Wife says no to black gun, so what's left?

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ozarkgunner said:
What would be a descent scope around $150 or less.
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Sightron S1 is the only new scope I can personally recommend at that price. I've heard people say good things about Vortex but I have no personal experience.

My best advice would be to save another $50 and buy a Leupold. Good glass never loses value. In a few years you can sell it used for what you paid or more.

Let me also recommend against the Mini14. The whole point of owning a rifle is to hit what you are aiming at and the Mini is legendary for its poor accuracy. The particular specimen I once owned shot 14" groups with good handloads.
 
Robert said:
The next person that posts a smart mouthed "get a new wife" or some other Jr High response will earn a 7 day ban. It is not funny, not helpful and really rather childish. If you do not have something helpful to add to a conversation then please do not post at all.

OP you need to sit down and talk to her and figure out what her objections are. Once you have done that you can help her understand that a black rifle is different from a wood and blue rifle in color only. Well and cost right now...
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Good logic Robert, but you need to remember that most people dont read the entire thread they just comment.
 
Maybe explain to your wife that the appearance of the rifle has nothing to do with how or what it shoots. AR's are hard to come by now anyway. You may want to wait until the panic subsided to get one anyway.
 
Robert said:
The next person that posts a smart mouthed "get a new wife" or some other Jr High response will earn a 7 day ban. It is not funny, not helpful and really rather childish. If you do not have something helpful to add to a conversation then please do not post at all.

OP you need to sit down and talk to her and figure out what her objections are. Once you have done that you can help her understand that a black rifle is different from a wood and blue rifle in color only. Well and cost right now...
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Why wouldn't you just PM the poster and ask him/her to edit the post instead of making an example and getting a little jab in? Personally I think your comment was less High Road.
 
rcjackrabbit said:
Some quoted stupidity deleted. Get what you want.

I am sure she doesn't ask you what shoes to buy.
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Thats your first contribution to THR... Great. Another user who responds without a) thinking and b) reading the entire thread, as you would have seen a warning for a week long suspension if you respond like a 7th grader.

The middle road at best is what this dive is turning into.
 
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ozarkgunner said:
I'm in the market for a new rifle. I'm looking for some thing that will get me 200yrds of so and be light on recoil. So I'm looking at a bolt action in either .223 or 22-250. Now with that in mind. What would be a descent scope around $150 or less.
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Sounds to me like a "package gun" from a manufacturer like Savage would fit what you mention. A good package gun or rifle will include a scope as part of the package. Maybe a rifle along the lines of a Savage 10 XP Predator Hunter Package Brush type? It comes in the calibers you mention. Savage being merely an example and unfortunately you don't mention a budget you need to work in. You mention a $150 scope but not the total cost of rifle and scope you want to spend?

Ron
 
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Need to know more about why she said no to black rifle before anyone else could comment about that. Money, gun fear whatever aside...the ruger American is probably something that would be a good choice except it has a black stock.
 
There are lots of other and maybe better choices out there. The LGS's in my area are well stocked with long guns other than "black rifles." The O.P states his wife said no black rifle, not no firearms in the house. Big difference in my book.

The O.P. fails to expalin what use he wants a rifel for other than 200 yds. or so and light recoil. In addition to a bolt action rifle another choice high on my list would be the 30-30 lever action rifle.

First of all it is America's gun. It has long been the staple of westerns and good guys.

Second; It is very easy to learn how to operate if you avoid that dang crossbolt safety.

Third; The 30-30 is light on recoil.

Fourth; It is light weight enough for females to handle and the stock can be cut to fit her.

Fifth; Try finding .223 ammo. On the other hand the LGS's in my area are well stocked with 30-30 ammo.

Six; It easily reaches 150 yds. and in the right hands 200 yds.

Seven; Depending on barrel length they can hold 7+ rounds.

Eight; The 30-30 puts a bigger hole in it's target and is a good deer gun.

As you probably surmise I don't feel I am underarmed with a lever action rifle.
 
I made up this pic to illustrate the conundrum you face. Show it to your wife and then explain that they're the exact same Ruger 10/22 with 10rd capacity. :)

scaryguns.jpg
 
Let me also recommend against the Mini14. The whole point of owning a rifle is to hit what you are aiming at and the Mini is legendary for its poor accuracy. The particular specimen I once owned shot 14" groups with good handloads.
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Okay, the old ones supposedly weren't very accurate, but I never heard of one that bad. I have one of the new ones and it shoots under 2" groups at 100 yards with just about anything I feed it. So, for me, the Mini-14 is a good suggestion. YMMV.
 
