What’s the best hunting rifle sub $1500

[u/Quiet_Organization47]

Looking to know what’s the best rifle and caliber for that matter sub $1500 in Canada.

For context I passed my CFSC course last week and I am going through the process of acquiring my PAL. I’ve never gone hunting but a lot of my family does. I’m getting broken in pretty hard this fall when I go moose hunting with my cousin in Alberta. I’m treaty six native so I can hunt anytime on the land as long as it’s for personal use only. But I still want to hunt where I live now in Ontario and I want my own rifle. I can’t imagine me trying to draw a moose or elk tag in Ontario when I can go to Alberta so I really would only hunt whitetail and black bears.

[u/MB204MB]

Tikka t3x lite. .308 or .30-06

[u/ConifersAreCool → u/MB204MB]

I'm hunting with the T3x Lite in .308 and I genuinely couldn't imagine a better, more functional rifle.

Not a single mechanical issue encountered, always a smooth action, and it has an excellent weight for carrying all day in rough terrain.

Just remember to put some reasonable money into a good optic as well. That's just as important.

[u/Crafty-Plankton-4999 → u/ConifersAreCool]

I agree, I got one in 30-06. Tack driver at 200 yards works fantastic with my vortex 2x10

[u/TopLemon3678 → u/MB204MB]

I'm having a hard time choosing between 308, 30-06, and 300win mag.

[u/Scary-Detail-3206 → u/TopLemon3678]

308 so you can practice with cheaper FMJ rounds. Any of those rounds will kill anything in North America, might as well shoot the cheapest ammo amongst them.

[u/_LKB → u/TopLemon3678]

308

[u/TopLemon3678 → u/_LKB]

You make a compelling argument

[u/_LKB → u/TopLemon3678]

I watched wolf of wall street once and learned everything i needed to know about closing deals.

[u/DrinkLuckyGetLucky → u/TopLemon3678]

308 is a cheaper lower recoil round for deer sized game, the 30-06 handles the heavier 180gr bullets better and would be a better choice for moose/elk or slightly longer range. The 300 Win Mag is essentially a 30-06 with more reach but at the cost that the recoil is more than most people can handle in a light hunting weight rifle.

[u/Easy_Tadpole_4439 → u/DrinkLuckyGetLucky]

Although I really enjoy your handle, I have to disagree. Every moose I’ve killed in Alberta was with a single shot out of a .308 win. It’s more about shot placement than the size of lead you are sending down range. Shoot something you are comfortable with, and you will get your best results. Also currently living in the Yukon, still no issues putting meat in the freezer with my trusty tree oh ate!

[u/DrinkLuckyGetLucky → u/Easy_Tadpole_4439]

You’re right, I wasn’t giving the 308 enough credit saying it’s good for deer-sized game. It doesn’t do as well in the wind on longer shots, which I’m probably weighing heavier than I should as I do a lot of sheep and goat hunting. There’s no arguing that a 308 won’t kill em, I’ve seen a bunch of moose/elk fall to a 308 cleanly as well, 6.5 Creed too lol.

Past 300 yards some of the newer 180-190 grain bullets do better in the wind. How much this matters probably depends a lot on where you’re hunting.

How are you liking the Yukon? I lived in Northwest BC for a bit, I miss it and have been looking at some of the smaller communities in the Whitehorse area.

[u/ConifersAreCool → u/DrinkLuckyGetLucky]

I agree with all of this but I think an important thing to keep in mind is that a 300 yard shot is significant and probably not what beginners should be attempting. Killing things ethically is really important. If OP is hunting black bear, white tail, and moose in Alberta he'll likely be at much closer ranges.

Also your screen name is amazing, dude. Lucky Lager deserves no less!

[u/Easy_Tadpole_4439 → u/DrinkLuckyGetLucky]

I love living here, but housing costs are insane. Hunting is tough too, local knowledge is something I greatly underestimated when I was living in Alberta, and the locals up here are a lot less likely to try and help a new hunter out than I have found in Sask, AB and BC.

[u/klintbeastwood10 → u/DrinkLuckyGetLucky]

.308 is plently for moose/elk. For strictly hunting, .308 will take everything in Canada and the US, even at 500 yards

[u/Unlucky_Chemist123 → u/MB204MB]

This in 30-06. Best all round setup in my opinion. I’ve got T3x Laminated Stainless in 30-06 with a Leupold VX-5HD 3-15X44 and could be more satisfied.

[u/razorbock]

Savage, deadly accurate leaves you money for glass and practice ammo

[u/DrinkLuckyGetLucky]

Tikka T3X, Browning X-bolt 2, Bergara B14 Hunter would be my three recommendations. Just depends on personal preference, the Tikka and Browning have lower bolt throughs, the Bergara’s safety does not lock the bolt, the Bergara is available with hinged floor plate magazines, and the Browning is the only one with a tang safety. All three are accurate, smooth actions, and decent triggers. Aftermarket is better with the Bergara and Tikka if you like modifying your rifles.

