What rifle is better!!!

[AZantlerhead]

I believe a man can pick up allmost any firearm and get the job done if he shoots well, given the weapon shoots true. It's all personal preference and homework from there on to find YOUR favorite. Then getting to know that firearm, what it can do, and what you can do with it. And we all know ammunition is a huge factor. You can kill a deer with a 75$ 22. and a 5 cent bullet at 100yds IF you had too. we all know that.

 

Personal favorite though. Good ol 308. then 30-06. 0r 300mag or7mm. Troops practiced from 500 out to 800yds with the old M-14's and Open sights. Many could put ALL their shots in a mans chest from that far. They didn't call them Expert Marksman for nothing.

 

Of course with all the fancy calibers, optics and loads out now, one can achieve that range without Thousands of rounds of practice and months on the range. So how far or close do you want to be is probly a question to ask yourself. 100 yds is a Challenge with a 30-30. and open sights or 500yds with a 308. and a 9x32 or even 800yds with the most high tech rifles, scope, ammo and even the claw and its still a heck of a shot. Throw elevation, wind, buckfever, time, fadeing light or whatever in the mix and well. It's all a challenge. No matter what you carry. Be confident in what you carry and the shot you're takeing.

[youngbuck]

Im partial to 700's but thats me. I also like 30cal and 7mm, I shoot a 30 for the wind drift. I've never heard some one say "wow that deer is too dead". I have heard people say that there is too much damaged meat, but that can be controlled with bullet choice. One rifle i would want to check out is the sako a7. Garanteed 5 shot 1inch groups at 100 yards. The larger calbers have a 24 3/8 tube and the smaller have 22 7/16. I looked at prices on line and think they were like 6-700 or less im not sure.

http://www.sakoa7.net

[nlacost]

I am with Dustin and everyone- PERSONAL preference...try shooting some other rigs and see what you like,here is a pic of the only rifle I shoot..Savage 10 FP 24" barrel in .308..using a fresh workup load I get 3/8" MOA at 100 yards and it is dialed and calibrated (hence the white sticker on top of scope)with 168 AMAX to 1200 yards..I also use a Super Sniper rig in 10X..the 308 was great in the military and its still good now FOR ME,but if you want to shoot it first I already have some loads set aside for deer season here and for my Michigan November hunt..Try shooting different brands and some with factory and some with handloads..3/4 MOA is tedious with factory loads from this setup.I would be more than willing to let you shoot a few boxes at 100 yards out to 1000 if it helps make a sound decision..

Gun-$500

Stock-$125

Super Sniper Scope-$300 Read all reviews..( I used it in the military)

Harris Bipod-$80

[Coues Archer]

Nice rifles guys. But I forgot to mention that I also hunt varmints and was thinking of a having a heavy barrel. From what experience many of you have, what do you guys think is the best heavy barrelled rifle for the money. All rifles have to be under $800 dollars.

[wbyfireman]

Remington now makes its model 700 in 257 wby. One of the FLATTEST shooting rounds there is. Mine drops about 4inches at 300 yds and delivers 2000lbs of energy at that range. In the end buy what you feel most comfortable with, and can shoot with confidence!!

[Red Rabbit]

So you want ONE heavy barreled rifle to use on prairie dogs and elk ?

Best get 2 rifles one for varmints/predators, and the second for big game.

[joeybari]

well I did use a 300 ulta mag rem 700 sendaro a very good flat shooting rifle and I have taken about 5 nice size bucks with that gun at about 300 to 450 yards normal for were I hunt down south but here is the problem with that gun

its weight is almost 30 lbs with scope and all

As most Coues hunters we lug around a ton of stuff so its heck

Also as far as Coues deer the 300 ultra is over kill even with a smaller grain its over kill and the biggest thing of all is the price of the ammo your looking at about $40 to $55 a box of 20 if you load them your self it a lot cheaper but if you are like most of us you don’t have the time

And it is hard to find good 300 ammo that is in stock

 

I think the next best thing again this is only me and my two cents is a rem 700 308 varmint

Its a lot cheaper then the 300

There is allot of things that you can do with that gun

I got mine for a steal

but I did change a few things on it first I took off the cheap stock the org stock is not good I put a H-S Precision stock then the trigger that comes with is ok your able to change the pull on it

But I took it off and put a after market Jewell Trigger 2 lds and that is adjustable

The barrel length is 26” very good for long shots

The heavy barrel is good but it’s heavy so its up to you on how much you want to lug around

the entire rifle is at 25 lbs

The ammo is fairly cheap but you can find it any were most places sell it

Good luck

 

[scoutm]

Try this one on...I believe it's exactly what you mentioned you wanted.

