Not set on it per se but looking into a 7mm-08
Intended uses:
When I start a small hobby farm...critter removal
Hopefully getting back into hunting to provide food...deer sized
Continuing to learn how to shoot a rifle...I am a noob to rifles
Any pros/cons inherent to this caliber that I should be aware of? Thanks in advance.
Price is the only thing that would move me away from 7mm, cheapest stuff I've seen on the web is $0.95 a round. Where 308 is $0.62 cents a round. Cheaper ammo means more range time,as slim puts it.
~PlatzOut~
A .243 Win. fan myself. If I was looking for a new rifle now it would probably be aa. 308 fir ammo availability.
For cost it is hard to beat 7.62x54r. Rifles are around $100 and surplus ammo can be had for less than $0.20/round. If you're willing to spend more on a rifle, I have a PSL-54 that I rather like shooting.
Yes, I'm cheap.
Those are not bad, butch then you have to deal with the carosive ammo. I have a nagot that was given to me, my buddie fired maybe 40 rounds though it, I know this because he gave me the ammo can with it. But anyway back to my story, he shot it, didn't think anything about cleaning it, put it in the coener, and a month later gave it to me. It sat in my corner for a few weeks until I got around to messing with it and might I say when I ran a bore snake down the barrel it came out brown, the whole thing. So now after all he put into this thing adding a straight pull bolt, synthetic stock, and a rail system across the top, all there is to show for it is a rusted piece of crap that sits behind my door.
~PlatzOut~
Hard to beat a .308 or 30-06 for versatility, ammo/reloading component availability, and knock-down power. :---
It is funny that the 308 is getting many thumbs up. It is one choice that the wife and I agreed would have the most ammo available after the world ended. May need to expand my choices.
Read 'Boston's Gun Bible' first.
Lucky I love to read. Will look it up now. Never heard of it. Thanks.
Very interesting review on the book of his you recommended:
http://survivalcache.com/book-review-bostons-gun-bible/?wpmp_tp=0
Not sure if this is full link but others should be able to find the review from it.
Thanks again
7mm.-08 http://www.6mmbr.com/7mm284.html
Pro's:
Accurate, recoil is tolerable, great for deer, its a reloader's dream.
Con's:
Lack of availability, lack of availability, lack of availability.
7.62x51/308win. http://www.6mmbr.com/308Win.html
Pros:
Accurate, recoil is tolerable, great for deer, its a reloader's dream, you can get factory ammo just about anywhere.
Con's:
Not really a con, but in comparison the bullet is not as efficient as the 7mm.
I would recommend the 308win , especially for your first centerfire.
D-fly
Quote from: Publican on July 27, 2012, 10:03:28 PM
Not set on it per se but looking into a 7mm-08
Intended uses:
When I start a small hobby farm...critter removal
Hopefully getting back into hunting to provide food...deer sized
Continuing to learn how to shoot a rifle...I am a noob to rifles
Any pros/cons inherent to this caliber that I should be aware of? