Best type of inexpensive hunting rifle?

Question

What would be a good choice in a hunting rifle for a 17 year old female? I'm pretty strong and athletic, so it's not the kickback I'm so concerned about as the size/length, because I'm pretty short (around 5'4") and need something that won't be too awkward to carry around through trees and brush. I'd like to buy it (or have my parents purchase it rather) so it'd be nice if it were in a medium/low price range, but I don't have much experience with how much guns should cost...Also, I plan to do mostly deer hunting...Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Answer 1

I agree that a Marlin Model 336 or Model 30 in .30-30 WCF or .35 Remington will be a great choice.

Another great inexpensive hunting rifle is the H&R Handi-Rifle. It is available in .22 Hornet (not suitable for deer hunting), .30-30 WCF, .44 RemMag, .45-70 Gov't and .500 S&W, and at times there are other caliber choices available. Another good point for the Handi-Rifle is that if you buy the rifle, you can get other barrels fitted, giving you a choice of calibers using the same stock and action. There are also youth length stocks available. A friend uses one in .357 Magnum for his truck gun.

I am very happy to see another young lady who is interested in hunting.

Regards,
Doc

Answer 2

So you understand now that a .22 is no good for medium/large game? I'm gonna recommend a .30-06, although there are many other good choices out there. The .30-06 is one of the most popular hunting calibers of all time, so you'll be able to find ammo literally everywhere. It is a very versatile cartridge that accepts bullets weighing in anywhere from 110 grain all the way up to 220 grain. This give you the ability to hunt everything from coyotes/pronghorn all the way up to moose and bear. It literally is the do everything caliber for north american game. As for what rifle, I'd recommend a remington 700 ADL. You can find them used for around $300 or new for around $450. This isn't the only good option though. Anything made by savage will be good and relatively inexpensive. The winchester model 70 is also a good gun. If you local walmart stocks the weatherby vangard that is also a good gun for the price.

Answer 3

I'll give two recomendations.
Like everyone else the Marlin 336 in .30-30 is one of the best brush guns around. It's lever action and has a short barrel, either 20, 22 or 24 inches.
Second choice would be Ruger model 44M in .44 magnum. It's barrel is only 18.5 inches long, lever action as well. Both have great iron sights and are tapped for scopes if legal in your state. Both can be found used for less than $350. Expect to spend at least this much for a quality deer gun.

Answer 4

If you're worried about length of the gun, get a New England Partner rifle. You can get them in .308 caliber and .243, although I strongly recommend the .308. They run in the $180-200 range. They are single shot rifles and are simple to operate. The partner rifle is the little brother to New England's Handi-Rifle, which is a fine choice also. I just got rid of a Remington 700 in 7mm mag. I had shot the mag. for years and finally realized that I just didn't need it. I replaced it with a Handi-Rifle in .308. My kids have a Partner in .243 that my dad bought for them. These rifles are very accurate and right in your price range.

Remington makes the Model 710, and although I thought I'd never have anything bad to say about a Remington, it's a sorry, cheap made gun.

You'd better hurry and get one bought and sighted in. Hunting season is just around the corner. Have fun.

Answer 5

Remember that you get what you pay for. Try a Savage youth model in 7mm-08. It's a GREAT and over looked round. Deer, pig, coyotes!! It's great!! If you don't like the 7mm-08, try the same gun in .308. No need to add the extra pain of a 30-06, when the factory rounds put out about the same ballistics (if you're re-loading, it's different).

Answer 6

The Marlin model 336 30-30 is a great deer rifle and fits your needs.

to take a look
http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/centerfire/336c.aspx

Wal-Mart & or Dick's Sporting Goods is a good place to buy one "IF" you take someone with you that knows what they are looking at.

The 336C is my favorite variant, I would think you could pick a new one up for $300-$350

I called the local Wally world - they had the 336W for $318.47

Dick's Sporting Goods had both the 336A for $349.99 and the 336SS(stainless steel) for $$449.99 >If you have a Dick's in your area they do have some great sales on firearms, especially just before hunting season.

On of my favorite places to check firearms/prices/deals
http://www.gunbroker.com

Good Luck

Answer 7

If you live east of the Mississippi, you should probably go with a shotgun, or look for a rifle chambered in .357 or .44 magnum. You don't want a gun that will go more than 200 yards, and these will kill just about any animal you want to hunt. By the way, a Mossberg 500 is roughly $150-200 for the gun, and you can buy barrels to swap out and use it to hunt upland birds, waterfowl, fire slugs, and even shoot skeet.

Answer 8

the kel tec SU-16 is a fairly inexpensive rifle chambered in 5.56NATO but can also fit .223 remington. there are plenty of different kinds of hunting cartridges in that caliber. they are effective against targets up to whitetail deer size, if you hit in a vital area. the rifle is of a fairly small size and weight. the A version has a 18.5 inch barrel and the B, C versions have 16 inch barrels. its a short little rifle comparable in length to a ruger mini 14. i have no complaints against the mini 14, but mr. ruger angered me with his letter to congress advocating magazine capacity limits, so i dont advertise his products.

Answer 9

I got one of my kids a Remington Model 7 in 7mm08 and put a Leupold VariX II scope on it when he was little. Naturally, he grew like a weed and is now 6'4". That might be just what you're looking for, and the whole rig will put you back maybe $800 these days, I think, if you shop carefully.

Answer 10

Go get yourself a 30-30. Marlin makes a nice one that sounds perfect for you. It's shorter, so it would fit your stature, it's a great brush gun, and it's inexpensive (usually less than $200).
I've been hunting with one for the past nine years and have bagged AT LEAST one deer per year with that thang. (I live in a state where I can get managment tags).
Best of luck!