Best all-purpose rifle -- when I can afford only one?

self | 12/5/10 | NewJerseyJoe

[NewJerseyJoe]

Hello fellow banglisters. I know I'm going to open a can of worms with this thread -- as does every "What is the best [gun type]" thread -- but I don't know a better-informed group of people to ask.

After enduring three years of the very worst of the bad economic times (unemployment, temp jobs, etc.), I'm finally in a position to increase my personal armory, in the next few months. I need a rifle -- I have only a Henry .22 survival rifle. Not bad for what it does, but it's not the same as a "real" rifle.

The catch is that I can afford one and only one -- and I want to get the most bang for my buck. My considerations are:

1. Reliable
2. Good reputation for quality and accuracy
3. Relatively easy maintenance and cleaning
4. Widespread availability of compatible ammo
5. Durable under a number of different conditions and usage
6. Versatile -- useable for hunting, security/protection, etc.

Estimated budget is $600 to $900; might be able to go a little higher, but I should be able to find something in that range. I had been looking at some of the Remington 700 series, but I don't know if they fit the bill, as I've described above.

If, in your opinion, I can't "have it all" with only one purchase, please tell me so.

Oh, and I should mention -- I live in New Jersey. Rifles that you would pick up at the corner store are ones that I might have to jump through hoops to get. :-(

[FreedomForce]

This link is a little more up to date. Doesn’t have a list but it sets out the requirements. http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/NJSL.pdf

[PhiloBedo]

Bookmarked for my own shopping research.

[KingLudd]

sks +2,000 rnds. of ammo
ak 47 +1,000 rnds. of ammo
Garand is #3, but ammo is not as plentiful or cheap as 7.62 x 39

[OneWingedShark]

Mosin Nagant... be sure to get the bayonet.

[djf]

Agreed.
Mini-14

Very accurate, a pretty good punch, and you don’t have to take out a second mortgage to by rounds...

[blarney]

You are right on the money with the winchester 30-30. IT’s a great brush gun, can take a ton of abuse, decent accuracy, low cost, ammo everywhere, lever action so less moving parts to break, heavy and useable also as a tool. This gun also is easy to repair, clean and maintain. Parts are available everywhere(like a small block chevy) tho it rarely breaks.

[Dan(9698)]

A .270

[roamer_1]

First step up from what you have is a good brush gun, and considering your location, it is hard to beat a .30-30 lever. It is undoubtedly the most popular in history. Great varmint gun, good for deer up into the 100 yard range. I prefer a .45/70 lever, but here in the Rockies, a little more poop is nice because of big bear and moose, etc.

Next would be a long range rifle - Like many here, I would recommend a Remington 700: 30-06 is fine, as many have recommended... I shot a 7mm Mag for years, and now have a 300 win Mag, which I will stay in till I die...

But a good brush/saddle gun is more important. Scoped rifles are good for their purpose, but that purpose is 125+ yds. They generally suck in the woods, where it is uncommon to get a range of more than 100 yards, and often down to 50yds, where a scoped rifle is just about useless, and high power will cause deflection...

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Ask BATF which ones they hate the most and there is your answer.

[Old Student]

Anything in .30 cal is going to be pretty good. 30-06 & .308/7.62 NATO are essentially the same ballistically, and some of the older M-1 Garands were rechambered for .308 by putting an insert in the chamber that matched the profile of the .308 to the longer -06 chamber. (I do NOT know how reliable they are!) You can handload in many bullet weights, and use cast bullets at very low pressure to take small game without shredding it. .308’s should use slightly lighter bullets for heavy loads, 200gr. versus 220gr. for the -06, but my Lyman's 48th Ed. Reloading handbook lists jacketed and cast bullets from 110 to 220gr. for the -06. I'd go bolt-action for fun, and subsistance shooting. You could handle anything from rabbits to elk, but not bear or buffalo unless you're really desperate.

I've done cast bullets down to 80gr for rabbit loads, had to work out my own loads, and that was decades ago. Bolt-gun only. Autoloaders are a lot more finicky about ammo.

Not done much shooting in decades, so there are lots of new toys to try, and new powders to play with that I haven't used. And lots of good info on this thread. Have fun finding your next gun!

[Joe 6-pack]

Apart from outright cost, the Steyr Scout seems like just the ticket for you...chambered in either 7.62 or 5.56, it was built from the ground up as a utility rifle...

Since your budget is a bit more restricted, you may want to cast about for a Gibbs #7 Jungle carbine. It would have to be used, but it get's you a short bolt action rifle in 7.62x51, and I've seen them at very good prices through a number of online auction houses.

[Sylvester McMonkey McBean]

Many good suggestions.

Here are my 2 New Jersey utilitarian suggestions if you choose to continue to reside there.

Com Bloc standard - CZ527 in 7.62x39. Bolt action, mid-grade, carbine. - Add passable glass, and you’re at the top end of your $900 budget.

NATO standard - Stevens 200 in .308 Win. With a $900 dollar budget, you should have about $600 to spend on glass after the purchase.

Both are accurate, rugged bolt-action rifles. The CZ is much nicer in terms of finish, but the Stevens can be customized as money permits. Stocks, barrels, triggers, etc. are all readily available for the Stevens and it’s no slouch in the accuracy department right out of the box.

As for glass...Swarovski, and Schmidt and Bender are not going to happen on this budget. However, there are some nice Leupold, Bushnell, Nikon, and Burris glass that will get the job done.

Looking over that list...New Jersey really does limit how one expresses their 2nd Amendment freedom.

