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Hunting
The Basics, Starting Out
Top 5 hunting rifles at/under $1K
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<blockquote data-quote="rbTanzan" data-source="post: 1999735" data-attributes="member: 53978"><p>Many have suggested Tikka and they are an excellent rifle for out-of-the-box accuracy. But only one comment above (that I saw) mentioned barrel twist. A rifle is part of a package and the choice of cartridge and bullet will affect the rifle options.</p><p></p><p>For example, Tikka uses 11" twists in the 30-06, 308 and 300 mags. That is too slow for some of the modern bullets. The 162gn Absolute Hammer would work in an 11"-twist barrel, but nothing heavier. So if a person goes with a Tikka they should consider a caliber other than 30. Another sad note, Tikka has offered 338WM, a great elk round out to 500 yards. I've had two Tikka in 338WM. But they appear to have discontinued that offering. If you want a new rifle then you would be looking at something like a 270Win, 270WSM or 7mmRM. All excellent choices with good bullets out to 500 yards. My wife, all of 110lb, recently replaced her 270 with a Tikka 270Win. We had considered potentially rebarreling with an 8" or 7" twist, but the gun shoots so well right out of the box, that we have saved ourselves much time and money by leaving the rifle "as is." There are many great bullets that love her 10" twist. The 118gn HammerHunter and 129gnLRX are two examples and I would use either on an elk. Another sleeper bargin is Nikon glass. My wife has the Nikon P3 Shotgun 3-9 with 5in eye-relief, $200. It is the same scope that is on her 375Ruger. Leupold may do great service on repairs, but Nikons built for large caliber don't break (relatively speaking, nothing human is absolute).</p><p></p><p>Kimber have been mentioned. The Kimber Hunters retail for around $800 and are super lightweight. They "guarantee" <1MOA for three-shot groups. I have one Hunter and it meets its claim. In addition it is even lighter than the very light Tikkas. However, the Kimber barrel is quite thin and a person needs to let it cool for a third shot or more when testing for accuracy. Furthermore, the Kimber Hunter with 22" barrels are short action like 308 and 243. They make a 270 and 30-06 but the barrels are 24" and very thin.</p><p></p><p>If the original poster would like a 338 elk rifle, then the Rugers should also be considered. The Alaskan comes in 338 with a Hogue stock. The Guide-Gun model in 338 provides a laminate stock. Hawkeye Africans may still be available in 338. Another great option for elk is the 375Ruger, available in their FTW Hunter, Alaskan, African and Guide-gun models. Elmer Keith used to think the 375 to be an optimum elk rifle and I can't disagree although I prefer the 338s. The 375Ruger in a 20" barrel equals the 375H&H and slightly improves on the H&H when in 24" barrels.</p><p></p><p>Myself? I hope to hunt elk next year and am torn between taking our grandkids Kimber in 308 or my Ruger Hawkeye in 338. The 416Rigby CZ will stay at home because I don't want to carry the extra two pounds. The CZ is accurate, just heavy. The 338 would be shooting 225gnTTSXs at 2835fps or else an Absolute Hunter, should they become available and the rifle likes them.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="rbTanzan, post: 1999735, member: 53978"] Many have suggested Tikka and they are an excellent rifle for out-of-the-box accuracy. But only one comment above (that I saw) mentioned barrel twist. A rifle is part of a package and the choice of cartridge and bullet will affect the rifle options. For example, Tikka uses 11" twists in the 30-06, 308 and 300 mags. That is too slow for some of the modern bullets. The 162gn Absolute Hammer would work in an 11"-twist barrel, but nothing heavier. So if a person goes with a Tikka they should consider a caliber other than 30. Another sad note, Tikka has offered 338WM, a great elk round out to 500 yards. I've had two Tikka in 338WM. But they appear to have discontinued that offering. If you want a new rifle then you would be looking at something like a 270Win, 270WSM or 7mmRM. All excellent choices with good bullets out to 500 yards. My wife, all of 110lb, recently replaced her 270 with a Tikka 270Win. We had considered potentially rebarreling with an 8" or 7" twist, but the gun shoots so well right out of the box, that we have saved ourselves much time and money by leaving the rifle "as is." There are many great bullets that love her 10" twist. The 118gn HammerHunter and 129gnLRX are two examples and I would use either on an elk. Another sleeper bargin is Nikon glass. My wife has the Nikon P3 Shotgun 3-9 with 5in eye-relief, $200. It is the same scope that is on her 375Ruger. Leupold may do great service on repairs, but Nikons built for large caliber don't break (relatively speaking, nothing human is absolute). Kimber have been mentioned. The Kimber Hunters retail for around $800 and are super lightweight. They "guarantee" <1MOA for three-shot groups. I have one Hunter and it meets its claim. In addition it is even lighter than the very light Tikkas. However, the Kimber barrel is quite thin and a person needs to let it cool for a third shot or more when testing for accuracy. Furthermore, the Kimber Hunter with 22" barrels are short action like 308 and 243. They make a 270 and 30-06 but the barrels are 24" and very thin. If the original poster would like a 338 elk rifle, then the Rugers should also be considered. The Alaskan comes in 338 with a Hogue stock. The Guide-Gun model in 338 provides a laminate stock. Hawkeye Africans may still be available in 338. Another great option for elk is the 375Ruger, available in their FTW Hunter, Alaskan, African and Guide-gun models. Elmer Keith used to think the 375 to be an optimum elk rifle and I can't disagree although I prefer the 338s. The 375Ruger in a 20" barrel equals the 375H&H and slightly improves on the H&H when in 24" barrels. Myself? I hope to hunt elk next year and am torn between taking our grandkids Kimber in 308 or my Ruger Hawkeye in 338. The 416Rigby CZ will stay at home because I don't want to carry the extra two pounds. The CZ is accurate, just heavy. The 338 would be shooting 225gnTTSXs at 2835fps or else an Absolute Hunter, should they become available and the rifle likes them. [/QUOTE]
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Top 5 hunting rifles at/under $1K
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