Best hunting rifle

[buckfvr]

You have many factory options as well.  Asking for only 500 yards is something you can do with factory rifle, decent scope and factory ammo.

Alls I will add is be sure of your caliber and scope choices incase you decide you dont like it, you never get close to your money back and certain calibers and scopes can be hard to sell.

300 wm ??  Ditch the belt, go wsm.

[dreadi]

A few years ago I bought a used Savage 10 Scout in .308 via GunBroker from a private party. Took a deer that year. Next year a deer and a elk. Spent less than $400 in the rifle and used handloads.

The world is your oyster.


BLACK HAMMER ARMS
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GLOCK Certified Armourer

[timberfaller]

Obviously the budget doesn’t matter or I would have stated “800”$ max 

One that give you bullet placement!      If you can't put the bullet where it needs to be, doesn't matter what you are shooting.

Good luck on your search. 

yeah your right the Tasco I have on my 30-06 works just fine but I’m looking to purchase something that is quality pretty obvious statement there but I asked a question answer it if you have a recommendation or don’t answer at all thanks

Well ok then!,  You have a great package there, so if you want to improve on it,  go find a Pre-Garica Sako Finnbear deluxe in 6.5 Swede and put on a Burris(power of your choice) made in the Philippines.  Now we're talking!!  But then one in 375 H&H is even better. 

[IFunk]

I would suggest getting something with a stainless barrel or have it cerakoted so it doesn't rust.  I found out that hard way, but Dana @ Black Hammer Arms is taking care of me.    Also Nikon scopes are an excellent value for the money and now they are cheap as chips.  They have discontinued their scope line because apparently western hunting was deemed taboo at the company and they want to focus their efforts on cameras.  You don't have to spend 1000 dollars to get a great scope.  Save that money for the rifle. 

[buckfvr]

Just what everyone needs to do, go out and buy a cheap scope thats being discontinued.  And youre right, dont have to spend 1000$ to get a great scope, more like 3000$.

[NW SURVEYOR]

Like TIMBER FALLER, I am partial to the old SAKO Finnbears.
I have three of them and they all shoot like dreams.
If I were to only have one rifle, it would be the one I presently use, A Finnbear with factory stock rebarreled to 33 Nosler.
I'm getting 2950 FPS with a 270 grain bullet in front of 81.5 grains of RL-19, that's with a 24" barrel.
It has a Leopold V5 3.5-15 42MM scope which is pretty sweet.

It's a great rifle.

If I had a tight budget, I would look up the guy on HW that is selling that old RUGER 7mm Mag.
That looked like a steal for I think was $500 with an old Redfield 2-7 scope.
He's had it on sale for a while now and I think he's from Wenatchee.

Good Luck.

Rob.

[Tenkara]

id stay away from nikon unless you want something that has no warrenty.

[IFunk]

Actually they do have a "warranty".  Nothing wrong with Nikon except for their decision to no longer make riflescopes.

NIKON RIFLESCOPE LIFETIME LIMITED WARRANTY
 
Nikon’s Lifetime Limited Warranty applies to the optical system components of this Nikon Riflescope, which optical system components are warranted by Nikon to be free from defects in material and workmanship for the lifetime of the product from the date of purchase by the original consumer purchaser from a Nikon authorized dealer/reseller.
 
Nikon’s Seven Year Limited Warranty applies to the non-optical system components of this Nikon Riflescope, which non-optical system components are warranted by Nikon to be free from defects in material and workmanship for seven years from the date of purchase by the original consumer purchaser from a Nikon authorized dealer/reseller.
 
Nikon’s One Year Limited Warranty applies to the electronic components, if any, of this Nikon Riflescope, which electronic components, if any, are warranted by Nikon to be free from defects in material and workmanship for one year from the date of purchase by the original consumer purchaser from a Nikon authorized dealer/reseller.

[Karl Blanchard]

Have you ever had to warranty anything from them? Absolute convoluted nightmare. Ive done it twice and I've sworn off Nikon for life. Was a huge fan at one time.

[jasnt]

There is no best hunting rifles.  Only what’s best for you, and only you can answer that.  Far as scopes go it’s the same as the rifle.  Only your eye can say what’s best for you. 

You haven’t given us enough information to give you any kind of educated options.   

I’ll repeat what the rest have said.  Choose a gunsmith and talk with them about what options you require.   

If all you really need is a rifle that will do the job at 500 and under in 300wm.  Grab just about any rifle off the shelf in 300 and any scope in your preferred price range and brand and get to shooting.  Your skills will most likely be the limiting factor not what rifle or scope

[Igor]

There is no best hunting rifles.  Only what’s best for you, and only you can answer that.  Far as scopes go it’s the same as the rifle.  Only your eye can say what’s best for you. 

You haven’t given us enough information to give you any kind of educated options.   

I’ll repeat what the rest have said.  Choose a gunsmith and talk with them about what options you require.   

If all you really need is a rifle that will do the job at 500 and under in 300wm.  Grab just about any rifle off the shelf in 300 and any scope in your preferred price range and brand and get to shooting.  Your skills will most likely be the limiting factor not what rifle or scope

Virtually any quality "rifle off the shelf" with a GOOD scope and quality factory ammo is capable of 1' - 1 1/4" 100-yard groups.  What more do you need ?  If there are special requirements like an ultra-light, or something along those lines, then having one custom made might be necessary.  As far as caliber, I would stick to .30-'06, or .300 Win mag.

[IFunk]

Have you ever had to warranty anything from them? Absolute convoluted nightmare. Ive done it twice and I've sworn off Nikon for life. Was a huge fan at one time.

Thankfully not, but I find doing a warranty or RMA of any kind with a large company to be a complete pain.  It's like doing an insurance claim with all the hoops you must jump through. 

[Jonathan_S]

Have you ever had to warranty anything from them? Absolute convoluted nightmare. Ive done it twice and I've sworn off Nikon for life. Was a huge fan at one time.

Thankfully not, but I find doing a warranty or RMA of any kind with a large company to be a complete pain.  It's like doing an insurance claim with all the hoops you must jump through.

Sig Sauer and Vortex have next day mailed me expensive optics without me even returning the original.

[Stein]

I just had a vortex scope go round trip in about 9 days.  I printed off the form from the website and sent it in.  I never talked with a person or had to submit anything other than a simple form with my address and what was wrong with it.

I've sent that scope in once, my binos twice and a range finder once (most were for cleaning and checks, one was a rangefinder failure), all were 7-10 day turnarounds with no problems and I got back a repaired, cleaned or new product.

[konradcountry]

I'll be the contrarian.

There is no hunting situation in Washington that requires a 2k custom rifle or 3k scope. It doesn't exist.

Because of improved manufacturing technologies the rifles off the shelf are more accurate than custom rifles from 10 years ago. There are hunting magazine articles online that talk about this.

I would save your money and get some good binoculars.

I also wouldn't get a 300 WSM even if you think they are cool. Most people that own one have no chance in hell of shooting it freehand.