Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Ok your buddy calls and says I want to buy a new rifle

Ok
I friend coworker called he duck hunts quite a bit deer hunts in Michigan
I helped him a bit in the past decide to buy a Ruger American 450BM
For straight wall areas here in MI that’s easy 70 % of people in the area use them
Going to hunt PA this fall wants a necked deer cartridge

He does not really follow current rifle trends
Just wants a tool to hunt
Looking for a good value in a gun and scope
Not looking for heirloom type rifle
Looking for guidance

I have made a few suggestions
Some I feel strongly about but not trying to let my idea dictate

What say you rifle, caliber and optics

Very curious
Hank

All he needs is a break over riflle with a el cheapo Otasco scope! It’ll rust in his closet!

Well I would start with his budget.

Marlin 336 in 30-30. Doesn't need to be a collector type. Ammo is easier to find than most and if he doesn't want it any longer, resale will be easy enough.
A decent fixed 4x should work well enough.

Good luck.

He'll quickly find out in PA that his 450 Bushmaster would've covered his needs

If the triggers were good, most shoot well enough. Put a good scope on it. Can't see can't shoot. Rifle part really doesn't have to be much for most uses.

Thats the flaw of the 30-30 too, heavy triggers.

Not sure what the mossberg or savage type group of rifles is these days but usually better triggers at least. Have shot stuff onto about 700 yards with a number of those cheap junk rifles...

If it was important I'd say Tika or bergara at the moment. Ruger American. I finally saw one that didn't shoot all that well the other day. Of course everyone knows I have personal issues with ruger but I think the American is probably a better version of the Rem 788 of years ago mostly.

I like short action guns. .260, .284, .308 etc... I would suggest any bolt action rifle that is pleasing to his eye that shoots a bullet 125 grains or bigger. Most shots in PA woods are 100 yards or less and deer aren't hard to kill.

Winchester, Remington, Ruger and even Savage all make rifles that fit the bill.

Easy. Something in .308 Win.

Triggers were mentioned Ironically he bought a Timney for the American and I stuck it in for him

Yup, always good to know what he wants to spend before you can help him spec out a purchase.

New or used?

Action type?

If he likes the RAR in 450BM, anothe RAR might be worth considering.

What does he want to kill with it, and with what bullet? Then add budget to the equation.

howa mini, 6.5 Gren

For woods hunting in PA a 6.5 or 7/08 of his choice or your recommendation of action type will cut a tag. I'm of the feeling a short action case more than suffices for woods hunting.

I live just North of the PA border so I hunt pretty close to where you're asking about. I'd say keep it simple. Tikka T3x in .308 with a Burris 3-9.

I won a Howa 270 with a scope in a raffle once.

I do all my hunting with it now.

I like Howa triggers.

This^^^

Great for Pennsylvania and anywhere else he wants to go. Tikka T3x is like the Glock of rifles. Can’t go wrong.

I'd say it better be chambered in .308 if he wants to buy any ammo for it any time soon..

Ruger American in any legal short action cartridge. I prefer 243 or 308 with 260 coming in a close third. For a scope take your pick

+1

availability will be the deciding factor...but it does look like some tikka rifles are available presently