r/canadaguns • u/Diamond_zT • Mar 09 '26
Buy recommendations First Hunting Rifle: cheap or expensive
Hi all,
I've passed my CFSC and am just waiting for the PAL. My first gun is going to be an SKS. After that, I'd like to get something optimal for deer hunting. Should I buy something inexpensive like a Savage Axis for its relatively low price and decent performance or should I jump right to a Tikka T3x Lite?
Obviously there's at least $400 of difference between the two. Would it make sense to get an Axis now and maybe get a Tikka later in life for x,y,z reason? I don't plan on being a avid hunter. Just looking to feed myself and father so maybe 1-3 deer a year. Also some recreational plinking of course. I don't have much money at the moment and won't for a couple of years (starting teachers college in September), but I don't mind making an investment.
Would picking up a used Tikka be something to consider?
Thank you all in advance for the advice. Lmk if any more information is required.
1
u/prosper_0 Mar 13 '26 edited Mar 13 '26
don't get the sks. Save those dollars and put them into a hunting rifle and ammo to practice with. The rifle itself doesn't matter too much. Got to the store and get one that feels comfortable. Tikka's are decent and popular, but they're really not all that special despite the vocal fanboys; don't get tunnel vision. Try out different things to see which ones feel best to you. There are tons of good guns out there. Speaking as someone who has (or has had) TONS of different hunting rifles, I find Tikkas (and their big brother Sakos) good, but vastly overrated. And nobody talks about Browning, but to me they're by far the most comfortable and slick guns available today. But your tastes may differ. Then take some of that SKS money you saved and use it for a decent hunting optic. This can cost as much as the rifle, don't just get some garbage glass and rings. Don't get some 'tactical' scope with target turrets and all the bling - they're just another thing that's going to get bumped around getting in and out of the case or bouncing around on the quad. Then go practice.