Vanity: Looking for a good all purpose hunting rifle for Christmas

Me | 11/6/13 | Me

[bigtoona]

I know this will get a lot of replies but go for it. I just want to get some opinions on the different rifles out there to help me decide.

I grew up in PA until I was 11 so I never got to actually hunt with my brother and dad so I'm not super educated about all of the rifles out there.

I have pistols, shotguns and a couple of .22 rifles but now I would like to get a decent rifle for deer in case I get an opportunity to go hunting with a friend. Nothing too fancy or massively powerful, just good quality and dependable. Thanks all!

[ExpatGator]

Sound observations. The 1’s and 3’s can be a pleasure.

[ExpatGator]

Yeah, and the shame of it is in order to deal with the insane people who say that it is an unsafe trigger they had to tamper proof it. It can be set safely and dependably to be a thing of beauty. Of course, like any trigger adjustment, you must shock test it.

[Dusty Road]

A #3 in 45-70 is not that much of a pleasure but they are fun.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I got one to a crisp 4 lbs, but if I wanted better I’d buy a Timney.

[RetiredNavy]

Several available:

Ruger bolt action
Winchester 94
Marlin 94
Henry Big Boy
Winchester 73 (one manufacturer)
several single shot rifles (I think H&R has one)
Ruger lever action (don’t know if they are still making them)

Of these, I prefer the Marlin. It seems to do a better job of feeding the rounds than the other lever actions.

[scripter]

Interesting. I have a Winchester 94 which is a 30-30. Are you saying it also shoots 44 magnum? The bullets look to be about the same diameter. I’ve never shot either the 30-30 or the .44 mag revolver so I’m just learning about both.

[ExpatGator]

Yeah, that could take the pleasure out of them.....

[gundog]

Also available in .44 Mag.

[RetiredNavy]

As an NRA instructor, I recommend that you not even touch a firearm until you understand what a cartridge is, what caliber means, and the fact that every time you pull the trigger on a firearm you are in essence setting off a bomb mere inches from your face.

DO NOT fire a 44 magnum cartridge in a gun chambered for 30-30. The cartridges are NOT “about the same diameter”. The CASE may be, but the bullet in the 44 is .429 as opposed to .308 in the 30-30. The larger bullet will plug the barrel and the expanding gas (with no where to go) will blow up your rifle. This will cause damage, to your rifle, and potentially your hands and face (remember the comment that you are setting off a bomb mere inches from your face). People have been killed by exploding firearms.

Again, I recommend that you NOT FIRE ANY FIREARM until you take the time to learn about them. Failure to do so is equivalent to giving a 3 year old a stick of dynamite and lit road flare. The resulting damage is inevitable.

The Winchester 94 has been chambered in many calibers, 30-30, 32 special, 44 mag, .357, 38-55, 44-40, 38-40, etc. NONE of these calibers is interchangeable.

Here is a pretty good place to start: http://www.corneredcat.com/article/ammunition/caliber-confusion/

[RetiredNavy]

The bullet is actually rather small. The cartridge case however is of a decent size.

[scripter]

Thanks. I have no intention of putting a .44 magnum round in the 30-30. If you read the entire thread you’d see I’m inheriting the 30-30, some other long guns and a number of handguns including my first 1911. You would also see that I’m bringing the guns to a shop where they can tell me everything about the long guns. Well, in addition to what I learn here.

I’m really looking forward to shooting that .44 magnum revolver just to compare it to my .357. I shoot my Ruger .357 and my compaq H&K 9mm all the time so I’m familiar with firearms, just not the ones I’m inheriting. Well, not yet.