Hunting Rifle

[ForceFed4g63]

I'm in the market for a hunting rifle, haven't done much deer hunting before, so I'm not real familiar with what is best. Anybody have any ideas what a good intro rifle would be without breaking the bank? Would like to spend around $400 or less. I'm aware a good scope is necessary but that can come a little bit later.

[slowgreen99]

U can get a scope/rifle combo at dicks for close to that. Id vot for .270 or 30-06.

[Bradleyrj]

Check Dicks. I bought a Savage .308 ( I HIGHLY RECOMMEND SAVAGE) last year from Walmart up here for $399 with a Bushnell scope. It does a real good job for a $400 dollar combo purchase. BUT I checked at Dicks a few days later and the same rifle was $40 cheaper.

[///Mcompact]

Savage arms in .308

[boostismyfriend]

Remington 30-06 will Handel anything you need to kill, I usually shoot in the 150-200 yard range

[RWChevyZ71]

remington 700 30.06

[PapaBear]

The Remington 700 is perfect, and the 30-06 cartridge will take anything walking around here.

For budget reasons, and if only hunting with it, look at the Remington 770. It's cheaper, with a slightly inferior action, but is certainly not a garbage rifle.

Dicks carries the 770 model. Don't bother looking for a coupon, they are not accepted on firearms purchases.

Pawn shops are always an option as well. Also check www.armslist.com for local face to face transactions where Uncle Sam doesn't know you own it......

[PapaBear]

http://www.armslist.com/posts/2002292/charleston-south-carolina-rifles-for-sale--remington-742-woodmaster

http://www.armslist.com/posts/2210112/charleston-south-carolina-rifles-for-sale--savage-30-06

[MARTYROBBINS]

I have hunted with my grandfathers old 30-30 for the last 18 yrs I love it

[ASkipper]

I hunted with a Savage model 110 in .270 caliber for 24 years. I used the cheap Tasco scope for a long time. I then Upgraded to a Bushnell Scope 10 years ago. I just Last year bought a Browning A-bolt .270 and put a Trijicon Accupoint scope on it. I love the Browning and can see in low light conditions until past shooting time in the evening. I was always told to buy a decent rifle but spend your money on good optics. I am now a believer that I have a high dollar scope and can sit right on in the dark vs. getting out stand 30 min before the end of shooting time. If $400 is all you want to spend then get the Remington or Savage combo. They are really good deals. Just be sure to keep zeroing in the scope because they will move around.

[Pesce Nero]

I use to be a 30/30 no scope killer. never hunted in SC though

I didn't need a scope when I got a head shot on running Monte C a month ago

[gearmesh, inc.]

Savage rifles are some of the most accurate you will find for the money invested.

I got my wife a Savage model 12 Varminter last Christmas. After we worked up a handload with some 80grain Amax bullets, she practiced a few months before she got the courage to shoot some long range matches out at the rifle club. She has shot in two matches so far and won both of them. One win at 600 yards, and the other at 800 yards. Her bone stock Savage outshot some custom built .308 rifles costing $2,000 or more. If that isn't a testament to Savage's out of the box accuracy, I don't know what is.

My own stock Savage 10fp in .308 has the club record at 800 yards. I have $1400 invested counting rifle, bipod, and scope. I don't know how much longer that record will stand with my wife's rifle shooting as good as it does, though!

You can't go wrong with a Savage. Their Accutrigger is outstanding. I haven't seen an out the box Remington that has a trigger pull under 4lbs yet. Our two Accutrigger equipped Savages have trigger pulls under 2 lbs stock.

[ForceFed4g63]

Good info guys, much appreciated. Think I'll be going with the savage arms.

[bambooi]

Savage rifles are some of the most accurate you will find for the money invested.

I got my wife a Savage model 12 Varminter last Christmas. After we worked up a handload with some 80grain Amax bullets, she practiced a few months before she got the courage to shoot some long range matches out at the rifle club. She has shot in two matches so far and won both of them. One win at 600 yards, and the other at 800 yards. Her bone stock Savage outshot some custom built .308 rifles costing $2,000 or more. If that isn't a testament to Savage's out of the box accuracy, I don't know what is.

My own stock Savage 10fp in .308 has the club record at 800 yards. I have $1400 invested counting rifle, bipod, and scope. I don't know how much longer that record will stand with my wife's rifle shooting as good as it does, though!

You can't go wrong with a Savage. Their Accutrigger is outstanding. I haven't seen an out the box Remington that has a trigger pull under 4lbs yet. Our two Accutrigger equipped Savages have trigger pulls under 2 lbs stock.
Dang! She is out shooting the big boys w/ 2k rifles!

[slowgreen99]

My favorite rifle I've ever shot is by far my pop's Savage 270. Jacob, I can let you shoot it if you'd like? I can shoot here at the house. Maybe a feel it out before you buy type deal. I believe Matt has shot it. I know Lisa has. I just didn't care to remember if Matt did...Lisa on the other hand....

[1BAD4DR]

Savage .308 with a good scope...

[ForceFed4g63]

My favorite rifle I've ever shot is by far my pop's Savage 270. Jacob, I can let you shoot it if you'd like? I can shoot here at the house. Maybe a feel it out before you buy type deal. I believe Matt has shot it. I know Lisa has. I just didn't care to remember if Matt did...Lisa on the other hand....

Thanks Brandon, might take you up on that!

[slow94]

I shoot a savage as well in a .243 caliber. Cheap simmons scope on it but the gun will hold a dime sized group at 150 yards easy with my girlfriend shooting it. Every deer I have shot with it has either dropped like a rock or has gone no more than 20 yards. The .243 round is good for deer as it expells most all of its energy in the deer. Many of the bigger faster rounds go straight through with not much time for expansion. The last few deer I have shot, the bullet never even exited which meant it expelled every last bit of its energy into the deer.

[Bradleyrj]

Jacob if you'd like... if its going to be a little while before you buy, I can bring my .308 down and let you inspect / shoot it sometime. If you wanna finger the Savage Accu-trigger?

[ForceFed4g63]

Ended up getting a Remington 770 at Dick's for Black Friday, rifle and scope for $250. Can't beat that, may not be the best gun in the world but it's a start.

Is there a good place locally to go and zero in the scope?

[slowgreen99]

Boggy head or my backyard. Good for 90ish yards at my house. Boggyhead is 100/120~ iirc

[RoadconeTuning]

see if any of the DNR ranges are down near you. We've got one good for 100yrds in clinton.

[BigdaddyDupree]

Boggy head is my neck of the woods, if i was off id be down to go there although i hear it is often packed

[Bradleyrj]

If you really want to stretch it's legs I can take you to my range outside of ANDREWS. I shoot out to 300 yards there.

[ForceFed4g63]

Looks like Boggy Head and Twin Ponds are the closest.

[ForceFed4g63]

If you really want to stretch it's legs I can take you to my range outside of ANDREWS. I shoot out to 300 yards there.

Might take you up on that eventually, I think for now 100 should be good.

[PapaBear]

What caliber did you end up going with?

[ForceFed4g63]

What caliber did you end up going with?

30.06