Choice of Rifle?

[skinewmexico]

I can't believe you didn't pass on those, and let them grow up.......

 

[1/4MOA]

I'd love to hunt a place one day where i would pass these two haha. But here it'd be a sin to let them walk. I'd love to hunt Texas but those prices are out of the question. But i am hunting north Missouri next year.

 

[CB900F]

DEAC;

Now, I'm prejudiced on this matter, but it's with information: The .270 is nothing more than a necked down .30-06. It was popularized, read over-blown, many years ago, & the reputation has remained. However, it's really nothing more than the red-headed illegitimate step-child of the .30-06. Hmmmmm, is it getting warm in here?

Heee! Now go find a Ruger M77 in ultralight .257 Roberts & go have some serious fun. Or, maybe a Remmie 788 in 6mm Remington. The cartridge the .243 wants to be when it grows up. Don't overlook a nice Swede carbine in 6.5 X 55 either.

But if larger game might be in the cards down the road, stay the course with the .30-06.

900F

 

[skinewmexico]

Isn't the 257 Roberts just a necked down 7X57? It was romanticized, read over-blown, many years ago? Just kidding, I like mine. Almost as much as the 2506

 

[1/4MOA]

well if you want to include the .257 roberts, i have a winchester model 70 coyote chambered in a .25wssm(.257). hard to find many places but its an excellent gun. almost identical ballistics to .25-06.

 

[glockman19]

After reading the thread and understanding the OP's territory a little better I'd still go with the bolt action as a first choice. Why? Because when you look at the energy and Velocity of the 30-06 to the 30-30 the drop betwen 100-300 yards then I'd choose the bullet with the flattest trajectory and the most energy @ 100-300 yards, the .30-06.

Now Ballistics aside the:
Marlin 336, 20" barrel, 6 round, 7 Lb, 38.25"
MSRP: ? Buds Gunshop $365-$423, http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/36_323
Remington 70, 20" barrel, 4 rouond, 6.5lb, 39.25" avilable in .308, and 12 other calibers.
MSRP:$929- 997, Buds Gunshop $730, http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/57/products_id/96423

IMHO, I'd still get a 700 CDL/BDL in .30-06 with a 24" barrel over the model 7.

 

[skinewmexico]

well if you want to include the .257 roberts, i have a winchester model 70 coyote chambered in a .25wssm(.257). hard to find many places but its an excellent gun. almost identical ballistics to .25-06.

Yeah, but I can still buy ammo at Walmart!

 

[17&Holding]

If you want a lever..

Look for a good condition Savage Model 99 lever action. They are a little pricey due to overblown demand as a collectible, but you can still get one well within the $$ range you mentioned. You get a classic deer killer that shoots spitzer (traditional pointed tip) bullets because it uses a rotary magazine. It's available in 300 Savage, 243, 308, as well as several other calibers. Great rifle.

 

[Zouave Rifle]

Get an M-1 Garand and you can hunt with it as well as do the target competition thing. It's a .30-06. It doesn't kick all that much either. It's close to 10 Lbs., and the gas system reduces the recoil a lot.

 

[DEAC25]

Hey guys thanks for the continued input.

1/4 moa, those are some fine looking deer, I can taste in my mind a fine cut grilled in foil with onions, peppers etc. I am in Harnett County, between Fayetteville and Raleigh.

I had my hands on a couple of Model 70's today, one was a shorter version, mountain? maybe, felt really fine. When I cycled the bolt, I had a little trouble getting to the top position, but I adjusted.
Do these bolt actions have external mags? Most of what I saw seemed to be internal.

I definitely feel more comfortable with the shorter guns, and still like the feel and weight of a lever gun, but I did see a used Savage, with a sling and scope mount rings (no scope) for 350? It was bolt action in 270, as I recall. I don't know if it had the accu trigger or not.

I also found a couple of Marlin 30-30's lever guns at Jim's in Fayetteville, I doubt they are compatible with the "leverrevolution", as they seemed to be older, for about 300 400 as I recall.

As I told the gent and his grandson I was talking with at Gander Mountain, I just want to but about 3 and be done with it. He recommended a 270, but then said his grandson, age 11 (and smaller than my nephew) was shooting a 308, and wanted to move to a 30-06!

The gentleman said the 270 was very flat shooting, and also recommended bolt action.

 

[1/4MOA]

deac... actually i used to play college ball with some boys from that area, I've seen some nice deer from those parts.

 

[DSAPT9]

I personally am a fan of the .308. But the biggest thing you need to look at is the shooting distances you may encounter in the areas you hunt. Most long guns are capable of fairly long ranges but most people are not. I am included in this category. The areas I hunt are heavily wooded and my longest ranges are no more than 200 yards and on average 75 yards or less. So for me the .308 is a great choice for Deer and Elk both. It is really hard to beat the 30-06 or the .270 and both are great choices and ammo is available for all three at any place that sells ammo. I will say the 30-06 will handle the heavier 180 and 190 grain bullets better if this is what you feel you need to shoot. Because of the distance I hunt I use the Remington 180 gr. round nose and have had no problem feeding in my semi-auto and performance has been great.

Sense this is your first general-purpose hunting rifle I would suggest a bolt action. They are less expensive, there is more of a selection to choose from and require less training to clean shoot and have less moving parts to break. But I also know what it is to want a hunting rifle that you just want even if it is not the norm. I hunt with a DSA SA58C (an FNFAL clone made in the US)
I am not a fan of the .243 even though I know a lot of people who hunt with them and do well. I just prefer a heavier bullet in the 165 or 180 range but this is just a personal preference.

Have fun making your choice and enjoy hunting.

 

[Jeff F]

If you really practice with a bolt gun you can get a second aimed shot off pretty quickly. I've been out with a few hunters that did not train themselves to make their rifle ready to fire again after the trigger was pulled the first time with bad results. I've seen it with lever guns also.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

As the late, great Townsend Whelen was wont to say, "The .30-06 is never a mistake."

 

[1/4MOA]

Most long guns are capable of fairly long ranges but most people are not.

very well put.

i can understand the need for heavier bullets in western places where the deer could be 300lbs possibly. but here in NC the thread starter is from, an average 4 year old buck will only weight 160. ballistic tips work great here. however the slightest twig will blow the shot. Maybe a partition, interlock, or a-frame would suit better in thicker cover. All of these types are available most any caliber (except 30-30). But i agree, .308 is a great round. I'll throw another one out there that i dont think that i have heard. A .270WSM, great ballistics from what I have read.

 

[alaskanativeson]

Accuracy is an overblown thing for 90% + of the shooters out there. A quality lever gun like a Marlin or a Winchester in 30/30 will shoot as accurately as almost every hunter who has ever killed a deer can shoot. If you think you'd like the lever gun for its aesthetic and quick-handling value then go for it and don't feel at all undergunned. Personally I enjoy the classic feel of the lever gun as much as I do any rifle. The benefits of the 30/30 include cheap available ammo anywhere, a relatively light kick, and long history of being a proven cartridge.

I do carry a bolt gun up here because they don 't make a .338 Win Mag in a lever action gun. I've also hunted elk in Idaho with my H&K 91 in .308 and deer in Colorado with a Savage 99 in 250-3000. Nothing wrong with either of those choices but I'd still recommend a Marlin lever in 30/30 for what you say you like.