Opinions sought on which .308 Win rifle to buy.

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

F3, consider where you will doing your primary hunting. If you are in the wide open planes of the midwest you need a good gun scope combo. If you are hunting mostly in the woods or, like me in the southern pines, I don't need a scope on a gun. There are a few places I go that I take a different gun and scope but they are few in the deep south. The other factor to consider is that you have to carry it. So avoid rifles with a bull barrel or other fancy stuff. Savage is a good manufacture, but I don't think they are great. JMHO. A used Remington 700 ADL or Sportsman should be easy to find, new they are around $450. Browning A-Bold Stalker is a very good buy, around $475. Glass is as important if not more important than the rifle. So keep that in mind as you budget this stuff out if going new, that is why a used one might be a better option. Gun shows are great places to find bargains.

Here is a typical view of my area. The woods are fairly open mixed hardwood, mostly maple and oak. Most of the fields are either corn or alfalfa. As I mentioned most deer are taken between 60 and 110 yards. I think mainly because any "across the field or valley shots would cross houses at some point. Also there's the coyotes. A number of bowhunters have arrived at their deer after the coyotes.
Probably not an issue with rifles.

I will definitely need a scope. My eyes are getting more astigmatic.

Tomorrow is the final class in hunter safety and then the test.
I've already lined up a few places to hunt!