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Inexpensive Hunting Rifle?

Discussion in 'Guns & Hunting' started by handyman, Jan 30, 2022.

  1. Feb 2, 2022 at 5:28 AM
    #61
    Retired...finally

    Retired...finally Utilizing that doctorate of procrastinatory arts

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    I don't see how it couldn't be. I'm a big fan of the 308 and the 222. Both are easy to reload for accuracy and the selection of bullets is wide.
     
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  2. Feb 2, 2022 at 6:03 AM
    #62
    BlueCrushSC16

    BlueCrushSC16 New Member

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    .308 is my caliber of choice for hunting. An older Remington 700 was what I was initially looking for when I went to buy my hunting rifle, but ended up getting a Ruger Gunsite Scout instead. I just fell in love with the look and feel of it. With an added leather ching sling, the thing is a beast.
     
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  3. Feb 2, 2022 at 7:25 AM
    #63
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    For recoil I would suggest you check out Limbsaver recoil pads. Tamed a 338 Magnum to where I could shoot it all day long. Relatively sure it'll put a 308 (or any caliber) at a recoil level your shoulder can handle.

    A 270 would be a fine caliber as well. A little less recoil than the 308, but I don't know the ammo availability.
     
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  4. Feb 2, 2022 at 8:08 AM
    #64
    Terndrerrr

    Terndrerrr guzzling dealer repellent

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    I recently bought my first hunting rifle as well. I walked into Sportsman’s with every intention of buying a lightweight Tikka T3X, but I walked out with a Christensen Ridgeline. Put a 3.5-10x40mm Leupold on it, and it is a freaking laser beam. What a dream to shoot. Lightweight with minimal recoil. My only complaint is the extensive (this is an understatement) break-in procedure that Christensen requires for their rifles. I guess the other downside is the price of ammo as it is chambered in 6.5CM. I have spent the last few months watching ammoseek and local shelves, and I have a nice variety of 20-rd boxes that I got for $30 +/- a few bucks.

    I’ll take the controversy up a notch and say that 6.5CM is great for everything from coyote to elk. I wouldn’t attempt an ethical kill shot on an elk with just any 6.5CM round, though. But with something like the Nosler 140gr trophy grade partition? You bet. I’m hoping to lottery in for the chance.

    My next rifle will be in .308 though. For fun and SHTF.
     
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  5. Feb 2, 2022 at 10:13 AM
    #65
    timmyKGB

    timmyKGB New Member

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    Plus 308 doesn’t have tow hooks so there’s that…
     
  6. Feb 2, 2022 at 10:21 AM
    #66
    PermaFrostTRD

    PermaFrostTRD Tumescent Member

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  7. Feb 2, 2022 at 11:18 AM
    #67
    ColoradoTJ

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    Do you have a muzzle brake on that 338?
     
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  8. Feb 2, 2022 at 11:25 AM
    #68
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    It was a friend's. No break. Falling block 338 mag with a limbsaver and it was an absolute doll to shoot.
     
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  9. Feb 2, 2022 at 11:31 AM
    #69
    ColoradoTJ

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    A buddy had a weatherby 338 with a muzzle brake. Fine shooting rifle, but you didn’t want to be anywhere near that thing when it went off.
     
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  10. Feb 2, 2022 at 11:34 AM
    #70
    nobodyintexas

    nobodyintexas What?

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    Whatever this forum told me to do
    don't be the guy at the range with a muzzle brake.

    and I have yet to witness a soft shooting 338LM - it avg's 37lbs of recoil. same a a .375 H&H
     
  11. Feb 2, 2022 at 11:42 AM
    #71
    Coal Dragger

    Coal Dragger New Member

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    Speaking of muzzle brakes the OP could look for a rifle in his budget with a threaded muzzle. Go ahead and buy the .308, and order a muzzle brake. For range days and other practice install the brake, double up on hearing protection and shoot comfortably all day. Remove the brake for hunting, only shooting once isn’t going to wreck your shoulder.

    Then at some point, once budget allows since the muzzle is already threaded…. get a tax stamp for a quiet maker…
     
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  12. Feb 2, 2022 at 11:43 AM
    #72
    1794TX

    1794TX Should be taken in small doses

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    had a hunting buddy a while back that would carry his 300WM to the afternoon camp fire and fire it off without warning. the rest of the guys just wanted to sit around and chat, and he'd be chatting too; but he'd look through his (admittedly impressive) scope for ten minutes at a time in the middle of conversation. without warning he'd randomly shoot a tree or hay bale or something off in the distance. annoying as shit; plus I have tinnitus and a rifle report sends me off a cliff with it. not my hunting buddy anymore.
     
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  13. Feb 2, 2022 at 12:17 PM
    #73
    Fitzf15E

    Fitzf15E New Member

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    The muzzle brake vs not is a good debate. My two main hunting rifles are both fairly heavy hitters, a 7mm STW with a muzzle brake that brings the recoil down to about the level of a .270 and a 300 Rem Ultra Mag with no muzzle brake. Despite the recoil difference I prefer the 300 RUM any day of the week, I can't explain why, I just prefer shooting it. The long range shooting forums will say that the expectation of heavy recoil can make folks flinch, but so can the increased noise/muzzle blast associated with a muzzle brake.

