I'm mildly embarrassed to admit I've been borrowing a friend's hunting rifle for years. He's gone headlong into bow hunting and rarely uses it. I own a number of other firearms but for whatever reason have never bought a bolt gun.

It's a Tikka T3 in 30-06 with a Zeiss scope on it and has treated me well.

But hunting is becoming enough of a habit that I really ought to buy my own, plus I'm maybe a season or two away from getting my oldest daughter on the trigger.

I have a laundry list of $1-2k purchases I'd like to make so my intent here would be to take a fairly low budget approach.

I'm toying with a Ruger American Gen 2 in .308 with a Leupold VX3HD or similar.

We have a free ranging herd of Red Deer on our property so I like the 308 vs a 243 or something more immediately kid friendly.

Most of yall know this world better than I do. Any better suggestions if I'm trying to keep the total OTD <$1500, ideally closer to $1k? That's for rifle + scope.

Tikka's make fine weapons. Ruger American and Savage would be budget friendly rifles as well.

I would suggest to perhaps focus on lighter guns for your daughter, but keep in mind this can impact recoil. .308 is a great caliber for just about anything in the United States. You could also just buy a AR10 in .308 as those are very comfortable to shoot, allow you to customize attachments and stocks.

If it was my first rifle, I'd consider the AR10 or get what my Dad had me shoot. A Browning BAR II in .270. It was heavy and loud but everything I shot dropped immediately. It's a beautiful gun too.

Thanks to all who have replied, this is helpful.

Next confession: scopes confuse the hell out of me. I don't know what a duplex or a focal plane or any of that is.

Anyone want to simplify and tell me which specific Leupold VX3-HD makes sense here? Not trying to shoot terribly far. Most 200yds and in, honestly more like 100 most of the time.

I've latched onto the Leupold for no specific reason - seems like a good brand at a reasonable price.

Stag are pretty decent size, but anythng in 6.5 caliber or up is going to do a good job so long as you know the caliber and shooter limitations and use good projectiles.

6.5x55
7mm-08
.308
.260 Remington

Those are all solid short action chamberings.

.270 Winchester
.280 Remington (hard to find ammo)
7mm mag (overkill)
.30-06
6.5 Creedmor

Those are the long action rounds that are pretty common (except the .280) and easy to find a host of different ammo choices for.

Are you the guy with the Stag around CS or somewhere else? Just curious since we also have herd but in N Uvalde County.

We're up in Palo Pinto county. First saw them in fall of '20 and they keep hanging around. Up to at least 3 stag and 7-8 hinds from what I get on camera. Will probably shoot a stag here soon - older one without great antlers, pigs out at my feeders 2x day.

Sounds very similar to us but we're up to 5-6 stag and probably 9-10 hinds now. They're ghosts though. Very rarely seen in person…

Sorry for derail but appreciate you sharing!

It's is very hard to beat Leupold for the price on a hunting rifle, in my opinion. While you don't need a ton of magnification for your application, I would still go with something like. 4.5-14x just in case. A 3-9x or 3.5-10x is what people used for years for those distances and many shoot out to 500 or longer with them. I just prefer more magnification.

Regarding reticle, I would look at something more basic or maybe even the wind-plex reticle for wind adjustments. The Leupold you're looking at comes with the CDS (custom dial for elevation adjustment) so you can get "close" to the drop of the bullet without having to jack with holdovers. Again, this won't apply to you for the yardage you stated but just sharing anyways.

50mm objective is better for light transmission vs 40mm but I don't think it makes a difference a those magnification levels. Same thing with tube diameter… 30mm is preferred and is what I would run but doubt you'll notice a difference.

Not sure how much that helps and plenty of smarter folks than me that can chime in on this board.

Forgot to add about FFP vs SFP. FFP is better in the long term, especially if you plan on shooting long range but for your application, I would just stick to SFP. It's basically where the reticle stays the same size throughout the entire magnification (SFP) or if it gets bigger as you zoom in (FFP).

