Hi all, new hunter here!
I’m having a bit of paralysis by analysis and could use some advice. While very familiar with firearms, I’m a hunting noob. Due to some newer friendships and family moving out of my state of CA(lucky), I finally have access and buddies in some good hunting areas; so I’m diving in!
I plan on hunting Hog in central CA, Deer & Elk in ID and MT. I’d like to start with a single rifle and as a new hunter will probably not shoot past 250? yards to start, but I’m a good shot so I can see that range increasing with experience. My relatives are telling me in ID and MT 300-400 yards is common, but typically not much further for them. That being said, it would appear that the trusty 30-06 seems to have the versatility I need with the game and range I’m looking at. BUT, all the new sexy rifles are often NOT chambered in 30-06 I’m not into hand-loading yet, so I would rather keep the ammo reasonably priced and readily available (so 280AI is out for me, haha).
I really wanted a Tikka, but want cerakot and a threaded barrel and by the time I change out the blah Tikka stock, your pushing 2k for a Tikka rifle…no thanks. The only 30-06 I could find with those features in that $1,000 value range is Bergara Wilderness Sierra or the new Browning Xbolt 2. Leaning toward the Xbolt but open to other suggestions?
Also, would you advise sticking with the 30-06? or move down to a .308 / 6PRC (too light for elk for new hunter??) or up to 7RM / 7PRC (too heavy for hog/deer??) which also opens the floodgates for new sexy rifles under 2k as well.
Given everything you’ve described here, these would be my top picks.
Sako S20 Hunter in 270 Win or 6.5 PRC - Phenomenal gun, but no 30-06 or 7 prc or 7 mag, so you’d be using a cartridge for elk that does definitely work but is a little smaller than ideal. I think you could compensate for that by choosing a copper bullet. Since you’ll be hunting in California for hog anyway, it’d make sense to shoot copper all the time. Either of those cartridges WITH a copper bullet would make a traditional 6.5 prc much more of a true elk gun.
Bergara Wilderness Sierra in 30-06 or 7 prc - Excellent choice. Reliable gun and a good platform for a stout cartridge.
Tikka Roughtech - This upgraded version of the Superlite is a fantastic gun. Cerakote, threaded barrel, tikka action, and shoots great.
Browning is okay but plan to spend $200 to upgrade the trigger.
Thanks guys, seems like the 6.5PRC might be the way to go and certainly gives me more rifle options. I have always felt that Sako S20 was an awesome rifle!
Curious, can you educate me on why copper makes the 6.5 prc a true elk gun??
Does anyone have any COPPER 6.5 prc gr and/bullet recommendations for my 3 different game animals??
That PH3 looks sick! getting a little pricy for me(especially with 21% firearm taxes in CA), but sure seems like a lot of rifle for the $. Cant wait to see the review when they actually hit the street.
FYI the Seekins Precision Havak PH3 may not be available for a bit. You should be able to find the Havak PH2 readily available. The PH2 is just as accurate. The PH3 has a different action, with a 60 degree bolt throw rather than a 90 degree. The barrels can be changed out by a consumer without the need for a gunsmith. There are some changes with the stock including an adjustable cheek piece. If I remember correctly the stocks are interchangeable including being able to put on their chassis stock. Go to YouTube and search Seekins Precision. Glen Seekins the owner will go over the new line, and changes. He has assured the accuracy of the PH2 to be equal to the accuracy of the PH3, this includes the full line of Seekins products.
What I really loved about the Seekins announcement was that the prices of all the rifles either stayed the same or went down. That’s a big deal as I can’t think of another manufacturer who’s done that with new models with upgrades.
A copper bullet will have no problem getting full penetration on an elk, and penetration is my #1 concern with a 6.5 prc on an elk. So if you use copper instead of lead, it turns a marginal caliber for elk into something decently capable.
Just keep the velocity at target to at least 2,000fps and you’ll be fine.
Fellow Californian here. Your story sounds very familiar to me. Lifetime gun owner and shooter, but I only started hunting a few years ago. Had a great goose hunt with my oldest son last Tuesday. I also plan on doing some hog hunting in central CA this spring. If you want to talk more about that, feel free to hit me up.
Some of the other guys have a lot more experience with hunting guns than me, but for what it’s worth, I love my Tikka Roughtech. Mine is in 300 WSM, which I got as an elk gun. I’m looking to replace my 270 Win, which I gave to my oldest son, and I’m looking at the Bergara Sierra Wilderness. I haven’t seen one on the shelf, but according to their website, it is chambered in the 270. Out to 300 yards, from what I’ve read, the 270 and 6.5 PRC are fairly comprable. At longer ranges, the 6.5 definitely has the advantage. Of course, being in CA we have to shoot non-lead for hunting, but one silver lining is the penetration you get with the copper projectiles.
Just my 2 cents. I got a 7 prc this year and have been blessed to take a whitetail, mule deer, elk, and a couple of hogs. Shot distances of 30 yards out to 400. It’s an awesome round. Not perfect, but pretty darn close.
The good news here, is you can always change and that’s half the fun of it. Don’t overthink it.
I understand where you’re coming from. I obsess over rifle specs and cartridge performance. It’s a fun hobby, but I think @docbritt has some pretty good advice. Find a rifle you like and just pick a cartridge that strikes your fancy. I think any of the ones mentioned will do the job. Down the road, if you don’t like that flavor, you can always try something else. Let us know what you end up with.
I have the Tikka roughtech in 7Mag and I love that rifle. IMO just get a good scope and start shooting. Make other mods later on, and don’t waste too much time and money “getting ready to get ready.”
If that’s pushing the budget, and I were in your shoes, I’d try the new Ruger American Gen 2. Every review I have seen, including Jim’s, have been that it is an incredible value for the money.
Welcome to the best hobby ever. I’m also a CA resident and kicked off my hunting/shooting past time with a hog and turkey combo up in Mendocino. I used a friends rifle and shotgun and was hooked. I bought a rifle soon after and poured hours into researching what would be a great, versatile all around rifle. That’s when I stumbled upon Jim’s Backfire Youtube channel. He had just done a bunch of reviews for elk hunting rifles for that upcoming elk season. He gave the Savage 110 Ultralite a glowing review and after some additional research elected to get that rifle in 30-06. It’s a tack driver out to 300 yards. I’ve taken a couple of good hogs in Central CA with it. That PROOF barrel is something else. Extremely accurate with sub MOA groups with 165gr and 180gr bullets. It tends to like the heavier rounds. I have since bought 2 other rifles - a Henry lever action All-Weather in 45-70 which is awesome for hogs, and a Bergara B-14 Crest in 7mm PRC - I wanted something that i could stretch out to 500+ yards. I don’t think you can go wrong with a 30-06 for the first rifle.
I’m not into hand-loading yet, so I would rather keep the ammo reasonably priced and readily available (so 280AI is out for me, haha).