Choosing Your First Hunting Rifle

If you are new to gun ownership or simply new to the pastime of hunting, it can feel like a daunting task to choose your first hunting rifle. You don’t want to buy the wrong thing, invest money in something that isn’t practical, or be taken advantage of by the guy behind the gun counter.

Your research on what is good and what is bad led you here. We’re glad you’ve joined us! We will share all of the important traits and thoughts that you will want to consider when selecting your first hunting rifle.

Hunting Cartridge Selection

One of the most important decisions in this process is choosing the cartridge you will hunt with. This decision will dictate many things for you: cost of ammunition, what game you might be able to pursue and the ammo best suited for it, and what rifles are available in that given cartridge.

The first element people consider is the cost of ammo. Choose something you can find ammo for at a reasonable price. Reasonable pricing varies for everyone and is often based on your income. So, that means something you’d be willing to buy annually, and it shouldn’t affect your ability to buy anything else you may need on a hunt.

Beyond that, you need to select a chambering that is well-suited to the game (or the best choice for the range of game) you will be hunting.

And finally, there is the host rifle. Within Springfield Armory’s Model 2020 series of rifles — which includes the Waypoint, Boundary, and Redline as well as Rimfire and Heatseeker variants — these are all of the center-fire cartridges that are chambered, which are all common and terrific hunting rounds for various game animals:

6mm Creedmoor
6.5 Creedmoor
6.5 PRC
.270 Winchester
7mm Rem Mag
7mm PRC
.308 Win
.30-06 Sprg
.300 Win Mag
300 PRC

Rifle Action Type

This leads to our next topic: action types. While some hunters might select a lever-action, a semi-auto, single-shot, or a double-barrel (side-by-side or over/under) to name a few options, most discerning hunters would reach for a bolt-action rifle to command the most accuracy at a reasonable cost.

[Don’t miss Wayne van Zwoll’s article on bolt-action vs. semi-auto action hunting rifles.]

When it comes to bolt-actions, there is the question of action length: short-action versus long-action. As their names imply, some rounds are much longer or shorter than others, and that will decide the length of the receiver and action as a result. Short-action versus long-action rounds are worth discussing because they will dictate if your rifle weighs more or less, if the overall length is longer or shorter, and sometimes (but not always) the power capacity of the chambering.

Some examples of short-action compared to long-action cartridges, as seen in the Model 2020 series of bolt-action rifles from Springfield Armory, can be read below:

Weight of Your Hunting Rifle

Another important consideration when choosing your first hunting rifle is the weight (before we begin adding accessories to the package). I know what many of you are thinking … . “I’m strong and tough. So, weight shouldn’t be a factor.” We hear you, but I ask that you also hear us out.

When we’re hunting, we don’t want to have a weighted-down rifle package, as that can cause unnecessary fatigue leading up to the moment of truth. That is the pivotal moment where we need to make a well-placed, ethical shot on a game animal. So, just because we can carry a rifle on a gun range doesn’t always mean it is an appropriate weight to head out into the field hunting.

If we look at three primary Model 2020 rifle types, each chambered in a 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge, you are going to see rifle weights like this:

Model 2020 Waypoint: 6 lb., 12 oz. to 7 lb., 15 oz.
Model 2020 Boundary: 6 lb., 15 oz. to 7 lb. 1 oz.
Model 2020 Redline: 6 lb. to 6 lb., 4 oz.

All of the Model 2020 variants achieve these impressively light weights through extensive use of carbon fiber. The Waypoint is a modern hunting rifle with advanced ergonomics and a detachable magazine. The Boundary is a more traditionally configured rifle with a hinged floorplate magazine. Finally, the Redline is designed to be a minimalist rifle with a compact footprint and an ultra-lightweight configuration.

[Read Sean Utley’s Model 2020 Waypoint review, where he takes the gun to 1,000 yards during range testing.]

Intended Game Species

While reviewing the aforementioned characteristics and selecting your first hunting rifle, also consider what you will be hunting. Two common issues hunters face are choosing an inadequate cartridge to hunt their intended game or a round that is much too large (overkill), which can ruin the meat. So, choose accordingly.

Small Game/Varmint: Squirrel, Rabbit, Fox, Coyote
Medium-Game: Wild Pigs, Whitetail Deer, Antelope, Sheep, Mountain Goat
Big-Game: Mule Deer, Elk, Bear, Caribou, Moose

When considering your intended game species, also remember that proper shot placement will trump selecting a “mega cartridge.” Pick ammunition that is appropriate for your hunt (quality ammo versus cheap brands), a proper bullet (soft-point versus hollow-point), and don’t be scared to get techy and utilize a ballistic app to assist in calculating far shots. Additionally, if you intend to shoot far, practice long shots as well.

Accessorizing the Gun

One of the last pieces to the puzzle is ensuring the hunting rifle you choose is constructed in a way to allow for all of the accessories you desire. Do you want to use a suppressor? You’ll need a threaded muzzle. How about a sling and/or a bipod?

Hopefully, QD cups and M-Lok are present. Is the receiver drilled and tapped to add a scope? Does it already come with a Picatinny rail to mount optics? The Model 2020 rifles all already have you covered.

Choosing Your First Hunting Rifle

There are a lot of considerations to keep in mind for a singular purchase, but don’t fret. It can all come together easier than you think with a bit of research, conscious decisions for the different parameters we mentioned, and not being swayed by hype or uninformed opinions. Your first hunting rifle is an exciting purchase! It could lead to a lifetime of fond memories and learning experiences if you choose wisely.

If you’re already eyeing a bolt-action rifle from Springfield Armory, you’ve come to the right place. They’re modernly styled with forward-thinking features, available in a wide assortment of cartridges, and each of the three models should deliver for your needs. So, happy hunting and best of luck to all of those who venture out in the field looking to fill a tag.

Editor’s Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the “Go To Forum Thread” link below to jump in!