New gun for me - your opinion??

[StacyDave97]

So this was my first year seriously hunting.  I was using my son's .243 until he came home on leave and joined us at the cabin.  Then borrowed a friends 7.08.  Nothing down with either one...but that's a different thread (and not one I care to think about!  )  My son, who's in the Air Force, asked if he could take his rifle back to base - North Dakota - as he'd like to hunt there next year.  Of course we told him yes but now I need a gun.  My hubby wants another 30.06 but I don't care for the kick.  I'm not real big and really don't want to be that flincher when pulling the trigger.  Planning on bear hunting next year, as well as deer.  Any suggestions? 
One last thing - I love buying guns...the hubby, not so much    so we argue on price a ton.  I know - most of you have the opposite problem...but you get my point, it's a problem all the same - so please don't suggest a $1000 rifle, cuz it ain't gonna fly unless he's in the dog house and that don't happen too often  and I don't wanna be because I purchased something behind his back.  Thanks much and have a good one!

[chester]

You might want to reconsider the 3006. it does everything you want it to.and i believe there are managed recoil rounds available for it aswell. as far as what type? its up to you but im partial to Tikka T3 or Ruger M77 

[Holg3107]

Id say go with a Thompson Encore in .270. easy gun to grow with and they shoot really well. If you feel like an additional caliber all you have to do is buy an additional barrel.

[CAMPMEAT]

270. It will kill varmints to elk. Very versitale. You can get ammo any place.

[wsucowboy]

if your looking to save money get a savage rifle. I've bought two and they have all been good rifles with no problems. You defiantly get the most "bang for your buck." I would recommend a 270. Very good all around caliber.

[270Shooter]

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[MHWASH]

If your comfortable with the 7-08, then get one of those. I'd suggest Savage or Tikka.

[44 Flattop]

It's tough to go wrong with a .243 due to light recoil.  It will do fine on deer and bear both, also varmints if you wish.  If price is a concern, go with a Savage.  Absolutely nothing wrong with them.  If you want to spend a bit more, then think about a Remington Mt rifle or a featherweight Winchester model 70. 

A model 70 in a feather weight is a hunters dream 

44

[StacyDave97]

Wow - you guys are quick!!  I was logging back in to say I was thinking of a .270, to get an opinion on it!!  I'm going to shoot his friends 7.08, just to see if I like it, but I know I'm comfortable with the .270.  I think the hubby wanted me to have something a little more powerful than the .270 because we hunt in separate stands sometimes and I hike alone to mine.  I'm guessing he's not confident in my shooting abilities??!!   

[MHWASH]

The .270 and 7-08 are basically the same. The 7-08 has a shorter bolt throw, and may be better for you than a .270 if you had a small to medium biuld.

[fair-chase]

Personally I prefer the 25-06 over the 270 but thats just personal preference. Shoot a couple different ones and see what you like best. If you are a proficient shooter there is nothing wrong with a 243 for bear. If your shooting skills are lacking a little bit then stepping up to any one of the forementioned calibers would be wise.

Virtually all modern rifles come in a plethera of calibers. Choose the rifle model that suits you best before choosing the caliber. Find one that shoulders well, is easily carried, and fits your frame i.e. length of pull. Once you find the model of rifle that you want in your price range then you can either order it in the caliber of your choice or find it used.

[thinkingman]

I shoot a 7-08 Tikka, but I reload.
For factory ammo, 270 is much easier.
I'd consider 308 or 30-06.

[BlackRidge]

Id say go with a Thompson Encore in .270. easy gun to grow with and they shoot really well. If you feel like an additional caliber all you have to do is buy an additional barrel.

Bbbbbbbbingo! If the hubby is still fiending for more oomf, 30-06/other barrels can be bought for around $200

[beagledog]

If you were already shooting and comfortable with the .243 then get one of them. If the hubby wants a 30-06 and you like the 243 split the difference and get a 257wby.mag. The Vanguard will not break the bank even with decent glass.

[MuleySniper]

Gunbroker has a few model 700's in 257 wby   Reasonable prices too.
MS

[bearhunter99]

My wife shoots a Stainless Ecncore in 7-08 and loves it.  I have tried to get her a bolt action and she absolutely refuses!  Need to get her a .220 Swift barrel for it though.

[shoot-em-dead]

Go to wholesale sports and check out the Stevens model rifles. They are built by savage and are a super great gun at half the price as the others. My biggest complaint with them was the trigger pull was way to heavy. I paid a gun smith to lighten mine. Now I feel duped because I took the stock off for a good cleaning and found that there is a simple set screw that is for trigger adjustment. I have the 22-250 and have shot over 1000 rounds through it. great gun. I also had a 243 that I bought when they were on sale but had to sell it last year when I wasn't working. I only shot 60 or so rounds out of that gun and liked it very much. I would really recommend checking them out.

[danceswitharrows]

my gf shoots a 25-06 and loves it

[h20hunter]

Good on you for asking the advice from those of us that know everything, me included. I like the .270 very much and it is very versatile. I agree with the thoughts on the .25-06 and/or .260 Remington. Hell, maybe even a .257 roberts. Lots of good manufactures out there and most will shoot more than acceptable groups for hunting purposes. Worst case you are going to just have to marry me....I'll you you buy all the guns you want. Good luck out there and don't forget to post pics of the new toy when  you get it.