 

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product...oducts_id/41046

[Ernesto C]

Remington now makes its model 700 in 257 wby. One of the FLATTEST shooting rounds there is. Mine drops about 4inches at 300 yds and delivers 2000lbs of energy at that range. In the end buy what you feel most comfortable with, and can shoot with confidence!!

 

Yes that's true......I wanted one......the only problem is that now.....is $70.00 dlls per box! ouch!

[Jimmer Negamanee]

So you want ONE heavy barreled rifle to use on prairie dogs and elk ?

Best get 2 rifles one for varmints/predators, and the second for big game.

 

+ 1

 

First of all, this is a great topic and I thank you for posting it. It's been discussed ad nauseum around many a campfire but is always interesting to ask so as to get people’s perspectives.

 

Red Rabbit makes a great point and probably a point that ends this debate in the most humane way possible. You need more than one firearm. That solution is elegant in its simplicity (and makes the whole "If you could have one rifle..." question seem a little silly).

 

Firearms are about trade offs. For every advantage there is a disadvantage. I am guessing that someone must have told you that heavy barreled rifles are "more accurate". Maybe that's true but I would I also guess that's for benchrest target shooters. They are also, as their name suggests, heavy.

 

Hunting is not about paper-punching accuracy so much as it is about practical accuracy, meaning accuracy in real-world, non-benchrest situations. Trying to hold a rifle that approaches 10 pounds with scope and rings on a buck that's moving (or standing still for that matter) across a canyon from a standing position will necessarily be more difficult with a heavier rifle, especially on the third day of the hunt when you are tired and dehydrated. Still doable, to be sure, but more difficult.

 

So consider Red Rabbit’s advice. You could get at .308 and a scope for $800 (Tikka T-3 lite plus a Leupold or Burris Fullfield II, ONLY for example. You could get other combos too) for deer (or up to anything in North America) then a .243, the .308’s little brother (or .22-250 or .223, etc.), for varmints. Then you have a firearm for both of your intended applications (not that the Tikka .308 will not put the beat-down on yotes, because it will).

 

Anywho, don’t listen to me. My one and only Coues buck was a spike (and a small one at that, but tasty it was). All I’m saying is think about what RR said. He made a good point.

 

This post makes me miss Lark. I think he'd say somethin' 'bout a .270.

 

Good luck in your quest. Please post pics of your decision.

[azgutpile]

Go with the Remington... I always hear more likes than dislikes with regards to them, and they tend to shoot great right out of the box. Down the road if you decide that you would like more, you can alway have the action trued and then upgrade the barrel, stock, trigger for a world class firearm.

 

The Tika T-3 is a great rifle as well. The only issue that I've had with mine is when you reload you are limited, by the magazine, on how far out you can seat the bullet. Also, if you go with the Tika, don't use the rings that are supply with the gun, make sure that you use quality rings and bases,

 

Regarding the cartridge, the 308 win is probably about as good of a cartridge that your going to get for a cross over rifle (varmit, deer and elk); however, if your not planning on using the gun for elk, don't rule out the 243 Win, or the 7mm - 08.

[joeybari]

the 308 700 rem is the way to go i think that its a good all round gun for the money that you will spend on it and the money that you are going to spend on ammo and you can always upgrade to rifle

[scoutm]

the 308 700 rem is the way to go i think that its a good all round gun for the money that you will spend on it and the money that you are going to spend on ammo and you can always upgrade to rifle

 

 

Forgive me but what does a picture of a deer shot in the head have to do with "which rifle..." Don't mean to be a butt just wondering why the pic?

[Ernesto C]

Why to ruin a trophy head with a head shot?.......or he's just showing off he can hit them there at 500 yards?...or maybe it was a 100 yard shot he aimed at the vitals but happened to hit it there??

 

 

 

 

The best rifle is the one you have in your hands with a trophy in your crosshairs!

 

Ernesto C

[joeybari]

sorry about the pic it was for some other topic to many things going on at work but the shot was both, it was a 425 yard shot and yes the old man (my dad) was shooting for the vitals and trust me when i tell you hat he was upset with that shot but i tell you what not bad for a 68 year old man he still got it