Thank you everyone, pump rifle

[cyrano]

Thank you everyone for your advice over the past several days. For my first ever firearm I've decided to get a pump rifle, either:

Remington 7600 30-06, or a Browning BPR short action .308.

First, it's an adequate hunting rifle with a fast second shot if needed. Second, although I don't think I need "home defense", I can leave it loaded (in a safe location) just in case- who knows maybe chambering the round might scare a baddy away someday. Third, I can do some target shooting up to 300 yards... hopefully it will become a new hobby. Finally, I hear such a rifle will be relatively inexpensive.

Thanks again for all the great posts (I mean that, I'm not just saying it). Happy New Year everyone.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Good deal, should be a fun piece of gear!

Do keep an eye out for an inexpensive .22 rifle to practice with. If you want a pump rifle to match, you can watch for a used Remington Fieldmaster ($150-200 on www.gunbroker.com ), or get a new Taurus 62.

Are you looking to buy a new 7600 (around $450), or planning to haunt the pawnshops and used-gun racks right after hunting season? I hear some folks find good deals after everyone dumps their hunting rifles at season's end.

If you do hit the pawnshops and used racks, keep an eye out for a Marlin 60. Sweet little American-made semi-auto, I run across used ones for $50-75 practically every week, and they're outstanding guns for that price.

-MV

 

[fzj80]

I own a BPR in .300 Winchester. I can honestly say it is an amazing rifle. It was a pawn shop score about a year ago. Everytime it comes out, people as "What kind of gun is that?"

The pump action is actually somewhat down and back rather than the typical straight backward pull. It's different, but Browning pulled it off very well. Browning didn't advertise the gun well enough to keep it out in the American market. It was discontinued after just three years. Sad.