Savage 30-06, my first rifle?

Question

Would be my first rifle. Bolt action, synthetic stock w/scope. The price is right, I've heard they are very accurate but with no frills. Will be using it for deer and moose, possibly at long range since I will be hunting in a lot of big clear-cuts.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks to everyone for the feedback so far...
I have used .22's at a summer camp that I went to as a kid and worked there for 6 years, so it's not my first time using a rife, just buying one (and I've never fired a high powered rifle).

Answer 1

You have chosen well my friend. Savage is a good quality rifle, and the 30-06 is the best all around caliber on the market. No other caliber on the market today offers the wide variety of powder grains and bullet weights that you find in 30-06. As far as accuracy, you will find that Savage ranks up there with rifles costing 4 or 5 times as much. Savage synthetic rifles come floated and bedded from the factory, and their new trigger system cannot be beat. You will be very pleased with your choice, as will your kids....and your grandkids.....and your great grandkids......and so on. Since this is your first rifle, I will offer a suggestion. As soon as you get it home, remove the barrel and scratch your name/date into the barrel channel on top of the forestock. Make sure you print small enough that the barrel covers up what you write. As the rifle is handed down from generation to generation, each new owner should do the same. If you will do that, your grandkids will truly understand the portion of the Lord's prayer that reads, "you will have to pry it from my cold, dead hand".

Answer 2

Why a savage? Because it's cheaper and more accurate than a 700 or 77 The savage rifles are pretty light and the 06 will kick pretty good if you go with the synthetic stock. So if that's a concern to you, I would either go with the wood stock or drop down to a 308. As far as the scope goes, they are serviceable for most hunting applications. I eventually took mine off from the package and put it on a 22lr. What you want to do is buy another mount and rings as the ones they put on is cheap. You can have a cheap scope on a rifle, but you can't have cheap mounts. I'd go ahead and buy leupold mounts/rings or an equivilant brand. As far as prices, I don't know. Try impactguns website and that should give you a much better idea of what you'll pay at the larger chain stores like basspro, cabelas, or walmart.

Answer 3

I am 14 years old and my first high powered rifle was a Savage model 111 30-06. I have killed a deer with it and it is definately a good rifle for it's price. Though, I took off that crappy sling and put a nice leather one on. And I put Butler Creek flip-open scope covers on it. You definately can not go wrong with this rifle. As for and other suggestions, you say you'll be shooting possibly at long range. If not the Savage 30-06, try a 300 Winchester Magnum

Answer 4

Fine for a first choice! My first deer rifle was a Remington 700 in -06 and I still have it 40+ years later. You can buy ammo near anywhere in the world. Recoil on the Savage Scout is a little more noticable, but not enough to be a defining reason for or against another brand. I have killed deer with various calibers and never remembered the recoil. You probably won't either. However, a long day at the range with an -06 can be remembered for a while...;-)

Cntrlflm

Answer 5

What a great choice in rifles. The Savage line of guns are my favorite. There is nothing wrong with starting with a 30-06. Practise a lot....no I mean A LOT before you go hunting. Start with the reduced recoil loads from Remington. Then move up to the higer power ones. The 30-06 can be used for darn near every big game animal in North America. And you can find bullets for the gun any where bullets are sold. That is not so with some cartriges.

Good luck!

Answer 6

The .30-06 is a very good round for certain people. If you are small framed and the rifle is of a lighter weight, the felt recoil might deter some. But you are not, and the rifle is heavier, go ahead, the round is a great one, probably one of the best. But if you decide on something else, I would recommend considering a .308. I dont mean to sound like one of those weak people that say, "a .22 is a good starter rifle," but with a really hot .308 load, you can almost mimic an average .30-06. And if you think the recoil is too great, you can shoot the lighter loads. A lot of people buy .30-06 and tshoot lighter loads because of the recoil.

Answer 7

That is a very good hunting rifle for the game you describe. My personal choice is a 300 win mag, but a 30-06 will get the job done as well. I have never owned a Savage so I have no first hand knowledge of their quality and accuracy, but I have not heard anything negative about them either.I think if you like the rifle, it fits you, and the price is right, then you have the answer you seek.

Answer 8

Savage is a very sound make, and I hear good things
about that new 'Accu-Trigger` they feature, (a very
important point in achieving accuracy).
The 30-06 cartridge is a fine old standard which will
take just about anything on the N.A. continent provided
you can place your shots.
You might find it a bit too intense, especially if you have no high power experience.
If your intended game is not of moose or elk proportions, you might prefer something smaller.
A 7mm/08, 280 Remington, or 270 Winchester will
still have plenty of power for most puposes and will
kick a lot less.

Answer 9

I've never owned a Savage bolt gun, but they have a good reputation, and you certainly can't fault the caliber. It's more than adequate for your plans.
I've been hunting for almost fifty years, and if there's one thing I've learned during that time, it's that as soon as somebody mentions energy tables or muzzle energy in hunting arms, you may safely and smartly ignore anything they have to say. Momentum is a closer guide to terminal ballistic effectiveness, and that only roughly. You need a well-constructed bullet of a type appropriate for your game, and with the appropriate sectional density, put where it will count. For deer and moose, many find the little 6.5's adequate, so it's silly to think you might be undergunned.

Answer 10

I personally think that a .22 is the best first gun, but if the 30-06 is what you will be using mostly for hunting, it might be a good choice especially if the price is right.