Help with buying new gun

[luukko]

I'm sure there are a lot of posts asking questions similar to this, but I'd really appreciate any insight..

I'm 19 years old, and am looking to purchase my "first" rifle(I have been hunting since 13, and have used a Winchester Model 70 7mm-08 that my father bought for me). The rifle will be used solely for whitetail deer hunting, so big calibers are out of the question. I have narrowed it down to either a .270, .270WSM, or a 30-.06. Also am trying to decide between a bolt or pump, once figured out between those two, would like to decide a brand.

I am looking to spend $750-$1,000 on the gun, scope will be bought seperately.(Feel free to leave suggestions for this as well)

Any help would be nice.

[Code-Man]

I would suggest you take a very strong look at the 25-06. Don't get me wrong I love my 30-06 but I hopefully will go out west for elk otherwise I wouldn't have gotten a 30-06 I would have gotten either a 270/25-06. 25-06 is a great round for deer and antelope. Flat shooting and lots of options for grains from Yotes-Deer.

Bolts are cheaper then pumps/semi's and I'm partial to bolts due to less things to go wrong with them and they tend to be more accurate then semi's/pumps. I recently bought a 25-06 Tika T-3 Bolt, Stainless and Synthetic for the girlfriend and I almost like her gun better then my Ruger. I like my Ruger because of the options and the 3 way safety which the Tika only has a 2 position on and off.

A very important question though is this. Clip or no clip? Tika has the clip and Ruger does not. Times I like both but check see what you think. Ultimately you have to find one that fits you and how you shoot. If you live in NW Minnesota I would drive over to Grand Forks and go to Scheels and talk to Brent...he's a big guy compared to everyone else in there and he is the manager and a very good guy at recommending stuff. He is a younger guy and very good at his job. He will be very low pressure and try to find a gun you will have with you till you want something else. Talk to Brent and see what he has to say.

[SmilinBob]

If you ask for opinions here you will be overwhelmed because of all the people that use this site. It's great that there are that many people to help us out, but here is what you need to do to make the decision for yourself. Go to a gun shop that has a good selection and give them all a look over and feel for yourself, narrow it down to a couple, or even the one you like, but don't buy anything unless you get your heart set on one and the deal feels good, they are going to try to get you to leave with something, it the nature of the business. Then go and get in touch with a handful of dealers, big and small, and see what kind of deal you can get, you should be able to beat the price from the big stores and the personal service will be worth it. Don't settle for "its close" or "it will work, you can adapt" Get what works and you will like to have without any regrets.

[MOSSY]

Check out the remington 700 mountain rifle.Can I ask why you are going away from the 7mm-08 not sure about the 270wsm but the 7mm-08 has better balistics than the other two.in my opinion you won't find a better whitetail gun.biggest thing is get what you want to shoot and make sure it fits you

mossy

[creepworm]

I also have a tika T3 in the 25-06. It is a really sweet gun. Nice and light and extremely accurate. I also have a 270 wsm in a Winchester model 70. It is kind of heavy compared to the tika but is also very accurate and gives the opportunity for bigger game. Hands down I like the tika and the 25-06 caliber better. Both are paired with Leupold VX III scopes and also love them. Ultimately, as mentioned before, go to several gun shops and shoulder and pick up rifles until you find one that is just perfect. Next for me is is a TC Venture.

[luukko]

Right now I am pretty set on getting the Leupold VX-3, as it has the twilight lens system, haven't figured out which power yet.

Thanks for all of the suggestions, I know I have to get to a store, and shoulder a gun to see how it feels, nothing worse than a gun that doesn't sit right.

I'm not getting away from the 7mm-08, but I just want to have a nice gun that I bought. Eventually would like to have a few diff cals.

I'm intrigued with the 25-06, I always have heard the gun has no knock down power, but I must of heard wrong. Only problem with Tikkas is from what I have seen are all synthetic stocks, I just have a strong pull towards wood stock. I also would prefer to have a clip over no clip.

Looks like I have some homework tonight reading up on the 25-06.

[luukko]

Gotta take that back about only synthetic with Tikka, just saw online at Gander a wood stock. Its a little under the price I am looking at, but from what I hear they are quality guns. Last year my dad bought my Grandfather a synthetic TIkka T3 7mm-08 haven't shot it yet, but maybe I should try it out to see how I like a Tikka compared to my Winchester 7mm08

[troutned]

I fully agree with SmilinBob and those who echo him. As for the .25-06 not having "knock-down power", no, it doesn't have as much. I would not recommend it for elk, moose, and bear. However, it has more energy than a .243 and many, many deer have found out the hard way that the .243 is enough gun. My wife shoots a .25-06 often for deer and antelope, and there has never been a problem with it not being enough gun. As for the other cartridges you list, they're all good. I think you'll find ammo for the .270 WSM to be considerably more expensive than the others and perhaps that is a consideration too. Good luck and keep us posted!

[Code-Man]

"it has no knock down" you place the right shot in the right place and you'll drop any animal, only issue is placing that shot. Like you said you wanted a deer gun only and 25-06 is a great round, my dad loves his but he got in the 70's and it's a heavy barrel so really sucks for how heavy it is. Granted he don't take it out elk hunting but that's why he has a 300 also. I have been looking around at reloading for the 25-06 and I have been loading 120 grain spears with 54.5 grain of powder behind it. 50 yard groupings were less then a dime with 3 of 4 holes touching which is pretty good for I shot five shots! My cousin has the same gun and hit steel plates at 500 yards and had a 4" grouping with factory amo

[nonteepical]

browning bolt in 308.

[luukko]

Any one know any more websites I can look at guns and get a base price? I have tried Gander, Cabelas, and Bass Pro Shop.

[nonteepical]

gunbroker

[Red Cabin]

The place in Walker that starts with an R.

[picksbigwagon]

I own a couple of Savage's and I think they are a great rifle. The accutrigger is great and their barrels have always been great as well. Yes it is not the prettiest gun on the shelf, but it is a great gun for the price. I have read in other forums where people say Brand X of gun is the best, but you're gonna have to change out the trigger. Well to me, if you are going to buy a gun and want a good trigger from the git go, buy a savage. Lots of georgeous rifles are sold with really stiff and sticky triggers in them. Triggers affect accuracy...............Buy a savage and get some good glass on it and you will be more than happy

[SmilinBob]

luukko, when you get it nailed down be sure to get in touch with one of the new sponsor of this forum and mention FM, I'm sure there may be a nice deal to be found on the firearm and any optics or accessories.

[hunter991]

you want to ditch argueably the best round for deer hunting ever in the 7mm-08? I would stay right where you are. If you really need a new rifle then get a lever gun in Marlin 336. That way you have a nice woods/driving gun and the 7mm-08 for just about anything else. i would also say, don't bother with the 25.06. Not worth it... go with a caliber (if you are going to buy another rifle) like a 270 or 30.06. Ammo is cheap and you can hunt anything with them. you can also buy ammo anywhere for either. the 25.06 does nothing for me. Usually have to have a long barrel to achieve it's potential (24" or 26") and offers nothing over a 7mm-08, 270 30.06,

[Tator2k]

only thing I've seen with a 25-06 is a smaller blood trail follow.

[gunmunky]

Find the gun that YOU like the looks and fits you and the caliber YOU like. Any caliber will take any game with the right bullet and the shooter doing his/her part. We all have our own favorites for whatever reason. More game has been taken with the 30-30 than any other caliber. If you spend the time practicing at the range any caliber will work just fine for anything on this continent.

[swamptiger]

Take a look at the .308 Marlin Express lever gun. I bought one this spring and I think my other rifles are probably going to stay in the closet most of the time now.