Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Rifle for the one gun hunter

I have a friend that's going to buy a gun and it'll be his only gun for big game hunting. He has already decided on the caliber, 270 Winchester. I recommended the Kimber Montana. However, he is on a very tight budget.

I've also recommended for him to get a lightweight rifle. The other day I let him hold one of my heavy guns. After a couple of minutes I gave him one of my ultralights. He could immediately tell the difference in weight. I also recommended a synthetic stock.

So my question is what rifle would you recommend?

You stated he was light in the budget department.

How light? Savage Axis light ? Ruger American light ?, Remington 700 light ?

What is his budget including glass?

$500 ?
$1000 ?

That would make a great deal of difference.... Just sayin

His budget is more of a $500 range.

That makes it pretty slim pickins.

Unless you can find a great used rifle that has glass already, you're looking at the entry level rifles such as Savage, Marlin, and Ruger. Nothing wrong with them. They harvest lot's of critters every year.

If it were me, I'd look for a good used Remington 700, or Ruger M77. There are others out there as well. A friend recently found an old FN Mauser action JC Higgins at a pawn shop for $300.

He does not hand load, and has only tried factory loads. Some were sub moa, most were right at 1" or 1.25". Pretty good shooter for $300 including the scope.

This is just my opinion, and there are MANY of them here on the fire. Good luck to you and your friend.

I agree with Owl and would add a push feed Win 70 to the used gun list.

A Leupold 6X36 can be found used in the $150 range to put on it.

Should be able to bring this combo in around $600. Certainly could around here.

Good luck and keep us informed.

I will add the $500 is for the rifle only as far as the scope. That is a completely separate issue. I am going to loan him one of my Leupolds. I also told him about the TS gun show which is about an hour away. However, it's only near us twice a year. We have agreed to go to the next gun show, which will be there in about five months.

What about a Tikka T3
http://www.eurooptic.com/tikka-t3-hunter-270-win-jrta318-with-rings.aspx

That Tikka is a great gun for the price.

Cabelas has Savage 16 LWH on sale forv$499.

I'll bet many of us started off in a similar situation as your friend.
Funny how many years and many guns later that first gun becomes one of the special ones.
I'd add the Weatherby Vanguard to the list.

Marlin XL7 or Ruger American would easily fit that bill, and still leave room for a good scope before reaching $500. I've owned both, and they shot extremely well.

Here's one of the Marlins:












If used rifles can be considered, you'll have many, many more options.

FC

Vanguard or Howa. The savages shoot but I hate the saftey

Tikka T3. Anything else in that price range is comparatively junk. If you must, Vanguard, Howa, Ruger, Savage, Marlin

Suggest that he slow down, hold off a bit, and look.

One gun, to keep and use a good while, may better be found, by not quickly spending $500 you have now. Even if saving a few additional dollars, here and there, while looking, you could increase the budget and add options.

New, or used, would never recommend a Kimber to anyone, who is not fully capable of going through the rifle. It is too big of a project in a box for someone looking for a turn key rifle.

Used, likely could find most anything for around $600. I've picked up new in the box M70s, for as little as $400, with less than a box off ammo through them, where the owner traded them back because of recoil. Usually a newbie with a plastic card burning a whole. Have no skill, and run back to the store after the 270, 06, 7mag, etc hurt.

Avoid the temptation of needing it now. Look and test for good fit in ergos. Give preference to solid manufacturer support.

Don't let him buy a package gun. The scopes in packages tend to be bottom of the barrel. He'd be a lot better off with a quality used scope.

Howdy Leonten:

Used can be a good deal at that price point, but often NOT in your neck of the woods- I am nearby and have noted high prices and lack of shops since moving here. I have helped several friends buy 1st/only big game rifles (mostly deer, maybe elk someday idea) in Recent years. Have recommended Tikka in 270 (great cartridge choice for this app and 1st time buyer despite valid 6.5 ballistic gack for the more experienced), but others are good. The gfot shop in Vacaville has at least 1 new Marlin xl7 for less than $400, may include a so-so scope, I'd suggest a low end leupold or Redfield 2x7 at your price point. PM me for other shopping ideas if you want.

