Posted on 12/27/2009 7:35:20 PM PST by wheathead
My wife bought me a hunting rifle for Christmas. Actually, she gave me "permission".( haha) I already have a nice assortment of shotguns and .22's. I'm looking for a drop and stop rifle. One that will drop a deer and stop an "evil-doer". So, what should I get???
Marlin 30 30
My favorite “do-anything” rifle is a Marlin 1894 lever action chambered in .44 Magnum.
Its under 7 pounds loaded, holds 10 rds in the tubular magazine, and will stop everything with two legs and just about everything with four in North America.
I added XS ghost-ring sites to mine. If I can see it, I can hit it - within 150yds. Recoil is negligible and it is a hoot to shoot.
Of course, since obamao was elected I have sold all of my guns but I still have fond memories of that Marlin...
Make sure your second rifle doesn’t find out. ;)
What is your hunting terrain? Are you sitting on a Texas hill looking through a scope? Are you planted in Arkansas tree stand where it will be fairly close range but through a tangle of underbrush?
Your wife asked you???? My husband asks me WHERE the loaded guns are all the time! I am the one who keeps track of them!
Given your constraints I’d be shopping for a lever action, 30-30 or possibly 44 magnum. Both calibers are widely available, and the 44 mag would allow you to pick up a revolver sometime in the future and have common ammo.
It’ll work for both applications you have in mind, plus it won’t spook the wife.
Weatherby .300 Magnum.
Remmington 700 PSS
AR 15. 30 round clip. You won’t be sorry.
What will drop a deer will stop a man and vice versa.
So stick to military calibers such as .308, 30-06, 7.62 Russian. Look for rifles such as M-1 Garand, M1A (M-14 lookalike), Spanish CETME. Bolt-actions such as Parker Hale. Older Remingtons: Models 742, 760. Mosin-Nagants abound and are cheap.
Go to www.gunbroker.com. Lotsa stuff on that site.
Check out the price of ammo in each of the cals listed. See if you qualify for Civlian Marksmanship Program membership and discounts.
JMHO, the initial rush on guns since 11-04-08 has subsided, but the run on ammo continues. I wish you success.
One all purpose rifle? A Savage bolt action .308. Put the money you save into ammo and practice.
The 7.62x39 cartridge is good for reloading and casting your own bullets from tire weights which can save a lot of money if you are on a budget.
Unfortunately $600 won't even buy the scope.
Get a Ruger Mini 14.
Timeless commentary on this very subject...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/564540/posts
November 5, 2001
228 posts
“Marlin 30 30”
I bought my Marlin 336 at Walmart—cheep. I haven’t tried those new `LeverRevolution’ shells. Easy to mount a scope.
first decide what you want to use it for ...then you can see what would be appropriate to get..
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.