Can you recommend a budget-friendly, high-power firearm? New or used, lever-action or bolt-action

[u/No_Amount_69]

I am looking for a reputable, new or used high-power bolt-action or lever-action firearm. The maximum price I can spend is less than $1,000. Are there any suggestions?

[u/Western_Wish4280]

Alright here goes, So i recently got my PAL(im 26y/o) and main reason was to go deer hunting with my uncle and gramps. So i research a bit, get a tikka t3x blued in 308win( 1100including tax at basspro sale rn) . I buy a vortex crossfire scope for 329 and hit off to the range. Shit got me mortified after i fired it. High power for beginners isnt very FRIENDLY. But no recoil is scary as long you have that mental buff. Which takes time and training.

So i got right into training, got a 22lr ruger 10/22 . Comes with a scope and case at basspro for only 500 including taxes. Mind you, its set up with the bx trigger which is a 10/10. Go to the range and am starting to get more used to that boom after every shot xD. Its also good for hunting your average squirrel/critters etc. get one!!! You can also get derya tm22 feather or rock island armory 22 for a similar price but has that really cool AR style look and aluminum body to it. Not a very practical hunting pal tho. These are all semi. Bolt action 22lrs are way more accurate.

Scared to shoot a shotgun at 12gauge rn so i wont be getting one anytime soon.

But i got a chinese chrome lined type 56 sks from gundealer ca(599 pre tax)and intend to refinish the stock to a dark red mahogany. And the sks is what every canadian MUST own. Touch the gun and youll feel something trust me.

If youre a beginner and wanna get something high powered, youre looking at a very "Unfun" range firearm but a great hunting firearm. Light hunting rifles paired with bigger calibres isnt a very good idea man. 300wsm/338wsm/7mm rem mag is a nightmare, 30-06 /308win/303british are manageable with some time and effort in the mental and physical aspects. 243win is an excellent round for whitetail but falls short for moose/elk and has very less recoil. 6.5 creedmoor is awesome too but your barrel wont last as long.

With all that being said, go through websites like g4c, truenorth,gundealer,basspro, gotenda,firearms outlet(mixed reviews) etc and do some research on your own. Because end of the day you gotta make sure whichever firearm you choose, it should be an extension of YOURSELF. Dm me and i can try to help get you to a decision but cant make it for you

[u/Iokua_CDN → u/Western_Wish4280]

Just a heads up, my shotgun is much less recoil than my 308. Especially with birdshot and a long barrel. Like it's sks levels.  Haven't ever shot slugs,  but birdshot will be definitely OK for you if you get an sks.

And if you get a semi auto shotgun, I hear they have even leas recoil as the gas system soaks some up!

Definitely you should try one though!! It's a whole new sport, shooting clays. Totally different than all the target shooting I did before!

[u/Western_Wish4280 → u/Iokua_CDN]

Well now youve prettt much made my wallet cry. I had a buddy buy a 12ga shotgun and shot slugs and buddy sold his gun and didnt buy any others till date. Guess birdshot is something id try before kicking ahotguns of my list

[u/zaphodbssecondhead → u/Western_Wish4280]

Find a buddy who isn’t a little girl who sells a shotgun because he shot a slug and it gave him a little bonk. 

OP definitely shouldn’t listen to you and your weird ramblings.  

[u/Western_Wish4280 → u/zaphodbssecondhead]

Whatever bud