Posted on 11/13/2008 10:07:22 AM PST by Labyrinthos
Like many Americans in these uncertain times, I plan on purchasing additional firearms over the next few days. I already own a Remington 870 12g, which I use for both sport and home defense, as well as several .22 rimfire rifles for target shooting. I would like to buy a versatile o/u for field and range; and a centerfire lever action rifle for field, range, and defense. I don't want to spend a lot of money on either.
My budget on the o/u is less that $1000, and I have been looking at guns from Charles Daley, Mossburg, Spartan, and Dick's Diamond (Franchi). I would also consider a higher quality second hand gun in my prince range. I welcome your thoughts and recommendations.
My budget for the lever action is under $600 and Marlin seems to be the lever action of choice in that price range. I have never fired a centerfire lever action rifle and would appreciate you advice on make, model, and most importantly, caliber (I don't want to bust the budget on ammo).
Thanks in advance.
Everyone who is eligible should buy a gun and learn how to use it, ASAP. This will send a clear message to the Democrats, terrorists, and other crooks.
The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The Second Amendment has not been amended.
Wouldn’t speak regarding the over/under, but go to Dicks Sporting goods, find their Marlin Lever action .30-30 combo pack (includes scope, less than 400.00), spend the rest on ammo and range time.
Look for a used O/U on Gunbroker.com. You can find a lot of Brownings, Berettas, & Winchester 101s there, and those will probably outlast you and your offspring. The older, fixed choke models are cheaper than newer screw-in choked guns, and one with IC/Mod chokes will do well with both targets and game. Go to a gun shop and check out the various O/Us to see what fits you. For me the Brownings fit better, but it’s an individual thing, you could well prefer something else.
Not an over/under kind of guy but I do own a Marlin in 45/70. Probably not the caliber you’d want since it has a very hard recoil and ammo can run you up to $2/round. For the same reason I’d avoid the 444 and 450.
You might want to look at one in 44Mag or 357Mag. Those two calibers would be rather cheap on the ammo side and would offer the opportunity to buy a handgun in the same caliber. The 44Mag would be effective on white tail out to about 125 yards or so depending on your abilities. Hornady offers some interesting ammunition that allows the use of a pointed bullet and still be safe in tubular magazines. The ammo is called lever revolution and is available in almost all of the calibers that marlin makes. This ammo would add about 50% to the effective range.
Marlin also offers a .308 in a lever action. But be advised this is not really a 308. It’s actually a 307. But it does offer ballistics similar to a 308.
You (and all other FReepers) can check out upcoming gun shows and talk to some knowledgeable people face-to-face and check out what’s available.
http://www.crossroadsgunshows.com/gunsched.htm
I’m looking forward to doing the same.
I think that 600 for a new Marlin is about what they want for their tippy top lever action these days. Better yet, a used .45-70 won’t have the new receiver safety. You could also save money by getting a long barrel from Craigslist or Gunbroker for your existing 870 rather than buying an O/U field gun. If you’re on a budget, always buy a sturdy used gun. That’s the way all the best deals work.
Lever gun: Mossberg just came out with a lever 30-30. Reasonably priced. Put it together w/ Hornady polymer tip lever gun ammo, and you’ve got a hunting rifle w/ a legitimate 150-200 yd range. Or go with a Marlin. Comes in a variety of calibers
Handgun: Depending on your state, check out Springfield’s XDM in .40 S&W or 9mm. [Both illegal in NY because of the Mag. capacity]. Revolver: Taurus has affordable wheelguns, and also 1911 clones. Ruger has a six shot SP 101 [3”] shoots 327 mag. Ballistics almost on the nose w/ .357, haldf the recoil.
O/U: CZA has som reasonable ones. So does [I think] NE Firearms.Good luck.
As our esteemed former president pervert would say “it
depends on what the definition of amendment is”. Technicallly it has not and you are correct. However in
practical terms one could say it has- by all of the laws
passed governing gun purchases, sales and use of, ect.
Gees. Just to get a carry permit I had to jump through a
ton of hoops and go through a boat load of hassle. The
phrase “shall not be infringed” kept going through my
head........
Why was my post removed?
So, your advice is to take a perfectly good, legal shotgun, mutilate the barrel, rendering it illegal and possibly inaccurate.
I’m curious as to how much tactical benefit you expect to derive from this as opposed to just buying an 870 with a legal 18 inch barrel that you can take to the range and practice with as opposed to keeping hidden away?
As I had suggested, it was for home defense or CQC...Accuracy when talking room to room is not an issue and the modification from a long shotgun into a short manueverable weapon is more adapted to this environment...it is intended for nothing but home defense...that’s it...
Take your $1,000 and try to find a new or used Ruger O/u, IF that’s the style you want.
I dont think mossberb makes any scatterguns other than pumps or autos..but I could be wrong.
Charles Daly O/Us are all turkish made, if Im not mistaken. Ands thats not a bad thing, some of the nicest reasonably priced shotguns come out of Turkey.
Could it have had anything to do with recommending that people break the law?
It’ll probably run a bit more than $600 (not by much, though, if you shop around) but a Henry “Big Boy” in .357 mag would be my choice for a lever action rifle. I like the fact that it uses the same ammo as that ever-popular revolver.
Oh, and you should pick up a .357 mag revlover also...
;^)
rather than spend money on an o/u, get a bird barrel for your 870. if you’re sure you want one, check out the remmington spartan. well put together and inexpensive. then buy a mec press and reload your own shotshells.
for lever guns, i suggest marlins because they have a side ejection port. makes it easier to scope and less prone to having the ammo get caught in the chamber.
I got an 18 1/2” barrel from cheaperthandirt for my Mossberg: $69.00. I saw no sense in `circumsizing’ the longer barrel that came with it. And in this state, saw your barrel under 18” and you buy yourself a peck of trouble.
This Mod is strong in the Force.....
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