So, here's my situation:
I'd like to have one general purpose rifle. I realize that doing it all with one rifle is a bit of a stretch, but given the conditions listed below and my reluctance to maintain a fleet of centerfire rifles in different calibers, I think that one should be sufficient for my purposes; most of my shooting is rimfire (.22lr), shotgun (12 gauge), and handgun (.44mag).
Here's the parameters:
- I live in a place where the longest ranges are 100 yards; would like capability of 200 yards, though.
- I don't hunt (I've hunted, just don't care for it personally anymore).
- This is for general purpose, i.e., range fun, moderate self-defense if needed, paper-punching, etc.
- Rifle absolutely must have iron sights of some sort, either aperture or open. I really am not fond of the current "deer gun/sporter" style of super-thin barrels with no sights and no way to attach them short of hiring a gunsmith.
- Reasonable accuracy, doesn't need to be a sub-moa laser beam, but also shouldn't be frustratingly inaccurate or require 20 minutes between shots to produce acceptable groups.
- No milsurps.
- Any repeating action (no single shots), preferably bolt.
- Minimum caliber: .243; maximum caliber: .45-70; preferably more power rather than less, as recoil doesn't bother me; preferably chambered for a rifle cartridge, not a pistol cartridge.
- Minimum cartridge capacity: 4+1.
- Preferably no detachable magazines (I'm lazy, I don't like buying them, plus it's just one more thing to worry about).
- No EBR's - just not where my interests lie.
- Willing to reload.
- Expense is an issue, I'd like to keep the cost of the rifle under $600.
- Must be reliable given good maintenance and normal use; this is the go to gun.
- No synthetics.
- No Savages (just don't care for them); prefer a Mauser-style action if it's going to be a bolt.
- No CZs; looked at one in the store the other day and was very underwhelmed (slow, gritty action, awful finish).
So here's a few I've owned and why they didn't fit the bill:
- Yugo 59/66 SKS - just didn't fit me well, very unergonomic, heavy as a Garand but without the power, sort of like an overgrown, ugly declawed cat that doesn't want to be held. 7.62x39, meh. From a belt-fed full-auto RPD, maybe.
- Marlin 336 - I didn't really care for this, but I can't quite say why; probably fits the bill given the above parameters, I think the aesthetics, or lack thereof, turned me off, which isn't the best of reasons, but whatever.
- Enfield Jungle Carbine - I really like this and would like it even more if I could modify it, but it's in good enough condition that I probably should put it up for a collector, rather than shoot it out or bubba it. .303 is nearly impossible to find here.
Here's a few I'm considering:
- Ruger 77MkII International in .308 (barrel too short, though?)
- Marlin 1895 in .45-70
So, thoughts? I'm probably nuts and wishing for too much, but hey, a man can dream, can't he?
Thanks in advance.
I'd like to have one general purpose rifle. I realize that doing it all with one rifle is a bit of a stretch, but given the conditions listed below and my reluctance to maintain a fleet of centerfire rifles in different calibers, I think that one should be sufficient for my purposes; most of my shooting is rimfire (.22lr), shotgun (12 gauge), and handgun (.44mag).
Here's the parameters:
- I live in a place where the longest ranges are 100 yards; would like capability of 200 yards, though.
- I don't hunt (I've hunted, just don't care for it personally anymore).
- This is for general purpose, i.e., range fun, moderate self-defense if needed, paper-punching, etc.
- Rifle absolutely must have iron sights of some sort, either aperture or open. I really am not fond of the current "deer gun/sporter" style of super-thin barrels with no sights and no way to attach them short of hiring a gunsmith.
- Reasonable accuracy, doesn't need to be a sub-moa laser beam, but also shouldn't be frustratingly inaccurate or require 20 minutes between shots to produce acceptable groups.
- No milsurps.
- Any repeating action (no single shots), preferably bolt.
- Minimum caliber: .243; maximum caliber: .45-70; preferably more power rather than less, as recoil doesn't bother me; preferably chambered for a rifle cartridge, not a pistol cartridge.
- Minimum cartridge capacity: 4+1.
- Preferably no detachable magazines (I'm lazy, I don't like buying them, plus it's just one more thing to worry about).
- No EBR's - just not where my interests lie.
- Willing to reload.
- Expense is an issue, I'd like to keep the cost of the rifle under $600.
- Must be reliable given good maintenance and normal use; this is the go to gun.
- No synthetics.
- No Savages (just don't care for them); prefer a Mauser-style action if it's going to be a bolt.
- No CZs; looked at one in the store the other day and was very underwhelmed (slow, gritty action, awful finish).
So here's a few I've owned and why they didn't fit the bill:
- Yugo 59/66 SKS - just didn't fit me well, very unergonomic, heavy as a Garand but without the power, sort of like an overgrown, ugly declawed cat that doesn't want to be held. 7.62x39, meh. From a belt-fed full-auto RPD, maybe.
- Marlin 336 - I didn't really care for this, but I can't quite say why; probably fits the bill given the above parameters, I think the aesthetics, or lack thereof, turned me off, which isn't the best of reasons, but whatever.
- Enfield Jungle Carbine - I really like this and would like it even more if I could modify it, but it's in good enough condition that I probably should put it up for a collector, rather than shoot it out or bubba it. .303 is nearly impossible to find here.
Here's a few I'm considering:
- Ruger 77MkII International in .308 (barrel too short, though?)
- Marlin 1895 in .45-70
So, thoughts? I'm probably nuts and wishing for too much, but hey, a man can dream, can't he?
Thanks in advance.
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