Tactical/Utility Bolt?

[Kjay]

From a California perspective...

Can't have an AR-15 or it's ilk. The Ruger Minis are suspect from the standpoint of accuracy. Does anyone have a suggestion for a utility bolt action rifle in calibers .223 through .308 that is also suitable for serious social situations if need be? Maybe a Remington 7 or Ruger 77 Compact?

 

[Dave Markowitz]

In your place, I'd get a No.4 Lee-Enfield. .303 is common and in the same class as .308. The rifle has a 10 shot mag, and it can be charged with stripper clips. The Lee-Enfield action is faster than pretty much anything else. Scope mounts are available, too.

If you want a carbine see if you can find one that somebody sporterized already, and chop it as necessary. I wouldn't go shorter than 18.5", and then only if I were to put a Jungle Carbine flash hider on it.

The No.5 Jungle Carbines will also work, but the stock design (specifically the butt pad) magnifies recoil.

Another option would be an Ishapore No.2A SMLE in 7.62 NATO.

 

[Art Eatman]

Most Minis will hold inside three MOA or better, which at worst is 6" at 200 yards. How far out do you expect to shoot in "self-defense"? Through the years, I've killed jackrabbits and coyotes at a hundred yards or so with no problems, so using one as a defense weapon strikes me as no problem...

In military competition matches back before the start of WW II, the British team was competitive in aimed rapid fire with their cock-on-closing Enfield bolt-actions, vs. our guys with the Garand. It's a training-and-practice thing, not a gun-thing.

Art