I have been a bird hunter since High school, but never have hunted much other than dove and quail. My son, (HS freshman), is struck with buck fever, and luckily enough, we have some buddies with land. They are going to take us out this weekend to let my son whack a doe or two.

I am looking to pick up a deer rifle, so that we have one to use. I am sure there will be more to come, but would like to pick up something reliable, that doesn't have to be that fancy. I am going to look locally at lunch, due to my time constraints, but I am hoping to get feedback from the group on reliable rifles under $500. (with or without optic). I know enough about optics to know the optic is usually more than the rifle.

I would imagine most of this type hunting is from blinds, so I doubt it needs to be highly accurate beyond 200 yards at the most.

My good buddy recommended .243 as a good all around round for Central Texas. I am considering that, or 30-06.

I've looked online briefly at Rem 783, Ruger American, Savage Axis. Are there any features that make one of these stand out over the others? Any known issues that would make one of these something to stay away from? Is there a Browning X or A bolt in this price range also? I enjoy Browning guns and usually like the looks of them.

Interested in feedback from the group and your opinions on deer rifles.

Also, is there a round I can use in my AR, which would allow it to serve as backup gun in the deer stand, or is the caliber too small?

This will be fun(as usual). I say .270

I did some searching in the OB, before asking, but there were pages and pages of stuff that seemed irrelevant.

7mm-08 would be my recommendation, but a 243W also works very well for TX deer.
Ruger American or Savage Axis II (Accutrigger on the II) for solid budget rifles.

Recommendation for Bergara or RPR in 6.5 Creedmore in 3..... 2...... 1......

Aggieangler93 said:

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I have been a bird hunter since High school, but never have hunted much other than dove and quail. My son, (HS freshman), is struck with buck fever, and luckily enough, we have some buddies with land. They are going to take us out this weekend to let my son whack a doe or two.

I am looking to pick up a deer rifle, so that we have one to use. I am sure there will be more to come, but would like to pick up something reliable, that doesn't have to be that fancy. I am going to look locally at lunch, due to my time constraints, but I am hoping to get feedback from the group on reliable rifles under $500. (with or without optic). I know enough about optics to know the optic is usually more than the rifle.

I would imagine most of this type hunting is from blinds, so I doubt it needs to be highly accurate beyond 200 yards at the most.

My good buddy recommended .243 as a good all around round for Central Texas. I am considering that, or 30-06.

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Consider a .270 but it looks like Savage doesn't make a .270

Quote:

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I've looked online briefly at Rem 783, Ruger American, Savage Axis. Are there any features that make one of these stand out over the others? Any known issues that would make one of these something to stay away from? Is there a Browning X or A bolt in this price range also? I enjoy Browning guns and usually like the looks of them.

Interested in feedback from the group and your opinions on deer rifles.

Also, is there a round I can use in my AR, which would allow it to serve as backup gun in the deer stand, or is the caliber too small?

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Specs on the AR? You can always build an upper that would be plenty strong for taking deer in 6.5 or 6.8.

You're going to get a plethora of answers and there are folks on this board way more qualified than me to give advice on such matters. That being said, the .30-06 Springfield is a very good overall round that can take down most game in North America with the proper ammo. It's not the perfect round for anything, but you sure can do a lot with it and the right ammo. Whatever you get, be safe and enjoy your new endeavor.

Thanks everyone for your input. I expected most answers above, as 243, 270, and 30-06 were the ones I was looking at originally. It sounds like this is really more of a Ford versus Chevy thing. I don't think we will be doing elk hunting, etc, with this gun, as I would imagine when we get to that level, if we ever do, we will likely pick up a larger caliber. I don't really see the need to kill more than whitetail or the occasional hog with what I have in mind for this rifle.

I guess what I am asking, is in comparison, for an under $500 rifle, are there features that make one rifle stand out over another?

I am not locked in to maker or caliber, but let's say we picked .243 or .270. Does one model stand out over the others?

I have a remington 700 adl , black synthetic stock , scope, in 243 win. I will sell for 350$.
Johnmikk@aol.com

The Ruger American Rifle is available in .243, .270 and .30-06 and retails for just under $500 without optics. I don't have one and have never shot one, but my understanding is they're not bad.

AV8ORAG84 said:

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I have a remington 700 adl , black synthetic stock , scope, in 243 win. I will sell for 350$.
Johnmikk@aol.com

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Here's your winner, with money left over for ammo.

My advice is to go to a gun show with your $500 budget and find the best condition used Winchester Model 70, Browning A or X bolt, Remington 700 or Ruger m77 you can in 243, 270, 308, 30-06, 7mm 08, 280 (my favorite), or 7x57.

All of these will last you a lifetime, can be customized at your leisure if you choose, and will take any game that can be found in Texas outside of Nilgai.

Now that deer season is over for most people and Christmas bills are coming due there should be some bargains to be had.

You can find anything at a gun show cheaper online.

AggieMPH2005 said:

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My advice is to go to a gun show with your $500 budget and find the best condition used Winchester Model 70, Browning A or X bolt, Remington 700 or Ruger m77 you can in 243, 270, 308, 30-06, 7mm 08, 280 (my favorite), or 7x57.

All of these will last you a lifetime, can be customized at your leisure if you choose, and will take any game that can be found in Texas outside of Nilgai.

Now that deer season is over for most people and Christmas bills are coming due there should be some bargains to be had.

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This is good advice! Any of those calibers will work well on deer.

my advice. read this thread. https://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=591190&highlight=ruger


then go over to the Texianblackmarket.com that is owned by our very own eyeguy (aka Justin). order it there with his discount code.


these guns are stupid accurate especially at this price.

Pick anything between a .243 up to a .30-06 and you'll be just fine.

