Hunters!!whats your most universal rifle?

[emcon5]

Also a big fan of the 6.5 Swede, but if I was looking at a new rifle, I would probably try and find a 260 Remingtonable to the Swede, maybe a couple hundred feet per second faster in any given bullet weight.

The 6.5 is really a sweet spot. With quality bullets available making it suitable for LR target shooting, and hunting anything from varmints up to elk.

[targa911S]

I was thinking of not putting into anything exotic. A .270 is kind of an every mans gun with ammo readily available. I like a lot of odd ball rounds, but I think he was looking for an every mans type of gun.

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

One of the worst things I regularly witness at the range is some he-man shooter not allowing his new charge to wear a recoil pad. Nothing will ruin a new shooter faster than suffering the affects of recoil and being told to "man up". It's foolish and completely unnecessary.

Damn right. A folded hand towel does just fine. The point is to learn how to cleanly kill with the weapon. To treat it as some sort of 'right of passage' test is dumb. Your right of passage comes with bringing home meat.

[targa911S]

while we are at it ,,,I'm looking for a Marlin 25 MN 22 WRM. I just need the action really. As long as the bore is good I don't care about condition. Looking for a new winter project for myself. I have a really nice piece of quilted maple I want to use. Been a while since one has come into the shop. By the way we have a nice 6.5 -55 swede that has been sporterized in the rack I noticed today. I think it was marked $249.00. Not trying to get this thread off course but the 6.5 was mentioned a lot. The stock on it is well....carved. I can post pics later this week for anybody that wants to see it.

[FLYGEEZER]

Same old 30.06 been using since I've been 25. Did install 20x scope 5 years ago. Nothin' special. Get's the job done & inexpensive.

[gt350mike]

What's the big deal of using an extra recoil pad at the range.....I've never had understood the Marine Corp attitude to be the tough guy when its utterly senseless.

I was sighting in a new scope on my 7mm Mag last month and forgot to bring a recoil pad so I used a rolled-up a shirt to minimize the suffering. Sure enough, my buddy called me a wuss so I offered to let him shoot the rifle.......he declined.

To give you a rough idea of how much recoil to expect from a given cartridge, take a look at this link:

Rifle Recoil Table

Keep in mind it's just a guide. I think recoil will vary from different rifles shooting the same cartridge. I've been told my old M77 kicks more than a Remington 700, but I'll pass the discussion onto someone with actual experience.

[Hydrocket]

.243 is excellent all around.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by targa911S

I would look into the Ruger American. A lot of bang for your buck. ( no pun intended) American made and you cannot beat Rugers customer service. You could saw this gun in half and they would fix it for free in about 2 weeks time. Ruger American Rifle® Bolt-Action Rifle Models Now I for one believe that guns should be wood and metal, but this is a bargain that is almost indestructible.

Nothing against Ruger, but they sure copied a lot from Savage on that rife ... including barrel nut and a very similar trigger. I have handled this rifle and was intrigued by the 70 degree bolt. But it feels sloppy and has too much low density plastic. Extra points for a removable magazine, but made from plastic too? Ugh ...

I'd still buy it over a used beater if you are on a budget. Just don't expect to hand it down to your grandchildren.

G

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by aigel

Nothing against Ruger, but they sure copied a lot from Savage on that rife ... including barrel nut and a very similar trigger. I have handled this rifle and was intrigued by the 70 degree bolt. But it feels sloppy and has too much low density plastic. Extra points for a removable magazine, but made from plastic too? Ugh ...

I'd still buy it over a used beater if you are on a budget. Just don't expect to hand it down to your grandchildren.

G

I'm a big Ruger fan, owning over a dozen or their various rifles and handguns. Their #1 may be my all-time favorite rifle. Their Blachawk / Vaquero is probably my second favorite handgun, right behind the Colt Peacemaker. Ruger builds some good firearms.

Unfortunately, the Ruger American isn't one of them. Bill Ruger must be rolling over in his grave. It looks and feels like a cheap plastic toy. They sure are hyping it, though, through a massive ad campaign and all of the reviews in the shooting press. Unfortunately, no gunwriters today will call a turd a turd - too much advertising revenue at stake. I wonder what O'Conner or Keith would have said about this thing. I know what Bill Ruger would have said. It's no longer the same company without him.

[BRPORSCHE]

Originally Posted by targa911S

while we are at it ,,,I'm looking for a Marlin 25 MN 22 WRM. I just need the action really. As long as the bore is good I don't care about condition. Looking for a new winter project for myself. I have a really nice piece of quilted maple I want to use. Been a while since one has come into the shop. By the way we have a nice 6.5 -55 swede that has been sporterized in the rack I noticed today. I think it was marked $249.00. Not trying to get this thread off course but the 6.5 was mentioned a lot. The stock on it is well....carved. I can post pics later this week for anybody that wants to see it.

Mind posting pics of the rifle? I have always been intrigued by 6.5 swede.

[targa911S]

It's pretty butt ugly. Carved by a local artist. All the metal is nicely done. I have to go to the shop for a minute today so I'll get some pics for you.

[Rick V]

Originally Posted by targa911S

I like a lot of odd ball rounds,

This is my issue as I jones for a 338lm.

[targa911S]

that's a manly round..

[Rick V]

I was almost there too but when I lost my job the money I had squirreled away paid my bills for a few months

[matt711]

If you want all weather, don't mind plastic and like detachable mags then take a look at Tikka T3 (L). I have one in .270 and it's very accurate. Not a pretty rifle in the traditional sense but a quality rifle at a good price. 6.5 pounds, stainless steel and synthetic stock. Nice trigger and will shoot 1 MOA right out of the box.