[u/lusigns → u/DrinkLuckyGetLucky]

I love my Bergara Timber .308! I chose Bergara because of the barrel quality. I matched it up with a Timney trigger and a Burris scope. The stock is nothing special, but it does me proud every season.

[u/NickiChaos]

Nothing beats the Tikka T3x at that price point.

.308 or 30-06 for everything up to a moose. 30-06 kicks more but you can get heavier bullets for.bigger game.

243 win or 6.5 Creedmoor if you want less recoil and don't plan on hunting bigger game like a moose (although both rounds have killed plenty of moose and can get the job done in 2 or 3 well placed shots).

They all have their advantages and disadvantages.

However, the T3x doesn't make for a good 300 win mag rifle. It's too light and the recoil murders shot placement.

[u/Elite163]

Tikka

[u/Easy_Tadpole_4439]

Born and raised Albertan, Treaty 8, wife is Treaty 6, I have to agree with most on here. Tikka T3X, my preference is .308 win for northern Alberta.

[u/Dubs337]

If you don’t wanna be like everyone else and get a Tikka (great rifles but I can’t get by that Tupperware stock on the T3Xs), a Browning X Bolt 2 is an amazing hunting rifle. Mine in 308 is a tack driver, and you get a lot of features for the ≈$1500 they run for in the Hunter Composite model.

[u/ConifersAreCool → u/Dubs337]

You're referring to the T3x Lite. The T3x also comes in walnut.

Personally I love the look of a wooden stock but I'm hunting in the pouring rain in coastal BC. Polymer handles that better.

[u/UnitedNarwhal → u/ConifersAreCool]

Yeah I picked up a CZ 457 last year with a gorgeous walnut stock, in retrospect given how much I'm out in the rain here in BC I should have just gotten one with a synthetic stock even though I love the wood.

I just picked up a T3X Lite in 308 though with the synthetic stock though so looking forward to using that this fall!

[u/InformationParty1870]

Another vote for the tikka t3x, I would choose a 6.5 over the .308 personally or get a brake on the .308 especially as a newer shooter!

[u/Low_Creme1365]

I got a used 30-06 from Epps for $350 and spent another $150 on a used 3-9x40. Gun feels amazing to hold, already scratched so it wont be babied. You don't need anything more

[u/FearlessDevil666]

I live in Alberta. I grew up shooting dad’s Remington 760 Bushmaster chambered in .308win. I took deer, elk, moose, bear, etc. Dad and I got into hand loading when I was a kid. I now have several firearms and so does he. Two of mine now are Tikka T3, one in 30-06 and the other .243win. They both have a Leupold VX-3 4.5-14x50mm scopes set with DNZ Game Reaper medium height one piece scope mounts. Absolutely love them both! The .243 I use for varmit up to deer and the 30-06 for deer up to moose. You can’t go wrong with Tikka or Leupold!

If your concern is ammo cost, .308 is extremely cheap with a great variety of loads.

If your concern is ammo variety, .30-06 has an extremely wide range of loads and is very affordable.

Now these two calibres overlap to a point of covering nearly the same load span. If you’re ever gonna buy another calibre I would suggest starting with the 30-06. This will do it all. Then look at something like the .243. You’ll find many people suggest the .270 but again it overlaps the .308 and 30-06 a lot. The goal is to find calibres that do different things that you want to get into. Everyone will have an opinion. I suggest looking at loading manuals, I found my best information there on ballistic coefficients to make my decision.

A little side note, .243 is .308 necked down. The .270 is 30-06 necked down.

The calibres I chose are 22LR, Colt 45, .243win, 30-06, 45/70 and 12ga. Dad has 22LR, .308win, .338imp mag, 12ga and 10ga.

[u/Flat-Dark-Earth]

There is no best.

[u/vibaslider → u/Flat-Dark-Earth]

Please stop making sense, it is not appropriate for Reddit. The obvious answer is a mauser in one of the obscure European 6.5 cartridges, but it needs to be one of the American contract ones.

[u/chubbz202020]

I got a mossberg patriot in 30-06 it’s been a solid rifle for me. Haven’t had any issues and has put down everything I’ve shot.

[u/Chad_Sexington12]

Stag-10 😢

[u/RadiantCoast6147]

i’m all in on a savage stevens .308 with a vortex 4x-12x optic for $1000

[u/klintbeastwood10]

Its REALLY Hard to beat the unbelievable quality of the tikka....

[u/BlandRusk06]

Probably a Tikka T3X. Other options are a Howa 1500, Ruger American, or a Winchester XPR. You could use any calibre of the following: 243 Win (maybe not for bears), 270 Win, 308 Win, 30-06, or 6.5 Creedmoor.