Hello everyone,

I am a new hunter in Texas and have not had much experience outside of target shooting with a .22 Marlin. However, I have been asked to come along on a hog hunt from a deer blind where we will be fireing at hog under 100 yards.

However, my research into calibers, rifle platforms and optics has gotten me more confused then anything and I now have what I would call "research paralysis" in that I can not seems to make heads or tails of what is true and isn't.

SO given my level of experience as a non hunter and beginner to hunting I am trying to reach out for some guidance.

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My goal are as follows:
1) One hunting rifle that can hunt game in Texas and the Continental United States. For example, hog, deer, elk, mule deer and alligator.
2) A quality barrel & stock that will last a long time while being exposed to bad weather and water
3) Not spend over $1500 for the gun and the optic
4) Have an optic that can work well in poor weather conditions & at night

From my own research I have been lead to believe that .308 ($0.28 per round) and 6.5 Creedmoor ($0.60 per round) are close in their kinetic energy or "stopping power" up to 500 yards in which the 6.5 Creedmoor takes over. However I don't know that I am going to be engaging targets past that range ever. Will .308 work for something as big as an elk?

If a .308 will work. What brand and model is recommended?

I have been lead to believe that a stainless steel barrel & synthetic stocks in the form a a Remington 700 SPS or ADL are excellent.
https://www.remington.com/rifles/bolt-action/model-700/model-700-sps-stainless
https://www.remington.com/rifles/bolt-action/model-700/model-700-adl-stainless-synthetic-scope

Additionally a 16 TROPHY HUNTER XP by Savage Arms
https://www.savagearms.com/firearms/centerfire/trophy/16-trophy-hunter-xp

On optics, I am so confused by the options I don't even know where to begin, so anything that will be illumanted at night and can be assist in killing hog, deer, elk and mule deer will be good.

Thank you for reading and the help!

I'll be the first, but definitely not the last to say buy a Tikka rifle in either of the calibers you mentioned.

Have you heard about our Lord and Saviour Tikka?
Get ready.

Ok, here goes. Tikka T3 in 270 Win with Athlon Midas BTR 2.5-15X50 with Illuminated Reticle. All that for under $1K.

I would think about 30-06 instead of 308. Just more versatile.

Both rifles are fine rifles. I believe your thinking is spot on.

I would get a 3-12 or 3-15 optic is possible. Spend as much as you can afford on the optic. Maybe even more than you planned now. It will pay off in the end. The optic is really more important than the rifle.

No optics kill at night unless you buy a green light to attach to it.

I agree nice setup! 270 would be my second choice.

Name something better in that price range then.

I’m pretty sure hogs are the only one listed you can hunt at night.

As far as optics I would look at the Leupold VX-R line. They have a fantastic red dot (firedot) for low light hunting.

Being a beginner hunter I would stay away from the 30-06 and .270. While they are excellent calibers they come at the price of recoil, which for a beginner is usually a negative. Either of the calibers you mentioned would be great. My bod would go to the .308. I am a giant fan of the 6.5 though and it will have less recoil. The .308 should beat it in energy inside 150 or so though. I might be wrong, have to do some research.

Rifle: stainless T3 lite and never look back. The nay sayers refuse to shoot one.

If the OP is going to hunt Elk, I’d go with the 30-06 or maybe the 308. I’d use a 270 because that’s what I have. I doubt I’d use my 260.

If I only were going to buy one gun and that was it I think I would buy a .280 rem in a stainless steel Tika, or Sako and buy a 3-9 Leupold or a straight 6x leupold. Will kill everything walking.. excellent ballistics and high quality ammo/brass out there. Bergera would be high on the list too.

6.5 creedmoor is pretty salty, but with hunting elk sized animals there is no replacement for displacement.

Tikka or Vanguard Howa in 308. Burris optics. Nice setup at a reasonable price.

-Have you shot anything bigger than the .22 before?

-where are you located?

-are you recoil sensitive at all? Do NOT be ashamed to admit it if you are. It’s your $.
Hunting with a lightweight 270 is easy. Try to sit and shoot that sucker all day will pound your shoulder. I swear, with Chad’s help and a few others, 270 will make a comeback in popularity. Wishful thinking. Lol

.308 has the cheapest ammo and you're more likely to practice and get good if ammo isn't $$$. The class of the field in inexpensive rifles are the Tikka, Weatherby Vanguard / Howa 1500 (same rifle basically); the Ruger American line also has many fans, as does Savage. There are a zillion scopes out there. Ordinarily, I'd suggest a vanilla Leupold VX-2, but night hunting is easier with a VX-R as mentioned above. Don't make this any harder than it needs to be. Go to a big box store like Academy that usually has reasonable prices and handle a number of rifles. Buy the one that feels the best. You can't go wrong with a .270, .30-06, or a .308. Finally, buy decent scope mounts: it's the wrong place to get cheap.

