My next hunting rifle, help me decide....

[ScottsGT]

OK, first off, I collect military type rifles. Don't have an AK yet.
Where I hunt is short, small fields and we sit in 4' X 4' boxes with a rooftop about 18" to 24" above our heads. My Enfield (Bubbaized .308) is a little too long for that tight of a box to try and swing around. My AR-15 (M4gery) is too small a caliber. I'm thinking of either build an AK (7.63 X 39) using a parts kit and new receiver, including scope/mount or should I just opt out for the Marlin 336 in .30-30?? I want a short rifle, but if I can add to the military collection at the same time, why not??
I'm only talking about 50-75 yard shots here (Scope is for the low light conditions in late evening, not long range shooting)
Thoughts??

 

[critter]

Short rifle? Short range? You just perfectly described a Ruger #1 in 45-70!!! The very short action makes the gun very short with a 20" or so barrel and the old 45 round is perfect for short range deer medecine.

Got one. Love it! Took my biggest, heaviest antlered 8 point ever earlier this season with mine.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

Oh, just get a Marlin 336.

You know you want to.

 

[DigMe]

Steyr Scout?!

Actually I think a lever-action of some sort would be ideal.

brad cook

 

[R.H. Lee]

I dunno. Is the 7.62x54R a hunting caliber?

 

[NateG]

It can be. It's what I've been taking hunting this year.

 

[Gunblast]

How about one of these:

http://www.gunblast.com/50Beowulf.htm

A 16 inch upper for your AR would be perfect.


Jeff Quinn
gunblast.com

 

[mustanger98]

The 336 in .30-30 is good. They do make 7.62x54R in hunting loads. Or, there's the No.5 Mk1 Enfield Jungle Carbine; a lot of deer have been killed with .303British too. The trick there is eliminating the wandering zero problem.

Of those three, I'd recommend the 336 in .30-30 for cost and felt recoil. But the .30-30 round is good on out there too. According to Jim Carmicheal's article about Point Blank Zero, Winchester's 150gr Silvertip has a point blank of 261yds if it's hitting 4" high at 100yds. According to reviews, Hornady's new LeverEvolution ammo is supposed to be minute of Coke can at 300yds across the bench.

I recommend upgrading the rear sight to a Williams FP w/target knobs.

 

[22-rimfire]

Any carbine would work just fine in 30 caliber. or...Remington Model 7 perhaps?

 

[HankB]

I want a short rifle, but if I can add to the military collection at the same time, why not?? . . . I'm only talking about 50-75 yard shots here

SKS? If you really want short, you can even chop the barrel. (But don't go below 16")

Or maybe a folding-stock AK?

Ruger is now making sort of a "clone" of the Steyr Scout . . . short barrel, forward 'scope mount. It looks like a decent compact rifle, at a fraction of the price of the Steyr.

A T/C Encore with a 16" barrel is mighty compact, too.

 

[ScottsGT]

How about one of these:

http://www.gunblast.com/50Beowulf.htm

A 16 inch upper for your AR would be perfect.


Jeff Quinn
gunblast.com

Your just plane EVIL! Evil I tell you! I keep having dreams about the .50 upper. Just don't want to spend thak kind of money.
Actually, the more I think of it, I might do an AK and the 336 by next hunting season
I thought about the Jungle Carbine, but since I already have an Enfield, I was wanting something different to add to the collection.
Had an SKS, didn't like the weight of it, feel of it, etc..
I need a bigger safe.......

 

[halvey]

Sounds like the kind of hunting we do in MN. I'd personally opt for the Marlin in .30-30. That said, I'm not much into military guns, so I'm a bit biased. Otherwise I have no problem with a Win 94.

 

[mtnbkr]

Gunblast beat me to the "new upper for the AR" post.

If not the 50Beowulf, there's always one of the new 6.x calibers, the 450Socom, etc.

Also look at TC Arms Contender pistols. My scoped 14" 30-30 handgun is deadly accurate and compact (compared to a rifle). It would be a great gun for the conditions you describe. If you have places you could rest a bipod equiped Contender (or use shooting sticks), you'd have a mean deer gettin' machine.

Chris