New Deer Hunter Needs Advice
Question:
> Heck, in these modern times, you might want to look for something like a > .308 NATO round. That would be very economical to shoot, and it is one > of the flattest cartridges around.
The sporterized version, .308 Win, is a top caliber but not as flat shooting as the 270 or 30-06. The version recommended here, 308 NATO, is the military one. Same case dimensions and totally interchangable with the 308 Win, but it has a FMJ bullet, known in the military as a ball round. The FMJ is one of the worst for big game. It doesn’t expand. It just goes on through and the chance of a wound in very high. Dick Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
> Handing it down to your son one day is a great idea. I now carry my dad’s > pre64 M70 in 30-06. Your son won’t care about the brand of rifle or scope. > It’s the memories it will bring to him of times spent with you, hunting, that > he will cherish! > —
Amen!!! I just passed the rifle, my dad passed to me, onto my son. I just hope he enjoys and loves that gun the way I do. Old custom made 30.06 with mertlewood stock, springfield action, ol Leupold scope. Dad had it made when he was 18, gave to me at 15, gave to my son at 15. So many great memories…… Jerry Love to Live….Live to Hunt > Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: > http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
I am a new whitetail hunter and need some help choosing a good gun/scope. I want an all around gun that I could shoot in light brush or open fields up to 250 yards. I would like to keep the budget around $1000.00. I want to buy a quality set-up that I can hand down to my son one day. I would also like the ability to hunt a variety of animals. I am looking at a Remington 700 BDL SS DM .30-06 with a Burris or Leupold 3X-9X-40mm scope. Would this be a pretty nice gun? Should I look at the Brownings or the Marlins? If I get a Remington, should I get the Sendero? Could I hunt other animals with it? What other kind of scopes should I consider? What other calibers should I consider, .243 or maybe 7mm mag? Like I said, I am new to this so pardon my ignorance on the subject and offer any help you can. Thanks in advance. James Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
: I am a new whitetail hunter and need some help choosing a good gun/scope. I : want an all around gun that I could shoot in light brush or open fields up : to 250 yards. I would like to keep the budget around $1000.00. I want to : buy a quality set-up that I can hand down to my son one day. I would also : like the ability to hunt a variety of animals. : I am looking at a Remington 700 BDL SS DM .30-06 with a Burris or Leupold : 3X-9X-40mm scope. : Would this be a pretty nice gun? Should I look at the Brownings or the : Marlins? If I get a Remington, should I get the Sendero? Could I hunt : other animals with it? What other kind of scopes should I consider? What : other calibers should I consider, .243 or maybe 7mm mag? : Like I said, I am new to this so pardon my ignorance on the subject and : offer any help you can. Thanks in advance. : James For a "first rifle" you picked the right one. You can’t beat a bolt action in .30-06 for all around huntind situations. It will take anything in North America. Burris and Leupold are both good scopes. From the recipient’s end of the balistic tables, the actual rifle firing the cartrige doesn’t matter much, the actual rifle is up to your preference. The .243 is light for big game like elk or moose, the 7mm Mag is a little big for smaller stuff like varmints. The .30-06 you can get ammo from 110Gr to 220Gr to handle almost anything you decide to go after. If you decide later that you need something specific for a particular type of game, the .30-06 will still be a great backup gun. I rarely (read never) go on a hunting trip with only one rifle. samg Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Would you really consider a 06 appropriate for Bear and Moose in AK? I always under the impression, my 7mm Mag is ok for the lower 48, except for a long shot on elk, then a .300 Win Mag. When in I lived in Alaska I always carried a .338 Win Mag, some guides require larger calibers. You are right about different rifles.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > : I am a new whitetail hunter and need some help choosing a good gun/scope. I > : want an all around gun that I could shoot in light brush or open fields up > : to 250 yards. I would like to keep the budget around $1000.00. I want to > : buy a quality set-up that I can hand down to my son one day. I would also > : like the ability to hunt a variety of animals. > : I am looking at a Remington 700 BDL SS DM .30-06 with a Burris or Leupold > : 3X-9X-40mm scope. > : Would this be a pretty nice gun? Should I look at the Brownings or the > : Marlins? If I get a Remington, should I get the Sendero? Could I hunt > : other animals with it? What other kind of scopes should I consider? What > : other calibers should I consider, .243 or maybe 7mm mag? > : Like I said, I am new to this so pardon my ignorance on the subject and > : offer any help you can. Thanks in advance. > : James > For a "first rifle" you picked the right one. You can’t beat a bolt action > in .30-06 for all around huntind situations. It will take anything in North > America. Burris and Leupold are both good scopes. From the recipient’s > end of the balistic tables, the actual rifle firing the cartrige doesn’t > matter much, the actual rifle is up to your preference. The .243 is light > for big game like elk or moose, the 7mm Mag is a little big for smaller > stuff like varmints. The .30-06 you can get ammo from 110Gr to 220Gr to > handle almost anything you decide to go after. If you decide later that > you need something specific for a particular type of game, the .30-06 > will still be a great backup gun. I rarely (read never) go on a hunting > trip with only one rifle. > samg > Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: > http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
>I am looking at a Remington 700 BDL SS DM .30-06 with a Burris or Leupold >3X-9X-40mm scope. >Would this be a pretty nice gun? Should I look at the Brownings or the >Marlins? If I get a Remington, should I get the Sendero? Could I hunt >other animals with it? What other kind of scopes should I consider? What >other calibers should I consider, .243 or maybe 7mm mag? >Like I said, I am new to this so pardon my ignorance on the subject and >offer any help you can. Thanks in advance. >James
