Best Budget Hunting Rifles?

[logcabinman]

Even for a very good marksman, in an average hunting situation, 600-800 yards is not practical, that is over 1/4 mile. I consider it unethical if you can't put it down. I never shoot over 150-200 yards. With a 308 and my Remington bolt, they drop on the spot.

 

[summer44]

I don't disagree with you. There are a ton of unspoken variables in the OP's request. For all we know, OP's brother doesn't have enough experience to know he can't reliably hit a game animal at 600 yards without substantial trigger time and rounds sent downrange. Or maybe he's an ace at 600 yards with a 223. Or he doesn't know that a hunting trip out west is a lot more expensive than a budget rifle; the non-resident license alone is likely more than his budget for a rifle and scope. Other than the listed $ parameters, we just don't know.

Agreed not enough info, sounds like from his post his brother wanted a whitetail gun for now and wanted to be able to use it later out west on large animals. Yes, A do it yourself elk hunt on BLM land is still going to cost you close to 10k with lic, tags, travel, accommodations, etc. A $450 rifle is a small number compaired to the total cost. Also very few hunters have the ability to shoot 400+ yards, A lot of hunters around here have trouble at 100 yards and think they will go west and shoot an Elk at 800 yards. Last years Elk hunt had a kid maybe 23 years old shoot at a elk at 650 yards, and when ask do you know how far that is? He said 250 yards, We hiked back up to where he shot from I handed him my range finder and said what you got, he said this thing is broken it says 644 yards. Go figure.

 

[benjamin]

Been to Wyoming elk hunting and it is very much like ga. Killed several and all were under 150 yds. Yes you can shoot a lot further but you still have to quarter and get it out. 30-06 or 270 is fine. No 30 30's