Best Rifle?

[High Planes Drifter]

This guy is brand new to hunting, maybe even guns. Why would you rag on him because he's asking the typical newbie questions? If he's asked something thats been asked a hundred times, so what? It lets you know he's a typical NEWBIE. Nothing wrong with that.

quote:
Yeah, I've about had my fill of inane questions as well.

Don
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Then pass over them. If you're not going to be helpfull, you should stay silent. You guys should excersise a bit of patience. In the hunting forum there's a sticky thread asking people to mentor new hunters. Thats the kind of friendly hand out to newbies we should be extending throughout the forum. And if you dont want to be helpfull, stay silent. There's no need for smartass comments.

 

[Ash]

$500 is too much for a synthetic Remington, they can be had for $100 less. The Remington would be fine, if you want a Remington. Others would work just great, too. I personally like Savage and Mossberg (older) rifles. If you want synthetic, I would go for a Savage for $350 and then put on a good scope, like a Burris. Package deal scopes work fine for the short term, though, so if you get a good deal on a package deal that has a Simmons or a low end Bushnell, you can go hunting without buying a new scope.

Welcome to the boards.

Ash

 

[Lonestar.45]

Don't go with any of the WSM calibers if you are short on money. Ammo cost and availability will not be in your favor. I really don't think you can go wrong with a .270 or a .308. I'm partial to the .270 just because I have two and they work great for me, but a .308 would do the job just as well. I have a Remington BDL and a synthetic stock ADL and they're the perfect deer rifles if you ask me. The ADL would be in your price range if you could find one, or the new SPS that took it's place. Good luck.

Yeah, I've about had my fill of inane questions as well.

Don

Don, I thought this was the High Road. There's no need to give a newbie the cold shoulder here.

 

[USSR]

When someone can't comment that a dumb question is a dumb question, you really aught to think of creating your own forum. Here are some of my suggestions for a name: I_love_you-you_love_me.com; Girly_men.com; Can't_we_all_just_get_along.com; and Feelings_matter.com. Sorry guys, but you can't go through life without offending someone. And those that try are milquetoast.

Don

 

[Correia]

Look guys, I'm not trying to bash on a newbie. (you know I wouldn't spend so much time here, and teaching gun stuff if I was like that) But the original question (before the edit) had zero info.

I made a joke to get a point across. Obviously it worked, since the original poster went back and clarified what he was looking for. Otherwise all of our posts would have been wild guesses that wouldn't help at all.

 

[AStone]

I'm standing behind Correia in his post #30. Very accurate. I read Moody's original post within hours after s/he posted it, but passed up advice because the question - before the edit - was too vague.
__________

Moody, welcome to THR. Good job on the edit. Much more clear.

In general, you'll find us to be a pretty helpful and kind group of folks here. With the help of mods, we do a reasonably good job of keeping ourselves in line and respectful of others.

But we do have a bit of a sardonic streak sometimes when it comes to effective communication. When you wish to ask questions or offer advice of your own, spend a little time editing your posts before you post them. Attempt to express your questions/comments with clarity. Read it and ask yourself, "If I was reading this but knew nothing about the question/topic, would I get it? Will a reader understand what I'm asking/saying?"

Enjoy your stay here. There are many lifetimes of knowledge and wisdom about firearms and related issues flowing here. I've learned more about guns and their safe use in the last year and a half on THR than I did in my previous four decades of gun ownership.

Nem

 

[kennyboy]

Don't waste your money on a Mossberg. Their ATR or whatever their rifle is called is supposed to be okay, but for a little more money, you can have a much better rifle such as a Remington, Weatherby, or another quality rifle.

 

[marksman13]

For a new shooter, I would say go with a .243. Plenty of power to kill a deer inside of four hundred yards. Easy on the shoulder. Easy on the wallet. I would go with a Remington Model 700 or Savage 110. Are you planning on mounting a scope on this rifle?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

When someone can't comment that a dumb question is a dumb question, you really aught to think of creating your own forum. Here are some of my suggestions for a name: I_love_you-you_love_me.com; Girly_men.com; Can't_we_all_just_get_along.com; and Feelings_matter.com. Sorry guys, but you can't go through life without offending someone. And those that try are milquetoast.

You might wanna remember that fine old Irish proverb, "There's many a man whose mouth has broken his nose."

 

[grizz]

When someone can't comment that a dumb question is a dumb question, you really aught to think of creating your own forum. Here are some of my suggestions for a name: I_love_you-you_love_me.com; Girly_men.com; Can't_we_all_just_get_along.com; and Feelings_matter.com. Sorry guys, but you can't go through life without offending someone. And those that try are milquetoast.

Ok then, try this one on for size Don (aka USSR):

Your post proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that are an idiot. You have you-know-what for brains. You probably didn't finish 3rd grade. You certainly can't spell beyond a 3rd grade level anyway (aught?).