I'm a .243 guy myself, but if I had the opportunity to get something newer just for the hell of it, I'd look hard at the .260 Remington or one of the other 6.5 variants just because.

Get a decent or better rifle, and get good glass. Those are more important than caliber anyway.

OP if you are going out in two days I'd borrow a gun from your buddy letting you shoot his land. Sited in and ready. Then if the boy has a good time and wants to continue to hunt you can build a gun at your leisure. Pretty hard to set up a new guns in 24 hours.

First gun for a teenager I'd avoid the 30-06 since it is a cannon compared to a 243 or what I just built a 7mm-08. That 06 kicks like a mule and you need to practice holding it tight enough.

Excited for you! You are going to get all kinds of recommendations. Being the OB all will be good.
7mm-08 is really a nice caliber. Low recoil and very accurate. Winchester .308 is about equal but ammo is readily available everywhere. Lots of choices of bullet weights as well that makes it very versatile.
6.5 CM is the new fad rifle and if you get one you are assured of being able to be a sniper and make 1000 yard shots over night. (Just kidding). It is a good round, albeit, ammo is expensive.
30-06 is a good caliber with lots of versatility in regards to bullet choices and weights but recoil, unless handloading, can be a little rough.
.243 A great caliber for most Texas Hill Country WT. Very popular, good ammo availability, and mild recoil.
I own all the above but my most preferred is the 7mm-08. Sub MOA accuracy and very mild recoil. My wife has one as well. She grew up deer hunting and competitive shooting and it is her favorite as well

Have fun for sure.

Seems odd that you'd recommend the 7mm-08 and then talk about 6.5 Creedmoor ammo being expensive. I got my son a 7mm-08 and regret it every time I buy ammo. He'll be getting a .270 when he grows into a full size rifle

Gunny456 said:

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Excited for you! You are going to get all kinds of recommendations. Being the OB all will be good.
7mm-08 is really a nice caliber. Low recoil and very accurate. Winchester .308 is about equal but ammo is readily available everywhere. Lots of choices of bullet weights as well that makes it very versatile.
6.5 CM is the new fad rifle and if you get one you are assured of being able to be a sniper and make 1000 yard shots over night. (Just kidding). It is a good round, albeit, ammo is expensive.
30-06 is a good caliber with lots of versatility in regards to bullet choices and weights but recoil, unless handloading, can be a little rough.
.243 A great caliber for most Texas Hill Country WT. Very popular, good ammo availability, and mild recoil.
I own all the above but my most preferred is the 7mm-08. Sub MOA accuracy and very mild recoil. My wife has one as well. She grew up deer hunting and competitive shooting and it is her favorite as well

Have fun for sure.

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6.5 cm ammo is cheaper to come by every day.

i do love the 7mm-08. i have one and my wife has one.

FIDO*98* said:

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Seems odd that you'd recommend the 7mm-08 and then talk about 6.5 Creedmoor ammo being expensive. I got my son a 7mm-08 and regret it every time I buy ammo. He'll be getting a .270 when he grows into a full size rifle

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why? aren't you a vegan now?

6.5 is as cheap as 308 and about as plentiful.

OP, can't really add much to a lot of good advice in this thread except to really consider recoil in your choice.

It is the number one reason people shoot poorly and develop bad habits like flinching. And a heavy recoiling rifle won't get shot a lot...which is how you get good with it and make good shots on deer when the chips are down.

I love my '06's, but they kick. I would stick to 270 and down. Take ammo price into consideration so you can shoot more. There will be plenty of time later to get an elk gun.

Check out the Weatherbys. Great, accurate rifles in your price range.

I don't get the concern over round cost on a deer rifle. Buy two boxes at Academy and use 10 rounds at most to sight in and you are good for several years.

AR? Throwing 60-90 rounds to have fun? Yea cost is a data point. A long gun not so much

Because new shooters need to practice.

Puryear Playboy said:

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Because new shooters need to practice.

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agreed. hell old shooters that have been "shootin' since i was a kindie gardner" need practice. unfortunately, they don't.

The last dozen or so animals I have killed including 6 large antelope (Kudu, Gemsbok....etc) in S Africa w/.270; elk in Colorado w/ 06, and mule deer, white tail, with a mixture of .257, .250 Savage. All will kill! I like my pre 64 Win .270 FTWT ... I like carrying it ..... that old gun exemplifies the principle of finding one that fits!

A ranch owner in S Texas (who is a better hunter than I) wants his hunters to shoot a minimum of 6.5 CM, .257 Roberts, 7mm 08.

Puryear Playboy said:

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Because new shooters need to practice.

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Fair enough but Academy can feed just about any gun. Two boxes a year to practice is still not that much money

My go to of all my rifles is my HCR 270 Weatherby built on a M70 Classic Supergrade I handpicked on my 35th birthday. But it's to pretty for days like today...hard to believe that was 18 years ago.

At SHOT i am going to see my buds at Weatherby...I think I need a Mk 5 in 6.5-300 Weatherby. You know...for my boys.

No it's not, unless you want to practice with what you will be hunting with.

My 270 Weatherby is still working on a 20 round box I bought four years ago. But for a new rifle shooter and his kid...

They need a lot more than two boxes to get ready to make that shot that only presents itself for 10-15 seconds...and with a little adrenaline pumping to help things along.

Have had a savage 270 with upgraded optics for years. Works just fine....

Usually bring an A/R with thermal and/or 45-70 for the hogs - kind of like a golf club selection for me.

.243!

Before you buy a used Remington 700, make sure the rifle is not on the recall list. Otherwise, you should plan on replacing the trigger.

270 is the answer. .243 is a great round, but smaller and less forgiving. 30.06 is a bruiser but doesn't shoot as flat as a 270. It's bersstile, huge ammo selection available, and probably killed more whitetail deer in North America than any other round.