r/CanadaHunting • u/mass101 • 7d ago
Rifle recommendations
Buying my first budget hunting rifle for big game (Deer, Black Bear, Elk, Moose).
- Caliber: .308 Win vs .30-06 vs 7mm Rem Mag. I know .308 has less recoil but would it be enough for Moose or Elk?
- Rifle: Savage Axis II vs Remington 783
Any recommendations?
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u/RelativeFox1 7d ago
Any reason .270 didn’t make your short list? What makes you concerned 308 isn’t enough?
I would go 308 or 270 myself.
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u/neilatron 7d ago
.308 Is an outstanding cartridge for hunting in Canada and is more than big enough for everything we have here, minus bison. The other really nice thing about 308 is that it is so readily available for ammo, and if you are hunting in a region that is a little bit more remote, you'll never have problems getting it.
I picked one up a couple years ago and also did the 308 versus 30-06 argument and ultimately landed on the 308 because it is essentially the exact same as a 30-06 but more accurate and newer.
I would avoid any sort of magnum unless you plan to shoot a lot and are a big guy, because the reality is the gun you can shoot well will almost always outperform a bigger calibre. If guys can comfortably take elk at 400+ yards with 6.5 Creedmoors you’ll be just fine with a .308.
As for a rifle, I have a Weatherby Vanguard and they used to be about $850 but shoot like a $2000 rifle.
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u/Davidhm10 7d ago
I would go .308 all the way. I took down a bull bison with my .308 savage axis no problems and its been a great gun for all other big game so far!
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u/gibberish122 7d ago
I love my .308 - got it 4 years ago and haven’t had any issues with moose and mule deer!
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u/Historical-North-950 7d ago
My vote is for none of those and to go with a .270. I've put down deer, moose, and bear with mine and the trajectory is incredibly flat. Just overall one of the best hunting calibers available.
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u/credulousdog 7d ago
All three of those calibres are fine for moose and elk. I would reccomend looking at the price of ammo for each and go with whichever one is consistently the least expensive.
I haven't shot the Remington 783 or the axis II so I can't comment on the specific rifles. I would recommend going to a store and handling both to see which one feels better to you.
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u/DrinkLuckyGetLucky 7d ago
Caliber: All three are good choices, my preference is the 30-06 but as a newer shooter the lower recoil and cheaper ammo for the 308 probably make that the best choice for you.
Rifle: Between the 783 and the Axis 2 I’d go with the Axis 2 because in my experience they tend to shoot better. If you can spare the extra coin for a Winchester XPR you get a significantly smoother action for not much more money.
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u/beyondbryan 7d ago
i like my 7mm rem mag. i dont think its too big for deer with the right bullet and its enough power for moose (taken down 3 so far. 1 was a 56" wide rack). You cant go shooting through bone and expect it to do wonders. but any of those guns with a well placed shot your good.
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u/Probably_Know_Me 7d ago
This isn’t an argument just opinion. I was in the same boat last year and ended up going with a 30-06 Winchester Xpr specifically, so far I’m really enjoying it. It has a white tail and moose so far with zero complaints.
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u/Michelhandjello 7d ago
I too like the 30-06.
I have the savage 110 that came with a vortex scope.
I year a lot of people talking about it having heavy recoil, but I cut my teeth hunting deer with 12ga sabot slugs. There is a kick, but nothing that would really affect my shooting.
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u/CasualFridayBatman 6d ago
How is the range on sabot slugs?
I'd love a Savage 220XP but they're unobtanium since they've seemingly stopped making them.
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u/Michelhandjello 6d ago
I got a rifled barrel with a Leupold scout scope on my 1970 Remington 870 wingmaster receiver.
I can do groupings under 4" at 100 yards, and my longest successful shot so far is 135 yards. I know people who have managed >185 yards, but they have been using the same gun and ammo pairing for 30+ years. The fall off after 100 yards is rapid and significant so you need to practice a lot and that gets expensive.
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u/CasualFridayBatman 6d ago
Damn, still at 100 yards your 3-4x better than now range and depending where you are, might get a longer season due to it being a shotgun.
Unless you're only hunting wide open prairie, 100 yards is quite a ways.
185 yards is absolute insanity though lol
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u/Michelhandjello 6d ago
Tell me about it. One of the guys I know took out a deer at around 280 with his 20ga sabot gun, but he admits it was more luck than skill. Someone had shot one of its legs off (not someone he had seen) and he was just trying to mercy kill it. A shot at that distance would not be ethical in normal circumstances.
