In the market for a new rifle... Any ideas?

[andrew_12gauge]

id say if you like the .25-06 ballistics maybe you should go that route i have one and love it, or any of the other .25's, there is a .25 wssm available as well besides the wildcat .25 wsm, or as stated any of the 7 mms or .280, or the .204 any of those 3 would fill a gap that you dont have covered

[JackOfAllTrades]

a cool one to pass through the family(handgun) would be a Dan Wesson SuperMag.

Passed/passing through my family.

Ok, not a .445, (I'd love to have one of them...)

A c c u r a t e

[Rob]

That is one nice looking handgun!

I thought about a 375 H&H.  And if I saw one I could not live without I might change my mind.  Believe me it is on the short list.  But honestly I want a break action double 416 Rigby or 460 Weatherby for my dangerous game rifle.

My Dad has a nice Sako 375 H&H.

You have all shown me the clear hole in my collection is a 25 caliber something or another.  I'll definitely need to plug it. 

I'm very drawn to the 204 Ruger though. 

So I guess the short list would be:
204 Ruger (first choice)
25 caliber rifle (257/25-06, etc)
Over under trap 12 gauge
375 H&H.

Pretty mixed bag of options... 

[andrew_12gauge]

go with the .204 if its at the top of the list right now definately a fun varmint rifle

[jackelope]

i can make you a sweet deal on a krieghoff k80 if you want an over/under.
 

[Rob]

i can make you a sweet deal on a krieghoff k80 if you want an over/under.

Why do I get the feeling that similar to getting a great deal on a 65 foot yacht...

[HUNT]

You will definately shoot a 204 ruger more than any of the other choices you narrowed it down to.  If you need help on starting loads to reload for the 204 let me know...  I can help you out....

[jackelope]

i can make you a sweet deal on a krieghoff k80 if you want an over/under.

Why do I get the feeling that similar to getting a great deal on a 65 foot yacht...

 

[Rob]

You will definately shoot a 204 ruger more than any of the other choices you narrowed it down to.  If you need help on starting loads to reload for the 204 let me know...  I can help you out....

Well, I'll start rolling my coins now, and the journey to find one will begin.  If I find one I'll reach out for some load data.

Why do I think finding the rifle will be 10x easier than finding small rifle primers!  I started loading in March and it has taken me 4 months to stock up on all the equipment and supplies needed to load for my existing library... 

Keeps me out of trouble though!

[Da stump]

Howdy,  Although you said that a 7mm wouldn't add much I disagree.  With the right rifle you can have a super long range tool.  Teacherman has a browning 7mm A bolt with the ballistics optimizing shooting system (BOSS) installed on it.  It is a precise shooting machine.  The bi-pod and leopold 6.5-20 scope help as well.  It is about double what you are looking to spend with all of that but if you bought the rifle this year and a scope with your great hiring on bonus with your new job you would have a rifle that is fun to shoot and 600 yds can be consistant.

[Remmark]

Consider? a .338 Federal (.308 necked up to .33 cal) or maybe a .358 Win or even a .284 Winchester? I like a .35 Whelen idea too. something fun like a .300 Savage.
What about a different type of rifle like a Browning BAR, Remington Pump (35 Whelan)?
Have fun choosing.

[cascademountainhunter]

i want a .30-378 weatherby

[lamar_hunter]

243 or 25-06? not bad choices depends on what ur doing.

[JackOfAllTrades]

OK we're not talkin hand guns....

Now, to look over Gutpile's suggestions...

.17 HMR
.22 LR
>A .204 Ruger belongs here<
22.250 Remington
>A 25-06, 257 Roberts, or a 260 Rem belongs here<
.270 Winchester
>A 7mm Rem Mag belongs here<
30-30 Winchester
30.06 Springfield
.300 Winchester Magnum
.338 Winchester Magnum
>A 45-70 belongs here<

Everything I've heard is that the .204 Ruger is tempermental. Kinda like the 30 Herret. Either perfect or... It's not. You've already got the 22-250. What you're missing is a .223 in a heavy barreled Savage single shot bolt action.

Or if you really want a tack driver, You need a 6mm BR.

Regarding the 7mm mag.. There nothing it will do that the 30-06 won't do.  So, the .25 cal comes back in play. I would pick 25-06. Capable of sending varmint bullets in the 4,000fps range. Or, still capable of hunting Deer with heavier bullets.  Buy it in a Savage or a Marlin XL7, and have a smith ream it for 25-06 Ackley Improved for even more velocity.

45-70.. ?  Not.  I still gotta stay with my first selection. .444 Marlin.

-Steve

[Rob]

I think I'm pretty set on a 204, I'm getting pretty psyched up for it!  Second round draft pick would be a 25 caliber like a Roberts or a weatherby.

I am thinking of blowing my budget and getting a cooper.  Originally I kinda wanted something other than a single shot, but that is getting a more appealing to me.  Keeping the budget under 1500, what other folks look at?

I want a nice wood stock, excellent trigger and a heavy barrel.  Green field beyond that.

The CZ's are nice, as is the Rem Mod 700.  And I like the Savage rifles with the accutrigger too.