What kind of rifle do I want?

[SGW42]

All I do is target shoot with .22s. I live in the city, don't hunt at all, but enjoy heading to the range to relax and challenge myself ("serious plinking" I call it). .22 rifles and pistols seem to be the most economical way to do this.

But at the job I work, I have a few co-workers with better means than me, and there is a small chance I might get asked out to hunt. Really I'm just using this as an excuse to make sure I have a deer-caliber centerfire on hand.

But centerfire rifles and ammo are expensive (compared to .22). And I like to grab a hundred rounds or so and see what I can do on paper, and honestly, that's what this gun would really be used for 95% of the time.

I'm in love with my Marlin 39A, so naturally I am looking at a 336C. I'm familiar with Marlin, I like the lever action, and I think it's a great value for the money. But should I take a .35 or .30-30? Are either of those calibers better than the other for taking out to the 100 yard range and trying to get good groups with open sights? .35 Remington seems a lot more expensive than .30-30, but I hear more about the accuracy of the .35, so I dunno.

I've also been excited sometimes about a CZ 527 Carbine in 7.62x39, because I imagine I could find a bunch of cheap 7.62 out there, and it has open sights. But I've never held or even seen one. And it's more expensive than the 336C.

So I guess I'm looking for the best deer-caliber centerfire, bolt or lever action plinking rifle. Hopefully with open sights. Hopefully under $500.

 

[ECVMatt]

If you are used the the 39A then I would say get the big brother. I have the CZ carbine and the a few 336. The carbine is cheaper to shoot and the iron sites are great, but with cheap ammo I get 4 to 6 inch groups at a 100 yards with irons. I do much better with my Marlins. I would suggest you get a .30-30 and not the .35. The .35 is a great round, but it is generally more expensive and harder to find in stores.

If you get a Marlin and want to use iron sites I strongly suggest looking at XS sites or Skinner sites. They are both great and really help with accuracy.

Take care,

Matt

 

[trstafford]

527 Carbine

I have a nice collection of rifles to pick from and I purchased a 527 carbine in 7.62 several years ago. It has became my favorite deer gun and it is quite adequate for HD if needed. When hunting you need good soft point hunting ammo not military FMJ.

 

[CB900F]

SGW42;

I have a CZ527, though in .223. Mine's a fine gun, I have no regrets. I think it would be more versitile for your applications in Texas in the 7.62X39 though. I would prefer the CZ over the Marlin (which is a fine gun also), for the accuracy considerations. Simply put, you don't have to worry if you got a shooter or not with a CZ. If you ever get the chance to hunt in the hill country, that could be a real factor.

On a calm morning, if I don't drink coffee & use the expensive .22 ammo, my CZ452 is a 100 yard MOA gun.

900F

 

[SGW42]

If you get a Marlin and want to use iron sites I strongly suggest looking at XS sites or Skinner sites.

Indeed, Mr. Skinner would be getting an order quickly if I got the 336, I love his sight on my 39.

Are there any other rifles that I'm not thinking of that match the criteria I need?

 

[crebralfix]

Get the gun that scares the government the most!

That means either a scoped rifle capable of hitting targets at 1,000+ yards or an "assault rifle".

Just save up and buy the gun, accessories, 20 magazines and 2,000 rounds of ammo all at the same time. Yes...it'll be expensive, but you'll be setup.

 

[juk]

the CZ would be a good choice. You could use cheap ball ammo to plink with and then use the soft point stuff for hunting. The CZ should get 2" groups at 100 with good ammo. The 336 is a classic though and I don't think many of them aren't shooters.

 

[ForneyRider]

336W is pretty accurate with right bullet/load. But the recoil is much more than a .22LR, plus the barrel is going to heat up if you try to shoot a bunch of ammo through it in an afternoon.

.223 Rem is pretty economical with reloads and buying components in bulk. 30-30 can be economical if you cast bullets and reload. 22 Hornet has less recoil, but is pain to reload and factory ammo is more expensive than .223 bulk ammo.