Well, I definitely wasn't trying NOT to offend anyone there. How did it feel?

Just like Correia, I also was simply "making a point", so I hope nobody gets too steamed over this.

The bottom line is that THE O.P. IS NEW TO T.H.R. and wasn't asking a stupid question. His question wasn't as detailed as it could have been, but what's the point in jumping on his back about it?

 

[robctwo]

I killed my first couple of black tail deer here in Oregon with Dad's old 30-30. I moved up to the .243 in Winchester and killed a bunch of deer. Some close up in the trees and some out there a ways in the clear cuts. I still have and love that gun. I also have owned and killed deer with a .270, .308 and 300 WSM. I think the .243 in a Savage would be a great place to start. Accu trigger and not too much $. You could always re-barrel the .243 to .308 if you really needed to move up, or, like most of us here, you could buy a gun or three a year for the rest of your life and become hopelessly addicted to shooting, hunting and sharing on forums.

 

[AStone]

OK.

Now that we're finished bashing each other back to the question.

For Whitetail deer
I will be hunting in Arkansas. Sometimes in brush and sometimes in long shooting lanes. My limit on money wise is very low but have found quite a few nice ones. No more than $575 thats not including the accesories.

Moody, I've hunted in Arkansas. (Mostly in the Ozarks.)

Depending on what part of ARK you're in, brush dominated accurately describes it (at least for now) with an occassional long shot (but never any really long distances like those encountered in taking Colorado or Wyoming mulies).

For a first rifle, I'd recommend a .30-30.

Low recoil, good to 150 yds (longer with Hornady), inexpensive ammunition.

My vote is for Marlin, but Winchester owners may disagree.

One can pick up a nice Marlin 336W new for around $300. Quality used rifles for less.

To that 336, add a decent scope. Spend the remainder of that $575 on as many boxes of 170 gr. rnds as you can. (Range time is good.)

Money is tight for me, too. I'll buy a 336 in .30-30 as soon as cash flow increases a bit.

I'm planning on putting an XS Lever Scout Mount on it, along with a Leupold FX-II 2.5x28mm.

All that for:

Marlin 336 used: $250
XS Scout Scope mount: $50
Leupold: $260

Total: <calculating>: $560.

With your extra $15, buy two boxes of ammunition.

BA/UU/R.

Nem

 

[mustanger98]

My vote is for Marlin, but Winchester owners may disagree.

I'm a Winchester owner who doesn't disagree. I brag on my Winchester, but I like Marlin too. Each has strengths and weaknesses. There are some real snobs on both sides of that debate though. I've had Marlin owners, both online and in person, bash my opinion because I'd even dare to like a Winchester, but they didn't take into account that I like Marlin too.

 

[USSR]

grizz,

I would be happy to match my education with yours any day (BS and graduate studies). As for "aught", it is indeed a word and in Webster's Dictionary. It is a variation of "ought", so perhaps you should consult your dictionary before showing your ignorance. As for my comment, I wouldn't call it jumping on anyone's back. Rather, I would call it a display of frustration at a question so lacking in detail as to be virtually unanswerable. Tell you what, grizz. From now on, you can answer all the stupid questions with your stupid replys.

Don

 

[grizz]

USSR:

"Aught" means "nothing" the word your simple mind couldn't dig up was "ought". Look it up again.

I would be happy to match my education with yours any day (BS and graduate studies).

Ok, I've got a B.S. in biology from Drexel University, a M.S. in molecular biology from Drexel University, and a Certification in Medical Technology from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. I currently work in R&D for a major reference laboratory designing lab tests that help save peoples lives. What did you study?

As for my comment, I wouldn't call it jumping on anyone's back. Rather, I would call it a display of frustration at a question so lacking in detail as to be virtually unanswerable.

Bull. Plenty of people in this thread managed to reply with constructive advice. You however did not choose "The High Road". Rather than simply ask for more information, you chose to make the OP feel stupid.

I'm sure that you are simply trying to make up for personal deficiencies. Sorry man, you will always be stupid, you will never be bigger, and women will always think you are a freak.

 

[AStone]

USSR and Grizz,

I just saw a mod walking down the hall with a thread lock device, coming this way.

May I suggest you guys take your argument about who's more stupid and who's more educated outside so that we can help Moody select a good rifle without getting the thread locked?

I've gotten into mud-slinging frays like this, too. I understand the passion.

But your posts have crossed over into ad hominem now.

I think that most of us feel that we've settled the issue about the original lack of clarity in Moody's first post, and the fact that Moody did a great job of editing his post to clarify the question when the original lack of clarity was pointed out.

Chill out, guys, please.

Nem

 

[klover]

Grizz was just trying to tell USSR that we on THE HIGH ROAD endeavor to be spritiual in our attitudes . But I'll just stay out of it .

A big welcome to you Moody, and such displays are very rare here, honest.