A decision needs to be made

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joshk-k

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Hi there, folks...

I'd like to buy another firearm relatively soon, and am torn between three basic kinds. I don't have any specific needs to fill (I can't hunt this year anyway, I feel safe in my neighborhood and probably will not carry, etc.), so that makes the decision a little harder.

Here's what I have:
Ruger 10/22 (.22LR)
Marlin 925M (.22Mag)
H&R Handy-Rifle (.30-30, with 20 gauge smoothbore and slug barrels)
Marlin 30AW (.30-30)

I would like to spend no more than $400 on the gun, any necessary accessories, and a decent amount of ammo. Here are the three types that interest me and an example of each:

A battle rifle/carbine (A Saiga in 7.62 or a used Mini-14, for instance)

A big-game rifle capable of substantially longer distances than my .30-30s (At the store yesterday, I was looking at a sporterized Remington 1917, a Remington 710, and a Savage (#?) all in .30-06, and all for under $300)

A double-action revolver in .357 Magnum (Probably a used S&W)

Just right off the bat, which would you pick? Why? Any specific recommendations for the final choice?
Thanks,
Josh
 
And, if I get responses quick enough and can find the right deal locally, I might just participate in today's anti-Jesse festivities!

Josh
 
I guess it depends on how into hunting you are. At first glance I would have recommended going with a .30-06, but then I noticed you don't have a handgun at all.

Even if you put aside all the carry and self-defense reasons, handgun shooting is just plain fun. It's much more fun than shooting a .30-06 is if you are a shooter. If you consider yourself more of a hunter than a shooter, you would probably be better served by a good .30-06. Seems like the obvious choice to me.
 
DA revolver in .357. I'd choose a Ruger Security or Speed Six, A Ruger Gp series, or a Taurus. 4" bbl.
Why? Versatility. You can carry it for defense camping or in your vehicle (Depending on laws in your area of course), you can use it for home defense. With .38 specials its a great plinker, and can be used for handgun instruction for family members and friends. Every red blooded American needs a .357.....
:neener:
 
If you really, truly, want and would keep and make use of anything that the antis call an "assault weapon", better grab it before the next election.

Me?
I have no use for that stuff, I would get the .357.
 
I don't think you'll have much for ammo if you go with a Mini-14, but that should be fun. The Saiga also has a lot of entertainment value going for it.

I don't know what you'd want the 30-06 for, but the Savage will probably be your best shooter. The 1917 would be the coolest, if the sporterization isn't too heinous and you don't mind that. The 710 wouldn't be a consideration at all. Do a search. Few firearms are so roundly criticized.

I don't know what a .357 Mag goes for, but I thought it was more than $400.

For rifle + ammo under $400, probably the Saiga, maybe the Savage. For a classic firearm that's timeless, the .357 wheelie.

If I can offer an alternative. (You knew I was going to. :D) Since you don't have any handguns, I don't know if the .357 is the best starting place. It's expensive to shoot, and easy to develop a flinch with. Have you considered a .22 pistol as a companion to that 10/22?

A Ruger Mark III, or 22/45 (my fav) would be excellent for learning the ins and outs of being a pistolero. Plus, cheap ammo lets you shoot all day. If you want a wheelie, there are numerous .22 options, single or double action. You can even get the combos with the .22LR and .22WMR cylinders. I think the Heritage are less than $200 with both cylinders, and you'd have complete ammo commonality.
RT
 
Yes and no. I have essentially no experience with handguns, but can understand all the reasons people have them (protection, plinking fun, etc.), and I understand the value of having a well-rounded collection (which I would not consider mine at this time).

I enjoy huntinga lot, but don't have the time or resources to do it super seriously. I just moved, and won't have been in Oregon long enough to qualify for in-state prices, and can't afford out-of-state permit costs. I wish I could go out, but I'm not heartbroken that I can't. I certainly could wait until closer to the 2008 hunting season to get the .30-06.

Any speculation on how "assault" rifle prices will change as we get nearer to the next election? They'll increase, I imagine, while revolver prices shouldn't change too drastically. That would be one reason to get a battle rifle now and a pistol later.

Josh
 
RT,

If I bought a .357Mag, I would use .38 Specials to get used to it (which everyone has been telling me has substantially less recoil and is cheaper to shoot), and have some .357Mag on hand for real stopping power if needed.

Josh
 
Any speculation on how "assault" rifle prices will change as we get nearer to the next election?
Click to expand...

