Thread: Rifle choice: $1600 budget

sorry thought this was in the for sale line.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

What type of hunting: Bush, bush edges & scrub, open country ?

Bipod or standing and improvised rest ?

Big hands, small hands ?

40 yr old male, solid build, medium large hands. All round hunting with an interest and the eyesight to go longer distance but within capabilities. So as he develops moving out with better optics to 300- 400m but starting out with say a 3-9x40 e.g. Vortex Crossfire II, sticking to sub 220m

Mostly off-hand or whatever's handy, tree, post, etc for close in, bipod or pack rest for further out, maybe sticks.

I am suitably impressed with my Browning X-Bolt. It did take a few rounds to shrink the group but was more than acceptable out of the box. 308 not 243 though I doubt there will be any difference.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

What about the Model 7 7mm08 that is for sale ? Nicer to use than a T3

He's keen on 6 or 6.5mm

A Howa with scope and suppressor for that almost exact money at Gunworks brand new, only extra needed is ammo

Savage. I've brought a weather warrior .243 20yrs ago as a backup and used by other family members. Looks and feels pretty cheap BUT the rifle just shoots, is lightish to carry and just plain works! With the saving on rifle $$$ you'll be able to afford some descent optics and rings.

agree with happy jack..... howa package

or let him use your zastava for a bit....he will fall in love and you will get to use the howa he will buy to replace it for you....

I will throw in my 2 cents worth - what shoots for that money - the earlier TIKKAS - bloody accurate -yes some were heavy but man up carrying one - a heavier rifle shoots better off hand - for accuracy and handling hard to beat - earlier Remington's from 70,s and earlier eighties 700 BDL or ADL - nothing wrong with trigger- accuracy or handling ( trigger so long as they had the older fully adjustable one ) still have my 1975 BDL in .222 never to be sold - Winchester 70 yup- Ruger from that era yes very well made -accuracy well debatable -I was not impressed - some did some did not - but man those rugers they were well built - Remington 788 basic bolt action rough but a good one will match anything in price range - at the end of day its what you like -crossed with the final proof what does it do on paper - and any hunter who does not like trying his rifle on paper to see what its doing is an idiot -

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

agree with happy jack..... howa package

or let him use your zastava for a bit....he will fall in love and you will get to use the howa he will buy to replace it for you....

I was very happy with my Zastava at Sunday's NZDA Silhouette shoot Micky. I let it down a bit from the knees and Standing offhand positions but after the shoot I got my sticks out and that told a better story, just a bit of zero adjustment required







The Zasty has been chopped from 24" to 21" and now wears a DPT can and I was really happy it still stabilized the 100gn Speers. I just picked a near max load to try, now I'll do some load dev and bench shooting to pinpoint a tighter group.

stoked!!!!!!! you just got to be happy with that.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

stoked!!!!!!! you just got to be happy with that.

Yeah that's a dead one any day if the week at 100m. Might have to refine things a bit out at 200 tho

Originally Posted by Jhon

40 yr old male, solid build, medium large hands. All round hunting with an interest and the eyesight to go longer distance but within capabilities. So as he develops moving out with better optics to 300- 400m but starting out with say a 3-9x40 e.g. Vortex Crossfire II, sticking to sub 220m

Mostly off-hand or whatever's handy, tree, post, etc for close in, bipod or pack rest for further out, maybe sticks.

The T3 stock is a bit skimpy at the pistol grip for mans hands. The fore-stock is flimsy and bears on the barrel so Bipod is out. 243 a bit light for shots at 400 for a beginner.
Howa would be better, a bergara might be better again for fit.
He could get a second hand Weatherby at a good price, but whatever rifle he does get 243 wouldn't be my suggestion for a first rifle

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

The T3 stock is a bit skimpy at the pistol grip for mans hands. The fore-stock is flimsy and bears on the barrel so Bipod is out. 243 a bit light for shots at 400 for a beginner.
Howa would be better, a bergara might be better again for fit.
He could get a second hand Weatherby at a good price, but whatever rifle he does get 243 wouldn't be my suggestion for a first rifle

Really, the Tikka stock has to be the best budget stock by miles, they are full of fiber and remarkably rigid while your low end Howa stocks are shocking and definitely need opening up to give a bipod a chance.

Originally Posted by Fisherman

Really, the Tikka stock has to be the best budget stock by miles, they are full of fiber and remarkably rigid while your low end Howa stocks are shocking and definitely need opening up to give a bipod a chance.

Yeah, I've owned both, the tikka for end is rigid, none of mine came close to making contact with the berrel, even if squeezing them together, and could be shot of the bipod repeatedly no problem. The houge Howas stocks on the other hand, pretty soft and flimsy. Better shot of a pack than a bipod if repeatability is required.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

The T3 stock is a bit skimpy at the pistol grip for mans hands. The fore-stock is flimsy and bears on the barrel so Bipod is out. 243 a bit light for shots at 400 for a beginner.
Howa would be better, a bergara might be better again for fit.
He could get a second hand Weatherby at a good price, but whatever rifle he does get 243 wouldn't be my suggestion for a first rifle

Thks. It won't be his first rifle and per above, he won't be shooting 400m from the get-go.