Hunting Rifle advice/recommendations

[4given]

For new hunters I like to recommend this in 30-06. It can be had for ~$500 and comes with an okay 3-9x40 Nikon scope.

https://www.savagearms.com/content?p...ummary&s=19691

This is perfect. Spend the money you save on ammo for practice. Buy several boxes or Remington Core-Lokt 168 gr. Good quality, time proven hunting ammo. Will work just fine on both elk and deer. Comes on sale frequently for $15 A box and is available everywhere.

[OlongJohnson]

Howas can be found for mid-$400s pricing using gun.deals, either bare or in a package with Legacy Sports' house brand scopes. (I'd go bare.) The Hogue stock is at least as good as the lower-content Savage stocks and I like the Howa action a good deal better. It's just a smoother, nicer setup.

[Willard]

Not an endorsement of either of the two choices proffered by OP, so disregard if not helpful. In today's social climate, I would no longer buy a sporting rifle. I would only buy a multipurpose modern sporting rifle (likely semi-auto AR platform in 7.62 or other caliber). Mags of standard capacity and limited capacity as required by law for hunting. YMMV.

[donlapalma]

What's a good reticle for a beginner? Duplex?

[okie john]

What's a good reticle for a beginner? Duplex?

Yep. Don’t overthink it.


Okie John

[David S.]

Thoughts on the JP Sauer 100 rifles as a general purpose hunting rifle.

I have one or two sitting in a local Cabela’s. Its 6.5 Creedmoor and has synthetic desert tan camo stock, 18.5” threaded barrel.

Curious about:
6.5 in an 18” barrel?
60* bolt throw?
Any other considerations.

[TWR]

I have a Bergara SPR with an 18” barrel, factory ELD-M 140’s hit 2530ish but made it to 1000 just fine. My reloads are pushing the same bullets just over 2700 FPS. 18” is a good place to be.

Nothing wrong with a short bolt throw.

[David S.]

Both of those rifles are good choices. I’d also look at the Remington M-700, the Tikka T3x, the Winchester M-70, and the Ruger M-77 Hawkeye at a minimum.

Add a good 2.5-8 or 3-9 variable with an objective bell smaller than about 45mm in field-detachable mounts, zero it at 200 yards with the heaviest bullet that the chosen cartridge will move at 2,700 fps, and go forth.

I just got a good price on a preowned M-77 Hawkeye in 30-06, partly based on the above recommendation. Thoughts on the VX3i 2.5-8x36 scope for the general purpose rifle described above?

I'm used to looking at significantly more expensive optics for AR-15's.

[okie john]

I just got a good price on a preowned M-77 Hawkeye in 30-06, partly based on the above recommendation. Thoughts on the VX3i 2.5-8x36 scope for the general purpose rifle described above?

I'm used to looking at significantly more expensive optics for AR-15's.

You'd be hard pressed to find a more versatile optic for that rifle. Be sure to degrease the scope rings and use plenty of LocTite 243 on all of the screws.


Okie John

[OlongJohnson]

Thoughts on the VX3i 2.5-8x36 scope for the general purpose rifle described above?

I have two of the VX-3s in that spec.