[Bofire]

Standard cartridges are cheaper to shoot. 270 or 30/06 will do all you need.
Carl

[JackOfAllTrades]

Best bang for the buck in my book is a Marlin XL7 in 270win or XS7 in 308win. Great recoil system. Adjustable trigger. Composite stock and lightweight. Pillar bedded. Same scope mount as a Win70. Fluted bolt.  Accurate.  Out the door retail price is less than $340. Put a good scope on it and you're set. (find a used Leupold 3-9x40 VXII or VXIII) Will be a hunting rifle you'll both like.

I bought one for my son last year.

Savage 110 or Tikka would also be great choices.

-Steve

[bobcat]

I'd go with either a 270 or a 308, as others have said. The 30-06 would be another good choice. They're all about the same, ballistic wise. The 30-06 will have slightly more recoil than the other two, but you can get around that by using lighter bullets and/or the "managed recoil" cartridges that Remington sells. You really can't go wrong with any of those three and ammo will be cheaper than anything else. The Marlin would be great, as Steve mentioned, and Savage and the Weatherby Vanguard would be good choices as well. Only thing about the Vanguard is they're a little on the heavy side so be sure you handle one before you commit to buying one, as it might be more weight than you want to carry. The nice thing about the extra weight is that the recoil will be a lot less noticeable.

[coriantonk]

I bought my wife a Marlin XS7 in .243.  She loves it.  I would say that the most important thing is your ability to shoot well.  Just remember that a bigger bullet wont make up for a bad shot.  Since you are buying this gun for yourself have fun, hold as many different rifles as you can.  When you find the one that you like the best, then it is time to start thinking about cartridges.  A lady I work with hunts with a .243 for deer and elk.  There allot of people who use a .270 or a 7-08.  There are allot of options out there, so have fun with it.

[Gutpile]

Tikka T3 light. 6.5X55 Swede. Or a 7mm-08.

[Magnum_Willys]

7mm-08.  Same rifle as the .243 just a 7mm diameter bullet instead of a 6mm (.243) that way you can shoot a 140 gr for bear instead of a 100 grain   

[runningboard]

considering your hometown listed as Tri-Cities & Colville, there is a gun show this weekend at the Spokane county fairgrounds go have a look around. the next time you're up in Colville stop by the pawn shop in Deer Park, huge selection, nearly every gun mentioned here probably there. good/fair prices too.

[addicted]

7mm08 or a 338FEDERAL. no kick. kill anything. doing something a little different than the 270,3006, or 308 guys. 

[addicted]

Tikka T3 light. 6.5X55 Swede.

 

I've got the hunter version (wood) and it's my go-to rifle.

as far as your go to rifle, dont you only have 2 and the other one doesnt group lol. a ruger isnt it?
swede isnt a bad choice eith btw.

[alanger]

Id choose a 7.08 i love mine, or a .270

[addicted]

Tikka T3 light. 6.5X55 Swede.

 

I've got the hunter version (wood) and it's my go-to rifle.

as far as your go to rifle, dont you only have 2 and the other one doesnt group lol. a ruger isnt it?
swede isnt a bad choice eith btw.

Yeah...not all of us are rich two-stripers with an addiction to purchasing european guns and optics...

I've got my Tikka, a Ruger M77 Mark II in .270 (the one that I hate), A Browning BLR in .243, and a couple old winchester 94's.


Is that enough to justify having a "go-to" rifle, or do I need more?

get my 3rd strip in a couple weeks lol.
i didnt say it was  a bad rifle. lol. when are you going to pick up some glass.

[rock]

What about a .280 bit more power added to a .270

[addicted]

Tikka T3 light. 6.5X55 Swede.

 

I've got the hunter version (wood) and it's my go-to rifle.

as far as your go to rifle, dont you only have 2 and the other one doesnt group lol. a ruger isnt it?
swede isnt a bad choice eith btw.

Yeah...not all of us are rich two-stripers with an addiction to purchasing european guns and optics...

I've got my Tikka, a Ruger M77 Mark II in .270 (the one that I hate), A Browning BLR in .243, and a couple old winchester 94's.


Is that enough to justify having a "go-to" rifle, or do I need more?

get my 3rd strip in a couple weeks lol.
i didnt say it was  a bad rifle. lol. when are you going to pick up some glass.

Oh *censored*...E-4 = Swaro.

I'm not sure, I'm kind of on this kick where I'm looking more in to lightweight sleeping bags, and a pack that does it all so I can just hunt and camp where I end up at the end of the day.  I don't want to have to hike back out to camp, or hike back to a spike camp, I just want to have the ability to carry everything on my back and go where I want.   It's going to cost a little to get what I want...

then you definately want some high quality light weight glass that will perform in all conditions in the back country.

[StacyDave97]

UPDATE....So Christmas morning I have a Marlin .308 youth rifle, Bushnell scope and ammo under the tree!!!  What a lucky wife I am.  Can't wait to go shoot something    

[BlackRidge]

Congrats!! Sounds like an epic Xmas

Let us know how things go on your next range outting!

[MHWASH]

Perfect! Now go forth and slay with it.