Help me decide - general purpose rifle?

[Radagast]

Gripper, that's the M10 I mentioned above. They come in carbine, full no 4 woodwork and also in no 4 sniper format. The project is an Aussie one, but I have a feeling the guns are at least partially fabricated by Ishapore. Metal work quality on the one I shot was good, but the teak stock was starting to crack at the wrist.

 

[MCgunner]

Love my Model Seven in .308. It's definitely hunting accurate, which is what I use it for. But I don't put lots of rounds down range through it on a regular basis, so can't comment on it as a target gun. But I consider it a great general purpose rifle. That said, since you're NOT planning to hunt with it, I think I'd look at the .243 or the 7mm08, either of which should shoot flatter from the Seven (but both of which would be plenty for whitetail or self defense if needed).

Given your handgun selections, though, I'd also consider a lever-action in .44mag (even though you said you prefer a bolt). 200 yards would stretch it, but it would be great out to 150. A Marlin 1894 with full-length barrel can hold 10 rounds in the magazine. And GeorgiaArms "deer stopper" ammo will give you plenty of recoil. And it make a great plinker with .44 spls. If you want irons, I'd set it up with XS Sight Systems ghost ring set. And in my humble opinion, the straight stocked 1894 looks far prettier than the 336's curved pistol-gripped stock. And if you're planning to use your GP rifle for self defense, the .44s are less likely to overpenetrate than the .243, 7mm08, or .308.

Let us know what you finally decide on.

I've got several hunting rifles. I love my .257 Roberts, but, since winning a Remington stainless M7 in .308 at a gun show door prize some years back, I've fallen in absolute love with that thing. It's deadly accurate, under 1 moa with a couple of loads that shoot nearly to same POA, so long as you don't let the soda straw barrel get too hot. My loads are a 140 Grain Barnes X for heavy game and a 150 grain Nosler ballistic tip for deer and such thin skinned game. That thing is so light, short, and handy, I can tote it all day over hill and dale out west and it's short and handy inside a blind. I've made one 350 yard shot with it. It's friggin' AWESOME. I don't hunt with anything else anymore.

I'd wanted a stainless model seven for a while. In that door prize, I actually won a Remington BDL in .25-06. Now, I have a superbly accurate .257 Roberts and it sorta duplicates .25-06 ballistics with my handloads. It's my grandpas old gun I had reblued and redid the stock some time back, so it ain't goin' NOwhere. So, I went to a few gunshops in the area and found the M7 I lusted after and made a straight up trade plus 70 bucks for the M7. I have not regretted that trade!

 

[grimjaw]

If I'm just punching paper, I usually don't want alot of recoil, so something like .243 is what I'd recommend in a bolt action.

I know you said you didn't like the CZ, but the fit and finish on mine are top notch. I don't have one of the Prestige models, either. Maybe you saw one of the trainer models, which has a birch stock to lower costs? Anyway, CZ makes a 527 carbine, with open sights, in 7.62x39, which is more accurate out of a bolt gun. Effective ranges fall within what you specified (100-200 yards). Also, the bolt on my CZ smoothed out after initial cleaning, lubrication, and about fifty rounds. Whittaker has them for less than $475. Remington has a few rifles that might come in right at $600. I'd also recommend a Winchester 94 or Marlin 336. I have one of each in .30-30, and I'm probably going to get a Legacy model Winchester 94. The 24" barrelled version can be had for less than $400 plus tax at Walmart. Other dealer prices should be similar. The only Ruger bolt actions that fit your requirements (open sights, no pistol cartridge chamberings) are the RSI models.

That's the extent of my experience.

jmm