rifle

[fishinjosh98]

Im 13 and am looking for my first deer rifle i have a 500-700 dollar range and i was thinking the Tikka T3 or remington 700 and input or any other rifles you can think of would help me greatly

[kelly-p]

I wish I was 13 again. When my daughter started deer hunting we got her a Remington Model 7 carbine in 243 caliber. Short and easy for her to handle. Very accurate with a fairly light recoil. It is only about 1 inch longer then a Ruger 10-22.

Best of luck for you and your new gun. I bought my first deer rifle when I was your age. I'm still carrying it 40 some years later. We both look like a few years have passed by but we have a lot memories.

[Archerysniper]

Those are both great gun another one you could look at is the savage with the accu-trigger.

[jay83196]

If that does not include a scope you could look at a Browning a or x bolt for 6-7 hundred I think. They are a very nice gun that would come in a variety of calibers I would suggest 308 or 270 both have low recoil and very versatile accurate guns. I'm not a very big guy and mine fits me well.

Good luck take care of whatever you get it will last your lifetime.

[toadbelly]

In that price range I'd buy a

Weatherby Vanguard 2

They are guaranteed 1in or less groups with factory ammo

[Whoknows]

I got a .243 Remington 7600 when I was 12 years old and still use it for Whitetails 14 years later. Light weight, accurate and plenty of gun for deer. You can probably outfit one with a nice scope and come in under your budget.

[TooTallTom]

Hey Josh, I'm glad to hear about another new hunter. I hope you have lots of fun on lots of safe hunts. In my book, a fun hunt is a successful one, whether there's any meat for the freezer at the end of it or not.

As far as your rifle purchase goes, keep in mind that you also may need to buy a scope, mounts, sling, and other accessories (cleaning kit?) for the rifle. If those all have to be included in your budget, plan accordingly.

I bought a Savage 110 package in .30-06 when I was 13, it came with a scope and sling and still shoots better than I do. With a synthetic stock, the gun is very light, and the recoil was a little bit intimidating at first, but I kept at it, and it's very manageable now. I don't think Savage makes the 110 any more, but they do have a reputation of making accurate, no- or low-frills rifles (They're getting a bit more upscale now, though.) and selling them at a good price. Check them out.

There are reduced-recoil .30-06 loads on the market now. I chose .30-06 because it's what most of the guys in my camp shoot, and it's nice to have the backup of being able to borrow a couple of rounds if they're forgotten or lost along the way. (Obviously forgetting/ losing something like ammunition isn't a good thing, but it's a "contingency" plan for a reason, right? ) Plus, .30-06 can be scaled up or down to reasonably hunt any big-game animal in North America, and it has a long tradition of suitability and dependability. Obviously, things in your camp might be different as far as calibers go. Ask around and see.

[TooTallTom]

Oh, and be sure to post up if you have any more questions. And tell us what you decided on, and why, and how you like it.

Thanks!

[brrrr]

for that price range I think you'll do ok. I love my T3, I'd consider a .308, start with the reduced recoil loads they will be fine for all the shooting in this state. nothing wrong with a.243 either great round. I'd alos consider the Mossberg 100ATR for a rifle, not very expensive but durable, put a good scope on you'll have a great gun for along time.

[knowsnothing]

If you have a chance I would try to go out and shoot as many different guns as possible. Buddies, relatives, whatever. I own a few guns and I always go to my Ruger M77 in 30.06. It feels like an extended part of my body. You may also want to consider if deer is all you will shoot as well. Make a choice that also lets you afford quality optics. Something that is reliable and not fogging up when you get excited in the field. Yes, it happened to me with my first scope. Good luck and welcome to the addiction!!

[picksbigwagon]

I will second the savage line of rifles. Make sure you try, or at least hold different rifles to see which one feels the best. Remember that you will not be in a T-shirt so grab a hunting coat from the rack and "borrow" it while you are looking at the rifles.

I own two savages with the accutrigger and they both shoot better than I ever could, one is a 243 and the other is a 17hnmr. I can hit the primer of a bullet at 50 yards with the 17hmr thanks to the rifle and more importantly the accutrigger.... my suggestion for calibers would be 243 or 308......either one will take a deer with out a lot of noticeable recoil.....

