Rifle selection

[swampsnyper]

I am leaning toward getting a Ruger American with the Vortex scope combo. Anybody have any experience with the American? Good, bad? I like the vortex scope on my CZ455 22lr.

I am open to any other recommendations in a similar price range. I was planning on spending quite a but more on a rifle/scope combo but between the kestral, stepps, new bow etc I have a limited budget. Not that money always dictates performance but for rifles/scopes it seems to. Hunting is expensive for a newbie but at least will all mostly last a life time (don't tell my wife otherwise! She is very understanding but....)

Never shot the American. I got the Tikka CTR with a Vortex pst. I have Vortex everything. If this is your 1st rifle, 270 win is a good choice. It has been around for ever. You should have a gun that will last the course of time. Lots of new cartridges come and go. Get a tried and true 1st then play with others later. 6.5 Creedmoor is just the new kid on the block. It may be hard to find factory ammo in the future.

 

[Erniepower]

My "saddle rifle" in Minnesota is a Remington 870 with a 1.75x4 scope.

We have a four points on a side rule here and without the score, it can be hard to count.

In Wisconsin, I use a tikka ultra lite 270 but keep thinking about getting a 243. I've never had to shoot more than 100 yards from my saddle there so I want something light, short and with very little recoil.



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[Erniepower]

That being said, I have switched to trying to kill a deer with my pistol. No success yet, but I'm gonna keep trying

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[Soonlobo]

New saddle hunter but I’m going with my Ruger Gunsite Scout .308 for rifle season. Short, light, handy, and accurate.

That rifle has served me well for 6 years now.

My second choice will be my Mossberg .30 06. It is not as handy as the Ruger but works well.

I handload all my cartridges.

Really looking forward to this season!

 

[Nutterbuster]

My "saddle rifle" in Minnesota is a Remington 870 with a 1.75x4 scope.

We have a four points on a side rule here and without the score, it can be hard to count.

In Wisconsin, I use a tikka ultra lite 270 but keep thinking about getting a 243. I've never had to shoot more than 100 yards from my saddle there so I want something light, short and with very little recoil.



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I'm a jaded .243 lover. If you'd have caught me before January 12th of this year, I'd have told you to do it. After losing at least one dead buck (I think there was another two years prior, but I had chalked it up to operator error prior to this year's heartbreak) I'd caution folks to at least go .270 or .308.

But I've never had a rifle as sweet as that .243 handi. Got a nice 8 point on the wall that "Honky Cat" wadded up like a wet newspaper.

 

[fbwguy]

I will be using a variety of rifles this year. My rifles get jealous when they don’t get their fair share of the hunt. Gonna use Savage 16 in 260 Rem , Ruger American Ranch in the thumping 450 Bushmaster and of course the trusted Patriot in 30-06. And if she behaves I might just sneak a hunt or 2 with the wife’s 25-06.

 

[fawnzy]

New saddle hunter but I’m going with my Ruger Gunsite Scout .308 for rifle season. Short, light, handy, and accurate.

That rifle has served me well for 6 years now.

My second choice will be my Mossberg .30 06. It is not as handy as the Ruger but works well.

I handload all my cartridges.

Really looking forward to this season!

I bought a Ruger Target Grey Frontier years ago and am happy with the shorty.


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[EricS]

That being said, I have switched to trying to kill a deer with my pistol. No success yet, but I'm gonna keep trying

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Handgun hunting is a blast. I use electronic muffs when I get ready to shoot. That and first and last light are bigger handicaps than range to me.

 

[brydan]

Handgun hunting is a blast. I use electronic muffs when I get ready to shoot. That and first and last light are bigger handicaps than range to me.

+1 I used the Howard Leights and then sprung for some behind the ear Walkers . I love handgun hunting (and rifle hunting) but not enough to wreck my ears. I hunted with too many "one shot won't hurt" guys that were going deaf to ignore protecting them.

I just bought a 357 Herrett barrel for my Contender off GB. Time to work up a load and start getting ready for deer season

 

[JBDaddy]

Last year I tinkered with a 6.5 Creedmoor. Mainly to have a very accurate gun to plink far with. I love shooting it. Light recoil but I dressed it with a heavy barrel. It’s short but heavy for what I’d like for a saddle. It would make a great cartridge for a saddle gun in the right profile. ARs are too bulky I find for a saddle deer gun. Better platforms out there.
Under 100 yard deer gun for a saddle, I think my top pick would be a lever action short barreled Dirty 30. Iron sights. I mostly hunt with a trad bow but this would be my trad gun if I was looking for a saddle gun. I just like lever guns and want one bad!

I hunt in Michigan's "shotgun" zone (now allowing certain pistol caliber rifles) and take a .357 Magnum Rossi carbine lever gun to go. 16 inch barrel, scout type 4x scope. With a saddle ring, it hangs nicely from a single point sling- front, back or under arm. Good to about 100yd for whitetails, light and able to handle hot loads.

Kygunco has blem versions once in a while around 375 shipped. I took it entirely apart to smooth out the action parts individually and reassemble with proper lube. Let's you plink with 38 specials, and take off the scope for a short, handy truck gun or behind the kitchen door cowboy assault rifle.

I used it in my climber last year but didn't see any deer. It'll be going deeper into the woods with sticks and saddle this year.


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[brydan]

I myself have a 452; just did very well with it in a silhouette shoot this weekend

Do you have the 452 silhouette? If so, have you had problems with the rubber recoil falling apart? Mine just melted and disintegrated. Had to scrape it all off but haven't replaced it with anything yet.

 

[Erniepower]

I stumbled into a used set of sport ears last year that work awesome. That and MN just legalized suppressors. I will be ordering one for my 10mm. I know it won't make it quiet, but if it can knock down the blast a decent amount, I'll be happy.

I also put a red dot on my pistol for low light. I feel like I'm prepared, but just haven't been able to close the deal.




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[Nutterbuster]

Do you have the 452 silhouette? If so, have you had problems with the rubber recoil falling apart? Mine just melted and disintegrated. Had to scrape it all off but haven't replaced it with anything yet.

I have the American. Hard plastic "recoil pad." Guess I've never seen a .22 with a rubber pad. I'm sure you can order the plastic one.

 

[Catskills]

Thanks for the responses guys! This thread caught more traction than I thought it would!

 

[brydan]

I have the American. Hard plastic "recoil pad." Guess I've never seen a .22 with a rubber pad. I'm sure you can order the plastic one.

10-4 thanks for the info. It is a little odd to have rubber and such a soft rubber at that. My guess was that being a silhouette model they assumed that even with the lower drop and high comb the shooter would still be shooting off the toe so more comfortable with rubber.

 

[Nutterbuster]

10-4 thanks for the info. It is a little odd to have rubber and such a soft rubber at that. My guess was that being a silhouette model they assumed that even with the lower drop and high comb the shooter would still be shooting off the toe so more comfortable with rubber.

No idea. A local gunship has a trainer 452 with a European stock profile, and it's plastic on the back. Hard to fathom their rationale behind rubber. There's simply no recoil to a full size, bolt action, .22.

Hope you get it fixed up though.

 

[EricS]

Thanks for the responses guys! This thread caught more traction than I thought it would!

I know the website is called saddlehunter but any time we can help someone else spend money it gets a big response.

 

[Drslyr]

Somebody mention TC encore. OK me. SS 30/06 . One shot One kill......or miss