[SecuritySixShooter]

Ok so a while back I sold my AK in favor of a shotgun. Dont really regret the transaction as i wasnt really a big fan of the AK. Since then I have contemplated getting another rifle just one a little more versatile. I basically want a SHTF rifle, hunting rifle, fun plinker all in one. Heres the kick, I want an american caliber. The cheaper the rounds the better but price isnt really an issue. I have no idea where to start so I thought I would ask for ideas. As for the price of the rifle lets say somewhere in the range of 400-600 dollars or less (maybe more depending).

[rangerruck]

boltie, new, I would go savage. semi, get a new Saiga.they make the saigas look like everything from an evil ak, to a wood furniture sporter, with bbls from 16 to 22 inches.

[roscoe]

30-30 lever gun. Does it all.

[Skofnung]

Try looking at a carbine in .357 Magnum. The Marlin guns are nice, as are the Pumas (Winchester 92 clone.)

The .357 cartridge fired out of a carbine or rifle length barrel nips at the heels of the venerable .30-30. It is an adequate hunting arm for whitetail sized game out to 150 yards or thereabouts. .38 Special rounds can be run through the gun for cheap plinking.

That said, if you find a "do all gun" let the rest of us know... Folks have been looking for one for a long time now.

[MachIVshooter]

My vote sould be for the AR-10. .308 is a bit more expensive for plinking, but these are very capable SHTF and hunting rifles. I'f I could have only one rifle, It would be my Armalite AR-10A2 carbine + a (T) upper.

The Armalite AR-10(T) is also available in .300 RSAUM, but this caliber can be difficult to find, and .300 RSAUM mags are 5 rounders, period.

You can also get AR-10 uppers in .243 Win. I believe Accuracy Systems, inc. lists some other calibers as well (.260 Rem, 7mm-08 and others).

Edit: Reading back through, I just noticed your price cap, so I guess the AR is out.
Maybe a Century G-3. I paid $499 for mine, and it is sub-MOA with Federal American Eagle. ~1.5-2 MOA with any other ammo for some reason. Of course, the B-square scope mount, Bi-pod and the scope were another $500.

[kevin387]

Another vote for the Marlin 357

[SecuritySixShooter]

So I have been visiting gunshops/reading articles and i havent found anything I really like. So I guess I need to open it up to any rifle. I handled a Mosin-Nagant M44 today and it didnt feel to bad. I dont honestly know anything about old battle rifles and the like. Does anyone have any suggestions? Im not a reloader so ammunition is an issue. Please help me out.

SSS

[GunNut]

M44 would be fun, but recoil could be bad and self defense ammo may not be available.

I would really look at a Marlin lever gun in .41mag or .357mag.

Otherwise, maybe a Browning BAR in .243 or bigger?

Good luck, ONE gun for everything is kind of tough.

Steve

[T.R.]

.308 works for me.
TR

[Mumbles_45]

I've been looking for a do all gun for a while. I have finally settled, very happilly , on a FAL carbine, after abandoning the AK (too crude) and the PTR-91 (to big, ergonomics suck), and not even bothering with the AR (.223 too small, AR-10s too expensive). Finding an FAL for $600 will be hard, but not impossible. I finally found one at a gunshow for $650.

[LoadedDrum]

It is not too hard to build an .223/5.56 AR for around 600 bucks. Then, down the road, and depending on your budget and needs, you can get a 22lr upper for plinking, a 6.5 Grendel for long range, a 6.8SPC for deer hunting, a 458 socom for boar, and the 223 is not bad for varimit hunting.

[Deer Hunter]

You did great with the FAL purchase. Tell me, what type receiver is it?

[Just_a_dude_with_a_gun]

Saiga in .308?

[byf43]

One gun fits all? SHTF, Hunting, Plinking, Boat oar (j/k!)

Tough call.

Three rifles come to mind.

M1-A Scout - .308 (7.62 x 51)
Potent cartridge, semi-auto, reliable, limited capacity mags available for hunting. Real good accuracy.

Marlin 1894 - .44 magnum
Decent short range hunting cartridge, compatible with revolver (sidearm), ammo found just about everywhere. Compact, portable, can be tossed under the seat of the truck, or behind it.

Remington mdl 7 in .308 Win
Short little 'carbine'. Potent cartridge, the same as M1-A. Good accuracy.

[GunNut]

Yes, a .308 Saiga would be good for everything, but it's an AK47 variant.


Steve

[Mumbles_45]

Deer Hunter, It's an Imbel reciever.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=217588

[SecuritySixShooter]

So I have all this cash saved up for a rifle but like always something has come up in the finance department. Sometimes I hate cars is all im gonna say about that. So what do you guys recommend in say the 300-450 price range (or under). Sorry for wasting your time earlier just didnt know this would happen. Thanks again.

SSS

[meef]

Your financial situation's change didn't change the best choice per your criteria.

It's still the Marlin 1894 in .357/.38spl.

:D

[ARperson]

Seriously,

The Marlin (or equivalent) pistol caliber lever guns are what you want as a do all.
Sure they lack the sexy black lingerie of an EBR. But they make up for with the american heritage.

