rbernie
Contributing Member
Mine as well. (The scope is a 1.5x-6x/42, by the way - just about right for woods-to-moderate distance work...)My top choice would be an AR chambered in 6.5 Grendel or 6.8 SPC..
Prior to this rifle, I used an AR-15 in 7.62x39:
7.62x39 loaded with decent 125gr bullets is a little light for 400+lb pigs, but for the normal 100lb-250lb porkers it works very effectively.
Barring the use of semi-automatics (either because of state regs or cost), I think that a Marlin levergun in 30-30 or 35 Remington would be just about perfect. If recoil is an issue, get a decent slip-on recoil pad for it.
I would not value a 6.5lb rifle at the expense of a suitable chambering. In other words, I'd rather carry a 30-30 in a 7.5lb rifle than save a pound of weight and carry a 243.