Choctaw
Member
We have two Mossberg Patriots in .270. They have been very good rifles for the past couple of years.
Looking for a new rifle
- Thread starter Hunter 08
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entropy
Member
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/DOAHunterXP
You're welcome. Everything you need, nothing you don't. You could swap out the Bushnell for a Leupold and drop the weight and still keep to that $1000. (with a Rifleman or maybe VxII, if you get the gun for less than MSRP.)
You're welcome. Everything you need, nothing you don't. You could swap out the Bushnell for a Leupold and drop the weight and still keep to that $1000. (with a Rifleman or maybe VxII, if you get the gun for less than MSRP.)
Bobson
Member
Bud's has it available in .308 for $457. I don't recall which caliber the OP settled on...
Edit:
Same rifle in 7-08 is $461.
MCgunner
Member
There's a test of a new Ruger bolt gun in .450 Bushmaster in this month's "Guns and Ammo". I'd been thinkin' of a big bore upper for my AR, but .458 SOCOM brass is ridiculous and .450 Bushmaster brass runs less than half the price and it's got good ballistics, 250 grain bullet packing 2600 ft lbs is a pretty stout round for the woods. Alas, they want 650 bucks in several places I looked for an upper. You can buy a complete AR now days in .223 for low 400s. So, guess I won't be getting an upper any time soon. I don't know, really, if I even want it.
Anyway, this new Ruger is MSRP 600 bucks, they list the weight as 5.5 lbs. In the pix, it even looks threaded for a can. I don't waqnt one, but thought I'd mention it. You might wanna read about it.
Anyway, this new Ruger is MSRP 600 bucks, they list the weight as 5.5 lbs. In the pix, it even looks threaded for a can. I don't waqnt one, but thought I'd mention it. You might wanna read about it.
Bobson
Member
That new Ruger rifle is just a rechambered and rebarreled RGS. 5.5 pounds??? That's hard to believe, given it's got a wood stock and having handled the original RGS.
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Llama Bob
member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2016
- Messages
- 2,258
It wouldn't. 7mm-08 is a very suitable general purpose hunting caliber. 6.5G is not.
In your price range I'd look at a Tikka T3 or T3 lite and a Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40 duplex.
MCgunner
Member
The article shows a polymer stock, lists weight at 5 lbs 8 ounces. I'm sitting here looking at it. It's called a "Ruger American Ranch Rifle".
With those calibers, specifically 5.56/.223, I'd rather have a 22" barrel to help keep velocity up, since that round was developed for longer barrels. I can use .223 here in MN for hunting, but I'd rather have something larger. .243 is great, and I've thought ab9ut doing that instead of 7mm08 for a little bit, but it just doesn't seem to have umph behind it for mule deer at decent range. I looked at the ballistics for 105 grain .243 in handloads since I may go into that after a while, but compared to 140gr 7mm08, it falls a bit short. I'd rather have a slightly larger bullet and not compromise much.
For now I'm still pretty set on the Savage Axis XP II, since I'm going with the MDT LSS chassis. The one thing I'm still going back and forth on is the caliber. Yes I have .308 ammo and plenty of it in 150gr soft point and a box of 180gr soft point, so it would make sense to get another rifle I that caliber, and build it up to what I'd like. With the LSS, I'll be getting an AR collapsible stock with a recoil pad, which will help. If 7mm08 isn't that much less felt recoil than .308 it doesn't seem to be worth going to another caliber, and since I can get a recoil pad, that will mitigate the difference. Plus cost of 7mm08 for factory is $25.99 for a box of 20 vs the $15-18 for a box of .308 and I'll be using factory ammo, for a while until I can start handloading.
I go back and forth a lot, so forgive me on that.
For now I'm still pretty set on the Savage Axis XP II, since I'm going with the MDT LSS chassis. The one thing I'm still going back and forth on is the caliber. Yes I have .308 ammo and plenty of it in 150gr soft point and a box of 180gr soft point, so it would make sense to get another rifle I that caliber, and build it up to what I'd like. With the LSS, I'll be getting an AR collapsible stock with a recoil pad, which will help. If 7mm08 isn't that much less felt recoil than .308 it doesn't seem to be worth going to another caliber, and since I can get a recoil pad, that will mitigate the difference. Plus cost of 7mm08 for factory is $25.99 for a box of 20 vs the $15-18 for a box of .308 and I'll be using factory ammo, for a while until I can start handloading.