I suspect it will be much like last election when so many people were positive that Nancy Pelosi was going to walk through the doors and ban all guns before she even sat down. A bunch of people bought up a bunch of stuff, some dealers ran out, and then things went back to normal, aside from those people who listen to the gun store/shop gurus who will still tell you that 1022 is alive and well.

Lots of folks will declare, as they did before, that it is the end of gun ownership as we know it and we should buy now or we'll never have another chance. And people will. Lots of people will disagree with me, but I just don't think that gun control is high up on their agenda these days. I have no doubt bills will be introduced, but I don't think they will be pushed very hard.
 
hmm, the norwegian army is phasing out their G3`s many of them haventh even been shot in yet!

i heard somewhere they plan to convert some of them to semi auto and sell to civilians...i hope to get one, and so should you!!!

if that doesn't quite work for you then...i dunno, get an AK?
 
Trueblue,

Yep, for under $100, I can get essentially any barrel I want for the Handi-Rifle. That's why they call it "Handi," I guess. That's certainly a good point, although having a quick follow-up shot on a long-range elk hunt also sounds like a good (ethical) idea.

Red Tornado,
Do you have an opinion on a beginner using a revolver or semi-auto (given the same caliber)? Revolvers have less moving parts and are much more common-sense in some ways. If my gal ever needed to use it to protect herself, I'd rather her pick up something that she can just point and pull the trigger until it starts going "bang" and keep it up until it's done. Those Rugers do look nice, though.

Josh
 
Beginner with handguns. I could probably count the number of times I've shot a handgun on one hand.

P.S. Great tagline.
 
Handguns, longguns, I think you've probably got all the basics down well enough that it wouldn't make much functional difference to you whether you were using a revolver or pistol after the first range session.

As far as someone with absolutely no training, well, hopefully it never comes to that. If it does, I agree with you that revolvers are normally simpler. Point it and pull the trigger. Repeat. Of course, most of the double-action only semi-autos are exactly the same. Many do not have safety's, Sigs, etc.
But it doesn't take much training to learn to flip of a safety. ;)

RT
 
I don't have any specific needs to fill (I can't hunt this year anyway, I feel safe in my neighborhood and probably will not carry, etc.), so that makes the decision a little harder.
Click to expand...

Figure out what you want to do, first. What needs to you anticipate?

Here's what I have:
Ruger 10/22 (.22LR)
Marlin 925M (.22Mag)
H&R Handy-Rifle (.30-30, with 20 gauge smoothbore and slug barrels)
Marlin 30AW (.30-30)
Click to expand...

You've got no handguns.

I would like to spend no more than $400 on the gun, any necessary accessories, and a decent amount of ammo.
Click to expand...

Somebody with his head screwed on right. You realize there're going to be extra expenses.

As stated, I'd get either the Saiga (or an equivalent AK), some extra magazines, and the rest on ammo.

or​

use the search function, search on "what gun for $300?", and peruse the advice there. Look to spend what remains on consumables and acouterments.
 
Somthing In .357

You have some Marlins.

May as well have another.

A revolver in .357 (assume 4" or 6" barrel) can be considered a hunting gun.

Later, when the mood strikes you, Marlin makes the 1894C in .357 that you can have as a companion gun.

They both shoot the whole range of .38 and .357 loads.

Ruger, S&W, Taurus all make a fine .357 revolver. Heck, Ruger even makes a single action .357 (Blackhawk).

Or get the Marlin first and the revolver later.

It's a good cartridge family.

Covers all the bases.
 
Well,

I took Red Tornado's suggested alternative, did my research, and ended up going out today (take that Jesse Jackson!), and buying a Ruger 22/45 MKIII pistol in .22LR. I got it brand new for $239, which was the best deal in town by about $60, and they threw in a couple boxes of Federal Gold Medal ammo.

Now I'm going to strip it down, clean it, and learn how it works! This should be fun!

I just figured that there's no rush to get a long-range hunting rifle since I can't use it this year anyway. I probably won't carry, so packing a punch is less of an issue with the handgun, and .22LR is good practice and cheap to start with.

So I'm happy! Thanks for all the advice. I think an AK is next.

Josh
 
I'd go with a rifle, probably bolt action. Why the bolt over the semi? Because it demands better marksmanship (no wailing away on the trigger), and yet can be just as fast or faster than any semi auto (with the right amount of training and practice), and is a full powered round when compared with the examples given for the semis in which you might be interested.

Whatever you buy, shoot it often and enjoy!
 
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