The Remington in 30-06 is great. The calibre can take everything that walks or crawls on the North American continent (I own 2 BTW). It’s not the ideal cartridge, but it the right hands, lethal. If you’re considering using it for varmints (chucks, coyotes, etc.) consider buying a second scope & rings. 1 sighted in with your favorite deer load and the second sighted in with your favorite varmint load. If you don’t load your own, it’ll save you a bundle on ammo and hassle. And, if one day you buy a varmint rifle, you’ll already have a scope. Save yourself some money, though, unless you have your heart set on something in particular; Buy used. I picked up a good Winchester M70 in 30-06 several months ago for $300. Handing it down to your son one day is a great idea. I now carry my dad’s pre64 M70 in 30-06. Your son won’t care about the brand of rifle or scope. It’s the memories it will bring to him of times spent with you, hunting, that he will cherish! Good luck and good hunting Roy D. Sacramento Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
You picked a good setup. I would say that unless you plan on regularly hunting AK bears that could run up to 1200 lbs. get what you are looking at. Good choices for a newbie, you seem to have done some checking. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Just my opinion, but I prefer a .270 win. It is true you can probably walk into any store in the country and buy .30-06 ammunition, but .270 has been around for a long time and was developed based on the .30-06 except that it wasn’t designed for shooting at people. The .270 comes in a wide range of bullet weights for varmints all the way up to moose. I handload all of my cartridges. The .270 is flatter shooting than the .30. Heck, in these modern times, you might want to look for something like a .308 NATO round. That would be very economical to shoot, and it is one of the flattest cartridges around. Before you buy. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Sounds like you have a lot of good information coming your way. It will serve you well to listen to all and find the common recommendation – Quality. I personally have had the good fortune and opportunity to own and enjoy quite a selection of guns ranging from .22 through 45-70, from the old 32 spcl Winchester 94 to a custom chambered 50 caliber long range competition rifle, the but I find myself going back to my two favorites which are both 30 caliber. I have grown to love shooting the Weatherby Mark V in the 30-06 and 300 Wby belted Magnum caliber’s. Weatherby also manufactures a synthetic and stainless steel versions which vary in cost but all are built on the Mouser action. I can’t recall a hunt that either of those two rifles couldn’t handle. I hand load but both have enough off the shelf load combinations to suit most any big game hunting situations. As important as the rifle and loads, you will never regret quality optics, both scope and binoculars. I have found that if you can afford a quality Leupold 3-10 VX III you won’t ever blame your optics for anything. In fact quality optics really come into play when game usually presents itself, low light or foul weather. Quality Loupold optics (as well as Swaroski and top end Nikon) should be on the top of your list. I am confident that you can secure either combination for about $ 1,000.00 to 1,300.00 if you shop. If you are a member of the NAHC you can purchase them from fellow members at 5 % over cost at times. Good luck with your first rifle, and welcome to the world of Whitetail. Bob J. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
i like your choice in the Remington BDL SS DM…i also like the 3×9 40 Burris….spend the extra and get one with posi-lock. Bill http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/BILLNY/index.html Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I am a new whitetail hunter and need some help choosing a good gun/scope. I > want an all around gun that I could shoot in light brush or open fields up > to 250 yards. I would like to keep the budget around $1000.00. I want to > buy a quality set-up that I can hand down to my son one day. I would also > like the ability to hunt a variety of animals. > I am looking at a Remington 700 BDL SS DM .30-06 with a Burris or Leupold > 3X-9X-40mm scope. > Would this be a pretty nice gun? Should I look at the Brownings or the > Marlins? If I get a Remington, should I get the Sendero? Could I hunt > other animals with it? What other kind of scopes should I consider? What > other calibers should I consider, .243 or maybe 7mm mag? > Like I said, I am new to this so pardon my ignorance on the subject and > offer any help you can. Thanks in advance. > James
Well, for an ignorant dude you sure are making some good choices. :-) You’ve picked a setup which will be excellent, very flexible, very adequate. Go with GOOD mounts. I really, truly like Leupold’s dual dovetail mounts. I use medium rings with my scopes that have 40 mm objectives. Stay away from junk bases and rings. Unless you have an overriding need, stay away from detachable rings … weaver style, etc. With that out of the way, I’ll share some preferences I’ve developed. Take ‘em or leave ‘em, I sure don’t mean to say you’re wrong. 1) For "entry level" scopes … solid performers, good bang for your buck, balancing quality for $$, not top of the line but not cheap junk, I like the Leupold 3-9X, Nikon 3-9X, and Burris 3-9X in that order. If you want to spend less, hunt in the dry! If you want to spend more, the Leupold Vari X III in 2.5-8X and 3.5-10X are also great scopes. 2) I prefer ADL-style blind magazines on hunting rifles. I had a rifle which would spit out it’s detachable magazine every shot. I also had a rifle which right regularly popped the floorplate open and put my shells on the ground. I blind magazine can’t fail in either of these ways. 3) I don’t like the ‘06 cartridge; this is an emotional, irrational thing. My dad is an ‘06 bigot and for 36 years I’ve heard "anything but an ‘06 is a waste of money" ’til I’m ready to pound him flat. Grrr. I’m gonna buy a .270 just to piss him off. Or an ‘06 in a pistol. Or something. Did I say "grrrr" yet? Grrr … 4) If you go for elk later on, go with premium bullets. The ‘06 is not excessive; I may irk some folks, but I believe the ‘06 requires you to pass on shots I’d take with more substantial calibers (like .338!). It’ll work, used with circumspection, but it isn’t what I’d call fully adequate for taking whatever shot presents itself. For me that’s an issue ’cause elk season is short, I’ll be lucky to get one shot if any, and it really pisses me off to have to pass up my only opportunity ’cause I had an ‘06 instead of a .338. Good luck, good huntin’!! Tom Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
