Factory Deer Rifle suggestions

[grovey]

Don’t fail to look at the TC Venture for an affordable hunting rifle. I won one in 30-06 last year and I like it a lot. It’s a great beat around hunting rifle.

https://www.tcarms.com/firearms/bolt-action-rifles/venture

I've been going to buy one of these for a beater for years, but always end up with something else.

 

[grovey]

Another vote for Tikka. For moderate recoil I'd chose a 6.5 CM if you're not loading for it, and a 7mm-08 with the 120gr ballistic tip bullet if you are. Those 120's are a great deer bullet in any 7mm.

 

[mike06]

I have a Savage Axis II HP with the adjustable trigger 270win. Very accurate rifle and tight chamber. It came with a 3x9x40 scope that I swapped out to Nikon. It is my rainy day rifle I have shot deer,hogs and coyotes at 300+ yards. Really I use it more than my Nosler. You can move up on the Savage list to get a rifle with a better stock. Check grabagun.com for the best price.

 

[B23]

Lot of great choices out there and many have already been made. If you are looking for something that is a good solid gun for not a lot of money, the Rem 783 Walnut in 6.5 Creedmoor would be a good choice. This is a lot of gun for less than $375 https://www.gunsmidwest.com/rem-783-walnut-6-5-creedmoor.html

IMO, one of the big benefits to the 6.5 Creedmoor, especially, for those that don't reload, is the very good factory ammo selection the 6.5CM has and with a very wide range of bullets in factory ammo too.

 

[Riesel]

Lot of great choices out there and many have already been made. If you are looking for something that is a good solid gun for not a lot of money, the Rem 783 Walnut in 6.5 Creedmoor would be a good choice. This is a lot of gun for less than $375 https://www.gunsmidwest.com/rem-783-walnut-6-5-creedmoor.html

IMO, one of the big benefits to the 6.5 Creedmoor, especially, for those that don't reload, is the very good factory ammo selection the 6.5CM has and with a very wide range of bullets in factory ammo too.

Beat me to it as a suggestion. I have shot several factory and they are all good solid shooters. .243, 6.5 creedmoor, .308. The .243 or Creed would be my choices for deer cartridge.

 

[Adam in WI]

This is a lot of gun for less than $375 https://www.gunsmidwest.com/rem-783-walnut-6-5-creedmoor.html

Outstanding choice for the money. Double bonus for no Tupperware on it.

 

[Daddymac]

Thanks so much to everyone that has replied, y'all have my brain clicking, I have two Lilja customs on Sako actions but had not thought about Tikka, I am definitely going to give them and the other suggestions a closer look.

Thanks again.

 

[5spd]

Savage, tikka, howa, tc

 

[JSH]

Tikka

 

[hogpatrol]

No love for a Howa? A 1500 in 6.5 CM.

 

[std7mag]

I had a Howa (first gen Weatherby Vangard).
Was only gun i was happy to sell!!
What a POS!

 

[Mark W]

I had a Howa (first gen Weatherby Vangard).
Was only gun i was happy to sell!!
What a POS!

I had the same problem with a 2nd Gen Vanguard. Worst rifle I ever bought.

 

[K22]

I have several Tikka T3's, 223 Rem, 243 Win and 308 Win - all are excellent shooters and fine reliable rifles but they are light weight. The only caution I would advise is that the recoil on the 308 is uncomfortable (for me) with full power loads in 150 and 165 grain bullets. For a young shooter a 243 Win might be a better option if you decide on a Tikka T3.

I also have a Weatherby Vanguard Series II in 223 Rem. This is also an excellent rifle with a good trigger, three position safety which would be useful for a young shooter, the stock is stable and the fit on mine is excellent, the extractor system is excellent. It also has a 24" barrel and weighs 7.5 lbs which helps control the recoil. Accuracy in mine is sub 1 moa with tailored reloads. This model also has a generous recoil pad if you're considering 30 caliber type deer rifle which will help lessen the impact of the recoil along with the extra weight. Very good value.

While I don't own a Savage I've seen some impressive groups shot with them at the range using factory ammo even their cheaper models, the Axis. However I believe the Axis rifle are fairly light weight too.

I also have several Rem 700's but mine are the pre 90's versions and are outstanding rifles. However I don't much care for the triggers on the new Rems. I've also seen chambering and extraction problems at the range with the newer versions. Maybe the latter problem is just an isolated issue but I've seen more than one with these problems.

I have a few Brownings A and X bolts - these are very accurate and reliable rifles but over priced in my opinion. Also the triggers are not great on mine.

Keep in mind - you don't need a tack driver for a deer rifle but you do need a reliable rifle that extracts and chambers without problems.

 

[snert]

Tikka, Vanguard, old 700

 

[std7mag]

For those that say "old" Remington, is this after the trigger recall??

Last thing i want is a rifle that shoots when engaging or disengaging the safety!!

 

[linekin]

I'm looking to put my son-in-law in a deer rifle for the southeast, I have always been a Remington 700 guy, and most of my hunters are built on that action, but what are the other out of the box rifles I should check out? I'm looking for user safety for a fairly new, but competent shooter, and of course decent accuracy, if you were looking for one of your family, what would it be and why?

Thanks in advance.

In whatever you choose I'd suggest that he be able to go to any local sporting goods store & buy ammo, reasonably. As a for instance I had a 35 Whelen I had to drive 40 miles to get bullets for, for $48. Never again.
Keep it simple.

Keith

 

[46and2]

I had a Howa (first gen Weatherby Vangard).
Was only gun i was happy to sell!!
What a POS!

The only rifle I've ever sold was a Vanguard ( Howa).

 

[Mark W]

The only rifle I've ever sold was a Vanguard ( Howa).

Mine was so bad that I didn’t feel right selling it. Maybe I’ll build something off of the action someday.

 

[46and2]

Well, I tried VERY hard. Devcon bedded the Bell and Carlson stock, replaced the trigger with a Triggertech, had Douglas rebarrel it, lapped the lugs.
Awful...

 

[Daddymac]

In whatever you choose I'd suggest that he be able to go to any local sporting goods store & buy ammo, reasonably. As a for instance I had a 35 Whelen I had to drive 40 miles to get bullets for, for $48. Never again.
Keep it simple.

Keith

This is a priority also, I want to get a caliber that not only has a good off the shelf availability, but also a good variety of bullet weights. He is a fairly new hunter, killed his first deer ever while sitting with me about two weeks ago and he is stoked, I want to throw some gas on the fire, and get him to the range with something that he could call his own that will be easy to feed.

Thanks for the advice.