New to Hunting, Need Some Help

brabus · Rookie Member Joined: Oct 03, 2006 Posts: 23

Hey guys, I'm very new to hunting, so just wanted to get some opinions/info from all you guys out there who know your stuff! I'm looking to get a rifle for deer/elk...yes I know it would be optimal to have one for each, but it's hard enough squeezing one more gun out of my wife, let alone two. I've read a lot about the 7mm Mag/30.06, but still at a loss for which would be optimal for this all-around situation. Is the 7mm really that much of a flatter trajectory that I would notice this over the 06? What about at shots 250+ yards?

Also, I think it has come down to either a Remington 700 or a Browning A-Bolt Medallion...any comments on which is more accurate/better made out of the box? I'm not looking to get any gunsmithing done, so I would like something that works well from the factory. Thanks for all the help guys!

Dawgdad

Welcome to the board Brabus!!! Very Happy

With a wife watching the gun cabinet for new guns, I would say you can't go wrong with the century old 30-06. If you are buying factory ammuniton, you will be likely to find a variety of bullet weights suitable for everything from coyotes( 125gr) up to the Elk (180-200gr.) on a Wal-Mart shelf. Plenty of hunters have cut their teeth on the venerable -06. If I was to have only one centerfire rifle, it would be an -06 for the reasons I mention.

I am partial to Winchesters but the Remington and Browning are quality rifles as well. What ever rifle and caliber you land on, shoot it often to shoot it well. No substiitute for trigger time.

Good luck with the selection! I am sure others will chime in here with a lot of information for you to consider.

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

Welcome to the website! I think you will enjoy it here, lots of great friendly knowledgable guys here.

brabus wrote:

Hey guys, I'm very new to hunting, so just wanted to get some opinions/info from all you guys out there who know your stuff! I'm looking to get a rifle for deer/elk...yes I know it would be optimal to have one for each, but it's hard enough squeezing one more gun out of my wife, let alone two. I've read a lot about the 7mm Mag/30.06, but still at a loss for which would be optimal for this all-around situation. Is the 7mm really that much of a flatter trajectory that I would notice this over the 06? What about at shots 250+ yards?

Out to 300 yards both rifles shoot so flat it doesnt matter. You can sight in for a 300 yard zero and put either of them right on your stationary critter and hit it. Both have the energy for clean kills at that range.

Lots has been said in magazines about long 400, 450... even longer shots at game but let me tell you with out alot of practice and research into your ballistics, its very very hard to do for beginners. Just get closer, unless you are shooting over a canyon odds are you can close the distance.

I shoot a 7STW (sortof the "big brother" to the 7 Rem Mag), my wife shoots a .30-06. Both kill deer and elk with a well placed shot.

Quote::

Also, I think it has come down to either a Remington 700 or a Browning A-Bolt Medallion...any comments on which is more accurate/better made out of the box? I'm not looking to get any gunsmithing done, so I would like something that works well from the factory. Thanks for all the help guys!

Goto your local gunstore and handle each rifle and see what you like better. Stocks are different, safety, actions feel different, ease of loading etc are all things to concider. I believe you can get most rifles to shoot with some work, so fit and feel to me are more important than other features.

What kind of elk will you be hunting? There is a world of difference between spikes, cows or large bulls.

-DallanC

yotebuster · Member Joined: Oct 16, 2005 Posts: 216 Location: Georgia

Ditto what Dawgdad said. I find very little difference with Browning over Remington. I do like the Remington probably better for its trigger. But either will work just find. Balance cost over what looks the best for you and then buy it. Then spend some time finding out which round your rifle likes to shoot and get it zeroed in. And practice, practice, practice.
Good luck and safe shooting.
Yotebuster Very Happy

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944

Get a Remington M700 in 30'06.

You wont notice much of a difference between any good quality gun but I'm a fan of the pushfeed action myself.

