Welcome guest, is this your first visit? Create Account now to join.
  • Login:

Welcome to the NZ Hunting and Shooting Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.

Terminator Darkness


User Tag List

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 54
Like Tree70Likes

Thread: Good first hunting rifle?

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Posts
    7

    Post Good first hunting rifle?

    Hey guys,

    I'm looking at getting a good rifle that I can hunt with. Right now I've narrowed it down to a Howa 1500 and a Tikka T3, but what I want to know is what is the advantage of getting one of these over something like a Savage Axis?

    From what I've heard and read the Axis shoots decently and with the right techniques can give some nice groupings, what does the extra $600-900 dollars on a T3 get me?

    is it just a preference thing?

    Cheers.

  2. #2
    Member Eion's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Dunedin
    Posts
    181
    Oh lord...
    7mmsaum, veitnamcam, BRADS and 3 others like this.

  3. #3
    Member
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Posts
    7
    I feel like I may have opened a can of worms here...

  4. #4
    Member Hayden C's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    CHCH
    Posts
    606
    First and foremost welcome to the forum.

    This thread will probably go on for pages…...

    It’s the old saying ask 10 different people and get 10 different opinions. Here’s mine:

    Go to the shop and have a play with the options you have listed. Buy the one you like then go hunting.

    Generally speaking all new rifles have the same accuracy potential. It’s the optics that really give you an advantage so buy the best that you can afford. It will pay dividends in the long run.
    Normie and Danny like this.

  5. #5
    klaatu barada nikto Chupacabra's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Hampden
    Posts
    265
    Quote Originally Posted by Doch View Post
    I feel like I may have opened a can of worms here...
    Maybe but if you had of asked what cal is best it would have been a can of whoop arse

    I'd prefer to own the T3 just cause they're more expensive. The Howa will do the job and Savages in my opinion are a little wierd like French cars but the rimfires I've owned have been very accurate.

  6. #6
    Member Bavarian_Hunter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Aus
    Posts
    1,653
    popcorn smiley
    Gibo and Hunt4life like this.

  7. #7
    Member GravelBen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Gorrre
    Posts
    3,600
    I haven't heard much good about the feel and build quality of the Axis - but I'd take a better Savage over a Tikka any day personally, and they're generally still cheaper.

    Mostly it comes down to what fits your shape/size and what you like the feel of.
    gadgetman likes this.

  8. #8
    Member JP100's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Franz Josef Glacier
    Posts
    86
    As allready said go to a shop and pick up a few guns. stock fit,shape and weight and things for you to decide what you like.
    Id go for the Tikka any day of the week. but pretty much all new guns shoot well

  9. #9
    SiB
    SiB is offline
    Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Invercargill
    Posts
    1,921
    Personally, I'd say do it once, do it right. We all probably started with something humble, but get the best u can afford for the purpose u have in mind.

    Yes I'm a T3 fan, and endorse what someone else said; go for the best glass. A winner in my book.

  10. #10
    Member Spoon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Dunedin
    Posts
    602
    Quote Originally Posted by GravelBen View Post
    I'd take a better Savage over a Tikka any day personally
    +1. Savage don't have the same moa gaurantee as Tikka but that doesn't seem to affect my $999 Savage Trophy Hunter package with a Weaver 3-9x40 scope as it shoots well under moa with cheap Hornady ammo and shoots hares at 400m.. Heard nothing but good about all Savage rifles other than the Axis.. So don't even consider it. Another great hunting rifle is the Savage Weather Warrior, which I'm in the process of getting in .270. I reccommend you add Savage to your gun options as long as its not the Axis
    gadgetman likes this.

  11. #11
    Member Spook's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Mt Motutapere/Northern Alps
    Posts
    2,062
    Quote Originally Posted by Doch View Post
    Hey guys,

    I'm looking at getting a good rifle that I can hunt with. Right now I've narrowed it down to a Howa 1500 and a Tikka T3, but what I want to know is what is the advantage of getting one of these over something like a Savage Axis?

    From what I've heard and read the Axis shoots decently and with the right techniques can give some nice groupings, what does the extra $600-900 dollars on a T3 get me?

    is it just a preference thing?

    Cheers.
    In the first sentence you say you want a "good" rifle and in the next you use the word "Tikka"...the two words hardly go hand-in-hand.
    You say you want it for hunting and that it groups well...the only time you need it to group well when hunting is when you need to hammer the animal because of lack of calibre.
    If you think that you will buy your ultimate rifle the first time out...forget it. Go to any gun shop and have a look at the collection of unwanted rifles in the racks. The buying and selling of rifles is what makes the industry go round. If we all had our ultimate rifle we wouldn't need the massive gun safes that we all have...let alone the bullshit we all tell the missus when we spot another "must have".
    It wont matter what you buy for your first rifle...it wont be your last...pay your $'s...and start planning your bullshit story as to why you need another.
    Whatever you do don't tell that salesman that you are a newbie at buying a gun...he will smile, rub his hands together [probably have an erection] and reach for that piece of shit that hasn't moved in the past 3 years...if he's good, you will buy.
    Which is worse, ignorance or apathy...I don't know and don't care.

  12. #12
    By Popular Demand gimp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    The Big H
    Posts
    8,886
    Buy a decent used rifle instead of a new bargain package piece of crap. You'll be able to use it and find out what you like over time, and sell it in future without taking as much of a loss, and dollar for dollar you'll get a better used gun than new

  13. #13
    Member Bavarian_Hunter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Aus
    Posts
    1,653
    It's all well and good to say this fellas and yes I agree a well made gun is a great investment but maybe at 19 this fella can't afford to be spending thousands.
    mikee likes this.

  14. #14
    Member 6MMBR's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Gibson,Western Australia
    Posts
    301
    Good first shooter, anything under 300 bucks off trademe, deer don't care about the brand,, you said hunting, so it don't gots to be pretty or even shoot well past 100' you want to lure to hunt not shoot,,
    Neckshot and Uplandstalker like this.

  15. #15
    Member Scouser's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    JAFA
    Posts
    4,877
    What Spook & Gimp said......full stop....then buy a Howa 1500 in 7-08...haharrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....or 308
    Happy likes this.
    While I might not be as good as I once was, Im as good once as I ever was!

    Rule 4: Identify your target beyond all doubt

 

 

Similar Threads

  1. 6mm BR in a hunting rifle for deer.
    By Wildman in forum Reloading and Ballistics
    Replies: 25
    Last Post: 27-11-2019, 09:29 PM
  2. Home made rifle stock, made from good old native Rimu. check this vid out
    By kingstoncowboy in forum Projects and Home Builds
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: 10-02-2014, 12:21 PM
  3. Hunting with a subsonic (30Apache) rifle
    By kimjon in forum Hunting
    Replies: 40
    Last Post: 28-05-2013, 11:35 AM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Welcome to NZ Hunting and Shooting Forums! We see you're new here, or arn't logged in. Create an account, and Login for full access including our FREE BUY and SELL section Register NOW!!