I go back and forth a lot, so forgive me on that.
I gotta ask, forgive me if I'm off base for some reason, but if you're so torn between the 2 .308 spawn, why not get a light recoiling, distance covering, moose killing, .260?
Bobson
Member
Oh. My bad, man; sorry about that. Thought you were talking about this new Ruger:
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/products/gunsiteScoutRifle/specSheets/6837.html
Just never crossed my mind. 6.5 Swede has a few times over the years, just not much in modern rifles for it. But considering .260 is close to the same, it's one to check out. I keep forgetting it's a .308 wildcat, so it'll fit .308 magazines, just hope it'll feed without issue. With the LSS chassis, it accepts Accuracy International .308 magazines and MDT magazines they make.
Max coal for the .260= 2.8" max for the .308= 2.81" you might contact them to be sure of THEIR lengths, but as long as they allow room for the Max, you'll be alright. Hodgdon says that the 160 gr rn bullet gets loaded to 2.86" but everything else is at 2.78" I can't think of any reason to shoot 160s with the modern bonded and copper bullets available.
MCgunner
Member
All this critique of cartridges, cartridges so close in performance. .260, 7-08, .308, six of one, half dozen of the other. I got a .308 in my M7. Truth be told, if they'd only had a 7-08 at the shop, I'd be happy with that. I like .308, though, for the cheap milsurp brass and variety of loading components. I'm also convinced it's an inherently accurate round. And, a big 30 caliber bullet will kill a moose as good as a smaller, sleeker round, at least to 250 yards or so, but truth be told, for moose, I'd be a lot happier with a .338 Win Mag or maybe a .325 WSM, not that I'll ever get to shoot a moose. I've never even seen one in the wild and the ones in the San Antonio zoo, I'm pretty sure, are out of season.
I have a .257 Roberts I inherited from my grandpa. It'll take anything any of the cartridges you're talking about will take, better IMHO (however slightly) than a .243. I load it with a 100 grain Sierra game king (1/2 MOA accurate) to 3150 fps MV. I load a 117 grain Hornady interlock (1 MOA accurate) to 3050 fps. That pretty much is up there with factory load .25-06s, yet in a light short action (Remington M722) rifle. If I'd never bought another rifle, I'd have killed everything I've shot with my 7 mag, .308, or other calibers just as dead with it. I bought other rifles, though, because I like rifles.
I have a .257 Roberts I inherited from my grandpa. It'll take anything any of the cartridges you're talking about will take, better IMHO (however slightly) than a .243. I load it with a 100 grain Sierra game king (1/2 MOA accurate) to 3150 fps MV. I load a 117 grain Hornady interlock (1 MOA accurate) to 3050 fps. That pretty much is up there with factory load .25-06s, yet in a light short action (Remington M722) rifle. If I'd never bought another rifle, I'd have killed everything I've shot with my 7 mag, .308, or other calibers just as dead with it. I bought other rifles, though, because I like rifles.
Well believe it or not, my fiance is pushing me to go to an AR15 platform instead of a bolt action. If I do journey down this, I may go 6.5 Grendal in either 18" or 20" barrel. Still can be within my weight requirements, but just the lower and upper alone will put me at $1200, then about $50 in magazines and then $350 for optics. I could go .223 Wylde, but that's less than idea for white tail and 77gr ammo is hard to come by for hunting.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
From numerous posts, there are "deer bullets" for the .223 of around 60 to 65 grains. Manufacturer R&D has come up with these, specifically for Bambi.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
Online is your answer.
entropy
Member
If you don't plan on shooting past 250 yards as you stated in your first post, Hunter08, .223 will do just fine, as long as you do your part. My son took deer out to 225 yards with Hornady Superformance factory 55 V-Max (They use the GMX now) three years ago. He took several two years ago with my handloads of 25.8 gr. of Power Pro Varmint and 55 gr. Vmax, though all of those were within 100 yards. He didn't get any longer shots that year.
