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My friends have mixed comments but the 3 were a ruger, rem 700 and a tikka. I’m pretty set on a tikka 3x .308 for my first rifle. Im just wondering where the best place to go to buy one would be? Would like a supressed one and am planning on using it for deer hunting. Have looked at guncity....
Just a little advice - Take it or leave it. Generally you will get a better response from people around here if you introduce yourself first. It helps members establish a genuine reason in helping a stranger procure his or hers "first rifle".
Before you buy, I would look at second hand ones as well.
Are you a new shooter?
What is your total budget for ammo, scope and rifle?
How much experience have you had with firearms?
How much practise have you had / will you need?
Consider a 22 as well. Cheap to feed and great for learning to shoot well.
Have a look on the buy and sell section on here.
If you aren't doing much range shooting then calibre doesn't really matter as long as it is 243 and above.
If a lot of shooting but no reloading then buy a 308.
There was a Weather by vanguard for not a lot and they are fine rifle's.
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I love these threads :)
Have set aside 4-5k for everything. Fired various weapons from the army. Just haven’t gotten around to getting my own rifle. Should be pretty good as far as shooting goes.
Thanks. First time posting on here or any forum really.
Born and bred kiwi from up North now living in Auckland . Have minimal experience with hunting, have used various rifles/guns for work. More target shooting. Just found this forum and saw some old threads and thought I would try my luck also. Appreciate any advice or help.
Theres is a really nice NZH 308 bushpig all pimped out on the other forum.
Wasnt able to find it. Which thread?
Budget up to 5K and looking at off the shelf.
Rifle- Sako Finn light
Scope - Leica. luepy Zeiss[not the terra] et al
Caliber...............?
Welcome Civ
Plenty of advice on offer here. Take your time & handle a few rifles before committing is my advice. Make sure it looks good too [emoji106]
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Check this thread further down the page.
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....t-rifle-41894/
Something that fits you well for form and function (safety, length of pull, ergonomics, etc). Don't just pick something from advice, go into shops and try as many as you can. You will find one that you'll want to go back to, and not hand it back. It will feel right, it will fit right. Buy it. The chambering is not that important, there are many out there that 'will do the job' as you'll likely already know.
Thanks gadgetman. Will do. Just wanted a base understanding of good brands of rifles or ones that others have found good. :)
With your budget I'd get a 223 and a 308. Tikka or Howa maybe Savage or Ruger. Wouldn't be super flash but would do the trick
I'd go second hand mate. Then you don't lose any cash on resale....
The forum buy and sell is excellent for picking up optics and rifles for reasonable prices.
I learnt that a new to me rifle was just as good a new one especially once I was looking to move it on.
If you want a Sako, just wait for Buzz to sell one of his!!
I'll throw a spanner in the works say get a really good set of binos and a range finder that's good to 1000yrds or so. Even though you may not shoot that far it will be more accurate at the closer ranges rather than it's limit. Bino's i'll stick my neck out and say 8x42's or even 8x30's if mostly bush hunting. You won't regret getting them as you'll see more game than you'd believe. Rifle is a second choice as first you have to find the game and then know how far away it is before you need your rifle to come into play. Not so much for bush stalking granted. Stay with common calibers if not reloading .243, .270, .308 etc as you'll get ammo and selection almost everywhere. I'll stick my head out again and say no need for magnums if you don't plan on shooting past 300- 400yrds. Probably getting near then end of range for a .243 with factory loads but some will disagree with me(watch this space!) but any of the others are more than capable. Most rifles have a 3 shot guarantee of 1moa or better these days so choose what feels right. You'll need a good scope and mounts. One with a good field of view is what I like so until leupold brought out the vx5/6 line european were usually better in that department compared to american ( there's some 3-9x36 swaro's about for run out at about 1k, damn good scope for the money). Don't over look jap optics either as they are usually very good.
There you go more things to think about than you started with but need to be got right I believe. You can often tune/improved a rifle that doesn't group well but you can't improve bad optics. They just frustrate you when your mate can see a deer but your budget binos and scope can't gather enough light and clear picture for you to see it. On the bright side you can always help him carry out the deer you should have shot and think of the ammo savings
Thanks. Will keep looking on here and trademe.Quote:
Originally Posted by SlimySquirrel
Thanks I will definitely be looking at some binos. Im pretty much going to tag in with the lads and go where they hunt to start off. Yes will be going for a .308 and most likely a leupold. Haha good way of looking at it.Quote:
Originally Posted by r87mm
With your budget mate, if be going a tikka t3 in 308, lop to 18 or 20 inches, DPT can, and a 2-10 or 3-15 vx5.
