How to Start?

snpotratz · September 16, 2009, 09:41 PM

Hey guys and gals,

I've been shooting handguns and tactical shotguns for over 10 years, but have never really shot rifles. Living in Montana, hunting is a big thing and something I would love to do. Any suggestions on a first rifle? I suppose the ultimate goal would be deer and elk (because they are rather tasty.) I'd appreciate any advice on getting started. Thanks for your time!

Swampghost · September 16, 2009, 09:50 PM

Can't go wrong with the ol' 30-06.

I have family outside of Billings.

ojibweindian · September 16, 2009, 10:11 PM

30-06 is never a bad choice.

fast-eddie · September 16, 2009, 10:35 PM

Get yourself a Marlin 336 30-30. Good for Deer and Elk, pretty cheap to shoot as well. It doesn't have a lot of recoil either. If you wanted something flatter shooting then go with a 308 win, Savage,Stevens, Ruger, remington and Howa all make some good bolt rifles with fair prices. I think a Marlin 336 30-30 with some Leverevo ammo would be perfect for your needs though to be honest.

hogdogs · September 16, 2009, 10:39 PM

First thing to do is take the state hunter safety course and buy your hunter orange gear and start scouting and learning the prey before you even worry about the rifle...

Once you own the rifle, shoot many hundred rounds learning all you can with the fundamentals...

Your hunting experiences will be much more enjoyable and memorable for all the right reasons...
Brent

FrontSight · September 16, 2009, 10:40 PM

Take a hunter safety education course given by your state game department would be my first suggestion...

And welcome to TFL and to hunting!

hogdogs · September 16, 2009, 10:43 PM

Hey scrap....

NAH-NAH-NA-NAH-NAH... Too slow!

Brent

Claven71 · September 16, 2009, 10:55 PM

30-06 is hard to beat, and will take down about anything in the Lower 48.

taylorce1 · September 17, 2009, 05:49 AM

I agree take a hunters safety course first. Where do you work, if you have some hunters there see if they will mentor you. Ask them to let you shoot a couple of their hunting rifles to find out what you can handle. Can't go wrong with a .30-06.

GeauxTide · September 17, 2009, 08:06 AM

Also, don't get caught up in the magnum frenzy. When I started 40 years ago, my first rifle was a 7mm Weatherby. My favorites now are 308, 280, 6.5-06, and 260. I've found that standard cartridges kill just as dead at the normal distances game is taken without the mess. As you get older, recoil becomes more of a factor in shooting precision.

My .03......

Doyle · September 17, 2009, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Get yourself a Marlin 336 30-30.

He's talking about Montana - not the swamps of the south. Shooting distance out there can be LONG. He needs something he can be comfortable with out to at least 300 yds.

GeauxTide · September 17, 2009, 11:43 AM

30-30 is ok for deer to 200yds. NEVER recommended for ELK.

hogdogs · September 17, 2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

NEVER recommended for ELK.

Bet dollars against dog turds that at 50 yards and under, the elk won't know if it was a .30-30 or .300 win mag that stung his lungs and heart...

50 yards is realistic since many elk are arrowed every year...
Brent

fast-eddie · September 17, 2009, 12:09 PM

Tons of people here in Oregon and Washington hunt Roseys ith 30-30's.
People hunt moose and black bear as well. These aren't armor plated humvees you know.

watchale · September 17, 2009, 01:06 PM

I have a remington 770 in 7mm mag but I kinda wish I would have bought the 700 instead. If I went & bought a gun to replace this one it would be a savage or rem. 700 & probably in .270 instead of 7 mag. I live in texas & .270 is good enough for the deer & hogs around here.

snpotratz · September 17, 2009, 09:46 PM

Thanks for the advice all. I really appreciate it.

hogdogs · September 17, 2009, 10:01 PM

Feel free to further ask questions of us... I know I like, very much, to share what little I know to others in need of a bit of hands on info. I work hard begging to learn as well as my school of hard knocks learnin' I love to hand off to others.
Brent

September 16, 2009, 09:41 PM	#1
snpotratz Junior Member Join Date: August 22, 2009 Location: Montana Posts: 7	How to Start? Hey guys and gals, I've been shooting handguns and tactical shotguns for over 10 years, but have never really shot rifles. Living in Montana, hunting is a big thing and something I would love to do. Any suggestions on a first rifle? I suppose the ultimate goal would be deer and elk (because they are rather tasty.) I'd appreciate any advice on getting started. Thanks for your time!

