Search found 3 matches
Return to “needin help choosing a rifle/caliber”
- Fri Nov 12, 2010 12:59 am
- Forum: Rifles & Shotguns
- Topic: needin help choosing a rifle/caliber
- Replies: 32
- Views: 5226
Re: needin help choosing a rifle/caliber
Lets talk about scopes for a moment. Choosing the right scope is just as important as choosing the right gun and caliber. You really don't want a 9-16 power scope on a large game hunting rifle, and you probably don't want a 1-4 power scope on a varmint rifle. For large game you really want as low a power as possible to ensure that you quickly acquire your target rather than hunt for it with the scope. In an ideal world a one power scope will be ideal, but if you think that you will be taking game at a distance then you may want a 1-4 power variable scope. When using a variable scope I would suggest keeping it dialed in on the lowest setting as that will be the quickest for finding a target up close, if the target is further away you will in most cases have plenty of time to dial the magnification up before the opportunity is missed. Now lets look at what the meaning of 3-9x40 or 4x40. The first part (3-9 or 4) tells you the magnification range. The lowest power will be first followed with a dash and the highest power (if applicable) will follow that. The second portion (x40) will tell you what the bell size is. The larger the bell the more light the scope can gather and the brighter it will look, it will also help in selecting your scope rings to ensure you get rings that are tall enough to let the bell clear. Speaking of light gathering the larger the diameter of the tube, the brighter the image in the scope will look as well, and your rings will have to fit the tube diameter.
- Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:00 pm
- Forum: Rifles & Shotguns
- Topic: needin help choosing a rifle/caliber
- Replies: 32
- Views: 5226
Re: needin help choosing a rifle/caliber
There are almost no bad manufacturers of bolt actions. A few years ago Savage was the best bang for the buck, but people figured that out and their prices have gone up slightly. The reasons bolt actions are usually more accurate are numerous. First is that they are easy to clean properly. Second is that its hard to build a bad bolt action. Third a decent bolt action locks up nice and tight because of reason #2. Once the bolt is closed a bolt action is rock solid and parts should not move much if any at all.
- Tue Nov 09, 2010 12:56 am
- Forum: Rifles & Shotguns
- Topic: needin help choosing a rifle/caliber
- Replies: 32
- Views: 5226
Re: needin help choosing a rifle/caliber
The .30-06 will do everything you mention, however to be honest I would not hunt bear with anything less than something in .30 caliber preferably with magnum in the name. Now with that said I am a big fan of having a gun specific to the task at hand. I am not contradicting myself just wanting to ensure that I have enough gun to do the job in case I don't do my job as well as I should, out of the need to take game in a humane manner AND to ensure the game doesn't take me. Given a choice between a .30-06 and a .300 win mag I would go with the .30-06 for everything but bear.
Moving on to pre-mounted scopes. The ideal application for factory mounted optics is for folks wanting a turnkey solution that can be zeroed in and used immediately. Some firearms come with ok optics, others come with something less. Keep in mind though that what is included with the gun may not be suited for what you plan to do. I would suggest buying the gun without the optic and adding your own great optic, and you don't have to spend $600 on your optic. A good rule of thumb is buy a quality optic that costs half as much as your rifle, but it isn't always true. Additionally buy good rings and bases, don't go cheap on them and a good scope ring alignment tool will help as well. Every time I bought a rifle with a factory installed optic I have found myself wanting something else on the rifle, while this is not always the case for everyone else it is the case for me.
Moving on to pre-mounted scopes. The ideal application for factory mounted optics is for folks wanting a turnkey solution that can be zeroed in and used immediately. Some firearms come with ok optics, others come with something less. Keep in mind though that what is included with the gun may not be suited for what you plan to do. I would suggest buying the gun without the optic and adding your own great optic, and you don't have to spend $600 on your optic. A good rule of thumb is buy a quality optic that costs half as much as your rifle, but it isn't always true. Additionally buy good rings and bases, don't go cheap on them and a good scope ring alignment tool will help as well. Every time I bought a rifle with a factory installed optic I have found myself wanting something else on the rifle, while this is not always the case for everyone else it is the case for me.