New Rifle

[Rhyno37]

Hey guys, looking to buy a new gun. I've narrowed my choices down to 3 very different firearms: Remington 700 SPS Varmint, Ruger Mini 14, or a S&W M&P9 (Yes, I know its a pistol but there's more rifles in this thread). If I bought a rifle, it would be for varmint obviously, coons and coyotes, along with target shooting/plinking. If I bought the pistol, it would be for target/plinking and home defense (I live in IL, so no concealed carry). At the moment, I'm leaning towards the 700.

 

[WYcoyote]

I would substitute an AR-15 for the Mini if it was me.(and I'd pick the AR)
Other than that, you have quite a strange trio to choose from.

 

[Rhyno37]

Yeah, wasn't too sure If I wanted a pistol or rifle. I already have a S&W .357, Springfield .30-06, Ruger 10/22, Remington 870, and H&R Parnder Pump Slug gun, so wasn't sure what I wanted.

 

[ccsniper]

all of em?

 

[Rokman]

I voted for the bolt action since I have two minis that I never shoot. If you would bump up the list to include an AR, then I would vote for it.

I have an M&P40 compact that is a great little pistol, but I can't vote for a pistol on a thread posted in the rifle section.

 

[Rhyno37]

Eh, I needed all the votes together.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Remington 700 because everyone should have one. (This coming from someone who does not have one. Yet.)

 

[blackops]

R700 and you won't regret it. Military, LE, and private sectors all use them exclusively for a reason.

 

[loadedround]

Such a difference in firearms....only you can make that decision. What type of shooting do you want to do?

 

[Rhyno37]

Such a difference in firearms....only you can make that decision. What type of shooting do you want to do?

Like I said, varmint if I got a rifle, along with target/plinking. Pistol would be target/plinking too. I'm heavily leaning towards the 700 after reading and researching. Only question is, should I go for .223 or .22-250? (Yes I know its the age old dispute)

 

[BushyGuy]

i would go with the Ruger Ranch Rifle Mini-14 in the 581 series i heard they are alot better then the 580 series i used to own.

 

[Pony Express]

With no CC, I would reckon that a rifle would get more acutal "Use" than a pistol. Plinking is fun, but I buy guns to do a certain job, and for me plinking is just something to pass the time with my purpose-minded guns. That being said, I would buy a remington 700. Mini-14's are cool guns, but if I'm more of a "bolt gun" type of guy.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Rhyno37]

So do you guys think I should go with the .223 or .22-250?

 

[12131]

Get an AR "pistol". Problem solved.

 

[Detritus]

I vote Rem700, in .223 .

If your intent is to have an accurate rifle (which to me "Varmint rifle" implies). Then no matter what you do, or what improvements have been made, a Mini14 will not be able to match the 700.

as for the caliber choice, I can only recomend what I've actually used.

 

[Perforate]

Remington 700 was my vote.

 

[frankiestoys]

Get the mini, its more fun to shoot then the 700 i have a 700(.270) great gun but its worth more then the .223 cal offers. Mini's are fun little rifles just be sure to get a newer 580 series.

 

[don]

Remington 700 in 22-250.

 

[LeontheProfessional]

Get a new mini 14 and you will not be disappointed.

 

[Wayfinder]

Mini 14

Just picked up a ranch in 6.8. I can tag a quarter at twenty five meters every time. It can group at fifty meters under an inch. I'm haven't had the chance to see at 100 to two meters yet. It for home defense and if the needs arrive I can drop a deer. I have read where others have dropped 300 pound of feral hogs. It always fire when the trigger is squeezed. I can't ask for more.

 

[Randy1911]

I have both a Mini and a 700. The Mini is doing good if you can hold a 3" group at 100 yards. The 700 (in 30-06) will shoot sub MOA if you do your part. I voted for the 700.

 

[skoro]

I own both a Mini 14 and an M&P9c. Very different weapons with very different applications. The M&P is a fine little compact auto that still offers 12+1 capacity. Very pleased with mine. That said, the Mini-14 is about as fun to shoot as any firearm I've ever owned. And the 223 ammo can normally be found at relatively low cost. You can't go wrong with either one.

 

[doc2rn]

The SPS is a heavy for a Rem 700, but man is it a tack driver(mine is in .223). The Mini14 Ranch I have is fairly accurate with a shorter barrel and accepts 30 rd mags. The S&W bottom feeder would fill the hole in your wonder 9 slot. You have a 10/22 and a 30-06 already seems you just need the right load for the game your hunting. I would look for a Marlin 1894c to have matching ammo for rifle and pistol.

 

[brotherzoo]

Buy it for its intended purpose, which begs the question: which one of those radically different purposes is most important to you? If they are all equally important and you are incapable of making the decision without the assistance of strangers on the internet, then buy a Nagant, Marakov, SKS, and have money left over for ammo. ;-)

 

[Rhyno37]

In all honesty, I will be doing more plinking than hunting with this rifle, since in Illinois the only thing you can hunt with a rifle for is varmint. I was just wondering which would be the most fun.