From: keith@clodii.columbiasc.NCR.COM (Keith Boyd)
Newsgroups: rec.hunting
Subject: Re: Another: Need first rifle recommendation
Date: 1 Sep 92 11:19:44 GMT
Organization: NCR E&M Columbia SC
Originator: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu

In article <1992Aug31.094543.12274@doug.cae.wisc.edu> mja@philabs.philips.com (Michael Amato) writes:
>
>I too am looking for my first rifle, but not first gun. I grew

[Stuff deleted]

>Well, I'll eventually get into bow, but for now I though picking up a rifle
>and still gun hunting would get better results quicker.
>
>30-30 lever actions seem to be pretty popular as a good short range rifle
>for most of the woods around here, but I was thinking more about a 30-06 
>bolt action with scope (again popular around here). I will not be doing
>my own reloads (is this really necessary?). Because of $, I was going
>to get a used gun. What makes/models are good? What caliber? What scopes
>(if any)? what should I expect to pay? What models/make should I avoid?
>

Hey Michael, I will extend the same advice to you as I did to Matt
Harrington. I recommend the .270 winchester. This caliber is fine
for deer hunting and is becoming extremely popular down here. I would
like to point out that it is very similar in size to the 30-06 round.
The .270 is slightly smaller in diameter (.030) and a little longer
in overall length. I have resized 30-06 brass into .270 and shot them
in my .270 rifle with good results in fact. That gives you an idea
of how similar they are. The .270 shoots a little flatter. I believe
my 130 grn loads (zero'ed at 100yds.) drop 3" at 200yds and about 8"
at 300 yds. 
Many people down here also started out with the ole' "thutty thutty"
(as another poster put it!) including myself. After time though, they
usually move up to a faster bullet like the .270, .308, or 30-06. In
fact, my hunt club prez bagged a bunch of deer with his 30-30 before
he moved up to .270 . He actually swore he could tell the difference
in bullet speed (30-30 vs. .270) at 100yds by how quick the deer would
react to the trigger pull! BTW, the 30-30 starts to run out of steam
and start dropping a good bit once it passes the 100yd mark. The .270
is good for 200-300yd shots so why not just start out with the .270??
Have I convinced you yet? :)  As for makes, Remington, Winchester,  
Ruger, Browning all make good to excellent bolt action rifles. Just
decide how much you want to spend and shop around. As for scopes,
since you are limiting your price, get a Bushnell, Simmons or Tasco
in the $60 - $90 range. You can upgrade here later on if you want.
As for reloading, I do my own obviously. You probably won't need
to unless you start shooting alot. Start off by buying factory
ammo. You can always get into reloading later on if you want too.
People reload becuase:

1. They take pride in producing quality reloads. (Usually  ;)
2. It is alittle cheaper than buying factory ammo.
3. The exact load they want is not readily available.
3.5 They have nothing better to do. ;-)


>Thanks for any advice in advance.
>-- 

Sure thing...

>+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
>| Michael Amato  DoD#0639 | "If pro is the opposite of con,       |
>| mja@philabs.philips.com | then what is Congress"? - Will Rogers |
>+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
>
>
 
Good Luck..

Keith

-- 
| Keith M. Boyd  (NCR MCPD Cola.) | Nothing could be finer than huntin' and  |
| 3325 Platt Springs Rd.          |    and fishin' in South Carolina! -Me-   | 
| West Cola., S.C. 29170 |   GO BRAVES!!     | keith.boyd@columbiasc.NCR.COM |
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