Regardless of what you choose, good luck on your purchase!

(And, this information is worth exactly what you paid for it.)

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

Mark, you speak wisely.

The Ruger 77 is a great choice for its reliability, accuracy, and cost. Ditto on the calibers.

I noted your comment about reloading with interest. I have been reloading since I was 14 in the early 60’s. My Dad had bought me a rifle for Christmas and my folks were flabbergasted when I bought a Lee Loader and started making .264 Win Mag ammo @ the kitchen table. Been a great hobby ever since.

[InternetTuffGuy]

For anybody living East of the Mississippi, the Model 94 is a damn-near perfect all around rifle. There are few areas where a shot is possible over a hundred yards because of all the freakin' trees.

In the lower 48 a 30.06 (Winchester pre '64 model 70) will take down anything on 2 legs and just about anything on 4 legs.

In the final analysis a rifle is only as good as the shooter and your ability to keep it supplied with ammo.

[no-to-illegals]

If one likes the Henry, and I do....American Made...btw....my thought would be stick with a Henry and pick a caliber that is right for you.

[silentreignofheroes]

RESTRICTED FIREARMS

New Jersey law restricts the ownership of certain semi-automatic and other firearms based upon their military appearance. The list includes:

Algimec AGM1 type
Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder such as the “Street Sweeper” or “Striker 12”
Armalite AR-180 type
Australian Automatic Arms SAR
Avtomat Kalashnikov type semi-automatic firearms
Beretta AR-70 and BM59 semi-automatic firearms
Bushmaster Assault rifle
Calico M-900 Assault carbine and M-900
CETME G3
Chartered Industries of Singapore
SR88 type
Colt AR-15 and CAR-15 series
Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max 1 and Max 2,
AR 100 types
Demro TAC-1 carbine type
Encom MP-9 and MP-45 carbine types
FAMAS MAS 223 types
FN-FAL, FN- AR, or FN-FNC type semi-automatic firearms
Franchi SPAS 12 and LAW 12 Shotguns
G3SA type
Galil type
Heckler and Koch HK91, HK93, HK94, MP5, PSG-1
Intratec TEC-9 and 22 semi-automatic firearms
M1 carbine type
M1 4S type, MAC10, MAC11, MAC11 9mm carbine type firearms
PJK M-68 carbine type
Plainfield Machine Co. Carbine
Ruger K-Mini-14/5F and Mini-1 4/5RF
SIG AMT, SIG 550SP, SIG 551SP, SIG-PE-57 types
SKS with detachable magazine type
Spectre Auto carbine type
Springfield Armory BM59 and
SAR-48 type
Sterling MK-6, MK-7, and SAR types
Steyr AUG semi-automatic firearms
USAS 12 semi-automatic type shotgun
Uzi type semi-automatic firearms
Valmet M62, M71S, M76, or M78 type semi-automatic firearms
Weaver Arms Nighthawk
The legislation also prohibits any firearms which are substantially identical to any of the above firearms; any semiautomatic shotgun with either a magazine capacity exceeding six rounds, a conspicuous pistol grip, or a folding stock; a semi-automatic rifle with a fixed magazine capacity exceeding 15 rounds. Any magazine with a capacity greater than fifteen rounds is prohibited, even if there is no semi-automatic firearm to accompany the magazine.

A part or combination of parts to convert or assemble a firearm into an “assault firearm” is also forbidden.

Any “assault firearm” not registered, licensed, or rendered inoperable pursuant to a state police certificate by May 1, 1991, is considered contraband.

Any “assault firearm” which was not owned prior to May 1, 1990, must be licensed. Application is made to the Superior Court for the county in which the person lives or conducts business. The fee is $75. The court must find that the public safety and welfare require the issuance of the license and the person must be qualified to obtain a handgun carrying license. For practical purposes, no one will be issued such a license.

Dang.Sure takes the fun out of living.

[Vigilant1]

A Savage 110 is, IMO, the best bang for the buck for a good quality bolt-action rifle. I personally just bought a really nice Remington 700 tactical rifle in .30-06, but if I was on your budget, I would definitely buy the Savage and apply the savings to getting a better scope.

As for caliber, I prefer .30-06 because of its versatility. You can go up to Maine and hunt moose, hunt black bear locally or go out west for elk or antelope, and the ,30-06 will do everything you need it to do. It can stabilize heavier bullets and will give a flatter trajectory than the .308, especially if you handload. But if you do not envision ever hunting anything bigger or more dangerous than a whitetail, then a .308 will fill your needs just fine.

If you are putting more of an emphasis on self defense than hunting, then a Remington slide-action rifle like the Remington 760 may be a better choice. You sacrifice some accuracy and reliability, but you can get ten-round aftermarket magazines that give you some pretty good firepower. A 760 in .308 would not be a bad choice.

So my advice is use the 870 as your primary self-defense tool, and get a Savage 110 in .30-06 as your hunting rifle and long-range defense rifle. I recommend the Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9x scope. It is an excellent buy, and the Elite series are far superior to previous Bushnell offerings; damn close to Leupold in quality at a far, far lower price. I think this will give you the best value for your money, and the most flexibility.

[muir_redwoods]

30.06 bolt-action. Savage makes a pretty good and economical model 115 (I think). Ammo is common, muzzle energy is very good and it’s a very proven round.

[kalee]

ping

[FLAMING DEATH]

Why do I need seatbelts?

Don’t drive fast.
Live in an area with save drivers. Haven’t had an accident in 25 years of driving.

Am I missing something?