The utility rifle

[Armored farmer]

We all have them.
They come in many calibers. We choose them based on our individual requirements.
I'm not necessarily talking about hunting rifles. We have those too. I'm talking about your walking around, woodsbumming, deer scouting, raccoon in the trashcan, skunk in the back yard, creekbank special.

Your old go-to.

I am fortunate to have a few.
We have no dangerous predators here, so a big bore rifle isn't needed for defense. Maybe they are where you live.

I often go with my H&R Handi-Rifle in. 204. It is cheap accurate and reliable.

What is your utility rifle?.

 

[e rex]

For those conditions, probably an old 10-22.

 

[adcoch1]

I use a cheepo custom lightweight ar15, or a cz527, or my trusty old Savage 22 bolt gun. They all work, none have ever let me down, and all are super accurate and cheap to shoot. I do like to also use a 44 mag revolver for knocking around in the outdoors. They all qualify as go-to's

 

[jeepnik]

My utility "rifle".

 

[Jason_W]

My utility "rifle".
View attachment 761122

My go too utility gun will always be a shotgun as well, but since this is a rifle forum . . .

Mu utility rifle will be a quality, reliable levergun in .357 Mag. I can load it to maximum for deer sized game out to 100 yards or down to cat sneeze levels for killing small game without excessive meat damage. I can share ammo with a sidearm, and it's sufficiently powerful enough and quick firing enough to make a ne'er do well reconsider his life choices.

 

[Mn Fats]

I dont necessarily have one single "utility gun". A lot of mine are. Your break action single definitely fits what I picture when I heard the term. Very nice Armored Farmer. Another single shot fan here. I like em and would love to see more offerings.

 

[PapaG]

One of three: 92 Win converted to .357 about 1962, my Savage 24V 222/20, or my Marlin 94 44mag. Shot two of them today.

 

[Blkhrt13]

My 39a or my mini 30 both wear a scope and sling

 

[ZGunner]

I like my Mini-14 Ranch Rifle, it rides in the truck anytime I leave the house. But I also like my Rossi 92 in 454 Casull. I usually shoot 45 Colt so I can share ammo with my favorite snake gun, the Taurus Judge.

 

[Glockula]

I use my Rossi 92 .357 magnum as a knock around rifle. It is very light and mine is small with the 16 inch barrel. It isn't too bad in a shotgun scabbard over my back. I can weed eat that way in snake and black bear country. The rifle is very accurate with 125 lead .38s out to 50 yards or so. I also use 158 xtpfp's over a decent charge of 2400. If I want a scoped bolt action it's my Savage .308 trophy hunter. That really extends my range.

 

[Geno]

My very recent acquisition for such purposes as listed by the OP, and for taking the nieces and nephews to the range include a:

Savage M10-SBA .308 Win (Pictured)

Savage Mark II .22LR

Geno

 

[JeeperCreeper]

m44 mosin
marlin 336y
XD45 (not a rifle but it is my "knockaround piece")

 

[ColtPythonElite]

3 generations of us have beat in farm trucks the same Remington 550 that my grandfather bought new in 1950-something. It has never been properly cleaned and might see a drop of motor oil every few years. It is rusty and banged up, but still works.

 

[Armored farmer]

One of three: 92 Win converted to .357 about 1962, my Savage 24V 222/20, or my Marlin 94 44mag. Shot two of them today.

Oh yeah, that savage 24 is a really good choice.

 

[MedWheeler]

I started a thread on selecting a Marlin 336W for this, and my attempts to purchase it from Wal-Mart, not too long ago. Toward the end of that thread, I mentioned that I ran into an old Chinese SKS and ended up with that instead...

It will be more of a "truck gun" than a woods gun, though, as opportunities for hanging out in the woods with an exposed gun in Florida outside of gun-appropriate hunting season are slim.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

mine is the mini 14 tactical

 

[armoredman]

CZ 527M/CSR.

 

[BigBore44]

1894 in 44mag. Not good for squirrels. But good hog medicine. And I'd rather shoot hogs anyways. It's also cheaper to shoot as far as cost vs return. One 200lb hog with one $0.25 bullet. How many squirrels would I have to shoot to get that much meat? And at 3-5 cents per bullet no less. Way better return.

 

[amprecon]

For your stated purposes I'd use one of my Marlin 60's, but I'd still always have a handgun strapped to the belt. A .22lr will put a hurtin' on anything yet not so loud you alert the entire area.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Sounds like the definition of truck gun, a lever action. 30-30 or .44 mag. I don't always carry a rifle around but I often have one in my jeep. A short barreled AR (light n handy, iron sights) is the logical modern version of those venerable saddle guns, same could be said of a Mini-14 or an M-1 carbine.

 

[bannockburn]

I would probably go with my vintage Ruger 10/22. Totally reliable and accurate, it's been my favorite take-along companion on many occasions.

 

[eastbank]

a friend has a three barrel rossi combo rifle-243, shotgun-410 and .22 rimfire in a zipper up factory nylon bag and as I remember is was not to costly, 200.00 or so. I was not to impressed with it, but then again I think it would get the job done. eastbank.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Savage over/under 22LR 20ga 18" barrels

 

[cdb1]

30-30

 

[Armored farmer]

Sounds like the definition of truck gun,

Yeah, I guess it does. The definition of each may overlap considerably. However, in the back of your mind you know there is a risk of the truck gun getting dinged, or rusty, or even stolen.