Thread: First gun

Hey Dylan I do a fair bit of shooting down your way as the GF's family own a farm just south of Kune, if your hunting is anything like that then I guess most stuff will be 150m and under which means any thing .243 and larger will work for you. If the budget is tight look at something like this : Ruger M77 MKII Hawkeye | Trade Me this would leave room for a nicer scope. The .308 has been knocking game over since the 1950's, ammo is cheap and everywhere.

If it is however your first firearm and you haven't done a lot of shooting before then purchase/borrow a .22lr and shoot bunnys and magpies for the first few weeks - jumping straight to a center fire could give you a flinch.

Originally Posted by Timmay

Hey Dylan I do a fair bit of shooting down your way as the GF's family own a farm just south of Kune, if your hunting is anything like that then I guess most stuff will be 150m and under which means any thing .243 and larger will work for you. If the budget is tight look at something like this : Ruger M77 MKII Hawkeye | Trade Me this would leave room for a nicer scope. The .308 has been knocking game over since the 1950's, ammo is cheap and everywhere.

If it is however your first firearm and you haven't done a lot of shooting before then purchase/borrow a .22lr and shoot bunnys and magpies for the first few weeks - jumping straight to a center fire could give you a flinch.

Who's Farm do you go on?

Ive had a .22 since i was around 10 so i think its time i step it up a level

not here to fuck spiders dude, .338LM or larger.

he needs a rifle not a oar

http://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co.n...cope-f-s-7088/

This would do you nicely, bit more poke than a 7mm-08!

Nothing wrong with a multi-purpose rig. Never know when your going to need a river crossing.

An ar in either .223/5.56 or .308. Nicely balanced, can be used in lots of different roles, if your in real thick bush can break it in two and stick in your pack. Lots of bits for it, including uppers for different calibers.

Said you weren't under a budget so its a good option, plus they retain their value and are good fun. Just might need a E-cat later depending how this bill goes.

Phillip Holden wrote `you don`t have to hunt with an ugly rifle` so that counts out Remington 770, Ruger American and Tikka.
no budget counts out savage , Mossberg ect.
You cant go past a Howa , Browning A- bolt or Weatherby mark5 .
7mm-08 ? yep that's the one and factory fusion 120 grain.
Burris or leupold optics.
forget the bi-pod and fit a sling good luck Dylan

Originally Posted by CreepingDeath

A7s are complete shit. Better off with a second hand real sako.

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Finally a reasonable remark , and if A-7`s are shit then Tikka are shitless

Originally Posted by lloydcj

Finally a reasonable remark , and if A-7`s are shit then Tikka are shitless

No tikkas are a fair priced accurate rifles. The a7 shouldnt cost a cent more than the t3.

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Pretty good advice on here, lots of cabilers to choose for your first gun but anything bigger suggested than a 270 say is pretty crap advice. For your first wouldnt even consider something like a 3006 or 300 mag etc, stick with something like a 243 or 7mm-o8. Personally a great fan of a 243, and for your first gun you couldnt go wrong. Keep away from cheap combo scopes, they are crap. Nothing wrong with buying a good second hand rifle from a good make, will be better than a new cheaper brand model. Always try a range of ammo for your gun to see what shoots best out of it, and take note on how they perform in the field as there is a difference with knockdown power etc with different brands. happy hunting.

Originally Posted by lloydcj

Finally a reasonable remark , and if A-7`s are shit then Tikka are shitless

I wouldnt say the a7s are complete shit, i think it would be more fair to say they are prob overpriced for what they are.

Originally Posted by CreepingDeath

No tikkas are a fair priced accurate rifles. The a7 shouldnt cost a cent more than the t3.

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I agree, basically that's all they are.

Go for an allrounder, light enough to carry all day, reliable, accurate. And for a start practice placing shots consistently out to 300m.

Unless your reloading, stick with a calibre that you can buy ammo for over the counter anywhere! So 308, 7-08, 270, 3006 etc.

No point having some fancy arsed calibre and say getting to Haast for a once off red stag roar trip and realising you've left your ammo on the bench! It does happen.

Keep it simple, a rifle that fits YOU, a scope that works. Euro optics are best for glass quality, but nothing wrong with higher end leupys, Burris, weaver, bushnell etc.

Expect to spend as much on optics as your rifle for a 'bullet proof' combo. 3-9 is ample for normal nz hunting. 4-12 more than enough.

Having a bigger calibre might be 'cool' but it doesn't make you a better hunter or a better shot. Being able to shoot half a km wont get you more animals.

Time on the hill, learning your quarry, practicing your stalking, exploring new country...that is what huntings about.

Better off with a new Howa or something.

Fuck the sako's, so far over priced you'd have to be.....

Originally Posted by deer243

Pretty good advice on here, lots of cabilers to choose for your first gun but anything bigger suggested than a 270 say is pretty crap advice. For your first wouldnt even consider something like a 3006 or 300 mag etc, stick with something like a 243 or 7mm-o8. Personally a great fan of a 243, and for your first gun you couldnt go wrong. Keep away from cheap combo scopes, they are crap. Nothing wrong with buying a good second hand rifle from a good make, will be better than a new cheaper brand model. Always try a range of ammo for your gun to see what shoots best out of it, and take note on how they perform in the field as there is a difference with knockdown power etc with different brands. happy hunting.

Not having a dig but some interesting generalisations there.
Price doesn't make the rifle accurate OR inaccurate, be it new or second hand.
And what is wrong with a larger caliber rifle? My mates 270 gives me more shits than my 338.

I personally think caliber is almost irrelevant (within reason, take down power for target species etc...) as long as you have decent shot placement (which you should reguardless of bullet size), I think comfort and fit probably play a bigger part. You will find most people on here around your region or further if your happy to travel will be more then accommodating to let you try out their rifles and if you can its not a bad idea to find out what weight, stock and kick etc suits/fits you best.

Thats my rant anyway. Agree/disagree as you please