Thread: Entry level rifle.

Have you tried one @Toby ??

Sounds like this lad is well sorted! Not trying to over reach a price bracket etc.

I would be recommending what a few have said and try and buy secondhand. This will free up some dollars to spend on some better glass.

Variable power scope could be worth considering (you never know when an opportunity will arise to hunt some new ground that may need it).

Yes. Actually I have.

Originally Posted by Toby

Yes. Actually I have.

I can vouch for that. I let him loose on the mighty Savage 243, he let me loose on his Howa 6.5. I felt dirty and started looking at men, then I had a few shots with the Savage in 6mm and was much better and went back to looking at women.

The main thing is to try a few. Pick them up, sus out the safety, get the feel of them. Then buy whichever one 'floats your boat'. We're all built differently so get whatever feels right for you. As said earlier second hand can be a good option and leaves you more money from better glass. Would be a dull world if everyone had the same thing.

Originally Posted by gadgetman

I can vouch for that. I let him loose on the mighty Savage 243, he let me loose on his Howa 6.5. I felt dirty and started looking at men, then I had a few shots with the Savage in 6mm and was much better and went back to looking at women.

The main thing is to try a few. Pick them up, sus out the safety, get the feel of them. Then buy whichever one 'floats your boat'. We're all built differently so get whatever feels right for you. As said earlier second hand can be a good option and leaves you more money from better glass. Would be a dull world if everyone had the same thing.

You're just jealous cause you stacked them in the hole with my gun and yours looked like a shotgun pattern

Originally Posted by Toby

You're just jealous cause you stacked them in the hole with my gun and yours looked like a shotgun pattern

You can't prove that!

Someone pass us the popcorn and another coldy

Originally Posted by gadgetman

You can't prove that!

I knew I should have taken the target with me instead of leaving it with you!

Oh don't get me wrong, I agree that they're good rifles for the money. I was replying more to the guy who reckoned they're head and shoulders above any competition, which just isn't the case - I'd say the differences between most of the rifles in the $8-1200 price range are more about personal preferences than being significantly better in measurable ways. And my preference is the Savage - excellent trigger and accuracy, nice 3-stage tang safety etc.

I've used an older example of the Weatherby Vanguard version which was a heavy clunky thing with a sloppy action, but it sounds like they've improved since then so probably isn't the best comparison.

I have a couple of Nikko Nighteaters too and they are decent solid scopes for the money, but certainly not in the same league as the Weaver and Nikons on my other rifles.

@Toby

As someone who owns a weather 'worrier' and had a lot of time behind a howa I'd take the howa any day. For those moaning about howa stocks have a peak at the savage Tupperware. On mine you can flex it maybe an inch either side of the barrel? Heavy, clunky, ugly. Accurate yes but that's all they have going for them. The howa light with the 20 inch barrel and lightened action is a much nicer gun. Triggers can be adjusted quite nicely, better than the savage accutrigger which becomes very sloppy after the 1500 round mark

I like them but since I have a penchant for my rifles being a bit like "grandfathers axe" or "big boys lego" there are not too many after market bit for them yet

@dansus check out the buy and sell section, there is a .308 Ruger compact just been listed for $600...

Originally Posted by Shooter

@dansus check out the buy and sell section, there is a .308 Ruger compact just been listed for $600...

http://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co.n...compact-22058/

Just held a howa 70 08. And a ruger must say I liked the feel of the Howa more, sales man tried to push the Tika lol