$500 can be done. I've got that or maybe a little less in this Marlin XS7 stainless 7mm-08 I bought on closeout from Whitaker's. Gun was $275, used Nikon Monarch 3-9x40 was $150, used Talley lightweights were about $30. Even with FFL fees and a couple of bucks for a can of paint for the stock, still under $500. It weighs 7lbs 9oz as it sits.


It shoots like this with my handloads.

I agree on the synthetic stock, but I balk at the lightweight recommendation. A 270 doesn’t need to weigh 10 pounds, but I’d be careful about setting up a new hunter with a rifle that’s too light, mostly because they’re harder to shoot well under stress than something in the 8-pound range.

With that in mind, I’d take him to the range several times and let him shoot different rifles out to 2-300 yards. Once he learns the basics, run him through some timed drills, as in “You have 8 seconds to assume a solid position and hit a pie plate at 250 yards.” With a little of that under his belt, he’ll have a lot more insight into the question and will be able to make his own decision. Folks at 24hourcampfire love light rifles, but we’re pretty hardcore hunters and shooters and we know what we like, which isn’t always the best thing for someone new to the sport.


Okie John

This!

Light weight guns aren't the easiest thing to hit with if you don't know what you're doing.

Ruger American.

I've had Savages, those rub-board barrels would keep me from from another.

My first rifle was a sporterized Remington 1917 enfield. Paid $150 when I was 14. Was my only rifle till I was 24. From coyotes to elk. Still have it. Had it rebarreled to 300 H&H and reworked the stock and floorplate. You can still Buy them cheap

I have an American in 30-06 and a Savage mod. 11 in 300 WSM. The Savage is very accurate. The only place I can fault it is that it's hard to load. You really have to push hard to get the cartridges down in the mag. I wish it had a removable mag. It's kind of ugly but I couldn't care less. It's accuracy overshadows it's looks by far.

If he has $500

Tell him to save another hundred or two before he buys so he can buy a good/better mounts and glass

Great advice keep it coming.

He is a member of this site his name is Sena88. I will refer him to this thread.

I know that this does not work in Kalifornia...

But, maybe a trip over the hill to Reno or someplace

Does not get much cheaper that this

http://phoenix.backpage.com/SportsEquipForSale/330-remington-700/45527080

Since "he is on a very tight budget" maybe he could try out a few friends guns before spending his money on something that may or may not work out for him? Most guys I know would like to show off their shootin' irons. Nothing like hands-on experience.

He's been hunting with my Remington 700 ADL in 270 Winchester. But here in (commi) California, they just passed a law that won't let him borrow my gun. Now I can only loan my guns to family members.

I would see if I could find him a Colt Light Rifle. I have seen several that sell in the $500-600 range. Probably be about the best "cheap" lighter weight rifle you can find for the money. And as he gets the funds, he can have Melvin rebuild it to make it a more honest lightweight if that is what he is after.

My $0.02

I knew they were going after ammo purchases, but this I hadn't heard about.

Tikka t3

If I had to do it all over again I would save a few more bucks and buy either a M70 or a M700 as my first gun. Synthetic stock ,stainless. Buy a used Leupold on the fire. That way after you spend 20k on your next ten rifles over the next ten years that dont satisfy you can sell them and buy a mcmillan edge for your original rifle and hunt happily ever after.

Thanks for posting leonten. I'm the friend he was talking about. I'm honestly thinking about maybe getting a savage my uncle has one and he said it's a great gun for the price. I think it feels pretty nice. Either that or the Ruger American.

