Just started hunting last year with a few friends and really enjoyed it. Instead of using their rifles, I want my own. Im looking for a good whitetail rifle and scope for around 600.  The longest shot I would possibly take would be 350 yards.

Marlin MR7
Mossberg ATR
Savage model 10

Buy the way 7mm-08 is a great whitetail cartridge!

I would SERIOUSLY consider a Weatherby VG-1.  They are made by Howa.  $399 at Academy.  Worth EVERY penny.  Top off with a Burris Fullfield II, Bushnell 3200, or Vortex Diamondback 3-9x40.

Great, inexpensive setup.  Just do it, you'll thank me.

- AG

Well own I don't know 30 to 35 deer rifles of assorted calibers(yes I am a gun nu....errrr collector).

I have most of the major brands in calibers from257 roberts to 06.

Best rifles or ones I like to hunt with in no particular order ruger hawkeye, savage, remington and browning.

The most consistantly accurate gun is the hawkeye with the other brands all a close second. So when choosing I would say it is a personal prefferance.

My current favorite is the ruger hawkeye in 308. Seems to like everything I feed it. Trigger is excelent.
Savage 116 fncs in 308 is good with a good trigger but with me I have to get use to the accu trigger feel. Accurate but seems to like hrnaday ammo best. I need better optics for it though. Currently topped with a BSA scope.

I am currently ringing out a browning A Bolt in 308. Excelent trigger. I like the 60degree bolt throw. Consistant .5 inch groups at 200 yards with a leopald var x scope.

My remington adl is in 30-06. For a general work gun it is very well built. Holds zero year to year once sighted. I have not had to adjust the scope in 15 years of use.

My favorite truck hunting gun isan old ruger in 6.5 swede. Light recoil with enough power to drop a full grown cow(yes I have had to kill cows when they get sick on the family farm). Good general caliber.

For under 600 bucks ruger or savage would be the rifles to check out. Shop for a caliber that has easily found ammo for it such as 06 or 308.
Synthetic or wood stocks would be a personal preference. I like wood just for the feel and with TX climate moisture is rarely an issue. For Michigan I would go with synthetic.

I was looking at the marlin and weatherby. the marlin would allow me to get a $300 scope and the weatherby a $200 scope. Is there much of a difference between a $200 and a $300 scope? Or should i just get a marlin with a $200 scope and save some cash?

I don't have experience with the Marlin.  From all accounts it is a fine rifle.  The Weatherby IS a fine rifle.  I use the actions for all of my custom rifles.  Solid machined steel with a flat bottom.  Can be bedded rock solid.  Trigger is fine and can be adjusted to be nice.  Acceptable barrels, and with a little lapping/ break in they shoot great.

Question between $200 or $300 scope?  For me, that is the difference between a Leupold VX2 and a Burris Fullfield II.  The VX2 is worth the extra $100 to me.

I just can't say enough good about VG-1's.  Solid, inexpensive rifles.

- AG

ETA:  A VG-1 with a VX2 would serve you, and your kids, and their kids, well as a hunting rifle.

precision shooters always say to spend 2x as much on your scope as you do on your rifle.  for deer hunting they're right because low light clarity is nice to have in the tree stand at dawn and dusk

nikon & burris makes some nice scopes for the $300 range

I'd suggest looking for a used remington model  700 in the caliber of your choice at the pawn shops & local gun stores.   winchester model 70 in 30-06 is usually pretty cheap & easy to come by.  


for optics check out:

samplelist.com  that's the used & shelf model section of swfa.com, great prices on great scopes

bushnell elite 3200 I have 3 best 3-9 under $200

definitely a great budget deer rifle scope

THIS...put it on top of a used 700 Rem. or a 70 Win. You should be able to find one with rings,mounts and mabey a lesser scope for around 400. The ee here on ARF is a good place to start. As far as caliber...well there are many good choices...I like the .308.

If you're going to be shooting out to 350yds I'd probably look at a reasonably quick .25 to .27 caliber. The 7's and 30's would make good multi-purpose guns but really aren't needed for a whitetail only gun. I agree with those who advise picking up a good used Remington or Savage (the new Marlins seem to be getting good reviews, just have no experience with them) and saving some $$$ for good glass.

great scopes!!

Any thoughts on this scope? dont know how to make it a hot link yet
http://www.opticsplanet.net/weaver-40-44-4-12-x-44-ao-scope.html

I still contend that the old "spend 2x on a scope what you paid for your rifle" adage is an essentially worthless one.  Using your own example, you'd put one of the very good ~$300 Nikon scopes (say, a basic Buckmaster) on a $150 rifle.  What sort of rifle are you going to get for $150?  A basic Savage Model 11 with synthetic stock will run you around $500 even from one of the lower-priced on-line vendors.  Are you saying that one needs to spend $1,000 to put a scope on it?

