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

[Gutpile]

.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<

There's to many to list !!!   

[JackOfAllTrades]

    With what you have listed there... Something in the 6mm or 6.5mm range. An old classic varminter round but still legal for Deer?  A .243 Ackley Improved? .257 Weatherby Mag?

Wow, I had never heard of a .204 Ruger.

What? You been hiding under a rock or something?

Ever thought about a wildcat? How about a .300STW?

.444Marlin! in the stainless guide gun.

-Steve

[huntnphool]

.257 Roberts , you might take a look at the 25-06 as well, and a 7mm to fill in the gaps.

[Gutpile]

.257 Roberts , you might take a look at the 25-06 as well, and a 7mm to fill in the gaps.

Good call phool. 

[Curly]

25wsm.......oh wait it is not a standard round .....only a wildcat......    I don't think you'd be able to get one for 4 to 5 hunderd.  

[jackelope]

.257 Roberts , you might take a look at the 25-06 as well, and a 7mm to fill in the gaps.

or  a .257 weatherby magnum 

[denali]

http://www.kel-tec-cnc.com/rfb.htm

308 cal. several configurations,  kinda cool think.

[littlebuf]

i dont see a shot gun in there

[Jamieb]

Rob.
Do you reload? That would really influence what new rifle/cartridge I'd pick.
A few hundred in disposable money can go a long ways towards upgrading hunting gear.
How you doing in the optics area, scopes, bino's, spotter?
Hunting clothes/boots, pack?
If your looking for a fun cheap to shoot rifle for the range its hard to beat a .223. Ammo and reloading components available everywhere, easy to load for, little recoil, and pretty much every rifle manufacturer makes the .223 in models rangeing from short light to long bbl heavy varminters.

[Rob]

I'm pretty well set on gear and optics.  Guns last for generations so that's why I'd like to put the spare change there.  A shotgun would be nice, but I have all gauges but 28 right now.  The only temptation would be a customizable over/under trap gun - that's out of budget but knowing me I'll probably blow my budget so I'll be watching for one of those too.

I think after all the advice I'm going to look at a 204 Ruger.  I do reload and they are very cheap to load for (assuming I can find small rifle primers).  It looks to beat the 223 ballistically, and comparable to the 22.250, only a little flatter.  It will make for a fun addition to the collection.  I hear the 17 Remington, while nice, gunks up the barrel pretty bad.  The 17 fireball is suppose to be better with regards to barrel fouling but I like the ballistics on the 204 better.

Now I just need to pick a gun...  I'd like a wood stock, heavy barrel and smooth trigger. Remington and Savage both make a nice thumbhole that meets those requirements.  I looked at a cooper last night at Adventure Sports that was an amazing gun, but it is a single shot and I really want a magazine.  Was rather pretty spendy too.

I don't know much about twist rates, any recommendations for a proper twist rate for a long range 204 Ruger?

Thanks for all the recommendations, I would not have even considered the 204 Ruger before this thread.

[Straight Shooter]

I'm pretty well set on gear and optics.  Guns last for generations so that's why I'd like to put the spare change there.  A shotgun would be nice, but I have all gauges but 28 right now.  The only temptation would be a customizable over/under trap gun - that's out of budget but knowing me I'll probably blow my budget so I'll be watching for one of those too.

I think after all the advice I'm going to look at a 204 Ruger.  I do reload and they are very cheap to load for (assuming I can find small rifle primers).  It looks to beat the 223 ballistically, and comparable to the 22.250, only a little flatter.  It will make for a fun addition to the collection.  I hear the 17 Remington, while nice, gunks up the barrel pretty bad.  The 17 fireball is suppose to be better with regards to barrel fouling but I like the ballistics on the 204 better.
Now I just need to pick a gun...  I'd like a wood stock, heavy barrel and smooth trigger. Remington and Savage both make a nice thumbhole that meets those requirements.  I looked at a cooper last night at Adventure Sports that was an amazing gun, but it is a single shot and I really want a magazine.  Was rather pretty spendy too.

I don't know much about twist rates, any recommendations for a proper twist rate for a long range 204 Ruger?

Thanks for all the recommendations, I would not have even considered the 204 Ruger before this thread.

I've also been looking into the .204 Ruger.  The only real concern I have is wind drift due to the lighter bullets.  I really like the Remington VTR.

[Curly]

My dad has a CZ in 204 Ruger.  Shoots really well and the price is reasonable on the CZ's.

[bearpaw]

Rob....you have a pretty good list of guns for about everything in North America. It looks like you hunt africa and if you will be going for big bear in Alaska or some of the other overseas big game you are pushing it with what you have. Most guides overseas want to see a .375 H&H minimum for the big and dangerous game. You might also consider one of the big remington or nitro calibers. Right now those type of guns are cheap as some people are looking to sell what they might not use again.

Another great choice that the other guys mentioned is the 25:06 or 257 WBY, and a 280 or 7mm mag. Or any gun you can find a good deal on....

Definitely another subject of great opinion....

[JackOfAllTrades]

I looked at a cooper last night

Hah! There went the budget!   

I'll second the .375H&H. You've got enough varmint type calibers there. If it was my safe that I was filling, I'd be looking bigger bore than your list indicates.

-Steve

[addicted]

a cool one to pass through the family(handgun) would be a Dan Wesson SuperMag. get a stainless one. maybe the .445 supermag.