September 16, 2009, 09:50 PM	#2
Swampghost Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: Florida, east coast Posts: 2,106	Can't go wrong with the ol' 30-06. I have family outside of Billings. __________________ NRA Patron Member

September 16, 2009, 10:35 PM	#4
fast-eddie Senior Member Join Date: March 10, 2009 Location: Tigard Or, Posts: 342	30-30 Get yourself a Marlin 336 30-30. Good for Deer and Elk, pretty cheap to shoot as well. It doesn't have a lot of recoil either. If you wanted something flatter shooting then go with a 308 win, Savage,Stevens, Ruger, remington and Howa all make some good bolt rifles with fair prices. I think a Marlin 336 30-30 with some Leverevo ammo would be perfect for your needs though to be honest.

September 16, 2009, 10:40 PM	#6
FrontSight Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Posts: 1,712	Take a hunter safety education course given by your state game department would be my first suggestion... And welcome to TFL and to hunting! __________________ To kill something as great as a duck just to smell the gunpowder is a crime against nature. - Alan Liere Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. - George Bernard Shaw

September 17, 2009, 08:06 AM	#10
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	+1 Taylor Also, don't get caught up in the magnum frenzy. When I started 40 years ago, my first rifle was a 7mm Weatherby. My favorites now are 308, 280, 6.5-06, and 260. I've found that standard cartridges kill just as dead at the normal distances game is taken without the mess. As you get older, recoil becomes more of a factor in shooting precision. My .03......

September 16, 2009, 10:11 PM	#3
ojibweindian Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2000 Location: Huntsville, Alabama Posts: 1,198	30-06 is never a bad choice.

September 16, 2009, 10:39 PM	#5
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	First thing to do is take the state hunter safety course and buy your hunter orange gear and start scouting and learning the prey before you even worry about the rifle... Once you own the rifle, shoot many hundred rounds learning all you can with the fundamentals... Your hunting experiences will be much more enjoyable and memorable for all the right reasons... Brent

September 16, 2009, 10:43 PM	#7
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Hey scrap.... NAH-NAH-NA-NAH-NAH... Too slow! Brent

September 16, 2009, 10:55 PM	#8
Claven71 Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Location: North Arkansas Posts: 18	30-06 is hard to beat, and will take down about anything in the Lower 48.

September 17, 2009, 05:49 AM	#9
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,242	I agree take a hunters safety course first. Where do you work, if you have some hunters there see if they will mentor you. Ask them to let you shoot a couple of their hunting rifles to find out what you can handle. Can't go wrong with a .30-06.

September 17, 2009, 11:43 AM	#12
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	Yep, Doyle 30-30 is ok for deer to 200yds. NEVER recommended for ELK.

September 17, 2009, 12:09 PM	#14
fast-eddie Senior Member Join Date: March 10, 2009 Location: Tigard Or, Posts: 342	Tons of people here in Oregon and Washington hunt Roseys ith 30-30's. People hunt moose and black bear as well. These aren't armor plated humvees you know.

September 17, 2009, 01:06 PM	#15
watchale Member Join Date: June 29, 2009 Location: TX Posts: 65	how to start I have a remington 770 in 7mm mag but I kinda wish I would have bought the 700 instead. If I went & bought a gun to replace this one it would be a savage or rem. 700 & probably in .270 instead of 7 mag. I live in texas & .270 is good enough for the deer & hogs around here. __________________ Keep it out of the dirt.

September 17, 2009, 09:46 PM	#16
snpotratz Junior Member Join Date: August 22, 2009 Location: Montana Posts: 7	Thanks Thanks for the advice all. I really appreciate it.

September 17, 2009, 10:01 PM	#17
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Feel free to further ask questions of us... I know I like, very much, to share what little I know to others in need of a bit of hands on info. I work hard begging to learn as well as my school of hard knocks learnin' I love to hand off to others. Brent