They are inexpensive.
Inexpensive (relatively) to shoot.
Extermely reliable, accurate, and most importantly, fun!!!!

[Nematocyst]

It's still the Marlin 1894 in .357/.38spl.Meef, and others, how do the ballistics of that .357 compare to the .30/30?

Faster/more energy, or comparable?

I checked the Remington ballistics pages, but they don't even list the .357.

I'm curious, and looking for a "do all rifle" as well.

Nem

[wuchak]

The right .357 loads out of a rifle will best the 30-30. Buffalo Bore sells one if you don't handload.

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#357

Here's their test data:
" 18.5 inch Marlin 1894

a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard Cast = 1851 fps
b. Item 19B/20-170gr. JHC = 1860 fps
c. Item 19C/20-158gr. Speer Uni Core = 2153 fps---- Can you believe this?!!!
d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Speer Uni Core = 2298 fps---- Or this?!!!"

Also recommend this article: http://www.gunblast.com/Winchester-Ranger357.htm

There are some excellent discussions on this in the 1894 section of marlinowners.com and at handloads.com.

[Brian Williams]

158gr LSWC out of a Marlin push 1850fps and a 150 gr rn 30/30 out of a win94 runs over a 2000fps easy.
a box of 50, 357s cost between 13 and 20, and 20, 30/30 cost about 14 to 20.

I went to the range the other day and shot 100 rounds, I missed a bunch because I had adjusted my sights and forgot to reset them for the distance I was shooting. The old guy near me whispered to his son He sure is shooting a lot and missing just below the target(an 8x11 sheet of paper). I heard that redialed my sights and proceeded to blast out the target. It was humorous because I shot about 150 rounds while I was there and they shot about 5 rounds apiece to sight in their hunting rifles. Poor bambi getting scared like that by them. I was shooting 6 inches low at 50 in a 5 in group as fast as I could realign the sights while shooting offhand. They were shooting shotgun particles and never got a group because they kept changing their sights, once they got a shot in the bull they stopped and said "that works". Hunters maybe, shooters nope.


Get a marlin and have fun, You will shoot it alot more than a bolt, then you will be one with your gun.

[dfaugh]

OK, I'm not a big fan of lever actions, in fact its the only type of action I DON'T own.

However, having said that, if I could only have one gun to augment my shotgun, It would very well be a lever gun. Caliber choice is a little difficult---many would work, depending on inteded uses. But, I would personally probably opt for the venerable 30-30 over some of the pistol calibers.

[danurve]

25-06 is a wonderfull cal., but ammo might be harder to find then a more common .243 or .308 cal.

[rangerruck]

at Academy, 3030 ammo costs 6 to 10 dollars a box.

[JCF]

I'd say a short, bolt action 308 with a compact scope and iron sights.

or

a lever 30-30.

My personal favorite all-purpose is a Marlin 1895G... but then again I handload. Factory 45-70 ammo is EXPENSIVE and a bit limited in its range of suitability.

[Terrierman]

If you are seriously considering owining only one gun for every purpose under heaven and think it should be a lever action, then it should be a Savage 99 in .308. Or maybe a BLR in .308. Personally I would prefer a bolt action .308 carbine.

[Run&Shoot]

If you want one rifle for SHTF, hunting, plinking, and day to day home defense, then I would go with a lever action. I doubt you can find a Savage 99 or Browning BAR in .308 for under $400 (if you can let me know where), but if you can go for it.

Otherwise, the Marllin in .30-30 or .44 mag would be top choices with the .357 a second due to the hunting requirement. The .357 is passable for hunting but may not be legal in some states. The .44 is much more capable for hunting and you can still get 9 rounds in the tube.

.357 may be st if self defense is top priority as the ammo is a lot cheaper and it has 9 in the tube. The .30-30 may be best for hunting as you can find ammo anywhere and has a bit better trajectory, especially with the new Hornady Leverevolution ammo. The .44 is the best combination and the one I have!

I have a couple of Garands, a couple of .30-06 bolt hunting rifles, a couple of 12 ga shotguns, and even some MAK-90s. But I still felt the *need* for the do-it-all lever action. The assualt rifle that won the West!

[Terrierman]

There's a 99C in .308 with a Bushnell scope on it at Auction Arms for $389. There's also a 99E with a Simmons on it with a current bid of $328. There. How's that for service?;) Seriously, with some looking you can find a 99 in that price range, or darn close.

[SecuritySixShooter]

Thanks All you all have been very helpful. Eventually I plan on buying more rifles its just that right now I can only afford one and im trying to figure out which one is best for me. Out of the suggestions made ill be looking at a
.357 lever action carbine (if I can find one) tomorrow. I'll also be looking at 30-30 and .308 but im thinking .357 might be the way to go. I do have another question. How are the quality of the rifles manufactured by Pumas. I wanna have a look at both. Again I really appreciate everyones responses.

SSS

[Brian Williams]

Either a Marlin, My first choice, or a Rossi/Puma are great.

[Rebeldon]

Marlin Model 1894 .44 rem. mag.