Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles first hunting rifle

Sounds like a great choice. The .308 has less recoil and performs at almost the same level. I doubt any critter could tell the difference.

Year around we get more shooting at 'varmints' than in the annual big game hunt.

If it's your only centerfire rifle perhaps a compromise would be useful?

The 243 might be a good choice if you and yours there consider it adequate for 'big' game.

The Rem. is an entry level cheap design with a lack of 'machinery' to satisfy one who admires fine work.

Consider rifles by Winchester, Ruger CZ etc.

I disagree. Reminington 700 sps may be on the lower end of the 700 series but its still a fine rifle. I must admit I have never been down under but it seems like you are pointing in the right dirrection as far as caliber. .243, 25-06, 270, 7mm-08, or 308 should be given consideration. All are great "all-around calibers". Good luck...

The 30-06 is THE do everything caliber.With the Tikka you might as well get the 30-06 since they are all long actions.It will be a great accurate rifle with a nice trigger.

6.5 Swede in a T3, and then you can go light bullets like a 107 grainer for varmints, 120 grainers for deer, and 140 grainers for those 'huge' 330 pounders. If you ever get to shoot something the size of our moose, a 160 grainer, or a 140 TSX would bowl them over pretty good. No flies on the Swede.

But the T3 in a 30-06 would be just as good - a little heavy in the recoil dept for lots of varmint shooting, though.

My BIL called me a week before Christmas asking for a recommendation for a "deer rifle" for his grown son who has never shot a centerfire rifle. I recommended a 7mm-08. He looked around (St Louis area) and found one in a Rem 700 SPS DM for a decent price at a local Cabelas. I loaded him up some 120 gr Nosler BTs using 44 gr RL-15, sold him a spare Burris FullField II 3-9 scope I had, and he is now set up with a fine, low recoiling, flat shooting, deer slaying machine. He just doesn't know it yet.

Great choice; I am sure you'll be very pleased!

Check out this thread to get a better idea of just how good a choice you've made!

Be sure to report back on your kills... Paper AND flesh!

Blake,
for most of our Aussie game (goat, pig, roos under permit, and deer up to the size of red deer) the 243 Winchester firing a solid 100 grain bullet will do all that is required. I personally use the Barnes 80 gr TTSX (Vor Tx factory load) in my 243 and it has never missed a beat.
Regarding a make - you cant go past the Howa 1500 / Weatherby Vanguard S2 rifles - in my opinion they are superior to the Tikka T3 and around the same price now. Ruget also make a nice centrefire.
You mentioned you were looking at the 30-06 - nice calibre for the bigger deer and boars / buffalo - but remember - bullet placement is the key. Heck I even saw a mate shoot a cow elk with a 223 and 55 gr Barnes TTSX - thru the shoulders - dropped on the spot.

Cheers
Gus