A setup like that Will be light, accurate and cover 99% of your hunting
Browning x bolt. Much nicer than a tikka with a decent mag. The stock has a grippy surface So good when wet. They have short bolt lift, nice mag very strong 8 screw scope mount, and an awesome trigger. If you aren’t shooting far ie to 300m they make one with carbon wrapped stock shortened and threaded to 16” in 308. Add a dpt or ASE sl5i can. Be about $2300 with can. Then fit a $1500 swaro z3 3-10. Whilhem arms and optics has them on sale for about $1250 in chch via mail. Or look at one of the leica elr etc. you’ll never want to sell that set up unlike all the guys on here that buy Sakos and tikkas that sell them every year.
FishnHunt - New Zealands Famous Hunting and Fishing Forum Since 1995 - NZH .308 Bushpig F/S ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Civ
don't forget 270's
Don't buy cheap scope rings. Pay the money for good ones. It will save you a lot on ammo when you're constantly trying to sight it in, and a shedload of frustration.
I would go for lightly used. People are always trading mint firearms cheap cause they "need" something else. You could get couple of good rigs on that budget.
Just keep an eye out on here. I managed to snag a barely used sako for tikka money. Huge score, especially as I’m not really into dudes...:thumbsup:
@Civ a Tikka T3 in. 308 will do you very well, there may be better calibers but. 308 doea the trick and is easy to get ammo for and easy to reload.
Keep an eye out for good second hand rifles, can save a heap of money. A saved search on Trademe will bring up a heap of options.
1638361129 check out this auction on Trademe, should do you well.
I'd sell the VX3 though and get either a VX3 3.5-10x40 or a VX5 2-10, the VX5s are awesome scopes and the firedot reticles are very very good.
What sort of general hunting are you likely doing? If you are a bush hobbit than something like a Baikal single shot in .308 with iron sights could do the job (and for around $500). If after a more versatile tool than the Howa is going to get it done. You have a fairly massive budget for a first hunting rifle, so I would (personally) suggest buy the Howa and the Baikal and enjoy both. Bank the change and throw $20 a pay in there and when you learn/decide what you require you will know what you're cooking with. Just my 2c.
Probably a mix of close bush and open areas. Not 100% sure just yet. Ok thanks. Yeah it is. If i dont spend it all I’ll get a shotty too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Preacher
Thanks beetroot. Normally pretty good with trademe. That one must have just popped up! Haha ok,Quote:
Originally Posted by Beetroot
I keep being told a vx so thats def a sure thing. Thanks again.
Also......you will likely find a "reason" to have multiple firearms for any sort of "reasons". I guess I'm going with the idea that you don't blow your load on one unit until you know it's for you. And yes I'm kinda still talking about rifles.
No one sells good second hand rifles. You don’t sell accurate ones unless you have worn them out or you are nuts.
Go look on outdoorsupplies. You can buy a brand new x bolt stainless stalker and Talley rings for $1620 on sale plus a leica er 2-10x42 for $1800on sale ( kick a Vx any day) and save about $600 and have rifle you don’t have to sell again. Don’t become a sell my rifle every year guy. Be weary of the man who only owns one gun. Learn how to use it.
Would anyone rate the sauer 101 in .308? Has been recommended by a supplier. Will get a discount (hopefully a good one) in it.
Who recommended a Sauer 101? Certainly not what most hunters would choose.Quote:
Originally Posted by Civ
If this is a hunting rig, IMO get a stainless Tikka superlite (or lite) and get to shooting it. They have fantastic triggers and are very accurate & lightweight. The scope mounting system is also very sturdy. The magazine is plastic, yes, but this is a hunting rig. Plastic magazine = lightweight and perfectly serviceable.
Better not say his name. Hes well known hunter and might not get my discount if I call him out! Thats what im after. A t3x lite.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisW
Well I'm going to jump in with my thoughts. Probably get flamed but so what.
From your hunting description I'm going to assume 0-300 meters at deer and goats. To me that means you don't need to go to the big 7mm or 30 cal magnums.
I mostly shoot 243, but after years of my old man going on about his old 7x57 (before he got a 243 for southland shooting deer & range ) I would point new shooters to 7m08.
Would suggest that you don't need to go as large as a 308 unless Pigs are on the menu.
Yes the 7m08 has some issues but that's more a mater of bullet selection for the job at hand.
In the 243 most shooters are well aware of the differance between varmint and game projectiles. Not so much in 7m08 which has lead to some disapointment.
Re Rifle choices. You have plenty. I like the new Savages with the accu-trigger and accu-stock. (Mate has one in 7m08)
Also like the Steyr Prohunter. Son has one in 223.
Things to note. One common issue is the cheaper plastic stocks can move around and contact the barrel in odd places causing accuracy issues.
Given your budget I suspect you will be looking above this grade of stock anyway.
Z