Good Beginner Gun! Please Look

[matt_3479]

My younger brother has been hunting for about 4 years now with my old man and myself and he wants to go out and get a rifle. He is in the midst of getting his licence so we are reasching now before we go out to get one. He was given an old 30-06 which neither me or him like (Remington 742 Woodsmaster) which he will be selling to help fund for the new rifle. He is looking for a cheap gun that will shoot. This season coming up looks as if we will be going to Montana for a possible elk, whitetail or mule deer hunt. Then finish off the season with a Northern Ontario Whitetail Hunt. This rifle will have to be able to harest all animals listed. This gun will also be needed to hunt coyotes. It will be a gun used often on coyotes, very often.

I was thinking of the 25-06 would be a good place to start. Where i live and will be coyote hunting, the law states that anything over .275 cal and bigger can not be used. So that limits us to a 6.5 cal and down. The 25-06 ammo around us is a little hard to find and drives will have to be 25 mins to get ammo which isn't the biggest deal cause i can reload for it but my brother is more intersted in factory. He wants something my hunting party/friends dont really own. He would like factory ammo not reloaded. something cheap but reliable.

what i came up with was the Savage Edge chambered in a 25-06. What is your opinions on this set up? any other suggestions?

 

[bates132]

If i was after a bolt action on a budget, i'd go straight for the T/C Venture. They now offer it in 25-06 .. And put a Nikon ProStaff of Buckmaster scope on it... Dont know if i'd chase an elk with a 25-06 though... just my 2cents

 

[Firecat]

if you are limited to a .257 or smaller than even the 6.5mm is off limits because it is a .264 caliber and therefore larger than the 25-06. Why will they not allow anything larger? Seems odd to me. I would agree with the above mentioned. I would not use a 25-06 on elk even though many have. That comes from one who owns a 25-06 and loves it. I would look into the venture as well or a stevens. I would steer clear of the edge or axis as it is now called.

 

[jharris308]

if you are limited to .275 or smaller, you have lots of options: the .270 family, .257, 25.06, etc. For a budget there are several options as well. Depends on what kind of budget. you can get a weatherby vanguard in .257 weatherby magnum for approx $400. You also have lots of options with Savage as mentioned above. I've read about, but not shot, the Marlin X7 and it has received some praise for a $400 gun. Good luck!

 

[RT2506]

Here is another vote for the T/C Venture in 25-06. It has a 24" barrel, adjustable trigger, bolt as slick as butter, pretty good composite stock and they flat out shoot. As for factory ammo when you put Elk in the mix he had better be a good shot and place the bullet in the heart and lungs and stay away from bone and use Federal Premium Vital-Shok Nosler 115 gr Partition ammo. You can order it from Midway. This is a great all round for everything bullet. If he is just going to shoot deer most of the 115 to 120 gr bullet loads will do just fine. The best killer for me on deer has been the 117 Sierra in my handloads. Federal loads this in their Premium Vital -Shok 117 Sierra GameKing SP BT and Midway list it also.

 

[BIG MO]

I would lean towards the .270 win or 270WSM, 110-130 grain loads for Yotes, 150 grain for big game. Overkill for yotes, but so are the .25 cals.

Lots of good choices for a $325-$400 rifle with reputation for tight groups- Weatherby Vangard, TC Venture, Marlin XL-7, Savage edge, would be my choices in that order. For a little more money the Tikka's are real tight shooters.

If you don't reload, stick with the 270win or 25-06.

 

[bates132]

If he cant use .275 or bigger.... wouldnt that knock out the WHOLE 270 family? .277??? But allow the 6.5 (264) since last time i checked.... is smaller than .275.... just sayin.............

 

[SBruce]

The 25-06 is a wonderful small bore cartridge. A little more than needed for coyotes, a little on the small side for elk, but a great "one rifle do it all caliber".

I wouldn't hesitate one bit to shoot an elk with mine. I've owned two and have taken too many deer and antelope over the last 20 years to even try to remember with them. Distances from 20 yds to around 550 yds. A good friend of mine shoot one also, he takes a fair number of deer every year with his too.

I would use a 110-120 grain "premium" type bullet for elk (Nosler Partition, Barnes TSX, Swift A-Frame, Nosler Accubond, Hornady GMX, ect.) and maybe limit shots to broadside and less than 400 yds if possible.

I've not had any problems taking deer with the 100grn Barnes TSX, 100grn Nosler BT's and 117 grn Sierra's. I used 85grn Nosler BT's for prarie dogs and coyotes.

The Hornady Superperformance with the 110 GMX may be worth a look.
I've had Hornady and Federal factory ammo shoot pretty good.

 

[roninflag]

on e gun for coyotes to elk. if you have the money to go on expensive hunts out of state then i would not scrimp on the rifle. 6.5 -284 savage 111, sendero in 25-06 or .264mag or get an sps varmint in or .243 and borrow an elk rifle if you go.

 

[matt_3479]

It is .275 and Larger.

which to my knowledge takes out the 270. family due to there bullets being .277. I am trying to call and figuring that one out and if so it will be a 270. wsm or winchester.

if not im stuck with 6.5 and smaller.

Whats so good about the Venture. I have heard a lot of mixed things on the vanguards as well.

 

[loaders_loft]

Take a hard look at the tikka t 3 lite in 25-06 for a low price and good value. For about 500 you get a nice 2-4 lb adjustable trigger, removable magazine, scope rings, very smooth action and it is light weight. The accuracy guarantee holds up, every one I have owned or shot had been a great shooter. Go to a gun shop that sells tikka and savage, and handle both, cycle the bolts, dry fire them, and I'm sure the choice will be easy.

Get yourself a nikon monarch scope, not a pro staff, and your good to go. If you don't want the tikka rings, get the deadnutz one piece mount.

Now all the savage guys can beat me up, but that is my recommendation for you.

 

[SBruce]

It is .275 and Larger.

which to my knowledge takes out the 270. family due to there bullets being .277. I am trying to call and figuring that one out and if so it will be a 270. wsm or winchester.

if not im stuck with 6.5 and smaller.

Whats so good about the Venture. I have heard a lot of mixed things on the vanguards as well.

The only readily available 6.5 factory ammo I am aware of is made for the 260 Remington, 6.5X55 or 264 Win Mag. The Ballistics of the 264 WinMag are pretty impressive, but factory ammo will be much easier to get in 25-06.

I don't know anything about the Venture, but I wouldn't hesitate to try a Sub Moa Weatherby (I believe it's a Vangaurd but not really sure). You can put a timney trigger in the Weatherby.

 

[bigngreen]

I think it would be interesting to grill the game warden on that 275 number, it seems that a guy could interpret that as a 270 is tops or 277 is no go by .003
Generally you think of the limits in 25 or 270 or 30 so I know I would want to get that nailed down. No worries about MT you can hunt with any cal!! If you can a 270 WSM would be top of the list!!!
If not the 25-06 will do just fine as long as you shoot the right bullet and put it in the right spot in a range that bullet will do it work, my dad took a nice cow elk this year with a 250-3000AI and it was just as dead just as fast as with a 338RUM!!

 

[bigngreen]

Go to a gun shop that sells tikka and savage, and handle both, cycle the bolts, dry fire them, and I'm sure the choice will be easy.

Now all the savage guys can beat me up, but that is my recommendation for you.

I've actually do that a couple times a month and have yet to get a Tikka, everyone raves about them so I feel I should give one a try but then I feel up a Savage and I just can't put it down!! One of these day's though a Tikka will jump in the truck without me seeing it