I think the .308 is great for described. 6.5 CM also popular. Tons of ammo options for both calibers. Academy has a deal on Savage guns right now I think. Get a 110 with accutrigger and best glass in your budget. Can easily stay under $1000.

I've got a .270 Browning ABolt 2 w/what I think is a Vortex crossfire scope. I haven't had any complaints with it and it puts out great groups.

Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 Back Country

Weatherby + aftermarket trigger = great gun. Trigger change is insanely easy too.

I saw in another thread that Browning XBolts are going for cheap.

I have one in .270. The trigger is so much better than a Ruger American, savage Axis, or Remington 700. We just sighted all of those and all three shooters agreed on the trigger.

My dad really likes his XBolt

My first rifle was a Browning A bolt Medallion in .270. My wife bought it for me. I still have it. It doesn't miss what I point it at.

I'm partial to Remington 700, Ruger M77, and Winchester Model 70's myself and have picked up a few of each on gunbroker in mint condition for under $700. I don't own a Browning X-Bolt Medallion but that is on my list to find. They are solid shooters and you won't be disappointed. Watch the penny auctions. People seem to forget about them and if you don't, you can get good deals. I'd stick to .270, .30-06, 7mm-08. I like my caliber choices to be older than I am. I personally shoot .30-06 or 7mm Mag. I I keep the bullet within a dinner plate size spot, that animals isn't running anywhere.

Mathguy64 said:

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My first rifle was a Browning A bolt Medallion in .270. My wife bought it for me. I still have it. It doesn't miss what I point it at.

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That's what my FIL has. We sighted that in again a couple of weeks ago. Does yours have the flash hider/brake on it? His does and that thing has some concussive force.

texags08 said:

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Mathguy64 said:

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My first rifle was a Browning A bolt Medallion in .270. My wife bought it for me. I still have it. It doesn't miss what I point it at.

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That's what my FIL has. We sighted that in again a couple of weeks ago. Does yours have the flash hider/brake on it? His does and that thing has some concussive force.

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Nope.

I've got an old school Redfield Tracker 3x-9x on it. If it worked for Carlos Hathcock I figure I it's good enough for me.

I recently purchased my first hunting rifle and went the low-cost route. Ruger American II Ranch 6.5 Creedmoor ($579) with Vortex Diamondback 3-9x40 ($240ish). Spent some time at the range and I'm very happy with it. The Leupold VX-3HD is $150-$250 more, so that would still be in your range. $ don't include taxes.

My cousin is selling his 2 Browning XBolt Hells Canyons...one is a 6.5 Creedmoor and one is a 308. If you are interested in a used but like new clean gun let me know and I will put you in touch with him.

Tikka

Buy exactly what you have been borrowing (or 7-08).

Tikka. Action is awesome, and if you ever decide you want to change up the cartridge you're a new barrel (many pre fit options available) and maybe a new bolt stop and mag away as long as you stay with the same bolt face diameter.

For cartridge, you'll shoot better with less recoil. Plenty of people killing elk and moose with 6mm bullets or smaller.

I may be the minority but I would be ok with a 243 for Red Deer under 150 yards. My wife killed a Red Deer with hers a month ago. Ran about 35 yards and piled up.

It's not about the ability to kill it it's more about the margin for error. With a .243 you don't have much wiggle room. I'd shoot one with my 6.5 CM if I had the opportunity on the right stag but if I am planning to hunt one, I'm bringing a bigger caliber (.270/.30_06/.300) just to be safe.

Same bullet type (different weights obviously) from a 6.5 Creedmoor and a .300 win mag. Which is which and how much margin are you gaining?

I'm choosing the .300win every single time if I am knowingly shooting a red deer or larger target. You can absolutely kill an animal as big as an elk with a 6.5. I regularly shoot 300lb aoudad with that caliber but you have more energy with the magnum.