Need Help with Rifle!

[speedsix]

hmmmm
I never shot a deer, but yalls' answers made me think
no wonder all the other hunters looked at me funny when I got out my 7.62x39 Ruger Mini-30 Ranch Rifle ...


Of course I changed the stock because I didn't want the pretty wood it came in scratched up
so it kinda looked more like this

I figured I might encounter a "zombie deer" ... so I brought the 30 round mag ...

back just immediately before the "Assault weapons ban" I made all my military rifles (SKS deer rifles lol) into deer rifles for hunting and all my hunting rifles fit the definition of "assault rifle" by changing all the stocks just for fun

...I've read that the round is like the .30-.30...and the deer don't care what kind of envelope it comes in when he gets the messsage...time may come you notch that stock!!!



I hunted doves, shot a bird twice, didn't enjoy it ... I'm not a hunter, might be if I needed food. But no interest in hunting really so I really have no answer to the OP ... the hunters above know ....

Photos above are not my actual rifles, I sold mine, but they are very close to what I had..
My mini 30 wasn't as accurate as the ones they recommend ... but it sure was fun

[The Annoyed Man]

If your looking for a specific rifle, I like the Remington 700 in .308 I know some will disagree with me, but that's my choice.

I'll agree with .308 as a great all-around caliber for hunting. Good for anything from black bear to raccoons (assuming you don't want/need to eat what's left over ).

I would stay away from the Rem 7XX, however. IMO, YMMV
http://www.cnbc.com/id/39554936/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=548107" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That hit piece was absolutely bogus and another scurrilous attempt by gun haters to demonize a rifle. See the deposition of CNBC's expert by Remington attorneys in the following video. This video was produced by Remington in answer to CNBC's hit piece, and it addresses all the issues that CNBC raised, in a forthright manner. CNBC appears to have deliberately ommitted materials that disproved their premise and would have exhonerated Remington. In other words, it really was a deliberat piece of dis-information. Their own expert admits on camera that the things he hypothesized were not found to be true when he personally examined the rifles in question which supposedly discharged.
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=B_KVS1hIbQg[/youtube]

I own a Remington 700 VSF "varmint" rifle in .308, and it has had the stock trigger modified to a 2.5 lb pull weight. It is utterly safe. This is mine:


Now, did I have a trigger problem with it once? Yes, but it was completely unrelated to CNBC's claims and had nothing to do with dirt in the action. It occurred after I had already had the trigger work done on my rifle. One of the screws in the trigger apparently loosened after a lot of rounds fired. I was cleaning the rifle at home, and discovered that the trigger would let go on closing the bolt if the safety was off. Fortunately, the rifle was unloaded at the time and pointed in a safe direction. I brought it back to the gunsmith who had done the original work. He was red-faced and embarrassed about it. He fixed it for no change, and this time he used some loctite or epoxy or something to keep the screw from ever coming loose again. The rifle has function flawlessly ever since.

But I repeat, that malfunction had nothing at all to do with the alleged trigger issues raised by CNBC. This was nothing more than the case of a biased reporter who was ignorant to begin with, who ginned up a story, and got all the editorial board support needed to try and demonize a well-respected and long-time gun maker. In short, it was bunk.

Watch the video, then go to http://www.remington700.tv.

Please don't continue to spread these falsehoods about what is a great rifle design. You just give ammunition to people who hate guns.

[NcongruNt]

For what it's worth, I shot my first (and so far, only) deer with a Mosin-Nagant 91/30. Not that I'd say go out and buy a Mosin-Nagant for hunting, but I used what I had and it was a gun I was quite proficient with. That's the real thing. Whatever you choose, get to know your gun well, and get good at shooting it.

As for calibers, .308 is probably a good choice in general. Because the .308 AR market is picking up right now, there's a lot of ammo available, and at good prices. As far as affordability goes (remember, practice and become proficient), .308 plinking ammo can be had for considerably less than .30-06 and the other rounds that are traditionally considered hunting calibers.

[Zoomie]

If you're on a tightish budget get yourself a Marlin 336w 30-30. Great caliber to start out with IMO. It's what I'm starting with. As long as you're not expecting to be taking 200+yrd shots it's perfect. You can also save money on a scope with a 30-30 because you won't need anything for longer than about 2-300 yrds.

The first deer I ever took was a 200+ yd shot, so don't rule it out.

[LongHairedRedneck]

Please don't continue to spread these falsehoods about what is a great rifle design. You just give ammunition to people who hate guns.

I think the OP has read up on the interweb about the 700 but never actually used or owned one.

I remember my Mother calling me to ask me if I had any Rem 700 rifles. After I answered yes she proceeded to tell me how dangerous, deadly and un-safe these rifle were. I asked where she had heard this from, watched the piece, watched Remingtons response. Then e-mailed a complaint to CNBC for such blatently biased false information in a so called "news" story. I know it fell on deaf ears sending that e-mail but I had a serious case of the red a%# after seeing that.

I have two 700's and love them both, Stainless with Synthetic Stock in 7mm SAUM and the other is the Tactical .308 with threaded barrel and Ghillie Green stock.

Back on topic after my rant.

Any of the older proven calibers(.243, .270, .308, .30-06) will do fine and be easier to find factory ammo. As for rifle get a bolt action mount a 3-9 power scope and be done. Nothing larger than a .30-06 is really necessary.

[texasmusic]

I don't always DRT a deer with one shot... but when I do.. I prefer to use 30-06 Springfield.

Stay accurate my friends.