    One thing I would caution against is making changes between what you do at the range and what you do in the field. A lot of this is rifle dependent. Some rifles shoot exactly the same whether they have a muzzle brake on them or not, others will wind up with a different point of impact when the brake is removed. Some cases may be due to different barrel harmonics or rise due to the weight change, or maybe the shooter flinches differently when reacting to the muzzle blast/noise versus the expectation of increased recoil. Either way, its something I'd want to check on the range first before heading out to the field.
     
    Retired...finally likes this.
  14. Feb 2, 2022 at 12:18 PM
    #74
    equin

    equin Texarican Tundra

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    I’m not an avid hunter nor am I great shot or firearms expert. But years before the pandemic I paid a little over $400 for a Savage “Trophy Hunter” XP bolt action that came with a decent Nikon scope. I’ve shot a few wild hogs with it here in East Texas, which is exactly what I wanted it for. Mine’s a .30-06 since, at the time, that caliber was relatively cheap and plentiful (I use Remington Core-Lokt 150 gr soft points for hogs). It does kick a bit, though. I don’t know how much they go for today, but if I were to shop for, I’d get it in .308 since that’s much more plentiful nowadays.
     
  15. Feb 2, 2022 at 12:21 PM
    #75
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    That 338 magnum I shot is not a Lapua, just to clarify. Never shot one of those.
     
  16. Feb 2, 2022 at 12:53 PM
    #76
    ColoradoTJ

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    He wouldn’t be my hunting buddy anymore either.

    That’s pretty much why I don’t hunt anymore. I was spoiled hunting in Montana with my Dad and family. I never realized people would use drugs or alcohol when hunting….but it happens more than you think.
     
  17. Feb 2, 2022 at 1:21 PM
    #77
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    That's why I quit hunting too. That and the absurd cost as more people with "eff you" money get into it and turn it trendy. Doing it to camping too.
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2022
    nobodyintexas, equin, 1794TX and 2 others like this.
  18. Feb 2, 2022 at 3:15 PM
    #78
    equin

    equin Texarican Tundra

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    Sad but true.
     
  19. Feb 3, 2022 at 5:23 PM
    #79
    Kayaking Tundra

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    I blame the wanna be hunters on the cable hunting shows, now its spilling over to other venues. I think we should hunt head hunters.
     
  20. Apr 9, 2022 at 12:32 AM
    #80
    Noeyes

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    I've always been a big fan of Savage. Not the best looking guns, but damn good get the job done rifles. Still like them but my new favorite is a howa lighting varmint edition in 308. Added a vortex crossfire 4x12 scope. Best money I've spent on a rifle in a long time.
     
  21. Feb 17, 2023 at 9:14 AM
    #81
    Bannerman

    Bannerman Tasteful Thickness

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    Take any deer with it yet? I just ordered a Ridgeline FFT Ti in 7mm PRC. Still trying to decide on optic but I'm thinking VX6 HD 3-18x44. I put in for the VA and KY elk draws and the Maine Moose lottery.
     
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  22. Feb 17, 2023 at 10:13 AM
    #82
    Terndrerrr

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    Several. Two bucks the season before last, which was my first time hunting. 1 8-pt buck and 3 does this last season.

    I re-sighted in the rifle at 100yd with 140gr BTHP Hornady mid-season. Ranged one of those does at 391 yd. Used the Hornady app to get my BC. Dialed my scope (Leupold 3.5-10 x 44). Dead center heart shot. If you dial it in and get your BC, it’s a laser beam.

    The one thing I’ll say about Christensen is that they have a ridiculously long break-in procedure for their rifles. I would recommend following it to a T.

    Good luck on your draws. I have applied in WY (general), NM (muzzleloader), and TN for the fall.
     
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  23. Feb 17, 2023 at 10:19 AM
    #83
    Bannerman

    Bannerman Tasteful Thickness

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    Wow, 391 yards is a hell of a shot, congrats. I've been hunting most of my adult life and haven't had opportunity to shoot at an animal that far.

    Break in is the one thing I'm not excited about. 60 rounds of 7mm PRC out of a sub-6 pound rifle. Might have to borrow a sled.
     
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  24. Feb 17, 2023 at 10:49 AM
    #84
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    Can't go wrong with a Henry .30-.30

    upload_2023-2-17_12-49-47.jpg

    When they're in stock....
     
  25. Feb 17, 2023 at 10:53 AM
    #85
    Coal Dragger

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    Always verify things at the range.

    Ammo used to throughly zero and develop a DOPE chart is time, and money well spent.

    I’ve played with muzzle brakes enough to be confident that most will not significantly change POI when taken on or off. That said the end goal is to suppress the rifle if legal in the OP’s AO, because that is a win for him and his hunting buddies, and anyone at the range next to him.
     
  26. Feb 17, 2023 at 11:52 AM
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    Terndrerrr

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    Thanks! Not many opportunities to take that shot east of the Mississippi. I lease from a farmer, and took a shot from one of my stands overlooking a giant crop field.

    I used a good leather bench rest for break-in and sight-in, but yeah a sled would make that process less unbearable.

    Enjoy your 7mm Christensen. I have zero complaints with mine. If I can find the time, I plan to build a 6.5 PRC for longer range shots. A buddy of mine who does competitive long-range shooting is telling me I need to build it in 6.5 SAUM. Lol.
    Agreed. Every deer I've taken including the longer shots like the one detailed above was with a muzzle brake.
     
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