1st stalking rifle.
- Thread starter Mike a
- Start date
Everlong
Well-Known Member
I’d look for a Tikka T3 - superb rifle and around £1k new. As for scopes, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a great optic. I’m selling a Delta Titanuim HD 2.5-15x56 in the classifieds for £450 (about £800 new). This scope is SUPERB for stalking. It’s low light performance (93% light transmission) is equally to or better than most of the high end scopes from Zeiss, Swaro, Leica etc.
Shoot me a message if you’re interested…..
Shoot me a message if you’re interested…..
Damoeire33
Well-Known Member
If it was me I'd buy a new Tikka t3x & go secondhand on a well known brand scope.
Optiloc rings
8x56 s&b
Zeiss etc
Something with good light gathering & you should be good to go
Optiloc rings
8x56 s&b
Zeiss etc
Something with good light gathering & you should be good to go
Damoeire33
Well-Known Member
Snap
we were writing at the same timeSauer 100 in 6.5CM 
Regarding the scope, it's slightly dependent on where you intend to stalk. The S&B 8x56 is very good but too higher magnification for woodland stalking I'd argue... Love my little S&B 6x42 however - good all-rounder. Alternatively, find a good second-hand variable scope...
Regarding the scope, it's slightly dependent on where you intend to stalk. The S&B 8x56 is very good but too higher magnification for woodland stalking I'd argue... Love my little S&B 6x42 however - good all-rounder. Alternatively, find a good second-hand variable scope...
co’den
Well-Known Member
My self imposed budget was less than half yours. I picked up a second hand sako 75 and a new Hawke scope. Perfectly adequate for a start and under a grand all in.
There’s a few second hand premium scopes come up for roughly what I paid for the new Hawke scope. One day I might pick up a Schmidt or Zeiss scope and stick the Hawke scope on my rimfire or one of my air rifles, but it’s doing the job just fine on the Sako at the moment.
There’s a few second hand premium scopes come up for roughly what I paid for the new Hawke scope. One day I might pick up a Schmidt or Zeiss scope and stick the Hawke scope on my rimfire or one of my air rifles, but it’s doing the job just fine on the Sako at the moment.
I'd second the recommendation on the Delta Titanium 2.5-15x56. Fantastic value for money and excellent light transmission.
Dr.Dolittle
Well-Known Member
As above - go to a few shops that have a good selection to handle and see what you like. I'm not sure who to recommend in your neck of the woods, but someone like Steve Beaty at Ivythorn Sporting is well worth the drive to visit. He's extremely knowledgeable on rifles and has a good selection of new, and second hand options. If he doesn't have anything suitable he will certainly point you in the right direction of what to look for.
Don't get caught up in the frenzy of having a cerakoted carbon fibre rifle with a 24 zoom scope on top. A lot of the older rifles sell extremely cheaply not because they're incapable (far from it), but they're simply not in vogue.
Point being - you can buy a high quality rifle with a scope well under that budget. My Heym 243 with a Swarovski 6x42 was <£400. It produces sub inch groups with factory copper. Although it's not moderated, I could get that done, buy a new mod, and still be under your budget with money to spare for ammunition/practice.
Scopes: look for second hand quality European optics like S&B, Swarovski or Zeiss. Most deer are shot at first and last light which is where the quality pays for itself.
Mods: I can only comment on DPT which are modular design (add/remove baffles to suit your needs), lightweight and good sound moderation. Others to consider are the likes of Stalon, Wildcat etc but someone with experience of these can comment further.
Unless you're dead set on the 6.5 Creedmoor, find a rifle that you like and fits well, then choose the calibre. They all do the same thing at the end of the day despite what you'd think from reading online. .222 Rem for example was one of the favourites in NZ for Red Deer yet some people will say .243 isn't enough for Scotland...
Don't get caught up in the frenzy of having a cerakoted carbon fibre rifle with a 24 zoom scope on top. A lot of the older rifles sell extremely cheaply not because they're incapable (far from it), but they're simply not in vogue.
Point being - you can buy a high quality rifle with a scope well under that budget. My Heym 243 with a Swarovski 6x42 was <£400. It produces sub inch groups with factory copper. Although it's not moderated, I could get that done, buy a new mod, and still be under your budget with money to spare for ammunition/practice.
Scopes: look for second hand quality European optics like S&B, Swarovski or Zeiss. Most deer are shot at first and last light which is where the quality pays for itself.
Mods: I can only comment on DPT which are modular design (add/remove baffles to suit your needs), lightweight and good sound moderation. Others to consider are the likes of Stalon, Wildcat etc but someone with experience of these can comment further.
Unless you're dead set on the 6.5 Creedmoor, find a rifle that you like and fits well, then choose the calibre. They all do the same thing at the end of the day despite what you'd think from reading online. .222 Rem for example was one of the favourites in NZ for Red Deer yet some people will say .243 isn't enough for Scotland...
