What is a inexpensive and reliable rifle for big game hunting in North America?

Also I would like something where the ammo is readily available, it is hard for me to find bullets for my mauser and they are getting more expensive.What is a inexpensive and reliable rifle for big game hunting in North America?
Get a 30-06 or a .308. These are good for anything up to elk and black bear. If you are going for brown bear or moose, you should go with a bigger gun. (not my area of expertise)

The ammo is very common. You can find it anywhere they sell ammo. There is also a wide variety of ammunition types for both.



I like the Ruger M77 Mk.II in stainless, but pretty much any company than makes rifles has one or more version of the 30-06 and .308. I have friends who prefer Browning's B.A.R. over my Ruger. Remington and Winchester are also good options.



If you are looking to keep the price down, you can easily find a good selection of used rifles from most dealers.



As far as scopes go, I recommend you get a new one. Used scopes are pretty iffy in my opinion. You never really know what you are getting of you go used. I like the Nikon Buckmaster. It's a good scope at a reasonable price. When you get a scope, just make sure the inner working are brass rather than plastic or resin. They last longer and perform better.
So you understand now that a .22 is no good for medium/large game? I'm gonna recommend a .30-06, although there are many other good choices out there. The .30-06 is one of the most popular hunting calibers of all time, so you'll be able to find ammo literally everywhere. It is a very versatile cartridge that accepts bullets weighing in anywhere from 110 grain all the way up to 220 grain. This give you the ability to hunt everything from coyotes/pronghorn all the way up to moose and bear. It literally is the do everything caliber for north american game.



As for what rifle, I'd recommend a remington 700 ADL. You can find them used for around $300 or new for around $450. This isn't the only good option though. Anything made by savage will be good and relatively inexpensive. The winchester model 70 is also a good gun. If you local walmart stocks the weatherby vangard that is also a good gun for the price.What is a inexpensive and reliable rifle for big game hunting in North America?
If you have a Mauser, especially if it's in 8x57 JS, then you have a fine choice already. If it's of little collector value, you might want to sporterize it to some degree, and you could buy handloading equipment for a lot less than you'll spend on a new rifle. With handloads, 8x57 really comes into its own as a hunting cartridge.What is a inexpensive and reliable rifle for big game hunting in North America?
Since Brown bear are on your menu, adding up everything, there is most definitely reloading/handloading in your future! Whether you handload your 8mm Mauser with Hornady's 220 grain bullets for Grizzlies, or download your 300Mag or 338Mag for deer, or load whatever feels good for your Marlin Model 1895 in 45-70, that Hornady manual tutorial is empowerment and cash savings that will astound you! http://www.midwayUSA.com or their google competitors or your local gunshop on a Saturday afternoon all have everything you will need, or can get them.
Try the Marlin XL7 IN 30-06. Inexpensive (On sale locally for $319.95 complete with an inexpensive 3x9x40 scope and rings). Good reviews (do a google search) , accurate, nice trigger. 30-06 ammo is available everywhere and there are a wide variety (understatement!) of bullets to handload. This rifle also comes in 270 and 243 calibers as well as (at least a couple of years ago) 25-06. Simple, rugged, shoots well enough to take about any game in the lower 48. That's my 2 cents. There are other prettier rifles with lots of fancy stuff, but the Marlin will get the job done.
What is your price range? What are you hunting? Where are you hunting?

is this a personal question to all of use or do you need a new rifle?

we need more info before we could suggest to you a rifle

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Ill go with my gut however and say go to a gun show or gun shop and get something in 30-06 in your price range, its not to hard to find 06 ammo.

*waits for thumbs downs to start popping up from people who cant find ammo for there guns*

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*Edit in*

for 500-600 dollars you could easily get a good quality rifle form Remington or Rugger in 30-06.
A Marlin in 45-70 (~$500) is a GREAT gun and caliber. It will (with the proper loadings) take down Anything in North America Deer to Buffalo to Grizzlies, and even Africa. Depending on your area, however, you may not find ammo very easily (varies by location).



A Remington 700 in .308win or 30-06 is a very good gun with a very good supply of ammo. Remington 700's cost about $450 at my local walmart, and ammo prices vary wildly depending on what you get (a good median price would be about $30/box)



If you can buy ammo online, I suggest http://www.ammoengine.com/ if you just want to feed a mauser
The Marlin XL7 or remington 700 in a .30-06 would be the two best bets.



I am a big fan of the .270 caliber, it is great for the 150-250 yard range as it has a very flat trajectory. Original design was for mountain sheep. I have a mossberg ATR in a .270 and it cannot be beat for the price ($300-350) Its also available in .30-06. If you want to save a few dollars and get a better scope, the ATR is the way to go.
I shoot a 7x57 Mauser... I can find ammo all day long at "reasonable" prices I keep 5 boxes at all times.. I shoot 140 grain.. what type of Mauser do you have..



Now allot of folks go with the 30.06... for heavy game.. its easy to find ammo and a reasonable price between 300 - 600 based on what manufacturer you pick.. I have a ruger 30.06 that is reliable and a great all round hunting gun. Think about a 7 mm Mag.. for Elk and Bear.. Some I know choose the 300 win mag.



Take a serious look at what you hunt.. terrain and animal size are important.. I Hunt with a Slug Shotgun, and a couple differing rifles depending on the terrain and animal size.I like the 270 caliber also.. flat shooting and more that enough for most medium game animals... My 7x57 is my first pick, unless I am in the Deep Woods then I use my Slug Gun.. the others are good for those areas in between.
30-30 is cheap for out to 150 yds or so. Next cheapest and popular would be .30-06. It is somewhat more powerful and for slightly longer range. It seems like I see .30-30 rounds for abour $15 for 20 and $20 for 20 rounds for .30-06. At least for the Remington Express rounds which are plenty good for deer sized animals. If I was going to shoot a moose or especially bear, I would want a little better bullet.
REM, RUGER,BROWNING, WINCHESTER, SAVAGE, MOSSBERG, and the WEATHERBY VANGUARD, In 30/06,7mm Rem Mag,or the 300Win Mag. Can't go wrong with any one of them for game that size. Flat shooting, and popular.
a 270 will easily do the job if you are a good shot, but a 3006 will provide you with assurance



look into ruger browning and remington for something in that range
30-06, .308 are good suggestions. A 30-30 is not good for elk or bear ! Tube feed limits choice of rounds and flat nose bullets have terrible ballistics (coefficients) after 100 yds. IMO.
Depends on what you prefer. I personally like the Remington 700 series. They are a little expensive, but some model are under $800.
* Buy a Remington or Savage Brand bolt-action in 30-06 caliber.*
A marlin 30/30 lever action.
30/30
.700