I am considering picking up a rifle. The likely use is bear and varmint but I'd like to consider inexpensive and durable options that could be used for deer, elk and who knows what I may try to hunt in years to come.
Your advice is appreciated.
Budget is small.
Backpacking in over road hunting, so weight is a consideration.
Could possibly trade a handgun. Let's discuss that option in a message.
I have 2 of these. great shooting dependable 1 to 1.5 moa rifle out of box. .With a bedding job and little trigger work have a wonderful cheap, very accurate hunting rifle. Can order from a local FFL
thank you all very much. I am intrigued by the Scout model option that would allow iron sights and a forward mounted scope. I believe that based on the brushy wet thick environment I normally find myself in that could prove beneficial. Again I am NOT looking for something that can reach out and touch an animal at an extreme long distance.
If you get a scope mounted correctly and fitted to you, it's second nature to have the scope line up properly. Personally, I don't see the need for open sights on any of my scoped rifles. I have only had two cheap scopes fail on me. Both had their innards knocked loose from recoil. It was sort of a no brainer that it happened to them.
Flip up scope covers keeps lenses dry in brushy wet environments.
This is advice from a person who's hunted since 1960 and used about every combo possible.
One you didn't figure on in brushy wet thick crap is what happens when there's not enough light to sight in on a silhouette of an animal. A scope will extend shooting time and make that shot possible.
Get a scope with a good reputation. I'd say stay away from the cheap crap but those scopes might not exist any more.
has anyone used a Mossberg 4 x 4? I saw a used one at a big box store and when I mounted it it just felt like home. I have read some reviews that are favorable although I'm not sure Mossberg is best known for their rifles. It has a very odd stock shape, but again when mounted it felt just right.
If you want a rifle to shoot often at the range and in the field, consider the price of ammunition. If you want a gun that stays true with little tweaking choose a consistent long shooter. My preferred gun falls into the second category, and is a .300 win mag with a sightron scope. No to little annual adjustment needed. An accurate .270 will also meet your needs with more readily available ammunition.
There's a nice looking Winchester 70 Lightweight in .308 on Gunbroker right now . It's mislabeled as a featherweight but is the slightly plainer Lightweight. Nice lines, blued, and walnut stock. I certainly can't vouch for it but it's attractive to my eye. Just over $600 and includes older redfield 2-7 scope. It's a push feed from late 80's.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the .308 - very moderate recoil, inherently accurate, available in a lot of different rifle offerings/configurations, ammo is readily available, and there is also a wide range of bullet weights available particularly if you hand load. I commend you on your homework, Ed!
Ed, a .308 is a good all around rifle. I have had a couple and liked both.
When it comes to scopes I have become more and more in favor of a single power scope, specifically a 4X. That is more than ample magnification for the ranges I am comfortable shooting at game. The higher the magnification the more movement is also magnified and it is nearly impossible to have a steady hold with higher magnification. With a single power scope you also don't have the problem of parallax when changing powers. If I need to check things out at a distance I carry binos. It is bad practice in my opinion to use a rifle as a spotting scope. The other advantage of a single power scope is you get more bang for your buck. You can buy a very good single power scope for the same money you can buy a moderately good variable.
I sight in at 4X with my variables and while hunting it is always on 4X. There is nothing worse than your scope turned up to 9X and your game is 50 yards away. All you see is a big patch of hair.
I have listened to all the arguments in favor of variables and the usual one is I need the extra magnification when shooting out at longer ranges like 6 to 8 hundred yards. Well unless you have a stellar rest and the practiced skill to shoot out at those distances it means little. Computing drop and wind drift at long range is for those that are well practiced in shooting at long range. Of course you can spend huge money for a tactical scope which is totally unnecessary for practical hunting applications.
This just in, a Remington 700 .270 with iron sights and nice Bushnell scope on view through mounts has scratched my itch. There is a .308 at the same place for a couple bills more that might force a return trip. Case, sling, rifle and scope out the door for 350. I feel like I did just fine.
Nice buy Ed. To a degree I agree a bit light for elk, but Federals Premium High Energy 140 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw round will do the job with a bit of restraint. At muzzle it puts out 2900 foot pounds and at 200 yards 2140 foot pounds of energy. Take out the front side shoulder on the first shot, no shoulder, no run. Then you can use a second shot to finish the job. Or a well place spine shot behind the shoulder blades is a very good option, just know where the spine is located, a bit high bad news, a bit low a high lung shot which is OK.
Geez, Ed, did you buy the seller dinner and a movie? I ask because he was sure screwed. That's a great deal. Congrats on a fine gun. Remember, good rifles are a lot like fly rods and Lay's Potato Chips, you can't have just one.
Already browsing .308 options. Shot some decent groups at 100 yesterday, dialed them to within an inch of center by the time I was done for the night. Fun stuff. I will extend the dialing in out to 200 when I can. Good to see the scope included is good enough for now. Was hopeful it would meet my short range western Washington needs to start.
As Hannibal Hayes said: "I love it when a plan comes together." I'm glad you're happy with your new acquisition & yeah, that should do the job for you.
Walked some groups in and down from high and right. Final group just left and near center. Lone high round was from final adjustment.
Single final confirmation round, after letting the rifle sit to make it closer to a cold bore attempt.