Don't have any experience w/ the 40-44 but I have a handgun and GrandSlam and I think they are a good value for the $$$. I have a couple of Elite 3200 handgun scopes and I like them very well.

how bout a mossberg 4x4 laminate stainless .25-06. $420 from Dick's.
$160 nikon prostaff 3-9x40mm. good neoprene sling for $30 and you're GTG

Stick with a 243, 270, 308, 30/30, or 30-06. Better yet, go to every place in your area that sells ammo and see what they have on the shelf, and pick from those calibers.

You will be able to afford 2-3x as much quality ammo for your rifle, and you won't have to go to extremes to get ammo.

I'm partial to Browning, but you should go to a big gun store and shoulder as many different rifles as you can and get the one that feels best.

This is kind of an open ended question.



Everyone should own a 30-30. Winchester 94 or Marlin 336C is a good start. ( There are others)

Can't beat a 30-06 for all around Big Game gun. Remington 700, Ruger 77, Winchester 70, Browning A Bolt, etc...

7mm Mag see above 30-06

243 see above

2506 see above

257 see above



Notice a trend.

Some will say the lighter calibers are not adequate for deer at yardages past 150 yards.

Right bullet selection, with proper shot placement is key.



I have different caliber/rifle packages and enjoy them all. all are set up for different hunting situations, sighted for different yardage with selected bullets.  Do I need all of them? Well, OF COURSE!!!!!!!!



My go to gun for past 3 seasons is a Remington 700 synthetic stock 243 with 3x9 Simmons Deerfield (cheap scope).

It is sighted to 150 yards, as that is what I usually shoot.



Now I did pull out my Marlin Guide gun 45-70 this past year, just because.

I hunted some deep/thick brush/briars in the river bottom this year. My max shot was about 75 yards as it was Thick.





I say talk to your friends, and make your selection based on what they say/use based on the type of hunting you will be doing.



Good Luck!

Since you are on ARFCOM I assume that you have a black rifle or two.

Build an upper in 6.8 SPC and top it off with a Nikon ProStaff.

I like the way you think but you would be hard pressed to come in at $600 with that combo.

The Savage package guns on the Model 10 action with the Accu-trigger can be found for less than the target price and are darn good shooters.  I would lean toward the .308 chambering for maximum versatility.

ok, so after looking at all the rifles at the local fun store, i think im going to get a marlin XS7 in 308 with a bushnell 3200. scope was clearer than the nikon, plus it was on sale for the same price. thanks for the input

I think you made a wise choice.  Especially on caliber.

- AG

Great choice...button rifled, pillar bedding, and a decent trigger all in a lightweight short action. Topped with decent glass and some time on the range I think you will be very happy...good luck on your next hunt!  

ok OP, we need pics!

Fixed it for you!


{waiting for the 45-70 fan boys to show up!}

I just bought a Browning A bolt wood/blued in 30/06 with Leupold rings, mounts and a cheap BSA for 500.00 otd. Id say dont be in a hurry and keep cheaking out the used racks in your local stores. Deer season is a long ways off and deer rifles will be sitting till next deer season so, they can be had on the cheap or atleast around here anyway. Im heading out here in a bit to see what else might need to come home with me.

You did good!!!!

reporting back in.






Because they ROCK


when you just absolutely have to bull doze something off it's feet.

Wouldn't trade mine for anything.

I've got a grill guard on the front of my Dodge diesel that I use for that purpose.

Seriuosly, buy this one...  I am not a Browning homer but this IS a fantastic rifle and you can swap the scope if you want.

Plus there are enough Browning fans out there that you can sell it if you want.  Find a cheap FFL to do the transfer close to you in MI, some may even do it for nothing.  Even if it $25 for the Transfer this is a nice rifle in an absolutel fantastic caliber.  .308 > 7mm-08, on bullet selection alone.  Factory ammo abounds.  Federal shoots really well in Brownings.   My $0.02.

Browning X-Bolt .308 Win COmposite Stalker and Scope From EE

Stevens 200 in .308, .243, .30/06  can be had for under $300 (check out Gunbroker).  Really great value, Savage barrel, great accuracy.  Spend the rest of your budget on rings/mount and Leupold scope.

Or

A used Marlin 336 in .30/30 can also be had for under $300.00, spend the rest on scope.

Or

Sporterized Mausers, 1903A3s, M1917s (even Krags!) can be found for the $300 and under range, spend the rest on scope.  They've had sporter stocks put in, drilled/tapped for scopes, often sporter barrels have replaced the .mil barrels. Their collector values have been shredded but they make damn fine hunting arms.  If they still have the original barrels, that would warrant a closer inspection.  

Hunting rifles often don't get shot alot, so I see little problem with buying used (now pistols and ,22s...not so much).

I have a 45-70 as well - great caliber also.

Get a Stevens (savage) in 308 or 30-06. I prefer 308 myself.
$300

Get a Sharp shooter supply trigger. Huge improvement but you can live without it.

Get an EGW picatinny scope base.
Get some Burris Extreme (sold) or other rings of your choice. Zee rings are good too.
Get a Leupold VX1 2-7x (especially if you hunt in woods), or 3-9x for normal hunting or a 4-12x if you intend to shoot longer distances a lot.
Get any of them with the LR retical for holdover.

Personally I think the 2-7x is the most versitile for hunting and its light.