Thread: Good first hunting rifle?

Hey guys,

I'm looking at getting a good rifle that I can hunt with. Right now I've narrowed it down to a Howa 1500 and a Tikka T3, but what I want to know is what is the advantage of getting one of these over something like a Savage Axis?

From what I've heard and read the Axis shoots decently and with the right techniques can give some nice groupings, what does the extra $600-900 dollars on a T3 get me?

is it just a preference thing?

Cheers.

Oh lord...

I feel like I may have opened a can of worms here...

First and foremost welcome to the forum.

This thread will probably go on for pages…...

It’s the old saying ask 10 different people and get 10 different opinions. Here’s mine:

Go to the shop and have a play with the options you have listed. Buy the one you like then go hunting.

Generally speaking all new rifles have the same accuracy potential. It’s the optics that really give you an advantage so buy the best that you can afford. It will pay dividends in the long run.

Originally Posted by Doch

I feel like I may have opened a can of worms here...

Maybe but if you had of asked what cal is best it would have been a can of whoop arse

I'd prefer to own the T3 just cause they're more expensive. The Howa will do the job and Savages in my opinion are a little wierd like French cars but the rimfires I've owned have been very accurate.

popcorn smiley

I haven't heard much good about the feel and build quality of the Axis - but I'd take a better Savage over a Tikka any day personally, and they're generally still cheaper.

Mostly it comes down to what fits your shape/size and what you like the feel of.

As allready said go to a shop and pick up a few guns. stock fit,shape and weight and things for you to decide what you like.
Id go for the Tikka any day of the week. but pretty much all new guns shoot well

Personally, I'd say do it once, do it right. We all probably started with something humble, but get the best u can afford for the purpose u have in mind.

Yes I'm a T3 fan, and endorse what someone else said; go for the best glass. A winner in my book.

Originally Posted by GravelBen

I'd take a better Savage over a Tikka any day personally

+1. Savage don't have the same moa gaurantee as Tikka but that doesn't seem to affect my $999 Savage Trophy Hunter package with a Weaver 3-9x40 scope as it shoots well under moa with cheap Hornady ammo and shoots hares at 400m.. Heard nothing but good about all Savage rifles other than the Axis.. So don't even consider it. Another great hunting rifle is the Savage Weather Warrior, which I'm in the process of getting in .270. I reccommend you add Savage to your gun options as long as its not the Axis

Originally Posted by Doch

Hey guys,

I'm looking at getting a good rifle that I can hunt with. Right now I've narrowed it down to a Howa 1500 and a Tikka T3, but what I want to know is what is the advantage of getting one of these over something like a Savage Axis?

From what I've heard and read the Axis shoots decently and with the right techniques can give some nice groupings, what does the extra $600-900 dollars on a T3 get me?

is it just a preference thing?

Cheers.

In the first sentence you say you want a "good" rifle and in the next you use the word "Tikka"...the two words hardly go hand-in-hand.
You say you want it for hunting and that it groups well...the only time you need it to group well when hunting is when you need to hammer the animal because of lack of calibre.
If you think that you will buy your ultimate rifle the first time out...forget it. Go to any gun shop and have a look at the collection of unwanted rifles in the racks. The buying and selling of rifles is what makes the industry go round. If we all had our ultimate rifle we wouldn't need the massive gun safes that we all have...let alone the bullshit we all tell the missus when we spot another "must have".
It wont matter what you buy for your first rifle...it wont be your last...pay your $'s...and start planning your bullshit story as to why you need another.
Whatever you do don't tell that salesman that you are a newbie at buying a gun...he will smile, rub his hands together [probably have an erection] and reach for that piece of shit that hasn't moved in the past 3 years...if he's good, you will buy.

Buy a decent used rifle instead of a new bargain package piece of crap. You'll be able to use it and find out what you like over time, and sell it in future without taking as much of a loss, and dollar for dollar you'll get a better used gun than new

It's all well and good to say this fellas and yes I agree a well made gun is a great investment but maybe at 19 this fella can't afford to be spending thousands.

Good first shooter, anything under 300 bucks off trademe, deer don't care about the brand,, you said hunting, so it don't gots to be pretty or even shoot well past 100' you want to lure to hunt not shoot,,

What Spook & Gimp said......full stop....then buy a Howa 1500 in 7-08...haharrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....or 308