Seeking advise

[chains1240]

Hello all and good day. I am looking to buy my own hunting rifle next year. Some of the things I am looking for is light recoil, readily available ammunition, and relatively inexpensive ammunition. This will be a whitetail only rifle. I have narrowed it down to .308 and .243. I was also leaning towards the Savage Stevens Model 200 but I think the safety on a Remington model 700 may be easier to use with gloves on (Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather SS is my first couce but at $900 is too much). I would like to hear some thoughts on this please.

[pkuptruck]

you picked 2 fine calibers...:grin:

of the two, only the 243 really defines your paramaters... the 308 is a fine rifle, and would do a great job... but you noted lightweight, and softer recoil.

the 308 can get you light...but the recoil is anything but light on a light 308..:shiner:

Of the two rifles, I would go with the Stevens/savage... or just the savage model, with accutrigger... still under your price point, leaving you MORE to spend on better optics! The Savage is without a doubt, the best shooting rifle out of the box.. not just my opinion, but the opinion shared by many ..
(google it and see! LOL)

Make sure you get an accutrigger model. Older model Savages, while still accurate, usually have the 243 in a LONG bolt pattern. Newer models have it in a more correct shorter throw pattern.

Good Luck! And enjoy!

[Shyster]

Personally, I would get the .308 hands down. With a .243 shot placement is much more critical and the rifle has limited use. A .308 is a lot more versatile and recoil is still manageable if you use low-recoil ammo.

No input on the rifle type.

[ro2]

my savages are some of the only rifles out of the box that I do not need the barell lapped or recrowned. Very accurate well made rifles in the "out of the box" condition.

[chains1240]

As far as needing to place the shot more accurately with the .243 I thought with the lower recoil I could practice more often. I am using my friend's 30-06 with 150 grain bullets right now and after a 17 round session at the gun club I was done. Got pretty sore. Around here KMart sells 308 in 150 and 180 grain rounds. Both at about $18 a box. Meijer sells .243 in 100 grain for $18 a box. I was thinking about the Nikon Monarch in 4-16X50 for a scope.

[Done Deal]

I'd go with the .308 and.....for practice...maybe consider a .22 rifle.

You didn't say what kind of practice you need but, most folks can become quite proficient with a .22 rimfire much easier than most centerfire calibers and cheaper too.

[Shyster]

DD is right about getting the .22 for practice. As far as the recoil invest in a quality recoil pad or even a recoil reduction system.

[Hawgrider]

Hello all and good day. I am looking to buy my own hunting rifle next year. Some of the things I am looking for is light recoil, readily available ammunition, and relatively inexpensive ammunition. This will be a whitetail only rifle. I have narrowed it down to .308 and .243. I was also leaning towards the Savage Stevens Model 200 but I think the safety on a Remington model 700 may be easier to use with gloves on (Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather SS is my first couce but at $900 is too much). I would like to hear some thoughts on this please.

Seems that these days everyone over looks Michigan's most used and favorite deer rifle.....
The Winchester pre 1964 model 94 30-30 Best dang deer rifle there is! Mine never let me down! Never lost a deer always very accurate to 150 or less yards. Recoil is fine. Its short. You can get ammo anywhere for it. Perfect in Michigan swamps. Its relatively light weight can be carried all day. Dont need no out west gun for Michigan. Most shots taken in this state are less than 100 yards......Oh boy here come the flamers ....lol

[chains1240]

I had a marlin 30-30 but like a dummy I sold it. It was great for the kind of hunting I was doing at the time. And I took my first deer this year with a Marlin .35. But the property I am hunting on now has long wide open fields. I own a 22 rimfire that I can keep using for practice. I believe you are correct about the recoil pad too. I have been looking into them for a .308 Thank you for the replies. I appreciate them.

[Hawgrider]

I had a marlin 30-30 but like a dummy I sold it. It was great for the kind of hunting I was doing at the time. And I took my first deer this year with a Marlin .35. But the property I am hunting on now has long wide open fields. I own a 22 rimfire that I can keep using for practice. I believe you are correct about the recoil pad too. I have been looking into them for a .308 Thank you for the replies. I appreciate them.Must be hunting some farm country private land ....yeah the 30-30 wont be the right rifle for you in that case.

