Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Suggestions for sub-$500 rifle for elk

Lots of great suggestions here, but haven't seen any yet for a lefty... I'm thinking you'll have to look around for a used LH rifle, not too sure if anyone makes one for under $500...

Lotsa folks choose the Vanny .... how many of you are LH shooters using Weatherby's RH stocks?? The perspective shooter is a lefty.

Have him look at the Ruger Hawkeyes. MSRP is around $800 but if you shop around you can find them for considerably less. Should be real close to your goal.

Left Handed Rugers

How is his recoil tolerance? If it is minimal I would suggest the .270 or '06. If he can handle recoil well I would definitely recommend the .300 Win Mag.

As of right now Gunbroker.com has several left handed Rugers in the $499-$599 range. So when he gets ready to pull the trigger on this deal he won't have trouble finding something.

Get a Marlin XL-7 in 30-06, load it with good 180 grain bullets, put a Nixon or Weaver 40/44 scope on it and you'll be headed for the woods for $500 or so.

The guns are downright scary accurate and only cost $280-$320 brand new. The XL-7 has been named best buy by Outdoor life, and consistantly gets rave reviews in all the magazines. It comes in Walnut, black Synthetic, or camo. At 6.5pounds with a 22" barrel it is light enough to carry all day in the mountains and still make the 400 yd shot when needed.

for a new rifle, you just can't beat the marlin xl-7's in my opinion as well. I would stay away from the magnum's or weatherby mags as the recoil may be too much for the guy and the ammo will be 50$ a box.

The Marlin XL7 also comes in a Laminated stock.

tikka in 06'..........

woofer

plus the marlin in any cal, money for a great scope, and ammo to boot can't be beat

From one lefty to another...
Savage has the most variety I found in LH, Browning and Remington next. I had not seen the Marlin in LH. Don't think it is made, but not sure. Marlin uses many of the same ideas as the Savage and I will say my out of the box Savage is very nearly a one hole gun...Accutrigger is very good. You never will find a 798 in LH if I got my Remington info right...they don't and won't have them made. So they say. Too bad, mauser feed bolt design...

A .270 or an '06 would work for all of those with premium bullets...in most places. But what fun is there in that... But if you want a magnum...lots of bang and smoke and recoil... :-)

It's not for everyone, but if you search Gunbroker.com for "LH" you will find a fair number of new and used. Looking for a .300 WSM LH, I found a Rem 700 BDL, new in box, but old stock, Left Hand in 3 different calibers (300RUM,338RUM and 375RUM) for about $520+ shipping. From one vendor. Take your choice. Like I said, not for everyone but I bought some dies and I reload for the 300RUM I picked up. I am happy with it, and from what I've read it will fit the bill for the game list you mention quite well. With "power level" ammo it's a 30-06, 300WM and 300RUM to match up with what you need it to do. Good luck, what ever your friend selects - I had also looked at a Tikka LH in 300WM but for a few dollars more, also on GunBroker.

Looking at this one right now..but I haven't figured out why I "need it" yet... M77Hawkeye 300WM LH: http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=147839255 less than $600...

Bargain Glass is another story, you can go crazy trying to evaluate scopes. "The one that I own now" is generally the best one in everyone's opinion. Who the heck knows? I haven't owned them all so I can't say. BUT I can say I've owned VX-I and VX-III from Leupold, and they are all good, but the 3's are better than the 1's, as price might suggest. I'd shoot either without qualms. But, I'm taking the 3's to Africa! I tried a Nikon Buckmaster and Monarch and didn't appreciate it as much as the Leupy VX-I and VX-III, but my buddy was thinking the other way. I say we're both right. Price probably makes the decision more often than we admit. Some new companies out there may have good glass coming out, CAD/CAM making scopes a whole lot better!

Anyway, good luck!

Weatherby in 300 all the way. No close second in this price range. One of the easiest questions asked here in a long while.

Not available in lefty but I recommend the TC Venture.If he has to shoot a right handed gun. This gun was mentioned earlier. Why it doesn't get more love I don't know:) I have one in 270 that consistently shoots under.5.with handloads and still under an inch with federal fusion 130 grain. comes with a 1 moa guarantee.

Chambered in 270/3006/7mm and 300 mag.

I got mine for 429.00 plus tax.

Shoots as well or better then my TC Icon in 308. I hope they come out with a short action next year.

Bill/WI

For modest cost but useful scopes, I think it is hard to beat the Burris Fullfields. Used they can be had for about $125-150 pretty often. I like them better than Loopy VX-1's and 2's. Weaver Grand slams are rugged and decent as well. Avoid most Bushnells, Tasco's and for heavens sake don't go near a BSA.

Used Redfields come up for sale here often and are sometimes a good bargain. Avoid the Tracker series there.

I have not tried one yet, but I like what I have read about Vortex scopes, especially the way the erector assembly is put together. Should be pretty rugged and repeatable. My Vortex Razor bino's were top drawer optics.

Generally, if you need to keep the cost of the rifle below $500, $60 to $70 a box for ammo isn't in the cards.

shinbone,

Since I came in late, I did not read the thread yet. But being the self absorded person I am, I will jump right in as though I know something the others don't.

You can get a Weatherby Vanguard from Wallmart for $399. A .300 Win Mag might be a better choice due to ammo availabilty.

You didn't ask, but I put a Tasco 4-16 on my .375-.416 Rem and .340 and 7 Mag. None have failed. In fact the .340 and the .375-.416 went to Alaska for a three week moose and cariboo hunt. The Tascos run less than $90. In fact you might be able to get some Burris Signature rings and still come in about $525.