[ODDJOB UNO]

another i just had to chime in on. heres some reality:

bastid wildcat rds may be uber zoomy.............unless ya reload alot you aint gonna shoot it.

and you will play hell finding bastid rds in east B.F.E.

30/30................200yds at best on a good day.

m-1 carbine .30 cal................ditto 200yds at best.

7.62x39 500yds at best and yer pushing it. wont own one.

.223 poodle shooter 500yds at best and yer pushing it. wont own one.

45/70.............tried and true brush gun. 400yds with optics and being ONE with yer round. think RAINBOW TRAJECTORY! ask a million buffalo and indians if THEY HURT! now if yer "SQUIGGLY QUIGGLY down under" with a lyman sight..................ya might be able to do better. also the 45/70 w/various weight bullets has KILLED EVERY KNOWN SPECIES OF KRITTER ON EVERY CONTINENT including teradactyls and T-REX's over its 135 year history.

.308 solid 1000yd rifle bolt or semi, if built correctly(think mcmillian/arrington) and YOU PRACTICE ALOT!

.338 win mag solid 1000yd+ rifle if built correctly(think mcmillian) and you practice alot.


once ya build it with the BEST OPTICS YOU CANT AFFORD! (think i'm gonna be broke but i sho can see 'em now), sight it in for 100yds or 200yds(my fave) with the flattest shooting ammo money can buy(FEDERAL). .308's get federal match 168grBTHP ONLY! and then i shoot the poo out of cheap azz nato surplus for MUCHO CHEAPO PRACTICE!


why spend stooopid money for a .338 lapua rds vs. winchester .338 win mag???????? read ballistics for apple to apple bullet weight. 250gr is my fave, and yer spending a hell of a lot less than lapua rds for damn near the same ballistics. .338 low end for alaskan rifles, .375 h&h the usual flavor up there.


buy ANY OPTIC with a TMR(tactical mil dot) reticle and LEARN YER FREEKING MIL DOTS/COME-UPS!!!! or GO HOME! once ya do that YOU can throw yer lazar range finder away(another needless step before ya pull the trigger) and go home with some meat.


wanna be UNORTHODOX? buy a SCAR 17 like me and a leupold 3.5 x10 illuminated TMR reticle, crank that puppy on 10X and shoot 1120yds all damn day long once YA LEARN YER MIL DOTS! nothing better than a lightweight spaceage folding stock with a bipod and QD scope. factory irons set at 300meters dead NUTZ! easy humping, easy sight in, low maint vs other semi auto rifles.

this CRAP about "kentucky windage" is just that ....................FEEKING CRAP-O-LA!


learn yer MILDOTS! be a man amongst MEN! be a RIFLEMAN not some drugstore kawboy wanna be hunter with some dum azz cabelas/bass rifle package with a 39.99 scope and mickey mouse crap trigger with a barrel thats UNBEDDED!


once again my NEXT WEEK ELK HUNT MENU:

1) SCAR 17 .308 more fun than SEX! built by phil arrington(arringtonaccuracy.com) phil stated to me"thats the MOST ACCURATE SEMI AUTO I HAVE EVER SHOT!" and I QUOTE!

2) mcmillian M40A1 rem 700 bolt it shoots "X" all day all night every day and night if YOU do yer part! aka PRACTICE!

3) marlin 1895GS (built my nelson ford the gunsmith.com and myself) iron sight brush gun. will KNOCK THE SHEET OUT OF A D-10 BULLDOZER!


leaving my mcmillian .338 win mag at home due to terrain. very dense juniper/cedar. ZERO canyon to canyon shots. very few long distance shots unless ya plan for a "2 ships passing scenario".


have watched numerous times a 45/70 /.308/.338 knock the LIVING CRAP out of an elk let alone some pissant deer like a FREIGHT TRAIN HIT IT! one shot-one kill!


so how much have i practiced recently? 200+ rds .308, a month ago at an all day session with multiple other calibers i wasnt counting. thats $200 + dollars in .308 ammo.

see how much those bastid wildcat rds cost ya shooting 200rds +? and then see how much ya practice.

leaving 3 days before season starts. day i get in unit will go to the "ol cinder pit" and launch off probably another 100rds at lasered off objects and have son call my shots for EVEN MORE PRACTICE! vizualize son calling 300yds then 500yds then 200yds then 800yds then 100 yds then 1000yds. in other words each shot is different range. makes for quick calculations with mil dots and allows my pissant brain to figure out, close/far/really far/and really really FAR AWAY, back to close in again. try it and practice it over and over. that way when you see game yer brain knows exactly what part of reticle to go to/bracket kritter and PULL THE TRIGGER!

its no different than picking my nose or wiping my azz. ITS REPETITIVE ACTION over and over. or....................."HOW I MADE THE SNAP SHOT!" because elk/deer dont just stand there...............THEY POP OUT OF NOWHERE and DISAPPEAR faster than i wrote that last sentence! BE PREPARED! USE NO-SCENT! and BE A NINJA!

LEARN YER MIL DOTS or GO HOME or GO HUNGRY!

weather forecast predicting SNOW/RAIN for opening day! YIPPIE! NOTHING BETTER THAN TRACKING ELK IN THE SNOW!

[slakjaw]

most universal for me would be a shotgun.

[slakjaw]

Also, I kinda want to go deer hunting with an old ass black powder gun.

[Tanick]

No mention of moderators on here, they make a lot of difference to the recoil. I use one made by a local engineering company and it makes my rifle shoot so sweetly if a little heavier to carry.

[matt711]

Is "moderators" a British term for a muzzle brake or flash hider? I am not familier with the term.