With deer hunting right around the corner you may be in the market for a rifle. If you are just getting into deer hunting or replacing old faithful, there is no reason you have to spend more than $600 to get a great rifle. The Savage 16FXP3 is a perfect example of a great deer hunting rifle for about $550. It comes with bore-sighted scope, AccuTrigger, and sling. Just add case and ammo. Granted you will probably want to upgrade the scope in the future especially if you have that nice tree stand on the edge of a large corn field.

For many hunters like me price and performance dictates what I purchase. I’m purchasing for function not good looks. I want something that will last, maintain accuracy, and hold up in any weather year after year, not something to hang above the mantle. Bolt action is the choice of many experienced hunters. Many times one shot is all you get, make it count. Semi-Auto rifles can be alluring but seldom practical.

Many people are unaware that you can purchase firearms online. This process is legal and regulated just like purchasing from your local dealer down the road, except it’s a lot less expensive. Online dealers can save you hundreds of dollars when purchasing firearms. You still need to use your local firearm dealer to transfer the firearm and fill out the required paperwork. Typically a dealer will charge $25 – $50 to process the transfer.

In addition to the Savage, below is a quick review of five more rifles that can be purchased online for less than $600.

Tikka T3 Lite:

Built by Sako and imported by Beretta. This Finnish rifle is accurate and exceptionally smooth. The Adjustable trigger is one of the best on the market.

Remington 770:

This sub $400 rifle comes mounted with a scope. This is one of the better deals for the budget or beginner hunter.

Howa 1500:

This is very similar to the Weatherby Vanguard. It’s Affordable, accurate and reliable. What more could you ask for?

Marlin 336:

It’s chambered in the old time favorite, the 30-30. The 30-30 has taken more deer then any other hunting caliber, and is still widely used through out the US. The short barrel and quick handling make this an excellent choice in areas where the maximum shot is under 150yds.

New England Firearms Handi Rifle:

This simple and effective single shot is the perfect choice for young hunters. It’s the most affordable on the list coming in around $250.

By: Edgar E. Kneel

About the Author:

JUSTINE

Two categories of deer hunting rifle exist in North America – that of the Woods and Brush country rifle and that of the long range deer rifle. What is the difference between them?

Woods and Brush country rifles are produced with the medium-sized game in mind where, on average, the shot will be some where around 100 yards, and 200 yards at the most. Depending upon their calibre they have either a 20 or 22 inch barrel. The weight of these rifles – anything from 7.5 to 8.0 pounds which includes, a full magazine, the mounted scope and the sling.

If you need a secondary shot for your target then these sort of rifles are ideal as they are fully capable for auto loading. If you are lying flat using the scope you may find that brush is in the way so these rifles are also designed for offhand or standing position.

The stock can be made from a variety of products such as laminated woods, hardened plastic, a hardwood such as the maple or cherry, or genuine walnut. The cartridge of the Woods rifle needs to launch a bullet at anything between 200 and 2500 feet a second which allows for fine killing power. The calibre will be from 0.257 and upwards.

Now the long range deer rifle is lightweight, and as the name clearly suggests they are manufactured with deer hunting as the priority. Under normal conditions they will reach up to three hundred yards. Try shooting at a six inch bull’s eye from a distance of up to 300 yards and you will, if you are a good shot, be successful. That’s how accurate these rifles are.

The average calibre is between 6 and 7mm, while the barrel measures up to 24 inches. If you shoot from a standing position you will tend to find that overall accuracy is less than if you were to shoot from a lying or sitting position – particularly if you regularly shoot from further than 100 yards.

So what are the top selling brand of hunting rifle in North America? Amongst the top are Sako, Rugar and Finnlight, but the very best sellers are Remington and Weatherby. Those with experience say that the Remington and also the Weatherby are the best when it comes to trajectory and high energy shooting ability. If you have a tighter budget then Weatherby are more affordable.

The best way though to find the top rifle for you is to actually experience using all those that are available to you. Of course gun experts and experienced deer hunters will provide you with their own thoughts and give you good reasons why they think the way they do, but when it comes down to it, you have to judge for yourself what is the right type of deer hunting rifle for you.

By: Kylie Johnson

About the Author:

BURT