What Rifle should I buy? Your 2 cents wanted...

[MDGrand]

So.. I decided to sell my Browning 30.06 A Bolt Medallion. Its a hard decision, it was the first rifle I ever bought myself, but it doesnt get any use really and I have several other rifles that would prefer and do use. So, I am thinking of using the money I get for this rifle and go for another, but I am a little unsure of what I am after..

Here is what I already have:

Rem 700 300 RUM with custom HS Precision Stock
Mauser Mark X chambered in 300 Weatherby, wood stock.. satisfies the "pretty rifle" want.
S&W 1500 7mm Rem Mag
Win Model 70 270 WSM
Rem 100 12 gauge
Knight Big Horn front stuffer


So what I am thinking is this:

1. a lever action.. I love lever actions.. they are just fun to shoot and are relatively unexpensive.. thinking about a 45-70, REALLY like the Wild Alaskan's but they are like 2K

2. Another Bolt Action.. one I can really practice some more long distance and put a lot of rounds through, perhaps a 308. I already have enough mags and while I prefer a mag to hunt with, it can be a lot on the shoulder when just wanting to go shooting and practice good marksmanship. Really want an accuracy guarantee.. who else besides Weatherby offers one? Savage? Tikka?


Anyway.. just thinking out loud and figured I would put it up to the board.

Whats your call?

[DoubleJ]

You have enough rifles and looks like a rifle for almost every situation.  Sell the 30-06 and donate the money to charity

[Tony 270]

Was thinking you have your mags covered, so why not look 308, 7mm-08, 270, 25-06, 243, some 6mm for those long ranges shoots you're thinking of... or something along those lines.

[NWBREW]

Marlin lever action or Ruger #1....both in 45-70.  They won't break the bank and both are nice to have. just  my   

[JackOfAllTrades]

Why you getting rid of the first rifle you ever bought is beyond me... You could just have it rechambered/rebarreled.

Lever gun... Something everyone doesn't have, or something everyone has.  Everyone should own a 30-30! I prefer the Marlin 336/39A, but also have Win94. I hope the next lever gun I get will be a 444Marlin in the stainless guide gun.

You don't have a varmint rifle in the mix. Savage something or other. If you still want a deer caliber the 243 is great on both. Something a little more unique in 243ai, or a Weatherby variant of a small rocket.

You could go with an AR Target model build in .223 for varmints and join the evil black rifle crowd.

A Contendor to your arsenal could open the doors to many things down the road.

You didn't mention hand gun.  A nice .357mag or .44mag would be great.

-Steve

[carpsniperg2]

i would look at a ar-15 if i was you you have all the bigger guns you need i would look at a 223 for small game. i agree i would never sell that browning if that is the first gun you bought i would look at bushmaster or the remeingtons. lever guns are cool and i have a 30-30 that is worth about 2k that was handed down to me. but i have found that just because a gun if fun to shoot, like most lever guns are. i don't need to buy another one because it would not get used.

[MDGrand]

Why you got rid of the first rifle you ever bought is beyond me... You could have just had it rechambered/rebarreled.

Lever gun... Something everyone doesn't have, or something everyone has.  Everyone should own a 30-30! I prefer the Marlin 336/30A, but also have Win94. I hope the next lever gun I get will be a 444Marlin in the stainless guide gun.

You don't have a varmint rifle in the mix. Savage something or other. If you still want a deer caliber the 243 is great on both. Something a little more unique in 243ai, or a Weatherby variant of a small rocket.

You could go with an AR Target model build in .223 for varmints and join the evil black rifle crowd.

A Contendor to your arsenal could open the doors to many things down the road.

You didn't mention hand gun.  A nice .357mag or .44mag would be great.

-Steve

Well.. the A Bolt has a lot of sentimental value but I dont use it. Mainly because its a very nice walnut stock and engraved  receiver and stuff but from a functionality point of view, its a bit limited. Its very accurate but the barrel is only 22", which knocks the velocity down quite a bit and as opposed to the rest of the rifles I have for big game, it wont peform as well.. all my other ones are much better at 300 yards, etc.

I do have a hand gun.. Ruger SP101 in 357 with crimson laser sigts.. really like that. I was thinking about the S&W Backpacker though! Going to Alaska in Sept and will be accompanying a buddy who is Brown Bear hunting and the 357 is a little light for that..

As far as the Marlin.. I agree.. I want a lever action. I too was thinking about the 444.. why would you chose the 444 over teh 45-70 though? I am just curious as I do not know the real advantages of one vs the other.

[Alchase]

The difference in velocity between 22" and 26" in roughly around 80 fps. I do not think an elk or deer will feel the difference.

30.06
22" - 24" = 41 fps
24" - 26" = 39 fps
            ----------
total =      80 fps

[MDGrand]

I have seen first hand how much my 150 grain accubonds drop at 280 yards with this rifle.. GREAT rifle for 200 yards and under.. after that, the bullet drops like a stone. Still will kill an elk sure.. but I want something with a flatter trajectory or if I want a true brush gun for 200 yards and under.. something with more thump like a Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70.. its the basic story with an 06.. great all around rifle, but it doesnt do one thing particulary well, which is why i have so many magnums and choose those for hunting.

[300magman]

You havea 300 RUM  what else do you need??? got one of those myself...............

32 Winchester SPECIAL, or the 45-70 I have each of these and love the lever actions.............

[MDGrand]

You havea 300 RUM  what else do you need??? got one of those myself...............

32 Winchester SPECIAL, or the 45-70 I have each of these and love the lever actions.............

Obviously this is not a "need" ... What I dont have is a True Brush gun.. considered my 06 a brush gone due to short barrel length, but it really isnt that either..

Narrowing it down to either:

Marlin Guide Gun 444 or 45-70 OR S&W 629 Backpacker in 44 Mag

[demontang]

Id look at a 6.5 upper for a AR and a lower. easy on your shoulder and shoots flat. If I went bolt Id look at the 25-06 or 243, both are decent rounds and you could shot them all day. For a lever gun 45-70 guide gun is up on my list but so is a 44mag but range is limited.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I too was thinking about the 444.. why would you chose the 444 over teh 45-70 though? I am just curious as I do not know the real advantages of one vs the other.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/444Marlin.htm  &  http://www.chuckhawks.com/45-70Govt.htm

Although you can get a 500gn bullet for the 45-70, comparing the 250gn offerings (not available for 45-70), and the 300gn offerings, the 444 performs better with better trajectory, allowing a practiced shooter to take game at greater distances without getting out the mortor guide book for the 45-70. I think there is a better bullet selection available for the 444 also. You would want the faster rifling twist of the later model Marlin though. That's not to say that any lever gun without glass optic should be fired at game at 400yds. But the lighter bullet of the 444 allows more versatility from the long arm while still being able to load a 300+gn bullet for some serious knockdown.

A 450 Marlin is another option, but to me it really doesn't fit a niche between the two.  There are also feed issues with the belted case of the 450.

Since I don't expect to hunt Grizzly's, the 444 would be quite adequate for my needs. Although, I still wouldn't hesitate to take one to Alaska with the heaviest bullet I could load to the gills.

-Steve

[700xcr]

I think you need a small bore. Like a 22cal. centerfire rifle. That way you can buy or reload ammo cheaper and shoot alot more to hone in your shooting skills. Thats what I did. I have the larger caliber bolt action rifles I hunt with, that I have trigger pull weight set at 2Ibs. Then I got a 223rem. bolt gun and had the trigger pull set at 2Ibs. too. That way I can get alot more shooting time in that is less expensive then the larger calibers rifles. Just my two cents worth.

[CheyTac]

 AR would be a nice addition.