Buy a Savage, great gun for the money. Savage Hog Hunters go for 375.00

I haven't looked at the current Savage rifles but when I got my model 11 12 or 13 years ago, they didn't have butt pads. With a 300 WSM, you'd definitely notice the recoil. It had a synthetic stock and I installed a pad myself. The stock was hollow so I cut a 3/4" thick plug, sanded it to fit, and epoxied it inside the stock about 1/4" below the surface. Then I filled the gap with more epoxy and sanded it flush. That gave me a good solid surface to screw a pad to.

First choice, quick and easy and within his price, would be a low priced Savage. I have a Savage 111 package rifle I bought used for about $250, threw away the original scope, put a Leupold on it and it shoots hunting hand-loads within MOA. It has killed a few tons of game from moose to tiny island blacktail deer. The plastic stock was uncomfortable in my hand due to tiny extrusions from the seams of the mold, so on my first caribou hunt with it I kept paring off the rough spots with my knife until it feels very smooth and good in my hand. I like the detachable magazine.

My personal first choice would be a Tikka. I'd save up for a T3 Lite in stainless synthetic. My sons and grandsons now own five or six of them and they are simply the smoothest handiest good shooting non-custom rifle I know of that has no need of aftermarket enhancements.

By way of reference, I've owned and hunted with a couple of custom rifles, three Remington 700's, a Remington 600, 788, Mauser, and a few others. The low priced Savage bolts work well and the Tikka is sweeeet.

Would be hard to beat that combo for the cost.

DF

Little heavier, but it will be easier to shoot and for someone shooting factory ammo the round it hard to beat:

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/11827321

That's a good deal and an excellent package for the one gun hunter chambered in .308 Win. Only con I see is probably have to replace the 30 mm scope rings for 1" instead. Not a big deal. If it were a left hand bolt, I'd be tempted.

Cut the link beyong the big number and it lights up, works with a click.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/11827321

DF

Corrected for DF, thanks.

For a lower cost but quality scope, look at Leupold's VX-1 or VX-2. They still have the lifetime warranty but not all the fancies of the higher priced scopes.
I had a VX-1 3-9x40 on my 30-06. However, my eyes aren't what they used to be so I sold that to a friend and got a VX-1 in 4-12x40. It's equally clear but just a bit more powerful for older eyes.

Leonten: I would seek out a great condition used Remington 700 in 270 Winchester.
They virtually always shoot great and are very dependable.
Best of luck to him and you on whichever you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

We're planning on going to the TS Gun Show in a couple of months.

I hate the whole damned thing. But they shoot!

Look for a good condition used rifle of most any brand. It will likely work well with a little tweaking. Or possibly without. Do NOT buy a Remington 788?? (I have one and can't even remember the designation - probably some form of denial thing....) Walmart/Cabelas/ etc special package rifle. POS.

I have exactly one BG rifle that cost me- used- over $300 - and none over $400 - and I got that Ruger .338 with dies and various reload ammo. It just needed a little tweaking - trigger job and more importantly, glass-bedding and free-float. Terrible fore-end pressure!

With trigger jobs and glass-bedding (by myself), all of my rifles (M98, Ru77, Rem 700/725, Win '94) shoot 1.25 MOA for 3 shot groups. Or less- some far less.

Disregard the TC/BP Hawkin and Seneca- them things have a compromise 1/48 twist and will only shoot 6" group.... no matter what one does - goes to show you what compromises do. Why they still market 1/48 twists for BP rifles is beyond me.

Get a Ruger 77 MKII or Hawkeye. Or a used pushfeed Winchester 70 Black Shadow.

No way for a first rifle on the Kimber Montana.

I am pretty sure that this will be his first and last rifle for big game.

JMHO...but what's not to like about a Tikka T3 Hunter Grade if you can buy one for $500 or less? May not be a Stainless but it is by far the most complete of the so called budget guns being mentioned. Only thing I'd add to the NIB gun was if the shooter was recoil sensitive would be to add a Limbsaver. I do like the wood stocked Hunter Grade waay more better than the Lite's composite stock and answers the critics admonitions of the Lite stock lacking forend rigidity. Better rings would be the next upgrade....but the factory rings are not garbage either ... unless he wants to play musical chairs with constantly changing scopes. CLNY has Minox ZV3 3x9x40's right now startting at $100 bux and hard to beat at that price, with a no fault lifetime warranty.

