r/canadaguns • u/Western_Wish4280 • Jun 01 '26

Buy recommendations Best first hunting rifle to buy?

Hi all!

I have recently got my PAL and wanna go hunting this fall.

I dont wanna hunt moose for a couple years. The only reason for getting a gun rn is to hunt whitetail deer.

I know people would say buy a tikka t3x lite and all.

But i dont wanna buy it right now. Wanted a rifle chambered in 270 Winchester/ 6.5 CM for the forgiving trajectory and recoil as im super new to shooting. But in a couple years id go buy a tikka t3x chambered in 308 winchester.

I have narrowed down my search and these are the rifles i would pick one from:

  1. Winchester xpr bolt action (270 win)

  2. Weatherby vanguard (270 win)

  3. Mossberg patriot predator(6.5 CM)

  4. Ruger gen 1 bolt action(270 win)

  5. Savage axis xp2 (6.5 CM)

Please help me choose and if need be advise on other models.

Edit: I thank all of you who have given me excellent advice. I really didnt know the gun community in Canada is soooooo friendly. You guys are all amazing !

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u/ErokAB03 Jun 01 '26

Honestly buy one that feels comfy when you have it shouldered.

I went with the Winchester XPR (6.5CM) myself, tried a few others but i found it the comfiest for me., this was not my first rifle tho and have others in .308

All of the more entry level rifles that youve listed will all perform roughly the same.

I would recommend going with a .270 or .308 if youre planning on hunting moose in the future and wouldn't need to get another rifle.

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u/Western_Wish4280 Jun 01 '26

Tried the win xpr and must say it felt the best with a close call being the ruger gen 2. Buy gen 2 only comes in 308win. Im at a big fix. The tikka t3x is by far the best ive shot with and the action is straight butter. However the basspro employee told me that maintaining it is a chore unless i get the stainless variant. And man i hate that shinyness on the barrell

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u/SoldiersofChristBR Jun 02 '26

Ruger american gen 2 comes in just about every calibre, maybe they are out of what you are looking for in your store? You can do online or look around