Another recommend for Tikka T3. I would steer clear of Bergara as I’ve heard of too many wrong uns. I was speaking to a guy the other night who had a beggars with carbon wrapped barrel where the barrel was threaded with poor concentricity, this was replaced eventually but the replacement struggled to get accuracy less than 2 inch groups. I’ve never heard of this with a Tikka. Incidentally I’m not recommending what I use so I have no dog in this fight. Scope wise something secondhand and good quality like a S&B or Swarovski 8x56 or 3-12x50.
vulpes vulpes
Well-Known Member
Tikka T3X Lite Rough Tech Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor Calibre Rifle Package
Package includes: Tikka T3X Lite Rough Tech Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle Burris Four XE Scope 6-24X56 IL Burris Scope Mounts Stalon Moderator Carbon Bipod Bush Essential Sticks Tikka Rifle Slip Niggeloh Tikka Sling
hadfieldguns.com
63
Well-Known Member
‘Find a rifle you like then ask for that calibre’ is fine in theory, but not always that practical with FLDs taking years to turn around applications!!!
As a returner to stalking I’ve deliberately opted for a common calibre (.308) on the assumption I can find something workable in 2026 or 2027 when my FAC comes back. In the meantime I’m trying not to think too hard about it!
Damoeire33
Well-Known Member
Out of interest what deer species will you mostly target?
Are you a first time shooter or have you some experience shooting centre fire rifles?
What ranges do you hope to shoot out to?
Your choice of 6.5 cm is a nice easy rifle to shoot recoil wise, don't rule out the mighty .243 either
I hunt mostly red deer witch are far bigger than the sika but in comparison IMHO a sika is a much tougher animal & harder to "drop on the spot" with a boiler room shot. Shot location is a different discussion
Accuracy wins over power every time & the lower the recoil the easier it'll be to shoot accurately
Regarding my original pick on the tikka.
Reason for this is they rarely have any issues.
The begara can be absolute tack drivers but I have heard of the occasional dud
Are you a first time shooter or have you some experience shooting centre fire rifles?
What ranges do you hope to shoot out to?
Your choice of 6.5 cm is a nice easy rifle to shoot recoil wise, don't rule out the mighty .243 either
I hunt mostly red deer witch are far bigger than the sika but in comparison IMHO a sika is a much tougher animal & harder to "drop on the spot" with a boiler room shot. Shot location is a different discussion
Accuracy wins over power every time & the lower the recoil the easier it'll be to shoot accurately
Regarding my original pick on the tikka.
Reason for this is they rarely have any issues.
The begara can be absolute tack drivers but I have heard of the occasional dud
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
Challenge with 6.5cm is that it is a pretty new calibre and popular calibre so you won’t find the 2nd hand high quality rifles that may be 30 or 40 years old that have been out for an annual trip to the stags and have fired less than 100 cartridges in their life. Plenty available in 243, 6.5x55, 270 and 308.
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
Presumably 6.5cm because you’re authorised and so not going to change?
If so - buy a good rifle, not a POS, and put on used top end optics, then upgrade the optics if you must
My suggestion
Used Schmidt bender 6x42 or 8x56 for £275 ish
DPT mod
You might end up using that kit for the next 20 years
I have not suggested a T3 because I detest tikka t3’s, they’re good, but just ‘boring’, and the stocks are crap in general until you spend £1k on a PSE upgrade and £250 on bedding, ££ on a new bolt shroud, a new bolt knob, a rail, and then not long after, a new barrel.
Have I just upset 95% of SD members
If so - buy a good rifle, not a POS, and put on used top end optics, then upgrade the optics if you must
My suggestion
Sako S20 Hunter Bolt Action 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle - sold
Sako S20 Hunter Bolt Action 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle for sale in Melbourne, Derbyshire, East Midlands, United Kingdom
www.gunstar.co.uk
DPT mod
You might end up using that kit for the next 20 years
I have not suggested a T3 because I detest tikka t3’s, they’re good, but just ‘boring’, and the stocks are crap in general until you spend £1k on a PSE upgrade and £250 on bedding, ££ on a new bolt shroud, a new bolt knob, a rail, and then not long after, a new barrel.
Have I just upset 95% of SD members
6.5 Creed is obviously fashionable but if you aren't looking to plink steel at 600m but shoot deer dead at 30-300m (300m in extremis - normally I'd say 180m) then .308 does an extremely good job with say 150g rounds. Very unfashionable as they clearly haven't worked for 50 years (!!) so you might find yourself a proper low use bargain. I had a non-threaded Tikka .308, wasn't pretty after a good well used life, but extremely effective.
Similar threads
