What do you want in a bumming around rifle?

[Brasso]

I would really like for someone (Rem, Ruger, Win, Savage), anyone, to make a bolt action rifle in a medium power cartridge like .308, in stainless or parkerized steel, with a medium to heavy 18 to 20" barrel, and this is the clincher.......with iron sights. I would be in rifle heaven. No one makes such a thing. There are some close ones, but the manufacturers find some way to screw it up. Either there are no fixed sights, or a skinny barrel that won't group well after a couple of rounds, or it has a pretty blue finish that will rust as soon as I look at it, or it only comes in varmint calibers, or something. The Ruger 77/44 is just about perfect except it doesn't come in .308. What do you think?

 

[Brasso]

Ooops! Someone please put this in the appropriate forum.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

What do you want in a bumming around rifle?

Bullets!



Actually I bought a sporterized 1903A3 that I had planned to build back up into a mil spec rifle and shoot at Camp Perry. After handling and shooting it a bit, it is the perfect knock-around gun. Light, very easy to point with the straight, non-pistol grip and the action cycles just like butta. This will probably become my knock-around gun.

My father has a beautiful M1917 Eddystone that had been sporterized in the 50s-60s that is even better. The action is even more sturdy and the gunsmith that did it put on the best open (non-peep) sights I've ever seen on a rifle.

Third, I have a Remington 740 with open sites. This one's traditionally been my knock-around deep woods rifle, but the barrel heats up pretty quickly.

All of these are in 30-06, but I'm usually wearing a vest or coat in the woods, so I've got some extra padding. .308 would be nice for the cheaper ammo.

What about bubba-izing a Mauser into .308?

 

[BenW]

The Remington 788 meets your criteria except for parkerizing. No longer made, but I always see them on the used market. I have one in .308 and love it. It's a tack driver.

 

[Smoke]

Cheap. and cheap ammo too.

A gun I'm not afraid to drag through the brush or drop in the dirt. Must be economical to feed in case I get the urge to waste rounds just for fun.

Smoke

 

[MeekandMild]

Suggestions? How about leverguns? Savage 99, Winchester 88, Sako Finwolf, Browning BLR, et cetera.

 

[Slimjim]

Nagant? Ammo's cheap, around 308 caliber, can be fairly accurate. And built like a tank.

 

[knzn]

My current favorite (check with me tomorrow cause it changes regularly!) is my Yugo 48A. With 8MM ammo so cheap right now you just about can't afford not to have something that shoots it. Cheap ammo, great inexpensive rifles, whats a better knock around combo?

 

[Zeke Menuar]

Mosin-Nagant. Cheap, virtually indestructable. Ammo is even cheaper. If a Mosin can survive the Russian Front it will survive anything you can possibly dish out.

Here's one of mine: http://www.gunboards.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=23106&SearchTerms=Finally,Finished


ZM

 

[Brian Williams]

Look for a Spanish Guardia rifle
http://www.samcoglobal.com/rifles.html#gcm

Guardia Civil Spanish Mauser - Cal. .308 Win

Please view Guns & Ammo Article for more information!
Original leather sling and Muzzle Cover Included with Guardia Civil at no charge while they last
-- an $8.90 value!

Manufactured by Master Craftsmen in world renowned Spanish arsenal for Spanish Civil Guard, Spanish M1916 Short Rifle, converted to .308 Win (7.62 x 51 NATO) Guardia Crest on receiver polished turned down bolt, Beautiful Grain Wood Stock, recessed 5 round fixed magazine, fixed side support and sling swivel.Matching serial numbers, bolt and receiver.

Barrel length: 21.00"
Overall length: 41.3"


Very good condition: $119.95
Special Select: $129.95

 

[TrapperReady]

How about a CZ-550 FS in .308?

CZ 550FS Info

It's blued (which I consider a plus), but otherwise would fit nicely. It's even got style... which many guns seem to be lacking these days.

 

[Stoney]

I keep a beat up yugo SKS in my truck, with a hundred rounds of ammo. No worries about will it work if I need it. I know it will.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I think a Savage 116 with iron sights would be perfect.

Alas, no 1116 comes with sights.

 

[sm]

Not a bolt...

I'm with Meek on this, I go along with the levergun idea. Guns are tough, easy to tote, 30-30 ammo for example is affordable and available everywhere...quite proven in this role as well.

 

[MeekandMild]

sm, actually I think he asked about 308 and all those brands of leverguns I listed have been sold in 308. Personally I wouldn't mind having a 30-30 and am a Marlin fan, but I don't know of any Marlins in 308. Lets face it, 30-30 doesn't have a gazillion rounds of surplus ammo on the market and half a gazillion different style factory loads like 308.


If I was a boltgun fan I think one of those Spanish Gardia rifles would be nice.

 

[Gordon]

An Enfield MK5 jungle carbine is perfect. A sporterized one is even better! I have 2, one has a birdseye maple stock and is scoped and reblued, the second is a refinished and modified OEM stock with a Lyman side mounted peep and reparkerized. The ammo is cheap, the effect is pretty much .308 with 10 shot magazines! Gibbs rifle company makes a few versions.

 

[Feanaro]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What do you want in a bumming around rifle?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Bullets!

Would you like some powder to make it go boom, and a primed case to hold it all together/concentrate the boom out of the barrel/set it off?

 

[Edward429451]

What I think about when I think about this class of rifle is along the lines of a 700VS cut down to 20" with Williams Foolproof sights and parkerized, 308 Win. Possibly with a forward QD scout mount added at the same time they install the sights.

 

[Kestrel]

Are those Spanish Gardia rifles any good? Are they strong enough to handle .308? Are they converted to .308 from something else?

Steve

 

[Kestrel]

You don't have to cut down a 700 VS - Remington already makes the 700 LTR in .308. It has a 20" barrel, is parkerized and has either an H.S. Precision or Bell & Carlson stock (Remington contracts both). Also, being a Police model, it goes through more QC checks than their regular line.

Steve

 

[The Tourist]

I don't know either, but I know that like yourself, I want one.

I do have a new Marlin lever action. I have not yet started the reloading research and investigation. I do have the bullet profile I want.

I think it will be a good project. Ask me in a year.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

Maybe it's the Cruffler in me, but I keep thinking "Spanish FR-8" .

 

[j.wise]

Beetle Bailey beat me to the punch. I agree that the FR-8 seems to fit the bill perfectly, with a Mk5 Jungle Carbine coming in a close second.

My knock-around rifles include the Yugo M48 and the Mosin-Nagant M44. I'm thinking of adding a Mk5 to the stable here shortly. I'm just a sucker for peep sights!

 

[Sharpshooter223]

Beat around rifle that groups good? As far as a "beat around" rifle i'm guessing you want it to be cheap also? I would suggest the model 600 Remington mohawk. I've seen them for really cheap at gun shows. I have a friend that has one in .308 and another that has one in .243. They are short little rifles that don't have a heavy barrel but damn they still group really good it surprized the hell out of me. Especially the .308. It's touched the bottom of the lake many times and it's still a great little gun

 

[Kestrel]

What is an FR-8?

How are those Spanish Gardia rifles? Are they strong enough to handle the .308? Are they good rifles?

Steve