I just can't decide on what rifle I want to re-enter the game with

[witchhunter]

I am about 4 or 5 hours north of you. If you want to drive up here, I have a few you can try. I am a pdog shooter so I have a few accurate guns and some that are used for deer and coyote hunting. I just got back from shooting pdogs and an cleaning the guns now. PM me if you are ever in the Susanville area.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I'd get a Rossi 92. 357 lever actions are just plain fun to shoot, and it should be passable for short-range deer hunting.

 

[VoodooMountain]

243 for a fun bolt gun

308 marlin express if you want a lever, just to be different.

 

[royalranger]

Browning BLR

BLR is a good solution you get the benefit of a bolt accuracy and the fun of the lever. Here is a 200 year group from mine and this is just an average / 243 could be a fun choice

 

[Redstate]

Norinco type 53 mosin nagant 7.62x54r carbine

A hoot to shoot, accurate and easy on the budget

 

[MistWolf]

An 03-A3 is perfect for California