Nice thing about AR's for hunting; caliber changes are easy; swap out the upper.
MCgunner
Member
I just got into an AR, a Bushmaster M4, actually. My lovely wife knew I wanted it before the election when I was afraid Hillary would get elected. She gave it to me for my birthday November 1. Heck, if I'd waited until after the election, I probably wouldn't have gotten it, but she made the decision for me.
Truth be told, I ain't real enamored with the gun as a hunting/field tool. I've finally figured out how to carry the thing, though. I put a 3 point sling on it. I put it over the shoulder and I can reach down, grab the grip, and swing it up almost like drawing a handgun.
Now, we don't have vermin beyond coyotes and I'm not really into hunting 'em. I took the rifle out a few times this April trying to call turkey, was unsuccessful. But, the obvious thing to do was work up a load with a "magic bullet" to take hogs and, maybe, deer with, not that I lack hunting rifles, but why own something unless you USE it? I bought a brass catcher, a must for a handloader, fired up enough rounds to have brass to play with. I've got some brass out there already necked up and fire formed to 7mm TCU, but I didn't wanna mess with trying to form those back to .223. I have worked up a load involving the Barnes 62 grain TSX and 21 grains of IMR 4198. This seems to be about as hot as I wanna push it, 2880 fps out of the M4's 16" barrel and it shoots 1.5 MOA which is good 'nuf in the woods out here. My shots will be well under 100 yards.
I like plinkin' with this rifle. In .223, the ammo is no more expensive than .22 magnum and big bonus, you can actually buy it at Walmart. Try finding .22 magnum anywhere, but online, at least if you live 70 miles into the sticks like I do. I'm working with just shy of 1200 ft lbs with that load, and that should be enough with a well placed shot. I've rigged it with a 4x scope and a green laser spotlight (an amazing accessory deserving of its own post that turns a normal scope into night vision). I'm thinkin' hogs, here. The light can stay in the safe when I go deer hunting, if I do, with the gun.
The jury is out on the effectiveness of this round, but I feel at the ranges I'll be shooting, it should do the job if I do mine. Handloading opens up new vistas, of course. I've been a handloader since I used to help my grandpa in the "loading room" at age 10. I will handload for everything I own, but no real need to handload plinking ammo in .223, they practically give it away. LOL
See, if you get any other caliber, you'll want a .223 upper just so you can afford to shoot it a lot. I've looked at other calibers, made some posts here and there to get educated on the subject. I like the big bore calibers for out here in the woods. A .458 socom is pretty awesome, but check out the price of brass. OUCH. Lord KNOWS the ammo isn't cheap! Lately, I've looked at .450 Bushmaster, impressive. I can get over 2000 fps with a 250 grain spitzer, looking at 2600 ft lbs potentially with it. BUT, they don't give the uppers away, cost more than my whole rifle did, around 650 bucks just for the upper. SO, for now, I'm going to stick with the .223 only. Ain't like I NEED another rifle, after all, but just looking to play with the AR. Firing a magic bullet seems the most sane way to go.
Truth be told, I ain't real enamored with the gun as a hunting/field tool. I've finally figured out how to carry the thing, though. I put a 3 point sling on it. I put it over the shoulder and I can reach down, grab the grip, and swing it up almost like drawing a handgun.
Now, we don't have vermin beyond coyotes and I'm not really into hunting 'em. I took the rifle out a few times this April trying to call turkey, was unsuccessful. But, the obvious thing to do was work up a load with a "magic bullet" to take hogs and, maybe, deer with, not that I lack hunting rifles, but why own something unless you USE it? I bought a brass catcher, a must for a handloader, fired up enough rounds to have brass to play with. I've got some brass out there already necked up and fire formed to 7mm TCU, but I didn't wanna mess with trying to form those back to .223. I have worked up a load involving the Barnes 62 grain TSX and 21 grains of IMR 4198. This seems to be about as hot as I wanna push it, 2880 fps out of the M4's 16" barrel and it shoots 1.5 MOA which is good 'nuf in the woods out here. My shots will be well under 100 yards.