17HMR or one of the other magnum rimfires are showing up more and more at the range. I find myself sweeping them up all the time.

 

[MJR007]

Get a used cheap rifle/scope (Savage/NEF) in a .243 or up and buy used, if you can, reloading equipment. Any GOOD rifle store will help you with learning to reload - IT IS NOT HARD. You will never look at paper targets or game the same. Good luck.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

"The CZ should get 2" groups at 100 with good ammo."

An average CZ will easily beat that number. A good CZ will be capable of getting way under MOA given decent glass and a person on the trigger that knows what he's doing.

900F

 

[Maverick223]

Marlin 336 .30-30, cheap to buy, cheap to shoot, cheap to maintain...and it just so happens to work. If you wanted to get really fancy you could get a Winchester 94 with the same features as above, at a little more cost, looks a little nicer but difficult to scope (if you had that in mind). Another thought is let someone else break it in for you (buy used), you'll save some cash, get a scratch and maybe even a ding , and have an action that is smoother from the start.

 

[moooose102]

if you are going to hunt, the marlin 336 is a good all around rifle. get it in 30-30!!! it is not nearly as cheap to shoot as a .22lr, but as far as hunting ammo goes, it is pretty economical. there is a lot of ammo out there for it as well. you should never experience a shortage. right now, most of the ammo is between 14 and 20 bucks a box for it. if you never reload (and if this was your only reloadable cartridge, i would not), and you want to shoot more economicly, cabellas and several others offer discounts for bulk ammo purchases. but when it actually comes time to hunt, use premium shells. the difference mostly is in the bullet itself. plinking ammo only needs to go bang, and send a chunk of metal downrange towards a peice of paper. hunting bullets have to expand and deliver shock to an animal. big difference!

 

[Maverick223]

but when it actually comes time to hunt, use premium shells

I would highly recommend Hornady LeveRevolution for hunting, they are flat shooting (compared to the competition), open up well, and aren't prohibitively expensive. Just make sure and run a box of them through to get a feel for the trajectory before going hunting (as with any new cartridge).

 

[rangerruck]

if you can find a 762 cz now, for under 500 bucks, you should be on that reeeeeellly fast, since that will be a major deal. I would go with a mosin in 38 if you can find it. the biggest, fattest, and yet cheapest centerfire ammo to be had, and the rifle is 100 to 140 bucks. Plus mosins' have many alternate uses;
lever, rock smasher, wedge, hammer, step up thingy, etc.

 

[lipadj46]

Get a used 336 in 30-30 and put 1-4x, 2-8x or 3-9x scope on it for hunting. Some here will give you crap about putting a scope on a 336 but for hunting you will have a great advantage going with an optic, especially as a new hunter. Also remember if you were born on or after Sept. 2, 1971 you need to take a safety course.

 

[Dr_2_B]

No expert here, but I'd prolly look at a CZ as well.

 

[SGW42]

I'm kind of leaning towards this idea of getting both.

I have Mosin 91/30 and a S&W 19, only other centerfire guns I have, and I barely shoot those, and I live in an apartment, so I've never really considered reloading. I'd be shooting this new rifle with off-the-shelf ammo.

Saw Ruger makes their Hawkeye Compact in 7.62x39, but it doesn't have open sights on it. I really don't want a scope. Been shooting for 12+ years without one, I've liked not having to bother with them.

Are .30-30 and 7.62x39 the cheapest centerfire calibers (aside from assorted milsurp stuff)? I would not feel confident with a .223. I am just making sure I am not missing anything.

 

[Maverick223]

Are .30-30 and 7.62x39 the cheapest centerfire calibers

10-4, don't think you can do much better (with the exception of 7.62x54R, but there are no good hunting guns that I am aware of chambered for this cartridge)...and FWIW one of each sounds like a good idea to me.

 

[bukijin]

Get the marlin 336 in 30-30 first.