Thread: new gun, any recommendations?

you can eliminate some by what you want to use it for... IE if you are likley to mainly hunt bush 18-22" barrel, If you think you are going to get in to the LongRange side of things with plenty of practice 22-24" barrel

If you think you are not going to like carrying a heavy rifle that also helps the choices

Money you want to spend helps deside as A blaser will shoot very well and last a life time....but if things are tight get a cheaper rifle bare and get better mounts and scope than they offer in the package deals as that is where most of the rifles I have helped fix the way they shoot have fallen down.... A good sturdy set of mounts and a reliable scope will fix a lot of rifles that are supposadly shit rifles!

Detachable mag or not is another thing to think of....I hate detachable mags as they get left behind, lost etc. Hinged floor plate or not, Much prefer hinged floor plate myself to drop the rounds out.

Have a look and see what you like

If I was buying one ATM in the budget end of things Marlin or Howa would be the ones I would likley go...Marlin most likley. I saw a cheaper Mod 7 the other day.... new budget ones, sort of a SPS of the mod 7 world and later get the carbon fiber stock etc..

Oh yeah thats another thing to think about... are you the type of person to tinker... make better.... pimp your gear? Get one bits are available for

Lots of good advice in many of the above posts.

Get into a few shops and see what feels good to you in your hands and suits your build .

As you have said your a bit new to it go for a common caliber 7/08 308 .270 as they will do most jobs very well and theres a good range of ammo stocked at most places.

Can't go wrong with a howa! howa in 7mm08 would be my choice if i were starting over again. not much boot and ammo thats not going to break the wallet!

Go straight for a 223.....Sako, Tikka take your pick there are a few others around that give good value for money ....You will want one one day anyway so you might as well get it now..

Ammo...Reloads are so cheap you will end up not only shooting all the deer pigs and goats you want but you will use it on wallabys, rabbits and hares and because of this extra use you will gain the confidence needed to be able to consistantly place your shots where you want them. Confidence in your ability to put a bullet where you want to is just about everything in this game.

Your Wife and kids as they grow up will thank you for choosing this calibre..It wont make them flinch and your kids can use one from a very young age.

Think of a rifle more as a surgeons scalpel rather than a sledgehammer. You dont use a sledgehammer to crack a walnut. Get used to placing your bullet where it kills cleanly without destroying a great deal of good meat. With good bullet placement you should be able to eat right up to the bullet hole.