Uh,
@JMinter said don’t break the budget.
I would like a Rigby but it’s hardly budget and it’s out of most budgets.
@JMinter the .275 is essentially a 7x57 but .275rigby is the same thing with pedigree where the 7x57 was basically a military cartridge but has been around the world as an excellent hunting cartridge with the appropriate hunting projectiles.
If Red deer are in the equation look at what the legal minimum is for the UK because I don’t know anything about of your rules.
The .270 is a legal minimum in some states of Australia for Red deer and larger.
The .308 is a great all around choice and easy to handle with 150gn projectiles. I have owned a few and still use one but I also say “it’s common as muck” but it does the job everyday on every continent.
European chambering are not common in Australia, some are like the 6.5x55 but 7x57 is not common in new production rifles on the Australian market. The ballistic twin the 7mm-08 is available but still rare and overshadowed by the .308 presence.
The .270 is popular here but 7x57 or even the 7x64 have a little more of a classic appeal to me.
I own a 7mm-08 and 7x64 and I like the 7mm calibre.
I’m not going to bash the 6.5creedmoor. If you buy that ensure that you buy hunting ammo with the appropriate projectiles for hunting purposes. That goes for all cartridges. There are factory .308 loads for target use readily available too.
I like Tikka. Howa are great rifles in a lower price point but slightly heavier.
A lot of factory rifles are hunting accurate from new. Howa, Tikka and Remington have various accessories and upgrades if you want to customise them.
If Tikka suits your budget it’s the easy button.
Consider allowing reasonable budget for optics. Probably from 300quid. Not sure on the exchange rate but £500 is pretty decent and £1000 might get you into some really nice glass territory but don’t be fooled a £200 scope should be serviceable and reliable for hunting.