[7.62 Nato]

As far as needing to place the shot more accurately with the .243 I thought with the lower recoil I could practice more often. I am using my friend's 30-06 with 150 grain bullets right now and after a 17 round session at the gun club I was done. Got pretty sore. Around here KMart sells 308 in 150 and 180 grain rounds. Both at about $18 a box. Meijer sells .243 in 100 grain for $18 a box. I was thinking about the Nikon Monarch in 4-16X50 for a scope.

You will find the 308 a lot more comfortable to shoot than the 30.06. I have, and shoot both 308 and 243. Ammo prices are comparable but I find the 308 slightly more available with more choices. The Savage, Winchester,and Remington rifles are all good choices. Buying previously owned could help you upgrade for the same money. I've heard the Nikon is a very good choice and had planned on looking at them myself.

Congratulations on getting your first deer, and your first rifle !

[chains1240]

We have a gun store with a really good selection of used rifles. I will definitely have to look at one, maybe save a hundred or two.

[dpgperftest]

m14/m1a :hide:

[chains1240]

m14/m1a :hide:
I always liked the M14. Truth be told if I had the money I would buy the Remington M25 or Armalite in .308 mmmmmmmmmm drool

[lechwe]

I would also go with the .308 or even a 7mm-08. Same cartridge just necked down and can still be used for larger game.

Also, you might find a good rifleman to help you with shooting form. A little advice on positioning and holding the rifle while firring will do wonders for making recoil easier to handle.

Good luck.

[garyjt]

Seems that these days everyone over looks Michigan's most used and favorite deer rifle.....The Winchester pre 1964 model 94 30-30 Best dang deer rifle there is! Mine never let me down! Never lost a deer always very accurate to 150 or less yards. Recoil is fine. Its short. You can get ammo anywhere for it. Perfect in Michigan swamps. Its relatively light weight can be carried all day. Dont need no out west gun for Michigan. Most shots taken in this state are less than 100 yards......Oh boy here come the flamers ....lol

I'd go with the .308 and.....for practice...maybe consider a .22 rifle.
You didn't say what kind of practice you need but, most folks can become quite proficient with a .22 rimfire much easier than most centerfire calibers and cheaper too.

Good idea about the 22, I would go with a cheap used post-1964 Winchester 30-30 for $200, a very good used .22 for practice, and you would have a lot of extra cash left over for extra ammo practice.

They literally made millions of the 30-30 and you can find 30-30 ammo anywhere.

A post-1964 Winchester 30-30 is a lot cheaper than the pre-1964 30-30 Winchester, and does the same job.

I myself have used the 30-30 and the 300 Savage more than anything else in the past 50 years. They work.

[chains1240]

I would also go with the .308 or even a 7mm-08. Same cartridge just necked down and can still be used for larger game.

Also, you might find a good rifleman to help you with shooting form. A little advice on positioning and holding the rifle while firring will do wonders for making recoil easier to handle.

Good luck.

Thank you for the advice. I have had a few months of rifle training but that was the 5.56 or .223. When I do decide on rifle/caliber I want to shoot at least 20 rounds a month at the gun club. Practice, practice, practice.....

[garyjt]

Thank you for the advice. I have had a few months of rifle training but that was the 5.56 or .223. When I do decide on rifle/caliber I want to shoot at least 20 rounds a month at the gun club. Practice, practice, practice.....

20? a month?

You are joking, right?

If you really want to shoot good, then be sure to get that .22!!!!!! so you can easily shoot a 1000 rounds in a day of plinking in the woods.

I usually shoot a 1000 a day ( 2 bricks) when I go out plinking with a 22 for a casual relaxing day out in the woods. I typically carry an old pre-safety Marlin 39( the kind that Annie Oakley used and works flawlessly) or maybe for a change a 50 year old Remington or Winchester slide action 22.

It really does not take very long to go thru a "brick" (500 rounds) when you are target shooting, just a few hours

Cheap too, a brick of .22's is less than 20 bucks.

After you get bored with the rifle because you can't miss anymore, even on moving targets, then you get yourself a 22 handgun.

[chains1240]

I own a Marlin 22 LR already. 20 rounds a month for now until more money comes in. Sure I would like to shoot off 100 rounds a weekend but even at $20 a box that is a lot of money. Unless of course I shoot the .22.