I am on a budget, but am looking at buying a new rifle.

I am open to most any caliber, but am leaning towards a 25-06. It will be my first deer rifle, and I don't want to hunt anything larger than a whitetail with it.

What do y'all think?

I have heard good things about the value of a savage. Any other brands that are better for the price?

What about the stock? Should I go synthetic or laminated or wood? advantages?

What about the barrel? stainless or blued?

So many dang choices. I need some help here. any advice is appreciated.

I'm not sure what you like but I just got a new Remington 700 SPS in 30-06 and I could not be happier with it. Very accurate out of the box and even more with some tweaking.

Rem. 270 for the knock down and the blood trail is my choice.

Alot of options out there. I have 30-06 and 25-06. I tend to like the 25-06 most of the time. All my stocks are wood however synthetic act better with temperature and humidity changes especially at longer ranges. I don't know about savage, I shoot ruger and like alot. I don't collect guns, I hunt with them. I try to buy the best quality I can because barring damage I don't plan to buy again, a good gun will last a long time. And leave room in budget for a good scope. Most all guns out there are accurate enough for whitetails in Texas at average distances, low quality scopes will cause you problems. Happy shopping.

Savage won't let you down. I have the basic Savage 110 in 270 caliber, they all drop right where they are hit.

Savage is like a whole new company comeing from where there guns use to be. Try a modle with the Accu Trigger and Accu Stock. Both of these are availble on there mid price guns. The 25-06 is a great choice of hunting Texas. I still love my T/C and Brownings too..............

.25-06 Rem., .270 WCF, and .30-06 are all fine cartridges for Texas whitetails. I think the .270 is probably the most popular of the three.

I, personally, have started going with synthetic stocks because of the abuse they can stand up to. Also, Savage has never put good wood on their rifles, so if I went with Savage that would make me want to go even more with the synthetic. Stainless is okay, but not really needed, IMO.

X2 Marvin. Academy has Mossberg 100 ATR's for $299. Take care of a firearm and it'll take care of you.

PLUS1!!!!

Look at the Weatherby rifles. $399.00 at Walmart or Academy. Shoots great right out of the box.

I bought a Remington 770 .270 for the wife last year...i was really amazed. great gun. and Academy has the stainless camo version on sale right now for $339.99 not a bad deal! Savage is also a great gun but i understand the budget so i would go with the Remington!

hard to be the 270 for a first rifle

The December issue of Field and Stream has called the Marlin XL7 the "Best Hunting Rifle for the Money". $341 list

Bought the Marlin XL7 in .270 for my then 16-year old son last year and couldn't be happier. First gun I've had with synthetic stock and really like it. Price was pretty good too. Don't know what they are going for this year. Paid around $365 at local (not chain) sporting goods store with Nikon 3x9 scope (did get good deal since buddy owns the store and traded in a youth model .223 in the deal). He took down three deer last year (MLD) and dropped all three where they stood.

X2
Great gun, all the reviews rant and rave over it. I bought one last year in 30.06 and love it. I am able to shot groups that can be completely covered with a nickel at 100 yrds just useing sand bags to help stablize. If you study them a bit you will find they took the best features of the Savage, Rem. 700, Winchester 70, and Wearthby. Then added their own twist to them. It is true I nice rifle and very cost effective.

Marlin XL7. They are quality built rifles, and are tack drivers. Very easily found in 30-06, 270, and 25-06. You should have no problem finding them at $299 or less at your local Academy. And yes, I know, because I own two of them.

Thanks for the advice! I'm heading out shopping today, so I'll let y'all know what I end up with, if anything.

Somebody above mentioned the Weatherby at Walmart, what they are is a Howa. These are some very good guns for the money. Howa guns are very acurate and very hard to beat for the money but I would get a Howa combo. They come with very good glass, all you will need is bullets.

**update**

Can someone tell me an advantage of a Savage 111 over the Marlin XL7? The savage is 100 more at Academy (where I have a $100 gift card so I really would like to buy there) than the Marlin.

The guy at Academy recommended the Marlin. I was leaning towards Savage, but now I am confused

Came home for lunch and am heading to BPS and Cabela's. After that, I need to make a decision.

Its either: Savage, Marlin, no gun at all.

Help me!

The Savage has the Accu trigger which is nice. If the trigger on the Marlin is good (light and crisp) give the Marlin a shot. But, if the trigger is heavy and sloppy on the Marlin, then go with the Savage. A good trigger is worth at least $100 IMO.

My Brother in laws Savage is a nice shooting gun. 1" groups with factory ammo.

Bought mine a Bass Pro Shops had to order it.I t was the Varmit special in .308 with the Hogue stock and Nikko Glass

id go savage before weatherby...

Not to hijack the thread
Academy here currently has the Rem 770 syn/ss for $339
and the Rem 700 adl for for $399 syn/blued
What is the diffrence between the two models?

The 700 ADL is a much better rifle. If you can get it at $399 get it. It is a tried and true design. The 770 is Remington's attempt to produce a low cost rifle. They went way to cheap and the resale on those rifles are nil.

The marlin xl7 trigger and barrel are very simular. The savage has been around a long time and are proven true. The maril xl7 came out last year and on one has found any faults at all with it. Mine has become my favorite rifle. It is a real pleasure to shoot and like I said earlier in a post it is very accuret. I will be buying my son his first hunting rifle this year and plan on buying him a Marlin XL7 in 270 even though he likes my 30.06. The kick pad on it makes shooting it not bad. I guess what I would do if I were you is choose the one of thoose two that fits you best. And don't look back.