With the 30'06 you'd be able to pick up a box of ammo almost anywhere (if not everywhere) ammo is sold. And probably in a bullet weight you want. The 7MM not so common from what I've seen (30'06 leads the pack by far). Plus if you reload you can get from 55gr Accelorator Sabots to 220gr bullets to reload. Smile

Dimitri

LittleMagnum · Member Joined: Jul 05, 2005 Posts: 105 Location: Vermont

Both the Rem 700 and A-bolt generally shoot very well out of the box, so both are real good choices.....That pick is up to you......look at the light weight gun's by both MFG's...the Rem 700 mountain rifle is a real good choice. I would get the 30-06, I like the 7mm rem mag...but it kicks a little more then my 30-06 and shell cost more.....You can't go wrong with the 30-06

1895ss

I would buy the Remington 700 in 30-06 caliber and never look back. You just can't go wrong with that combo.

skb2706 · Member Joined: Apr 10, 2006 Posts: 269

Congratulations..........we don't get nearly enough "new hunters". Since you are new to this all I could add to the thread.....keep it simple...the advise given you thus far will work excellent for you needs.

When will you be going and where ? for what?

brabus · Rookie Member Joined: Oct 03, 2006 Posts: 23

Thanks for all the help guys! I'll be going after deer in OK (40 min or so north of Enid) with my father-in-law right around Thanksgiving; he's been hunting is whole life, so I'll have a good guide/teacher to go with. Hopefully next year I'll be able to make it up to Colorado (where I'm originally from) to hunt elk with him. That's the plan anyways for the close future. I've shot 30.06 a good amount, so I think I'll be going with the Remington 700 in 30.06. That's kinda what I was leaning towards anyways, but now I'm convinced. Thanks again for the help, and keep the tips coming!

flying american · Member Joined: May 21, 2006 Posts: 29

the good old 30-06 can't be beat for all around hunting and as for the gun it is a matter of preffernce i would take the 700 (but if you do get a trigger job done on it) but i have heard good things about the browning a-bolt

rrogacki

All good advice as usual, but I've taken deer and elk with a .270 loaded with different weight Nosler BT's. I just think the .270 shoots flatter then a 30.06 and is more comfortable to shoot. I also own several Remingtons and Browning A Bolts. I find the fit and finish on a Browning to be a bit better then the Remingtons, but not much.

guncollector

I agree with Flying American that a trigger job is really a good idea on a Rem 700, especially a new one. The out of the box trigger wasn't too bad 20 years ago but sometime between now and then they started shipping them with about 7# pull and too much slack. Shouldn't cost more than about $50 to get it fixed right.

brabus · Rookie Member Joined: Oct 03, 2006 Posts: 23

What # pull do you recommend? Is this somewhat of a "standard" thing Remington owners do...i.e. a gunsmith would know what I want w/o me having to explain a whole lot? It's not that I don't understand what you're saying, just not sure what the right # is for hunting or how bad the slack is (never shot a Rem 700).

Grant

My buddy has a Rem 700 in the 280 caliber and it's a sweet rifle to shoot. I'd buy a 700 if I wanted another rifle.

The gun I use most is the 7mm Rem Mag mainly because I live in Grizzle country and it never hurts to have a little heavier caliber when you've got a possibly pissed off Griz looking at you. I also use a 270 Win, but most of my hunting buddies use the very dependable 30-06. There isn't anything on four legs or two in North America that the 30-06 can't reliably take down cleanly.

I wouldn't worry about the really long range shooting, 400 yards +. I'm a firm believer that that's too far a shot to take on a big game animal. Have a little more respect for the critter your after, get closer and put it down clean with one shot.

Hope you have a great trip at Thanksgiving. I'm spending this weekend (Canadian Thanksgiving weekend) hunting for 10 days, no better way to spend that Holiday weekend.

yotebuster · Member Joined: Oct 16, 2005 Posts: 216 Location: Georgia

Talk to a competent gunsmith about what he would suggest for trigger pull weight. A slicked up trigger with a clean break around 3 1/2 pounds would be what I would suggest for you. Especially if you are wearing gloves for cold weather, this should be about right. I have some of mine set lighter than that. But, try that and practice with it. It can always be adjusted up or down later.
Be sure and try several brands of bullets to find out just what your gun shoots nice tight groups with. Guns are like women, they all have peculiar likes and dislikes. You will find a particular brand and bullet weight that yours shoots well. Then buy yourself several boxes of that same bullet, preferably the same lot number.
Have yourself some fun, seek out the advice of seasoned hunters, and by all means, be safe.
Enjoy your hunt and post your results. We'll be pulling for you!
Yotebuster Very Happy