1st stalking rifle.

[Mike a]

Wow, that's a lot of opinions!!
I'm further from a decision than I was now lol!!
Yes Triggertrix I've been eyeing up that Sako on Gunstar.
Damoeire33, I shoot long range target rifles in .308 & .303. In my area we have CWD & huge Reds & everything in between.
That why I went 6.5 cm for versatility, my theory is that the fast twist rates will give me the option of long heavy hard to stabilise non lead bullets for the big reds & light ones for the small stuff.
Thanks for all of the input, it's greatly appreciated.

 

[Fair Hill]

I'm fairly new to the game but a 6.5 Creedmore isn't going to be any advantage over a .308 target rifle for shooting huge reds or any other deer.

You might get an ultra light set up but you can get light .308's for hunting as well.

A .270 is another option, they are whistle clean for long shots.

I'd advise anyone starting off hunting that number one be sure that the rifle they are going to use is accurate. That should always be the number1 priority, once you have a rifle you can trust invest in a Generation 3 Primos Trigger Sticks and you'll kill everything you aim at with your .308

 

[Nickb]

As stated above Tikka T3 love mine , faultless and accurate.
Suggested this to a few people who've bought them and noone disappointed.

 

[welshwarrior]

Any modern rifle will do the job loads of option pick you like and can get.

Mod again lots of options but light quite and cheap cost more normal get 2 out of 3 at sensible money I line the DPTs.

Glass. 6x42, 7x50 or8x56 from S&B, Ziess Swaro or Meopta don’t need more and variables aren’t needed but some like them.

Spend the rest on ammo and practice with the rifle and different distances and positions until confident.

 

[HonestJohn]

Wow, that's a lot of opinions!!
I'm further from a decision than I was now lol!!
Yes Triggertrix I've been eyeing up that Sako on Gunstar.
Damoeire33, I shoot long range target rifles in .308 & .303. In my area we have CWD & huge Reds & everything in between.
That why I went 6.5 cm for versatility, my theory is that the fast twist rates will give me the option of long heavy hard to stabilise non lead bullets for the big reds & light ones for the small stuff.
Thanks for all of the input, it's greatly appreciated.

Wow, that's a lot of opinions!!
I'm further from a decision than I was now lol!!
Yes Triggertrix I've been eyeing up that Sako on Gunstar.
Damoeire33, I shoot long range target rifles in .308 & .303. In my area we have CWD & huge Reds & everything in between.
That why I went 6.5 cm for versatility, my theory is that the fast twist rates will give me the option of long heavy hard to stabilise non lead bullets for the big reds & light ones for the small stuff.
Thanks for all of the input, it's greatly appreciated.

Well if still just thinking about it, and purpose described, but bramblebashers 7x57 l61r in McMillan stock on here. Think it’s £800 or so and virtually as new. They will shoot 173g down to 120g bullets and are perfect for ‘small and heavy’ alike.

Leaves you a grand for optics, which I’d suggest used swaro 1.75-10x42 with that budget

 

[Dr.Dolittle]

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.

No idea how you ever managed with such a boring cartridge...! I too have a 308 and an even more boring 7x57...

In reality the vast majority of deer, as you say, will be shot within that 180 or 200m. Within these distances any of the deer legal calibres are more than suitable.

There are some great bargains on Gun Trader that would be under budget once moderated and provide a good starting point. For example this Varberger 308 with a Zeiss scope and AEW mounts is a good starting point. You could thread it, stick a moderator on and end up with a lot of the budget remaining. Being 308 you'll struggle to find a more versatile cartridge for deer.

.308 Bolt Action Varberger (Sweden) Rifles for sale | Guntrader

Explore our wide range of new and used .308 Bolt Action Varberger (Sweden) Rifles, suitable for all levels. Browse our listings to find the perfect gun.

www.guntrader.uk

Also don't skimp on mounts. The old saying is spend what you can on mounts and a scope then the rest on a rifle.

 

[Mike a]

No idea how you ever managed with such a boring cartridge...! I too have a 308 and an even more boring 7x57...

In reality the vast majority of deer, as you say, will be shot within that 180 or 200m. Within these distances any of the deer legal calibres are more than suitable.

There are some great bargains on Gun Trader that would be under budget once moderated and provide a good starting point. For example this Varberger 308 with a Zeiss scope and AEW mounts is a good starting point. You could thread it, stick a moderator on and end up with a lot of the budget remaining. Being 308 you'll struggle to find a more versatile cartridge for deer.

.308 Bolt Action Varberger (Sweden) Rifles for sale | Guntrader

Explore our wide range of new and used .308 Bolt Action Varberger (Sweden) Rifles, suitable for all levels. Browse our listings to find the perfect gun.

www.guntrader.uk

Also don't skimp on mounts. The old saying is spend what you can on mounts and a scope then the rest on a rifle.

I already shoot two very boring .308 s & a very dull .303 for target work, really fancy something a little different, & as a keen reloader I can see a lot of versatility potential in 6.5 cm,( & an excuse to fiddle with stuff in the shed)

 

[GBR66]

I already shoot two very boring .308 s & a very dull .303 for target work, really fancy something a little different, & as a keen reloader I can see a lot of versatility potential in 6.5 cm,( & an excuse to fiddle with stuff in the shed)

Fair enough - I did the same when I changed rifles but went .30-06...Has been very effective again on Roe and Sika so far with Sako 150g Hammerhead, but I am eying up a 6.5 for LR target or PRS!

 

[Bavarianbrit]

No idea how you ever managed with such a boring cartridge...! I too have a 308 and an even more boring 7x57...

In reality the vast majority of deer, as you say, will be shot within that 180 or 200m. Within these distances any of the deer legal calibres are more than suitable.

There are some great bargains on Gun Trader that would be under budget once moderated and provide a good starting point. For example this Varberger 308 with a Zeiss scope and AEW mounts is a good starting point. You could thread it, stick a moderator on and end up with a lot of the budget remaining. Being 308 you'll struggle to find a more versatile cartridge for deer.

.308 Bolt Action Varberger (Sweden) Rifles for sale | Guntrader

Explore our wide range of new and used .308 Bolt Action Varberger (Sweden) Rifles, suitable for all levels. Browse our listings to find the perfect gun.

www.guntrader.uk

Also don't skimp on mounts. The old saying is spend what you can on mounts and a scope then the rest on a rifle.

Those are EAW swing off mounts pretty well the best there is, it would cost you £600+ easy for a set of those fitted to a naked rifle.

 

[welshwarrior]

Got to say I love my dull 308s but love the dull old 30/06 Varberger with the old fashioned wood stock. The deer accept a bullet from it as well as a plastic modern rifle with new super sleek bullets

 

[cjm1066]

11 CM for sale on Guntrader. Sauer 100 and T3 are similar in price.

Nothing beats handling a few.

 

[GBR66]

Got to say I love my dull 308s but love the dull old 30/06 Varberger with the old fashioned wood stock. The deer accept a bullet from it as well as a plastic modern rifle with new super sleek bullets View attachment 396057

Nice bit of wood on that stock.

 

[jameswalker339]

Sauer 100

 

[Scottb123]

I’ve always been a tikka sako snob but bought a m12 Mauser in 30-06 a couple of months and what a rifle it is for the price and it’s lighter than a t3 in my option scoped and modded up failing try to find an old 75 sako just don’t make the mistake I made and going heavy varmint if you do a lot of walking

 

[nicowilson]

+1 for Tikka T3

Makes sense to get the plastic stock and stainless barrel.