Best beginner rifle (Vanity)

Vanity ^ | 10-18-03 | Me

[dogbyte12]

I am about to finally leave the urban jungle of Los Angeles and move down to both Louisiana and South Carolina. While I do fish out here, I have only gone hunting a few times with borrowed equipment.

I am interested in starting to hunt, and would love for any freepers to give me recommendations on a good beginner rifle, something that isn't so pricey, but reliable, as well as any other gear that I will need as a beginner.

I am not a stranger to handguns, or to military rifles, I qualified expert on both a .45 and an M16, so I am not starting from scratch, but I am looking for a rifle for deer hunting basically that will not set me back too much money, yet still be a decent value. I plan to not spend that much money so it can be economical. I do know how to fabricate a carcass, and would love to hunt for meat, without the cost of hunting making it more expensive than going to the supermarket.

Any help in this regard, web sites, consumer reports, etc, would be much appreciated. Thanks all.

[Colorado Doug]

Let's face it. About any rifle suggested here will kill a dear. I would worry more than a little bit about the 22's though.
Here is what I like about my old 30-30.
It was dirt cheap ($80)
It never needs anything
It can ride behind the seat of the truck on dirt roads for months and be fired accurately at a moments notice
I don't worry about banging the scope because it doesn't have one, just an iron sight, the stock and barrel are already beat up too
It sights faster than any scope through brush or low light and has an unlimited field of view
It's light to carry, easy to load and quick to chamber a round.
Because it's so tough, you can take it anywhere. Remember, you can't shoot anything if your rifle isn't with you or in a case to keep from getting scratched.
Mine has been abused for about 25 years, the stock is missing a good sized chunk of wood because something fell on it, it's even been under water. Still, I can take that rifle any time, any where and kill a deer or anything short of an elk. Sure, I like my other rifles but I would never treat any of them like I have treated my $80, used and abused 30-30 and expect them to be accurate. The 30-30 has proven to be reliable, no matter what. I just don't care about 400 yard ballistics tests because I don't want to drag a deer that far anyway. There's no reason you can't get within a hundred yards unless you wear size 20 sneakers..

[I got the rope]

DT,
You forgot to tell him that all newbies are required to have a backyard BBQ for all others involved in the thread. Those of us from out of state must have your American Express card number for booking flights and hotel stays in your area.

[patton]

faith'n'beghorra, d'ya now?

[TexasCowboy]

FreedomMan can't go to Valhalla.
The Viking Kitties will carry him across the River Styx to the land of gun grabbing Dems exposed to a constant barrage of gunfire amidst much wailing and gnashing of teeth as they pile ashes on their heads.

[TexasCowboy]

I like the way you think, Doug!

[blackbart.223]

It's good for killing dirt bikes at 500 yards but it might be overkill if you are meat hunting.

Nice rifle though.

[patton]

So first you are supporting DF, and now you have friends in the Tottenkopf SS?

Concentratian cam guards, oder?

[TexasCowboy]

Bart, I like your add-on to your screen name.
My .223 H&K is a sweet shootin' rifle!

[PoorMuttly]

Oh my.

This must be the work of my former associate mister Dastardly...and his buddies Dishonest John, Oilcan Harry, and Snidely Whiplash. It's a cartel, actually. How mister D. runs it from The Institute is a mystery. I suppose someone smuggled a cell phone in to him, or he's using our old...uh-oh...almost violated my release agreement that time...but I didn't...and that's the IMPORTANT thing. Close, though.

Who do you think is pulling Bert's strings...and "Kevin"...well...I even hear they've penetrated the Tinfoil industry...

...but back to the Thread...for iron sights up close...even scoped...I like the 8mm Mauser, if one wants to save money, and go surplus. It's a great pounder up close...and I happen to have a few of them. For him, though...a '94 lever action in 30-30 is a natural, easily feedable great choice...lots of fun...and even great for smaller stuff...which...if he's in the woods...and it's swampland too...is a great introduction rifle...and always handy.

I'm about to get one in .357 for general chores...up close stuff...and my friend Paco Kelly has bolstered my expectations about the .357 with heavy bullets...but not for the Poster...who wants a good intro. into "using" rifles. He could consider the Marlin in .35 Rem. too...but the 30-30 should be experienced...and owned.

Then again...I recommend longer range rounds...and heavy bullets...from experience...but you can't go too wrong with an 1894...and after you sell it...you'll miss it.

[TexasCowboy]

"It's good for killing dirt bikes at 500 yards"

Picture in my last issue of the .50 caliber mag of a woman who killed a deer at 895 yards.
Didn't say how much meat was edible.

