Hey guys, I've been trying to really do my homework here before I decide on a rifle. My homework led me to this site.
First of all, I live in New Jersey, the worst state in the union with gun control laws. Since I can't hunt with a rifle in New Jersey, I had never really given much consideration to purchasing a rifle.
Well, I'm 29 years old and I fly for an airline. This has given me opportunities I didn't have before, such as possible hunting excursions across the midwest. I've decided to team up with a friend of mine who is more than twice my age who hunts mostly with a rifle in PA. We are going to hunt PA and NY this upcoming season for Whitetails. He isn't as mobile as he used to, so his hunting technique is more of lying in wait and sniping from a distance and using an ATV to retrieve. He shoots a 30.06.
I asked for his advice on a rifle to get, and he was pretty much torn between a .308 and a 30.06. He says that a 30.06 is kind of overkill for whitetails, BUT, if later down the road I decided to do a hunt in say, Colorado or Wyoming for bigger game/longer distance shots, I would be wishing I had a 30.06 instead.
So I am kind of torn on which caliber would be the best option. The .308 sounds great for deer, but I'm a go all out or go home kind of guy. I duck hunt like a religious freak and shoot nothing but a Benelli M1. I don't usually skimp on my gear.
So while I plan to intially hunt whitetails in the northeast, there's no telling how much fever I'll get to head out west for some bigger game.
Also, I'm not exaclty sure what distances I will be shooting from, as I have never hunted with a rifle before. My deer hunting experience is limited to archery and shotgun. I am intrigued at the idea of laying in wait up on a ridge and sniping off a big buck from hundreds of yards away. But I have no idea what realistic distances I will be shooting.
Keeping this in mind, what caliber would you recommend? I want a gun that can knock the living crap out of a deer from 300 yards easily. Not that I am aiming for that distance, but if it can drop him stone dead at 300 yards, than 100 yards he would be on the grill with ease.
Right now, I am looking at the Winchester Model 70 Shadow, the Remmington 700 and the FN Herstal 308 WIN. I intend to outfit with a serious Nikon scope.
Since I am new to rifle hunting, I am also taking this offseason summer to practice and learn as much as I can. I already have my hands on a US Army Sniper training guide, as the information seems invaluable for scoped rifle hunting.
Thanks
First of all, I live in New Jersey, the worst state in the union with gun control laws. Since I can't hunt with a rifle in New Jersey, I had never really given much consideration to purchasing a rifle.
Well, I'm 29 years old and I fly for an airline. This has given me opportunities I didn't have before, such as possible hunting excursions across the midwest. I've decided to team up with a friend of mine who is more than twice my age who hunts mostly with a rifle in PA. We are going to hunt PA and NY this upcoming season for Whitetails. He isn't as mobile as he used to, so his hunting technique is more of lying in wait and sniping from a distance and using an ATV to retrieve. He shoots a 30.06.
I asked for his advice on a rifle to get, and he was pretty much torn between a .308 and a 30.06. He says that a 30.06 is kind of overkill for whitetails, BUT, if later down the road I decided to do a hunt in say, Colorado or Wyoming for bigger game/longer distance shots, I would be wishing I had a 30.06 instead.
So I am kind of torn on which caliber would be the best option. The .308 sounds great for deer, but I'm a go all out or go home kind of guy. I duck hunt like a religious freak and shoot nothing but a Benelli M1. I don't usually skimp on my gear.
So while I plan to intially hunt whitetails in the northeast, there's no telling how much fever I'll get to head out west for some bigger game.
Also, I'm not exaclty sure what distances I will be shooting from, as I have never hunted with a rifle before. My deer hunting experience is limited to archery and shotgun. I am intrigued at the idea of laying in wait up on a ridge and sniping off a big buck from hundreds of yards away. But I have no idea what realistic distances I will be shooting.
Keeping this in mind, what caliber would you recommend? I want a gun that can knock the living crap out of a deer from 300 yards easily. Not that I am aiming for that distance, but if it can drop him stone dead at 300 yards, than 100 yards he would be on the grill with ease.
Right now, I am looking at the Winchester Model 70 Shadow, the Remmington 700 and the FN Herstal 308 WIN. I intend to outfit with a serious Nikon scope.
Since I am new to rifle hunting, I am also taking this offseason summer to practice and learn as much as I can. I already have my hands on a US Army Sniper training guide, as the information seems invaluable for scoped rifle hunting.
Thanks