groups a smidge under an inch with 165 grain Hornady Interbonds and 180 grain Swift A-frames.

If I ever replace my current Remington 06 it will be with a Tikka, a smooooth rifle if your budget allows.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Tikkas great guns, my son bought one in .300wsm.

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,242233.msg3243193/topicseen.html#new

[b23]

I'm going to buy a new rifle in the next few weeks and would appreciate anyones input. I am looking for a gun and scope. There are ton of choices and prices. I buy all 4 big tags, usually only fill the deer tag but want a caliber good for all 4. I am leaning toward 30 06 but am open to others.

I like what I read about the model 70s, but the savage with a scope is so cheap its got me thinking.

I have only shot with a scope a few times, and have hunted almost exclusively with muzzleloader and lever action. But I would like to do a mule deer hunt in 2020 out of state and want to make the most of it. Seems lile a scope will really help, I have never hunted mule deer though.

Thanks

Before we all get too far over our skis with suggestions, what's you budget on this purchase???

[Buckhunter24]

Thanks guys, sounds like im on a good route with 30 06. Leaning towards the savage with leopould scope. Going to go up to cabelas soon

I considered 308 and 7mm also.

Budget is up to 1k but I like the sounds of 600...

[Bofire]

30/06 is a fine cartridge, go handle all the guns you can. I would rather have a great scope on a good rifle then a cheap scope on any rifle.
Carl

[opdinkslayer]

Buy a tikka. Cost a little more but it has the nicest action & trigger of the entry level rifles not to mention accurate. It is also very customizable with stocks,bolt handles, trigger springs, magazines etc & is a great platform to build a semi custom if you ever desire to. They are also desirable in the resale market. 

[jdb]

30/06 is a fine cartridge, go handle all the guns you can. I would rather have a great scope on a good rifle then a cheap scope on any rifle.
Carl

the wisest thing said on the internet tpday

[Bob33]

Some package scopes are just fine.  I have a Savage 7mm-08 that came with a Nikon scope that has killed lots of critters and the scope has never lost its zero, even when being shipped halfway around the world a few times.

If you haven't shot big game calibers before I would advise starting with reduced recoil ammunition or at least lighter bullet weights like 150 grains in .30  caliber cartridges.  Developing a flinch will make accuracy a difficult objective to achieve.

[Buckhunter24]

Thanks Bob. Neither my 30 30 or muzzleloader have much kick. Shot my dads 7 mag a few times and it kicked pretty good! I will look into a couple boxes of lighter rounds to get started with

[Buckhunter24]

I have been using 150 gr in 30 30 fir deer for as long as I remember, is that what most do with the 30 06 as well?

[Mark251]

30/06 is a fine cartridge, go handle all the guns you can. I would rather have a great scope on a good rifle then a cheap scope on any rifle.
Carl

the wisest thing said on the internet tpday

 

[CP]

I have been using 150 gr in 30 30 fir deer for as long as I remember, is that what most do with the 30 06 as well?

Put a brake on it and shoot whatever weight your rifle likes best.

[MADMAX]

Got a pretty sweet rifle available on the classified board
Great for mule deer and close to your budget

[brew]

my how the times have changed...folks talking about buying rifles now for around 3K and with brakes on them and this super scope on them and that built in range finder scopes on them etc., etc.....the very first scoped rifle I bought was in 1986 and it was a savage model 110 in 270 caliber with a crappy tasco 3x9 scope from the store I worked at.  all together it cost me around $350 (which they took out of my next 4 paychecks).  Boy did I put a hurtin on the blacktail population around here with that unit.  You don't need to spend a lot of money to have a big game killing rifle

[Lumpy Taters]

I would go and handle as many different makes and models as I could then decide which one I liked the best and try to find one to shoot first.  I really like the Ruger American in 7mm 08 that I bought my wife.  It might make me get one of my own.  No matter which gun I liked I would try to get the best optic I could.  Even the best riffle in the world wont hit a thing with bad sights.   

[Bango skank]

This is from my savage model 11 lightweight hunter in .308.  The day i put the scope on, and was testing out different factory ammo.  This was my first 4 shots at 200 yards.  4 shot 1/4 inch group.  Not bad for a setup that came in right at about 6lbs and $1000 for everything, rifle, scope, rings, rail, muzzle brake.  Absolutely awesome gun.  Topped with a leupold vx2 3-9x33 ultralight scope.  That group was shot with 165 grain hornady superformance gmx.  Great shooter, super light weight, just a fantastic rig.  Cant recommend it enough.  The new version of the gun is the model 110 storm.  I believe its just the same, but with their new accufit stock.

[yorketransport]

I think you can do pretty well with a $600 budget. Any of the entry level guns from Savage/Tikka/Howa/TC will shot really well these days and set you back less than $400 new if you shop around or even less if you track down a used one.

I've always been a fan of the Nikon Buckmaster scopes for reasonably priced optic. The Redfield scopes are a good deal as well. A nicer scope is always great but don't feel like you need to spend $750+ just to have a functional optic. I've used a lot of sub $300 scopes on $300 rifles to hit targets at 1000 yards just to show guys that it can be done.

[Buckhunter24]

Thanks for all the info, i ended up getting the savage axis in 30 06. It came with a cheap scope for 395 after tax. Figure I can buy a better scope this winter.