Out of the 4 T3's I've owned none of them out of the box needed tuning to get to the guaranteed MOA with factory ammo. Does tuning increase the accuracy ... yes but in such small increments for the Return on Investment that I never bothered, concentrating instead on the differences in ammo that the gun liked or not. FWIW My handloads have always been able to reach MOA or sometimes substanially less, as long as I was doing my part.
Ron

Sena88 good luck on your rifle search. There's been a lot of good suggestions posted and with a little searching you should be able to find what you are looking for within your budget.

If I could give one bit of advice though, it would be don't get married to a caliber.

Probably most of us on this forum have bought a rifle because we got a deal, regardless of the caliber.

The .270 is a great caliber, for sure, and I have several of them but I wouldn't pass a deal on a rifle due to it not being a .270.
I would have no problem taking my 7mm, .30-06, .308 or any of the common calibers on a hunt that I'd take a .270 on.

Oh, and if I were looking for a budget rifle under $500 bucks, I'd buy a good used Ruger M77. Like everyone else here, that's just my opinion and you know what they say.

For an extra hundred or so he could get a Kimber Hunter.
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/622683815

It seems a few of my buddies are like that as well. This is what they usually end up buying:

1. Savage XP trophy hunter package rifle.
2. TC venture.
3. Stevens 200
4. Ruger American RAR....

One gun,sounds good in theory but,never works in the real world.

Get a 7 rem mag!

In all likelihood, there is a used Mauser out there that somebody had put a 270 barrel on. They are often found in used racks of larger stores and quite often n your price range with a good(or at least usable) scope. Keep your eyes open for the "Centurion" Mausers that Century Arms sold up into the 90s. They used Wilson barrels and M98 actions. Came in either Walnut or a Butler Creek synthetic. They regularly sell in the $300 range on GB.

Thanks for the info! Yea I'm not 100% locked into .270 if I see a good deal on a 30-06 or .308 i'll definetly take it!

Agree with this. Have a 30-06 sitting here and I'll take it over any of the new guns in the same price range. If it's something you have interest in, I could be talked out of it and might keep him on budget.

You can head to Walmart right now and pick up a new rem 700 in 308 for around $400. If he wants to upgrade with after market parts later there are many many options for the 700. I only mention the 308 because if he picks up a 270 he'll get picked on by all the kids at the playground 😜.

this

Most people I meet at the hunting campsite are shooting standard cartridges. 308, 30-30, 30/06, 243 & 270's. I'll be with Sena88 so I can make the defense of his choice of caliber. He may even be accused of being over guned!

Choose at random among those cartridges - he'll be more than fine. Even the rifle selection is largely immaterial, so long as it fits him well (and isn't a 710 or 770...).

The far bigger issue will be competent marksmanship from field shooting positions. If he'll commit to getting to the range regularly, and shooting from positions other than the bench, he'll do just fine come hunting season.

FC

I did a little field training with him. I had him take the kneeling position without any advice. I asked him to lean forward then lean back then lean to the right then lean to the left. Each time it was from him starting from his original position.

I then slid his left elbow inside of his left knee. Then I asked him to move forward...he said "I can't!"

I asked him to move side to side. He repeated "I can't."

It was an eye opening experience!

Get some kind of 7 mag

Those are way too heavy and he's primarily going to be a deer/pig/Black bear Hunter. No elk, moose, caribou or sheep. Or anything outside of California.

If he could afford to hunt in faraway places, then he'll be able to afford a different gun/caliber.

Especially when on a budget, avoid brand new, bottom of the line anything in favor of a quality, used rifle. Be patient and broad minded in terms of what would fit the bill. But stick with quality way over the cheapest of the cheap stuff.