In a way, it almost doesn't matter what you buy: in six months, you'll know everything that you did wrong, and you'll buy another rifle.



Good luck

Bought Weatherby Vanguard 308 last September on Walmart closeout . Adjustable trigger with sub Moa guarantee. 250 plus tax.

Got a Savage Axis 30-06 with Accutrigger and Weaver scope for 200 on another WM closeout couple years ago.

Haha! What ^^^^ said. Just get one that will cover the hunts you’re thinking of now and add to the Arsenal later.

I still have my Remington 700 ADL junker in 270 with a Leupold VX-1(3-9X40) scope with Talley rings and for what I’ve done in my limited hunts compared to everyone else here but I’m accurate as I’ll ever need to be out to 300 comfortably and confidently. Again, it’s super light, thumps good and I can shoot it dang well and it works for me. I have SO many others I’d like to buy later. For now, for my broke behind-I’m covered.

Nothing said so far will let you down. Depending on how much time you have before your first hunt, handle any and all rifles you can and see what you like and narrow it down.

I would just get a 308 and be done

I would not get a 3006

Your needs are very broad, so the options are very broad. But a 308 is plenty for everything you stated. There are many calibers that would work well. Scope choice is up to you.

Something that may help is this link showing a variety of calibers and bullets and what velocity they can be pushed.

https://load-data.nosler.com/
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle


Recoil calculator of the rifle with certain bullet weights.

http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp


Bullet energy calculator

http://www.handloads.com/calc/quick.asp

My best advice, listen to THEM!

Still, my vote is whatever gun you like in 270, topped by what glass you like. Just don’t go cheap on it and have it mounted by someone who knows what’s going on, or let them walk you through it.


Where are you located?

If you have any friends with rifles see if you can shoot them in the calibers that you want. This way you get the feel for the kick or recoil . They dont have to be the brand names as Tika, Savage, Vanguard. Just test fire the ones. Then buy the one that feels good. If you don't plan on doing a lot of hunting and the rifle you buy is going to be a safe queen buy reasonable you don't need the high dollar right now. For what you have mention that you are hunting the 270 or 3006 would be a all around gun. Start with lower grain ammo that way you won't be recoil sensitive. Just my 2 cents.

OP, given what you want to do, I'd go with the .308

If you get a Remington, plan on spending some extra money to replace the trigger.

https://timneytriggers.com/2-stage-calvin-elite-remington-model-700/

Given I have no trust in Remington's triggers, I'd look to other brands of rifles.

I like Savage, but as someone else said, Tikka seems to be a great gun.

And it comes in stainless steel.

When it comes to optics I like the Leupold and Vortex. I think you'll get more bang for your buck going with Vortex.

Get the best glass you can afford, and put steel base and rings for the scope.

You want good eye releaf and the bigger the front lens is (objective lens) and the better the glass (you get what you pay for) the more light it will let in during low light conditions.

And most important, experiment with ammo. Let the rifle you select tell you what ammo to buy.

I like Remington Core Lock and it does well in my rifle, but the one you get may perform better with Federal Premium.

The .308 is modeled after the 30-06 but a shorter round if I'm not mistaken.

30-03 vs 300 savage.

Different moms and dads

Dead-7 Times with Remington coreloks. 130gr .270. Factory trigger. Factory UN-pillar bedded stock, Remy ADL sporter barrel. Only mod is very slight trigger adjustment. It can be done. Just saaaaaaayin I can do that all day every day. Granted, I need light for night time stuff because I can’t see squat!

Gun- $379
Scope-$249 w fine duplex
Talley Rings-$35
$663 total.
A little range time and some ammo, get to know your rig. You’ll be fine whatever you choose.

Any option listed above is nicer than what I have. Just practice with whatever you do get. Drops mic, “deuces homies, I’m out”.





P.S.- I’m quite jealous of most other’s set ups here so take my stuff with a grain of salt. It sounds like you have plenty budget to get after a sweet rig. Post pic when you get what you’re after

I know a lot of people dislike Remingtons, but I'm a fan. I'd look at getting a used 700 5R in .308 and a Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x with firedot reticle. That should come in close to your budget.