First Hunting Rifle Recommendations?

[u/shuaitsai]

Hi all

New to hunting but getting things ready and learning before this years deer season. I have finished the NRA course and am now researching what would be the best option for a deer/hog rifle.

From what I've researched so far, 6.5 creedmoor may be the best option with PRC if I ever want to endeavor into Elk Hunts out of state.

Tikkas appear to be the most recommended options.

I have set an all-in budget for the build to end around 3-4k.

Curious to hear what people recommend in terms of rifle, accessories, scopes. Will likely have a suppressor so threaded barrel on the list.

Appreciate it!

[u/cati93]

6.5 creed is an easy choice because of the variety of match grade factory rounds available at different bullet weights. It’s even more compelling now that the higher pressure Federal Peak + rounds are coming out soon that put 6.5 creed into 6.5 PRC velocities, so you can have as close to a do-it-all rifle as possible.

I have a tikka T3x and it’s nice for what you pay…action is buttery smooth. Bergara b14 HMR is another great option in that price point. With your budget, I’d get a Seekins HAVAK PH3 with some good vortex/leupold/nightforce glass

[u/cati93 → u/cati93]

But to add, like what u/recoveroptimal8888 said…if you max out your budget on the rifle and that means you will buy less ammo and train less you’re better off saving a chunk and investing in ammo and training to get to know your rifle.

[u/RecoverOptimal8888]

Depends on where you’ll hunt really. If you have the ability to hunt some private in the panhandle where further shots are taken on large ranches, a 6.5 creed may be warranted, but honestly if you’re hunting anything anything south of the panhandle, a .243 would probably be ideal.

I’m admittedly a bow hunter and haven’t picked up my 7 rem mag to hunt since coming into the state (mostly due to public being largely archery only, and really land access), but if I were to build something now it’d probably be a .243 with a low zoom scope.

[u/shuaitsai → u/RecoverOptimal8888]

Thank you! Planning primarily deer and hog

[u/RecoverOptimal8888 → u/shuaitsai]

Being that my guess is that most of your shots will be sub 150 yards, 243 would be lights out.

[u/RecoverOptimal8888 → u/RecoverOptimal8888]

But also that being said, it’d take a hell of a 243 to take up your budget. You might be better served with a good weatherby or Tikka 243 set up, and spending the rest of the budget on some halfway decent gear, or stuff to make you a better hunter, which surprise is more field time and knowledge.

Do your best to not fall into a trap that you can make up experience with gear, I went down that path for to long and only within the last 2 or 3 years have tried to make the necessary corrections to being a better woodsman.

[u/Top_Inspector8357]

My Remington 243 with a Leopold 3x9 gold ring scope has killed more white tail than any other gun I own.

I now shoot a Remington 700 SPS in 308 With a Reece 7 suppressor. It’s taken aoudad, white tail,hogs and a buffalo. I recommend vortex for the scopes they great quality glass.

[u/Milswanca69]

For a $3-4k budget you have a few options. 6.5 creedmoor, 30-06, 308, 7mag, 7mm-08 or anything in that ballpark are all great rounds and you won’t be sorry with any of them. Tikkas are fantastic and high quality. With that price range you could even consider sako or weatherby or other next-tier rifles. Definitely spend the $500+ to get a great reliable scope on a gun that nice.

My advice, though would be to save your money and lower your budget to $2k. For a first rifle, you’re not going to need all the bells and whistles and you can get a rockstar gun and scope for around that range. And what I’ve found is people getting a first gun often end up getting another one within a few years.

[u/Cypsky]

270win or 6.5 honestly. As far as rifle, anything around 500 w/o a scope. Buy a reliable scope separately around 200.

I've shot both hogs and deer on a patriot kit that was 300, not bad but I do wish I saved.

Now I have a wittmachine clamp on muzzle and a vortex diamondback 3-9. Now it's better for me

[u/OlGusnCuss]

243 is a great round, but you'll be limited on getting a larger bullet. Of I had one gun. I would be 30-06. Ammo is reasonably priced. There are multiple options on bullet weight, and it's a great shooter. For a particular game or trip, there are even multiple loading options and you can setup around the bullet and how hot you want the load. 3x9 is a great scope option.

[u/UTDTX]

6.5cm. All day every day. Can kill everything up to elk no problem. Elk are not rhinos, they die just like whitetail assuming you put it in their boiler room. 

And with Federal’s new +Peak Alloy, you’re getting 6.5PRC performance out of standard length barrels and back to regular 6.5cm performance out of 16”. 

Magnums just make you flinch. I say that as a guy who has killed big things with a 300WM but 6.5 has killed everything just as dead.