[Boar]

Im looking a 7mm08 in a remington or a marlin for my daughter whos 13 also. Savage makes a nice one alos. Nice thing is the its the same parent case as a 243, an if she wants to pursue bigger game later in life as she growes. So with a 7mm08 she can start now with a 120 grain for deer with recoil of a 243, an move all the way up to 175 for bigger game, like bear with her old man. I shoot a 150 grain interbond, an dose a nice job anchoring bear. Later baor

[PerchJerker]

Another vote for the 7mm-08. My wife has one and it is an excellent caliber for whitetails with not a lot of recoil. Think it is a Weatherby Mark IV - synthetic and very nice IMO.

[mrklean]

both great guns i have a 700 right now and my next one is gonna be a T3

[Boar]

Now what ever ya buy, do not skimp on optics. My 2 cents on qaulity optics at an good price, not to be confused with a bargan price, is a Leupold 3x9 Veri-X II i bought my stainles synthectic 30-06 17 yrs ago, matched it with a silver matted Lueper, zeroed it in at a hundy, an have not touched it since, an thats after leaning up against the wall one time, (with bolt out) bad choice i know, it took a a direct hit on the scope as i watched in horror. Took it to the range an it did not move in the slightest. Forever a Leuper fan. boar

[nonteepical]

Save some money and get a 30-30

[mainbutter]

I'll have to give another vote for something from savage.

I have a 111 package in 300 win mag (not the most typical MN deer round, lol) and love it, and they have 111s in a number of configurations to suit your needs. I think the sale price during a fall sale at gander mountain was $399.

I am far from an accomplished marksman, but I seriously doubt that even for a few hundred bucks more that the average hunter would hunt "better" with any of the other guns in your price range. That's not to say that there aren't other equally good options, but a package from savage sure is popular for a reason.

[jay83196]

Lots of opinions out there, go hold some guns see how they feel, as far as the calibers go somewhat depends on what conditions you shoot a 30-30 isn't the best long distance caliber or versatile, while if you shoot short distance in the woods 30-06 could be overkill. 243, 308, 270 are all lower recoil and very versatile and get best of both worlds. You may never buy another gun and may want something that you can use years from now under different conditions. I agree with boar a good scopes makes a rifle especially during low light periods some good brands I would recommend nIkon, leaupold, zeIss (conquest). Maybe look into a good used gun if you can find the right one in good shape you will get more for your money.

Good luck have fun.

[surewood]

Savage 270. Affordale, accurate, durable. Good optics are a must.

[knowsnothing]

Picksbigwagon is 100% on with the jacket. It was not until I purchased my wife's 7mm08 that I realized how well a youth stock fit me with my hunting gear on. I took by Ruger and hunting jacket to the gunsmith and paid to have it custom fitted. I found before I was stretching my neck to see through the scope. I dont think you can go wrong with any gun in Minnesota. The nice thing about the 30.06 is ammo can be found at every gas station across the country and used on a lot of different big game. I dropped my last elk at 305 yards. Before my hunt I had called the guide hoping for some encouragement to purchase my dream gun, .338Edge. He said the common mistake people make is focusing too much on the gun and not the optics. I went and bought the Nikon Monarch 4-16 x 42 and love it. I dont think you can go wrong with any gun for Minnesota hunting.

[Boar]

Very good point with the fact that no matter what ya choose in any of the calibers listed above ya cant go wrong. Good luck, let us know what ya choose. Boar

[MOSSY]

I shoot a 7MM-08 and love it

[pooly_31]

Looks like i'm not the only one, when i was 13 my dad gave me the Savage 110 in .270 for my birthday. it's been a loonnngg time now but it's still my go to deer rifle. They still make it by the way, though it looks like it comes with a better scope these days. It's on their HSOforum, not sure on the linking rules but it's there under the "package series".

[nwhunter]

Go for a rifle that's comfortable, and then get the best optics you can afford. Most rifles will take down a deer with a well placed shot with no issues, but you're limiting further hunting opportunities by choosing a lower caliber. Just my 2 cents...

[luckydog25]

Take a look at the Thompson Center Venture. Lifetime warranty, guaranteed within an inch at 100yds, adjustable trigger, synthetic stock, all for about $450. You can get it in a ton of different calibers. I bought one last year and love it. It is nice and light also. I was goona buy a T3, but wasn't goona have enough cash to buy a good scope. So far I have no complaints. I put a nikon monarch 3.5 x 10 and feel like I could hunt anything, I bought the 30-06. Also, I am a shorter guy 5'9" and it fits me like a glove.