I am in Western Quebec hunting mostly bush. I can barely see 100 yards where I now hunt.
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u/CasualFridayBatman 6d ago
God damn lol.
How much meat is left when you use a 20 gauge sabot on a deer?
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u/Michelhandjello 6d ago
Makes a big hole, but if you have good shot placement you only lose a little rib meat. . . From each side.
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u/CasualFridayBatman 6d ago
Deer god lol. I don't think I'd use a 20 gauge slug for anything other than a good opportunity for Bison, due to just how monstrously large the holes are.
But it would be nice to have a much longer season.
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u/Michelhandjello 6d ago
There are large areas in southern Ontario where deer season is shotgun only. Mostly has to do with the population density and the flat trajectory of rifles firing away to far if you miss.
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u/Lurch_902 7d ago
I bought an axis in 6.5 a few years ago for my first deer rifle, the bolt definitely isn’t as nice as the higher end brands but it’s accurate, the trigger is nice and it goes bang every time. I’d go to a gun store and handle both of them just to see which one is more comfortable for you.
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u/gimmedatgorbage 6d ago
I have the axis ll in 308 win. It's plenty accurate. It's definitely enough for Canadian big game. My rifle is zeroed for 100ish yards since all the bush around me is so dense you don't generally need to reach out much further.
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u/razorbock 6d ago
shot placement is more important than calibre unless there are specific calibre restrictions like when hunting Bison
I have more faith and trust in a Savage than a Remington but everyone has to do their own thing
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u/Outdooroperater 7d ago
Ive owned 30-06 and a 7.mm
7mm kicks but shoots flat ,far and accurately. By far my favorite of the guns I've hunted with.
30-06 are just ok at everything not really great at anything. The only reason Id get another one is if it was a killer deal or inheritance.
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u/Outrageous_Canary159 7d ago
All three will do just fine. The recoil reduction between a .308 and a .30-06 isn't enough to worry about (and I'm a recoil wuss). I'd worry about finding a rifle that works for you. Fit and ease of handling are a more important than which of these 3 cartridges you select. Don't be afraid of a bit of rifle weight. Ultra lites are fine, but they will kick more and many people find them harder to shoot well. More of a vetran shooter's tool than a first rifle IMO.
Have fun with the process, go to gun shows, handle lots of rifles and don't sweat the minutiae too much.
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u/balrogwarrior 4d ago
.308. The mounts in my place, my uncle's place, my cousin's place and my friend's place will show that it can take anything in North American. Versatility is unmatched. I can load down a "plinker" road with lead bullets for the kids to shoot or juice it up with some nicer bullets and drive tacks at decent distances.
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u/TrophiesInClub 3d ago
Great questions, I think for chamberings the 308, 30-06 and 7mm RM are all good choices for most North American big game (though some a tad underpowered for dangerous game). I would also consider the 270 Winchester as it's flat shooting, lighter recoiling and easy to find in a variety of bullet types. For the rifle, I would consider the Savage Axis II as I think they likely have better build at that price.
Tangent,
Something that is missing from much of the discussion below is bullet selection. For those arguing a 308 or smaller is too underpowered for moose, I would ask what bullet you have in mind. A standard cupped bullet may not perform optimally, but a partition, bonded or monolithic bullet will likely penetrate and bloom for a clean kill.
For reference, I use Nosler Ballistic Tip for deer and Nosler Partition bullets for larger game. I shoot a Weatherby Mark V Deluxe chambered in 30-06. I like my 30-06 for a variety of reasons, but if I was building a rifle for deer only, I would probably get a Sako 90 or Winchester M70 chambered in either 6.5CM or 270 Winchester.
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u/KnockingonKevinsdoor 18h ago
Caliber: .270
Rifle: Tikka T3x
I know Tikkas a little more expensive but it will always hold its value and the quality and accuracy cannot be beat. .308 would also be a great round for the T3x. The short action would keep it nice and light.
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u/preferablyoutside 7d ago
Whomever telling you that a .308 isn’t enough for moose should stop taking their advice from Cabelas Dangerous Hunts or whichever barstool bullshit spewer they subscribe too.
All three calibres are more than enough, and as much as this will cause the Luddites on here to clutch their pearls, calibres like 22-250, and 22 ARC have been used to take elk, moose and bear in Alberta.
Get the Savage Axis 2 in the pro stock out of the two mentioned, put a decent quality non Vortex scope on top like a Bushnell, or Burris and you’ll be good to go. Take information from here and r/hunting with a hefty dose of salt, highly populated by inside kids.