I like plinkin' with this rifle. In .223, the ammo is no more expensive than .22 magnum and big bonus, you can actually buy it at Walmart. Try finding .22 magnum anywhere, but online, at least if you live 70 miles into the sticks like I do. I'm working with just shy of 1200 ft lbs with that load, and that should be enough with a well placed shot. I've rigged it with a 4x scope and a green laser spotlight (an amazing accessory deserving of its own post that turns a normal scope into night vision). I'm thinkin' hogs, here. The light can stay in the safe when I go deer hunting, if I do, with the gun.
The jury is out on the effectiveness of this round, but I feel at the ranges I'll be shooting, it should do the job if I do mine. Handloading opens up new vistas, of course. I've been a handloader since I used to help my grandpa in the "loading room" at age 10. I will handload for everything I own, but no real need to handload plinking ammo in .223, they practically give it away. LOL
See, if you get any other caliber, you'll want a .223 upper just so you can afford to shoot it a lot. I've looked at other calibers, made some posts here and there to get educated on the subject. I like the big bore calibers for out here in the woods. A .458 socom is pretty awesome, but check out the price of brass. OUCH. Lord KNOWS the ammo isn't cheap! Lately, I've looked at .450 Bushmaster, impressive. I can get over 2000 fps with a 250 grain spitzer, looking at 2600 ft lbs potentially with it. BUT, they don't give the uppers away, cost more than my whole rifle did, around 650 bucks just for the upper. SO, for now, I'm going to stick with the .223 only. Ain't like I NEED another rifle, after all, but just looking to play with the AR. Firing a magic bullet seems the most sane way to go.
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I just got into an AR, a Bushmaster M4, actually. My lovely wife knew I wanted it before the election when I was afraid Hillary would get elected. She gave it to me for my birthday November 1. Heck, if I'd waited until after the election, I probably wouldn't have gotten it, but she made the decision for me.
Truth be told, I ain't real enamored with the gun as a hunting/field tool. I've finally figured out how to carry the thing, though. I put a 3 point sling on it. I put it over the shoulder and I can reach down, grab the grip, and swing it up almost like drawing a handgun.
Now, we don't have vermin beyond coyotes and I'm not really into hunting 'em. I took the rifle out a few times this April trying to call turkey, was unsuccessful. But, the obvious thing to do was work up a load with a "magic bullet" to take hogs and, maybe, deer with, not that I lack hunting rifles, but why own something unless you USE it? I bought a brass catcher, a must for a handloader, fired up enough rounds to have brass to play with. I've got some brass out there already necked up and fire formed to 7mm TCU, but I didn't wanna mess with trying to form those back to .223. I have worked up a load involving the Barnes 62 grain TSX and 21 grains of IMR 4198. This seems to be about as hot as I wanna push it, 2880 fps out of the M4's 16" barrel and it shoots 1.5 MOA which is good 'nuf in the woods out here. My shots will be well under 100 yards.
I like plinkin' with this rifle. In .223, the ammo is no more expensive than .22 magnum and big bonus, you can actually buy it at Walmart. Try finding .22 magnum anywhere, but online, at least if you live 70 miles into the sticks like I do. I'm working with just shy of 1200 ft lbs with that load, and that should be enough with a well placed shot. I've rigged it with a 4x scope and a green laser spotlight (an amazing accessory deserving of its own post that turns a normal scope into night vision). I'm thinkin' hogs, here. The light can stay in the safe when I go deer hunting, if I do, with the gun.
