Thread: hows this for a first gun?

Not sure where you have got to Possummatti but if you are looking for a first rifle - that Savage .308 that Nick-D found would be a great place to start - looks like good value
So what would I know - like most in my era - I started with a .303 and drilled army ammo - OK - but I couldn’t hit shit with peep sights - so I got a Parker Hale 30.06 and a 4x scope - used drilled US army ammo - shot heaps of deer, chamois and tahr with that rifle and very cheap ammo
Meat hunting provided a lot of cash so I upgraded to a Brno .270 - shot heaps of deer, chamois and tahr with that rifle - still have it and love the hair trigger for longer shots - always used 130gr bullets
Started getting fallow about five years ago - so left the 270 at home and changed to a .243 - lovely rifle on fallow - others on here get heaps of reds with a .243 but maybe best in skilled hands
Two of my oldest hunting mates have used 7x57 and .308 respectively - neither have ever changed - the one with the .308 has shot more deer than you could dream of
Take a look at a good ballistics calculator - see below - select say 150gr bullets and see how they perform -
Winchester Ammunition
Although I have used a .270 for forty years - I would advise a young hunter to start with a .308 - plenty of bullet options - likely you will stay with it
Good luck

Originally Posted by time out

Not sure where you have got to Possummatti but if you are looking for a first rifle - that Savage .308 that Nick-D found would be a great place to start - looks like good value
So what would I know - like most in my era - I started with a .303 and drilled army ammo - OK - but I couldn’t hit shit with peep sights - so I got a Parker Hale 30.06 and a 4x scope - used drilled US army ammo - shot heaps of deer, chamois and tahr with that rifle and very cheap ammo
Meat hunting provided a lot of cash so I upgraded to a Brno .270 - shot heaps of deer, chamois and tahr with that rifle - still have it and love the hair trigger for longer shots - always used 130gr bullets
Started getting fallow about five years ago - so left the 270 at home and changed to a .243 - lovely rifle on fallow - others on here get heaps of reds with a .243 but maybe best in skilled hands
Two of my oldest hunting mates have used 7x57 and .308 respectively - neither have ever changed - the one with the .308 has shot more deer than you could dream of
Take a look at a good ballistics calculator - see below - select say 150gr bullets and see how they perform -
Winchester Ammunition
Although I have used a .270 for forty years - I would advise a young hunter to start with a .308 - plenty of bullet options - likely you will stay with it
Good luck

Hi there
Sorry i havnt replied lately been flat out. I had a good look at the savage and i admit it is nice and good price. I have also been offered a savage 110 .308 with a Simmons scope from a very generous man for a good price. Sleeping on it at the moment. I do understand that youngsters like myself shouldnt think they will start off with the latest flashest gear and start nailing the deer and goats straight away. I actully learnt how to shoot on a 60 year old rough as guts 12g but used it for 3 duck seasons and never failed me appart from the odd sore sholder, before treating myself to a 11-87 so i have no problem buying a olden goodie to learn on. As you can probably tell im dead keen to get into hunting on my own and so gratefull that everyone on this forum has treated me as one of them instead of a steriotipical 16 yr old ( eg. James sully) and gone out of there way to answer my questions and help me out. Just a group of genuine people sharing there passion. I cant thanks you guys enough for that

Cheers Joshua

Originally Posted by time out

Not sure where you have got to Possummatti but if you are looking for a first rifle - that Savage .308 that Nick-D found would be a great place to start - looks like good value
So what would I know - like most in my era - I started with a .303 and drilled army ammo - OK - but I couldn’t hit shit with peep sights - so I got a Parker Hale 30.06 and a 4x scope - used drilled US army ammo - shot heaps of deer, chamois and tahr with that rifle and very cheap ammo
Meat hunting provided a lot of cash so I upgraded to a Brno .270 - shot heaps of deer, chamois and tahr with that rifle - still have it and love the hair trigger for longer shots - always used 130gr bullets
Started getting fallow about five years ago - so left the 270 at home and changed to a .243 - lovely rifle on fallow - others on here get heaps of reds with a .243 but maybe best in skilled hands
Two of my oldest hunting mates have used 7x57 and .308 respectively - neither have ever changed - the one with the .308 has shot more deer than you could dream of
Take a look at a good ballistics calculator - see below - select say 150gr bullets and see how they perform -
Winchester Ammunition
Although I have used a .270 for forty years - I would advise a young hunter to start with a .308 - plenty of bullet options - likely you will stay with it
Good luck

Originally Posted by possummatti

and so gratefull that everyone on this forum has treated me as one of them instead of a steriotipical 16 yr old ( eg. James sully) and gone out of there way to answer my questions and help me out. Just a group of genuine people sharing there passion. I cant thanks you guys enough for that
Cheers Joshua

I think it is the way you present yourself. First and foremost is the way you write. No slang, bang or bullshit. Good spelling and punctuation.
You also seem to have a level head and open to suggestions (Not like a ADHD kid let loose in a lolly shop as JS was).
People quite enjoy helping out the likes of yourself where they can
Walking around with your hand out looking for what the world owes you is not a good character builder
I think your on the right track. All the best

Originally Posted by sako75

I think it is the way you present yourself. First and foremost is the way you write. No slang, bang or bullshit. Good spelling and punctuation.
You also seem to have a level head and open to suggestions (Not like a ADHD kid let loose in a lolly shop as JS was).
People quite enjoy helping out the likes of yourself where they can
Walking around with your hand out looking for what the world owes you is not a good character builder
I think your on the right track. All the best

Cheers sako75

http://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co.n...10-308-a-5627/
This is the gun ive been offered by Barefoot for a good deal. Seems to tick all the boxes. That link is from the original post when barefoot brought it.