That is my Philosophy also. I have learned that being cheap costs more. I would rather not have something and wait for a better product than to just buy something to get by. All of my reloading equipment is RCBS. A little pricey but in the long run cheaper. It's the same with anything I buy for the outdoors. That is just one example I have many many more.

Get a .300 Whelen.

I was going to have my 30-06 made into one of those.....

I would agree with you on the tikkas, ive owned nothing but savages but the tikka is SMOOTH when I handled one up at my local BPS and made me want to sell my savages lol.

He could always find a good used Tikka and have money left for a scope

Couple of months from now we are going to a TS gun show. At the show he'll have plenty of choices.

He'll pass up a lot of good, used rifles, here and on gunbroker, before that show.

Don't over look the 7mm-08, great round,low recoil and I have killed a lot of deer with that round

The 6.5 Creedmoor is where it's at. Or at least that is what my son is constantly telling me. He's frustrated that I haven't sprung for one so he told me he is buying me one. I no longer have a choice in the matter.

Mauser 98 in .30-06

Second choice would be a Ruger 77.

I have both.

And a few others/ calibers and brands....

1 rifle, a .30/06
2 rifles, add a .458.

Its that easy.
John

New hunter, one gun for hunting.
Lots of good ideas stated here, for that one gun in the $500 range.
With new hunters, the enthusiasm after a couple years may wane, you never know. He may not stick with it.
Seems better to get a moderately priced, but good, shooting rifle. If he really wants a .270, seems that 270 has a little more "snappy" recoil than the 30-06, for some reason, from my experience. It would be better to get a rifle in that caliber, with a little weight on it, not a lightweight rifle. I realize though, that recoil, for many is a subjective thing.
But, its not rocket science, in any event.

Not to mention the heavy bolt lift....

Get a Savage 99F lightweight, either in 243, 300 Savage, or 308. He'll probably never want for a different rifle.

This custom 7mm-08 fit the budget

Mine... .30-06.

My son's...7mm-08.

I see used Savage (non-Axis) rifles at gun shows for cheap.. Bought a .243 FXP3 for $295 out the door and it is a one-holer.

Not a big fan of the Hogue stocks but for $439 and a hankering for a .270 this Ruger Hawkeye would be top of the list:

https://www.cdnnsports.com/270-hm77rgh-22-mat-grn-hogue.html?___SID=U

CDNN also has the All-Weather for $549.
https://www.cdnnsports.com/rugerr-m77r-hawkeyer-270-all-weather.html?___SID=U

I have the opposite opinion of some of the "old standard rifles with tweaking and love" crowd. We live in the golden age of affordable functional and accurate rifles. The cheap Remington is a huge POS, the Axis rifles shoot but are a little rough and need tweaking but in order of preference with these rifles in 270 you are good to go for the next 25 years as a one gun hunter with a $500 budget.

Tikka T3
Weatherby Vanguard
Howa 1500
TC Venture
Ruger American Rifle
Savage 110 series
Remington 700

I believe all but the Remington have an accuracy guarantee so if you get a lemon you aren't stuck with it. The Massberg and budget Browning and Winchester may be fine but I don't have any experience with them.

Buy a set of Talley lightweight mounts and choose from the Burris FF2, Leupold VX2, Meopta Meopro or Zeiss Conquest or experiment with one of the new companies 3-9x 40 offerings and hit the range then the woods.

I have used a Tikka T3 Lite in .270 with a Sightron Big Sky II 3x9 scope for several years it is an awesome rifle

CDNN has a Ruger M77 Hawkeye in 270 for under $500. I have two M77's and both both are very durable rifles with good accuracy. My M77 358 Win is probably my favorite rifle that I own and I have several.

I would suggest the following:


Tikka T3 Lite
SWFA fixed 6X
Talley lightweight rings.

Leon -

Does your friend use a a pump shotgun? If he's used to a pump shotgun he might like a Rem 760 or 7600 pump rifle.

NO magnums but 06, 308, 270, 243 are common, especially at gun shows.

Jerry

He has a semi-auto shotgun. 12 gauge with a 3 1/2" chamber. But he wants a bolt action rifle.