Not a bad start, essentially from a rifle rookie. Haven't shot a scoped rifle since my teen years with my uncles .270. Since then, only minimal use at close range with open sights in three round bursts. Some good coaching from Jason got me comfortable and grouping to dial it down. More work to be done, of course. Fun stuff.
Walked some groups in and down from high and right. Final group just left and near center. Lone high round was from final adjustment. View attachment 102410
Single final confirmation round, after letting the rifle sit to make it closer to a cold bore attempt. View attachment 102411
Not a bad start, essentially from a rifle rookie. Haven't shot a scoped rifle since my teen years with my uncles .270. Since then, only minimal use at close range with open sights in three round bursts. Some good coaching from Jason got me comfortable and grouping to dial it down. More work to be done, of course. Fun stuff.
Nice work! You know who become masterful Marine snipers? Not the young men who've spent huge amounts of time hunting and shooting; generally too many deeply engrained bad habits to unlearn.
And, of course, hunting (like sniper school) is so much more than markmenship....kinda like flyfishing is much more than just casting well.
What makes a masterful Seal sniper? I dunno...maybe the ability to shoot well wearing speedos, oakleys, while enjoying the protection of FMF Recon.
Nice work! You know who become masterful Marine snipers? Not the young men who've spent huge amounts of time hunting and shooting; generally too many deeply engrained bad habits to unlearn.
And, of course, hunting (like sniper school) is so much more than markmenship....kinda like flyfishing is much more than just casting well.
What makes a masterful Seal sniper? I dunno...maybe the ability to shoot well wearing speedos, oakleys, while enjoying the protection of FMF Recon.
Krusty, I'm the byproduct of two Marines, career Corps man and finished my career leading a law enforcement unit. No jabs at any other services. I only know what I've lived and learned. Not a lot of rifle work on my resume. I've had the backs of many good folks and relied upon them for the same. Now I call that having friends.
Now, the gun shoots fine, let's get the hunter off of the bench and start shooting at photographic targets at 150 yards. "You'll play like you practice." I strongly recommend shooting sticks!
Upton O, my distant friend, no bench used. I was on a foam pad, brush and gravel in the prone. That is not a comfort position for me, but I'm working on it. Today I found that posting up on my R elbow as it dug into the gravel allowed me the best stability. I also shot my first two groups seated with a set of shooting sticks. They were grouped decent high and right, then closer but still high and right before I went to my belly.
Train like you fight, fight like you train. I like the photo target idea though. Never seen a bullseye on the body of live game.
Now, the gun shoots fine, let's get the hunter off of the bench and start shooting at photographic targets at 150 yards. "You'll play like you practice." I strongly recommend shooting sticks!
This just in, a Remington 700 .270 with iron sights and nice Bushnell scope on view through mounts has scratched my itch. There is a .308 at the same place for a couple bills more that might force a return trip. Case, sling, rifle and scope out the door for 350. I feel like I did just fine.
Nice find and nice shooting! The action alone is worth what you paid. As much as I love the .308, instead of buying a second rifle I would invest in this: http://www.natchezss.com/3x-9x-40mm...ce=pj&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=62182
and a set of low rings. The see through rings that are mounted on your rifle will force your cheek very high off the stock, impairing repeatability of your shots. You should have to press your cheekbone to the same spot on the stock to index it every time. In fact, most of my rifles still need some padding even with a 40mm objective and low rings. Close your eyes, mount the rifle, open your eyes. If you're looking through the open part of the rings, they're too high. Given the vintage of the rings, I'm guessing the Bushnell is a simple crosshair. The ballistic reticle on the Burris will allow you to hold over or dial at a number of ranges. Of course, you should verify that the extended ranges are correct before attempting a shot on game.
Understand, and agree, but I wanted a brush gun that had iron sights too. My mount is different for the two options, but is a compromise I was willing to make. Unsure the distance between scope and bore axis, but tolerable.
Your rifle is definitely a shooter! Those are some good groups and with a good bedding job and a trigger tune-up done by a competent gun smith you will be surprised at the improvement.
One thing I would strongly suggest is to do a lot of shooting with a .22. The lack of recoil and the sensitivity of hold and trigger pull can be refined. I put maybe 50 to 75 rounds through my .22 for every round through my hunting rifles. I don't develope the unwanted flinch and learn a nice smooth trigger pull. If when shooting a .22 you notice your aim point moves after squeezing the trigger you either have a flinch or you are jerking the trigger. It is seldom that I put more than 10 rounds through a hunting rifle at one sitting and well spaced time between rounds. It probably takes me more than an hour to shoot off 10 rounds.
When I practice it is with a model 42 Winchester .22. Lots and lots of rounds. Once I am shooting it well then I shoot a 3 shot group with my hunting rifle. It always amazes me the group I shoot after all the practice with my .22.
I do the same thing as Dave, but I also utilize utilize air pistols/rifles. Shooting mechanics are the same, plus air rifles are even more critical of follow-through & trigger squeeze because most shoot much slower than a powder-burner & the projectile doesn't exit the barrel as quickly, ammo is more readily available & less expensive, and it's a lot easier to find safe places to practice. I practice with pistols indoors & can even use my quiet rifles in the yard - I use target backstops packed with duct seal, so neither is discharged in a matter that places other people or property at risk in accordance with the local municipal code governing air guns.
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