[I got the rope]

Hey I bought one of these with Nazi stamps in Leadville, Colorado a while back. It's a .380 or 9mm with moon clips.

The Germans put their stamps all over the weapons the Belgians were making in their factories after the blitzkrieg.

[Lurker]

I actually held a full auto FN today.

I can't post anymore here about it because of the Fed and State laws. The moron who owns it actually said to me: 'It's ok, I'm in the military. I've applied for a Class III license, so I can still shoot it.'

I tried to explain to him about the GCA of 1968 and all that, but he just would not listen.

When he asked me where he should 'store' his auto sear and I replied: "the bottom of the ocean would be good" he looked at me like I was nuts.

"I'll just register it" was his reply. I laughed and laughed at him...

What a shame. A damn fine rifle owned by a moron.....

Sad, ain't it?

L

[blackbart.223]

"Bart, I like your add-on to your screen name. My .223 H&K is a sweet shootin' rifle!"

Is it an H&K 93? I used to own an H&K 91(5.56 nato). The trigger sucked but it was balls on accurate.

[blackbart.223]

"Didn't say how much meat was edible."

Not much was I expect. But damn, 895 yards is an awesome shot.

[ghostcat]

"You are one "soopabadass" my friend."

I wouldn't say that. That was from a machine rest with handloads. A machine rest can make even the worst shooter look good :^) sorry I didn't clarify this in my previous post! What I was talking about about was the inherant ability of the round, not about the ability of the shooter. I can't remember the specs, I'd have to find my notes to get those for you, but I can tell you that that load didn't do near so well in another rifle (an old marlin model 36, the predecessor to the 336) more like about an inch and a half to two inches. I do remember that the bullet was a spire point, not something you would load into a tube magazine, but rather load only one at a time. That was back when I was experimenting with a lot of different loads (way back before I was married and had children)

[Colorado Doug]

Thank you. It seems there will be plenty who don't ;-)
The old Model 94 has semi retired and now gets to stay in my gun cabinet and not the truck. I guess I'm just not a good old boy anymore. The 30-30 is still, for the above reasons, the first thing I grab if I think I hear something messing with my horses.

[PoorMuttly]

BTW Eakey...I notice that the Google people are using my alternative spelling of my name when they refer to my Hollywood days. If they'd check...they'd find it's Mutt-LEY. As you know, I had to change it for contractual reasons, now that I'm not formally employed by The Studio.

Back to the Thread, though...he may want to consider a Marlin in .44 Magnum...and use Specials for lighter duty around the place, like snake control...my having blasted a rattler 2 weeks ago with a 12ga., which gave me pause for thought...and little use for .22's...from now on. Also...they're both great handgun rounds.

The .44 came to mind because I just had to take a little "puppy break" to relieve myself in the Muttly Compound (beer does that to dogs), and noticed I felt confident because I was still wearing my sixguns and raccoonskin cap...though not suprisingly...since I have been sleeping with them on of late.

Good ideas are good ideas because they're good ideas...and things like lever action rifles and military-proven machinery...like larger-caliber handguns...and the .357...proven in Korea and Vietnam, and in countless Lawmen's hands...are good ideas, and readily available.

Raccoonskin Caps need no explanation.

[SevenDaysInMay]

Pre-'64 '94s are better. Semi-collectors now, but good enough for 200 yard work..

7.62x39 self-loaded with 140-150 gr. is better because of the 39 followup shots.

[PoorMuttly]

Really glad to be back, L.

I crave a Savage 99, and am saddened that they are no longer made. The .300 has a phenominal reputation in the hands of real country boys...men who really, really hunt. These are the guys who also use the .257 Roberts...and whose Pappys probably trained them on the .32-20!

Muttly really want one of those too.

Our Poster may not know (YET!) that the .30-30 is the first really successful smokeless powder round...I think first offered with a lead bullet (a beautiful thing)...and "has killed more deer than any other cartridge"...which always hungry Muttlys really appreciate. Under-powered by today's standards...but the sweetest and most useful package that there is...and fast-shooting when the chips are down. I'd just hate to face a southern wild boar with one...but it beats not making it up the tree while shouting last words. May buy a second or two. Muttly grateful for small favors. Which brings us to "the venerable and oh-so-proven .45-70," with which boar can be HUNTED...and deer dropped handily. A short barrelled Marlin is amazingly handy in the deep, thick woods, and with 300gr. bullets, flat shooting enough, certainly. It has a wonderful reputation, can use lighter "Cowboy" rounds, and should generally keep you out of the swamps chasing wounded whatever-it-is, since it doesn't need expansion to do the work.