What rifle and or scope, if any, do I need to get?

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txgolfer45

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I'm primarily a hunter. The longest kill shot was with a Remington 700 ADL chambered in .270 with a Leupold VX1 3-9x40 scope at a little over 300 yds on a big boar moving across a wheat field. Most of my hunting is done 200 yds on in. Game includes hogs, whitetail deer, coyotes. Haven't been on a bear, moose or elk hunt yet.

Here is what I currently own:

Ruger M77 MKII in 30-06 with a Bushnell Elite 4200 in 3-9x40
Remington 700 ADL in .270 with a Leupold VX1 in 3-9x40
Rock River Arms AR15 with a 20 inch heavy barrel in .223/5.56 with a Nikon Monarch/Team Primos 3-9x40 with BDC.
Ruger 10-22 SS .22lr with a Nikon ProStaff 4x scope

Other than a big bore magnum, I think I have the bases covered. And even without a big bore magnum, I think I'm covered with my 30-06 and a heavy bullet.

Any holes in my rifle collection that need to get filled?
 
A semi-auto battle rifle in .308 would be nice, like a FAL, M1A, AR-10. But it sounds like you have your hunting calibers covered for the game you hunt.
Do you have a shotgun?
 
45-70 is great hog medicine. The Marlin 1895 series of rifles are great rifles. I took a hog with my 1895G. One shot and done. If you hunt thick brush there are few better. And good hand loads are able to reach 200y no problem.
 
I have several shotguns. Semi-auto, o/u, pump. 12 and 20 ga. I'm good on those. I also have a S&W M&P AR-15 with an Aimpoint red dot scope that I've used on turkeys.

I've been thinking about a semi-auto or bolt in 308. Although, for hunting, I don't think it will do anything the 30-06 or .270 will do.
 
No holes that I see. Might drop a .243 in between the .223 and .270, but it won't really buy you much capability ... except that it can be had in a short action, carbine-length rifle that could carry more easily than your .270. Other consideration might be a lever gun without a scope for brush busting (I mean hunting dense cover, not trying to put a bullet through obstructing foliage). That could be a 45-70, .30-30, or even a .44 mag.
 
How about one of these for a 1,000 yd shot on a deer/elk/coyote?:D:D:D

http://www.barrett.net/firearms/model82a1

Seriously, you look pretty well covered. If you ever did go after moose, you might want a .300 Win Mag, or, a .338 Win Mag. (Of course, I haven't heard of a lot of moose down in Texas lately.) The only other thing I can think of is a nice lever gun like the other guys suggested.
Matthew
 
The quick answer is "no". There's nothing within reason that can't be done with what you have. In the 50's and 60's, the 30-06 was considered the do-all gun. It was considered plenty heavy for even big bears, which seems to be the thing everybody's worried about even if they only see one in a zoo.

That said, if you're looking for something else, find something that appeals to you. Maybe a .45-70, maybe a .22-250. If you're ever inclined towards target, get a heavier bench type gun in a more target friendly caliber with a good quality higher magnification scope.
 
The biggest animal we have in Texas is wild hogs (except what is on some of the exotic game ranches). They can easily get to 300 lbs or more.

I don't have easy access to ranges that offer shots longer than 100 yds. My hunting lease is 3000 acres. But, we have this darn broom weed this year that grows to about 3 ft. Makes shooting from the prone position virtually impossible unless we shoot from some of the ridges.
 
txgolfer, the only hole I see in your collection is the lack of a good hunting PISTOL! Handgun hunting is GREAT! Damn near as hard as archery and a hell of a lot more fun. Getting close is what it is all about. Maybe a good .357 or above. Hard to go wrong with a Ruger Super Redhawk or Super Blackhawk in .44mag either! With the proper loads, they will take any Texas game at respectable and ethical yardages very efficiently. And did I mention, THEY ARE FUN! :) Other than that, you have pretty much anything covered (as far as rifles go) that walks on the North American Continent with just the 30.06. Now granted I may want a little bigger for STOPPING Brown Bear on a full tilt boogy charge but it is fully capable for hunting anything that walks on this continent.
 
txgolfer45:

My friend, you are covered 100% for your area and what you hunt! Use you $$$ for going hunting.

Geno
 
FWIW...years ago I thought having dozens of guns would be way cool. Wish I'd had spent less on guns and more on hunts and ammo.
 
The only gun i would add is a Winchester Model 94 in 30-30, (post 64) they are starting to inch up in price but can still be had in good shape for under $400.-. It's the only gun i think everyone should own (great family heirloom). But other than that you are in great shape. And you are right about the 30-06, it will handle anything on this continent!
 
You look covered to me! I would probably try to use that .223 for most things if at all possible, but you already have the others. I would highly recommend a marlin 336 in 30-30 or 45-70. If you end up with a 30-30, that Hornady Leverevolution ammo supposedly ups the range about 100 yds to 250. The 30-30 is a great round to shoot, pretty inexpensive, and if the guys in Canada use them on bears, they are pretty darn versatile :)
 
I've got the bolt gun in .30-06, the lever in .30-30, the 10/22, an 870, and enough pistols. I'm building the AR.

The battle rifle in .308 I sold - it was everything that was wrong in one gun, too much recoil, too heavy, too too too. The other guns do it better. In big calibers, rapid shooting is NOT the goal. In hunting, the lever does ok for all the woodland distances it sees. What I wanted was something that could be used hunting, like the battle rifle I did use for 20 years, in a caliber that fit how I planned to hunt. 6.8SPC does that.

Frankly, having all the guns, it still boils down to using the one that fits most of what I will do, multiples aren't really necessary for that. I'll keep the lever because .30-30 is easier to find anywhere compared to 5.56 or other surplus, even in a panic. The others could go on down the road and all that would happen is leave me more room in the closet for my shoes.

I haven't used them, so what's the point? Well, I own them, that's all, folks.
 
No holes, but I'd want a 30-30 Marlin in there. You are lacking a lever action! Your 270 could be dumped because the '06 does what it does.
 
Remington 870 Express 12 Gauge - Couple boxes of 00 Buck to go with it.
Pistols - 1 Big One, 1 Little One! i.e 40 or 45 and a 22 for plinking.
 
If you want to extend your hunting season, a muzzleloader is in order. A truly primitive flintlock rifle will get you in on the strictest primitive firearms seasons, whereas modern inlines or the Savage ML will keep you with ergonomics you are more accustomed to.

Nothing like putting them down, old school:
 

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