Thread: New shooter advice.

It's not easy being a hunter in training. Every person I talk to has conflicting opinions. However I think I'll go with 7mm08.

Now I have a caliber I need to decide on a rifle. I liked the look of PERRISCICABA's Tikka, but the guy down at Bronco's sports was pretty scathing of them.

I have never really even used a rifle before, but after months of internet research I have my heart set on a Browning A-Bolt for some stupid reason, I don't even know why...I want to spend no more than around $1500 for rifle & scope cos I don't even know if I'll enjoy this shit yet...

Please advise away.

Originally Posted by Ricochet

It's not easy being a hunter in training. Every person I talk to has conflicting opinions. However I think I'll go with 7mm08.

Now I have a caliber I need to decide on a rifle. I liked the look of PERRISCICABA's Tikka, but the guy down at Bronco's sports was pretty scathing of them.

I have never really even used a rifle before, but after months of internet research I have my heart set on a Browning A-Bolt for some stupid reason, I don't even know why...I want to spend no more than around $1500 for rifle & scope cos I don't even know if I'll enjoy this shit yet...

Please advise away.

If i was still in Roto i would have said come down the range and you can fire a few out of my 7mm 08, it's a remington. Nothing flash but fits like a glove and i found factory ammo that the thing loves and so it is accurate. One thing have you held the browning, go in to H and F and ask to pick it up, shoulder it, see how it feels when it comes up. You will find something that fits and when it does you wont look back. Oh and when you do get a rifle find the ammo that works with it. My remington jumps like crazy when i put Remington Coreloct through it whereas putting hornady sst or whitetail rounds through it is fine.

Originally Posted by Willie

If i was still in Roto i would have said come down the range and you can fire a few out of my 7mm 08, it's a remington. Nothing flash but fits like a glove and i found factory ammo that the thing loves and so it is accurate. One thing have you held the browning, go in to H and F and ask to pick it up, shoulder it, see how it feels when it comes up. You will find something that fits and when it does you wont look back. Oh and when you do get a rifle find the ammo that works with it. My remington jumps like crazy when i put Remington Coreloct through it whereas putting hornady sst or whitetail rounds through it is fine.

Yup! Go into a few shops and pick up as many different rifles as you can. Pick the one that fits you best and spins your wheels. Calibre is secondary.

The other option is go second hand so you have some experience. Sure someone here would step up and help you check it out.

Originally Posted by Ricochet

It's not easy being a hunter in training. Every person I talk to has conflicting opinions. However I think I'll go with 7mm08.

Now I have a caliber I need to decide on a rifle. I liked the look of PERRISCICABA's Tikka, but the guy down at Bronco's sports was pretty scathing of them.

I have never really even used a rifle before, but after months of internet research I have my heart set on a Browning A-Bolt for some stupid reason, I don't even know why...I want to spend no more than around $1500 for rifle & scope cos I don't even know if I'll enjoy this shit yet...

Please advise away.

Before you get your heart set on anything.... go look at some,fondel some,take the bolt in and out,try the trigger,take the mag or floor plate out and put it back in,try the safty,throw it up to your shoulder like your about to take a rapid shot at something and see if your eye is naturally in line with the scope or sights, check balance point when carrying in the hand....balance point right on a mag that sticks out just sucks arse for one handed carrying,mag capacity?, ability to top load?( I hate non top loadable,when you get to a shitty bit or bluff I like to remove round from chamber and its nice to just push it down into the mag instead of remove the mag and insert round(like a Tikka)

Fondel lots and weigh up the pros and cons of each.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Before you get your heart set on anything.... go look at some,fondel some,take the bolt in and out,try the trigger,take the mag or floor plate out and put it back in,try the safty,throw it up to your shoulder like your about to take a rapid shot at something and see if your eye is naturally in line with the scope or sights, check balance point when carrying in the hand....balance point right on a mag that sticks out just sucks arse for one handed carrying,mag capacity?, ability to top load?( I hate non top loadable,when you get to a shitty bit or bluff I like to remove round from chamber and its nice to just push it down into the mag instead of remove the mag and insert round(like a Tikka)

Fondel lots and weigh up the pros and cons of each.

This is very, very good advice.

Unfortunately Gun salesmen are almost as bad as car salesmen. They want to get the most $$ from you possible, never mind it being what you wanted.

Try as many as you can, most shooters/hunters are more than happy to let you have a try of their rifles as long as you ask nicely.