The jury is out on the effectiveness of this round, but I feel at the ranges I'll be shooting, it should do the job if I do mine. Handloading opens up new vistas, of course. I've been a handloader since I used to help my grandpa in the "loading room" at age 10. I will handload for everything I own, but no real need to handload plinking ammo in .223, they practically give it away. LOL
See, if you get any other caliber, you'll want a .223 upper just so you can afford to shoot it a lot. I've looked at other calibers, made some posts here and there to get educated on the subject. I like the big bore calibers for out here in the woods. A .458 socom is pretty awesome, but check out the price of brass. OUCH. Lord KNOWS the ammo isn't cheap! Lately, I've looked at .450 Bushmaster, impressive. I can get over 2000 fps with a 250 grain spitzer, looking at 2600 ft lbs potentially with it. BUT, they don't give the uppers away, cost more than my whole rifle did, around 650 bucks just for the upper. SO, for now, I'm going to stick with the .223 only. Ain't like I NEED another rifle, after all, but just looking to play with the AR. Firing a magic bullet seems the most sane way to go.
I agree. I may look at Hornady 60gr Interlock for deer ammo. Right now is the best time to buy ARs just because they were built in fear of Hillary winning that they are now dirt cheap. I'd probably just buy a complete lower, then buy the upper later. Already have a few scopes lined up that I'd like to try. I can also keep weight fairly light with an AR, just have to lose the quad rail and may go Troy Alpha and just get the pic rails I need.
I may get into handloading, even if its just for punching paper and make up a few deer loads and compare to Hornady. Barrel length for the AR will be 18" or 20", just not a bull barrel.
Can someone explain what a Canadian Cenntenial marked Winchester 94 is? A Cabelas near me had 2 for sale, one fired and one never fired, for $749. Is there any significance to these other than being special edition?
It was either Centennial or Bicentennial. Only glanced at the barrels.
It was either Centennial or Bicentennial. Only glanced at the barrels.
Ended up buying a Marlin 336SS .30-30 today with my dad. We split the cost in near half. So I made the decision I'm this rifle for a few reasons,
Light recoil (8-9lbs with 170 grain)
Lighter than his Remington 740 .30-06
Recoil is lighter than either my .308 or his .30-06
Cheaper factory ammo.
He wanted to trade in his 740, however the guy at Cabela's said they do not accept that rifle, but gave no indication as to why. Only possible explanation is because they haven't been made since the late 60s early 70s and the models that replaced it, none of the parts will match up if it breaks.
Haven't shot the rifle yet but initial impressions are the fit and finish are good, just they should machine the lever with a chamfer or at least round off the sharp corners. The corners don't bug me much, but for being priced a bit below a Henry, if half way expect some effort. I mean I can understand for the 336W model, but not a higher end. Action feels smooth, and while I do not have a trigger pull tester, I can say that it's pretty light, especially compared to a Rossi Grande.
Light recoil (8-9lbs with 170 grain)
Lighter than his Remington 740 .30-06
Recoil is lighter than either my .308 or his .30-06
Cheaper factory ammo.
He wanted to trade in his 740, however the guy at Cabela's said they do not accept that rifle, but gave no indication as to why. Only possible explanation is because they haven't been made since the late 60s early 70s and the models that replaced it, none of the parts will match up if it breaks.
Haven't shot the rifle yet but initial impressions are the fit and finish are good, just they should machine the lever with a chamfer or at least round off the sharp corners. The corners don't bug me much, but for being priced a bit below a Henry, if half way expect some effort. I mean I can understand for the 336W model, but not a higher end. Action feels smooth, and while I do not have a trigger pull tester, I can say that it's pretty light, especially compared to a Rossi Grande.
entropy
Member
Because they have a reputation, that is somewhat deserved, as Jam-O-Matics, though if used correctly, are accurate and reliable guns.
Newtosavage
Member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2015
- Messages
- 2,918
Agreed. I own both the Tikka T3x and a couple Savage (10 and 11's) and they are all excellent shooters.
Most accurate rifle in my safe at the moment is my .308 Savage model 11 (non-accustock, barrel cut to 20", 7 lbs. scoped). Shot 6 rounds into 0.7" on Sunday. The Tikka is a close 2nd but it also shoots darn near everything I feed it under an inch.
The Ruger Americans are very accurate rifles as well. I just cannot get over that stock. To me at least - they have the worst synthetic stocks of all the inexpensive rifles right now. But that's just my opinion.
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