$439

That's dandy. I like and use both BA and pump rifles. I use BA much more than the pumps.

Jerry

How about going used?

My first rifle was a used remington 700ADL in 270. IT was super basic, blind magazine, iron sights. I got it with a low end bushnell fixed power scope for 150.00.

I used that gun exclusively for half a dozen elk down (I was living in New Mexico at the time), a few antelope and also a few Audads.

That gun was incredible accurate and the scope never lost its zero. Its not the lightest rifle but It came out before Remington started having so many troubles.

I actually got it off a friend of a friend who had used it for an elk hunt and didnt plan on going again. I got the rifle, scope, sling, a hard case and 16 rounds of 130g silver tips for 150.00.

If you look around long enough you may be able to find a similar deal. Hell, if I was back in New Mexico, Im sure I could find something in my safe that I could letgo for under 500 bucks that would get your friend well on the way.

If it were me, Id be looking at:
-tikka
-weatherby vanguard
-ruger american
-remington 700sps (a few hundered more would get a bdl)


Im not a savage fan, not at all. I dont like them and they dont do anything for me. Ill likely never own one.

Lots of good advice above. Living in Commie New Jersey, almost as bad as Commie-Fornia, gun shops are getting to be rare. I end up going to NY or PA for deals on rifles. The bottom line is finding deals in gun shops or pawn shops in California probably won't be easy.

Regarding choice of rifles, I go with Tikka. I have owned many Remington 700s, some 7s, 600s, and a 660. Many of them shoot, and there are scads of aftermarket parts for them. That's fine if you're a amateur gunsmith, but if you just want to go shooting and hunting, no so good.

I have owned three Savages, and they shot from OK to not so hot. I have rebarreled two of them and sold the third. I replaced the triggers with aftermarket triggers. My friend's Weatherby Vanguard shoots great, but so do my Tikkas, and I have four in three different models in four calibers. All the Tikkas need is a trigger adjustment. I can't speak for the Ruger American or Mossberg.

I'd go with a good used Rem 700. I like early 700's, but they don't have glass stocks. If the guy were to use iron sights only, a Ruger 77 stock works well. There stocks are not designed for scopes, their comb is too low, however a 270 is such a light kicker he maynot notice.
I don't care for Savages. From what I've seen there's a lot of issues with feeding.
A Tikka is OK too, not as good as a 700, IMHO.
Finally, a Winchester 70 is also a good choice as is a CZ.

+ 1

Tag.

I wish this would go away. I get a sinking feeling every time I see it.

Since your friend already chose his caliber I won't make a recommendation. I have never used a .270 personally but have no issues with it and if that's what he wants then who am I to say otherwise.

As far as rifles, a used or on sale Tikka would be a great choice for around $500 or my local Wal Mart has Remington 700 package with a synthetic stock and crappy scope for $399. I would get that and sell the scope to someone for 20 bucks and get away from it. Put your Leupold on it and send him to the woods. You can't get a Remington action for that price.

I have a buddy who bought one of the Wal Mart Remingtons in 7mm mag and it shoots better than any rifle I own, and I own a few. I keep trying to get it from him but he won't sell.

Just my opinions but there are tons of good ones above mine.

One rifle for all around hunting depends on the type of game one hunts. Your friend can buy a second hand .270, buy don't skimp on scope. In the long run it is best to spend a little cash for a good quality scope instead of wasting money on cheap ones.

For me the .338WM is it in Alaska. My favorite at the moment is a .338WM Hawkeye, the safari or African version that has a 22' barrel.

IMHO

Avoid the bargain part of the lines, Axis, American etc. Too many good deals on the top of the line stuff.

If your Walmart has the 700 SPS for $400 then buy it. Mine doesn't.

Otherwise find a deal on a leftover Tikka t3 if you can, if not a Howa for $350 or the CDNN Rugers are great places to start.

.270 is perfect, especially in a lighter synthetic stocked rifle.