Trying to find the right rifle

[Voland]

A little help...

I am trying to build a packing/brush/scout/mountain" rifle.

I would like it to be magazine fed, 18" medium barrel fairly accurate our to 300+ years and take a regular scope.

This will be primarily used for hunting deer/hog in northern Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas but I would like it to be flexible enough to serve as a hiking rifle as well. I would like to stick with the .308 as I already have other rifles in this chambering but the action does not matter. I like the BLR lever action (would have to cut down barrel) but I also have a Remington 700 (bit on the heavy side and no mag) that I like also.

What do you all think I should do to get to where I want to be?

All your help is really appreciated!

V.

 

[TonyAngel]

This sounds a whole lot like you might be interested in the Ruger Scout rifle.

 

[WoodchuckAssassin]

As many will soon say, the Ruger Gunsight Scout Rifle in .308 would probably be exactly what you want...if you don't mind spending $800-$1000. If I could, I would. I held and dry-fired at a local shop last week, and the trigger pull almost made me get out my credit card. Sooooo niiiiiice. The scope mounts are meant for a forward mounted scope, but it will still accept a "regular" scope mount. The bolt is a tried-and-true mauser 98 action (maybe not as smooth as the 700 you mentioned, but very nice nonetheless). My only gripe is the extended clip. It's a little long for my taste, but there might be other, smaller clips you could purchase - I'm not sure. Really, it's hardly a gripe at all.

Oh, I also JUST held a Ruger Hawkeye 77 Mark II compact in .308. It has a floor plate instead of a box magazine, but it felt great in my hands and shouldered nice and quick. I'm a huge fan of scout rifles and carbines in general. Good luck with your choice. Happy Hunting!

 

[fireman 9731]

If you don't mind switching to 7.62x39, a CZ 527 Carbine would fit the bill nicely, I love mine and its the handiest rifle I've ever carried.

 

[jim243]

What do you all think I should do to get to where I want to be?

Sounds like you want something like this:



Savage Model 10 FCP-SR, Series LE, 8.75 lbs, 10 round mag, Heavy fluted Barrel (308) that is threaded, ready for a comp or a can. It is pricey at MSRP $1,213.00 but so is a custom build this one's ready to go.

Or you could look at a FNH-USA FNAR that will be a little more money.

Jim

 

[Savage99]

The Ruger is a better rifle than the rem's in many ways.

They are CRF, good safety, real extractor, bolt handle does not break off...............................................................etc.

 

[gunnutery]

You could look into the Savage scout rifle. I'm not sure what they go for now, but they used to start around $500.

 

[Malamute]

...I would like it to be magazine fed, 18" medium barrel fairly accurate our to 300+ years and take a regular scope...

I'm going to play grammar police for a minute. So, do you mean you don't want it to be a single shot, or do you mean you want it to have a detachable box magazine? Any gun that isn't a single shot is basically magazine fed. The magazine may be tubular, as most lever actions are, fixed box magazine (as most bolt action do, and which someone just called "having a floorplate", though a fixed box magazine can be blind, meaning having no floorplate), but anything that feeds another round, meaning isn't a single shot, is magazine fed.

Sorry for the thread vear, but the original question was worded inarticulately.

 

[ZGunner]

Savage Model 10 FCP-SR, Series LE, 8.75 lbs, 10 round mag, Heavy fluted Barrel (308) that is threaded, ready for a comp or a can. It is pricey at MSRP $1,213.00 but so is a custom build this one's ready to go.

Or the Savage Precision Carbine. I little cheaper at $899 and shorter with a 20" bbl as opposed to a 24". Also has a threaded bbl and of course the AccuTrigger. It would definitely get you out past that 300 yrd mark.

 

[jmr40]

I you think the Remington is a little on the heavy side, none of the other suggestions are lighter. Including the BLR you brought up. Actually a Remington would be the lightest option so far.

As long as you are going to use optics cutting a barrel on any bolt rifle is easy enough. With your specifications I'd look hard at a Tikka and have a gunsmith chop the barrel to 18-20" and buy 1-2 of the 6 round magaznes to go with the 4 round mags that come with it. I'd personally go 19" and mount either a 1-4X or 2-7X scope on it.

It'll weigh well under 7 lbs even scoped, ('d guess about 6.5 if you choose your scope carefully) and be a tackdriving gun fully capable of deer/hogs out to at least 400 yards. It will also be light, quick pointing and on target quickly and accurately for snap shots in the brush. The actions are among the slickest and fastest for repeat shots.