Okay, so that's 3 suspensions so far.

Mr. JACKSON, feel free to PM me and explain how proactively warning future posters is "not high road".

John
 
I'll second the idea of a *new* Mini-14 Ranch Rifle, for (relative) ease of optics mounting. I believe you can even get a little MIL-STD-1913 rail that mounts on the receiver scope bases. Get one with the barrel threaded for a flash suppressor if you can, to keep your options open for a flash suppressor or brake if you so choose in the future.

The new mini's are not quite as accurate as an AR, but are otherwise functionally identical to an AR, and there are a few magazines (Ram-Line combo 30-rounders) that fit and function in both guns. Though I'd suggest sticking with the 20- and 30-round Ruger factory mags. .223 Remington is a great little caliber for 200-yard shooting.

You can easily fit an AR-style adjustable stock with ergonomic handgrip in the future if your wife's comfort level with modern-looking rifles improves.
 
Consider one of the package-deal bolt-action .223s, the ones that come with a scope already mounted and presumably bore-sighted. I believe the Savage Axis XP is an example. These are very good rifles, by all accounts reasonably accurate at the ranges you're going to shoot, and at their price point usually come with either stained hardwood or synthetic stocks. And the best part--they're not raising any scary black rifle anti-gun angst so far, even the ones with black plastic stocks.

I realize that many of the included scopes are not going to be great in low-light conditions nor are they likely to last very long or hold zero well, but the rifles themselves are fantastic value even if you have to replace the scope. And if the rifle doesn't float your boat after some time, you can resell it or relegate it to "utility" duties; either way you haven't spent much money and have a viable 200-250 yard rifle.

Heck, I think I've convinced myself!
 
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Ok, got the message on no smart remarks about the wife so I'll add this; For a .223 bolt rifle I chose the Savage model 11BGTH with the accutrigger. This is a super nice rifle that I have found to be way more accurate than I can do justice.
Savagemod11BGT.jpg

In 22/250 I chose the Remington 700 VLS then added a Timney trigger; this is a fantastic varmint rifle and the price is not too bad.
VLS22250withscope.jpg

Scopes I can't help you with, I am a firm believer in good glass on high powered rifles. You just can't hit what you can't see! The only low priced scope I use are on .22's
 
Unless I missed it, we don't know WHY the OP's wife ruled out a "black gun". If it was for cost reasons (which is a legitimate reason IMO) then the Mini isn't going to help all that much. ANYTHING magazine fed has pretty much evaporated from the store shelves in most of the country from what I'm told. The Minis that might still be available have probably seen a similar price increase as the black guns have.

For less than the cost of a Mini you can get a Savage/Nikon package deal that will likely be a marvelous shooter...and the dealer will actually be able to obtain one and sell it to you.
 
ETXhiker said:
Okay, the old ones supposedly weren't very accurate, but I never heard of one that bad. I have one of the new ones and it shoots under 2" groups at 100 yards with just about anything I feed it. So, for me, the Mini-14 is a good suggestion. YMMV.
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What part of this did the OP not effectively communicate?

So I'm looking at a bolt action in either .223 or 22-250.
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It would seem he wants a bolt action rifle in either .223 or 22-250. How does a Ruger Mini 14 figure into that? Additionally, if feeding cost is not a factor I would likely opt for the 22-250 chambering. Simply because in basic factory loadings the 22-250 is a faster round. This being especially true if the OP rolls his own ammunition.

I am not knocking the Ruger Mini 14, simply stating if the choice were mine what I would choose and why.

TIMC, nice rifles!

Ron
 
I have to agree that a Sightron S-1 would fill the bill for the question posed in the O.P. (do note that he's asking for advice on glass, not on a gun).
 
Boattale said:
I have to agree that a Sightron S-1 would fill the bill for the question posed in the O.P. (do note that he's asking for advice on glass, not on a gun).
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Then a My Bad as I saw it as both, rifle and optics. Wondered why he posted a price on optics but not the rifle. My bad, so sorry about that. :(

Ron
 
ozarkgunner, how about let's shut this thread down and you start a new thread asking about advice on scopes without a mention of the type of rifle, other than what would appear to be one with light-recoil? Generally, a .223 or .22-250 would be used for varmints or targets.
 
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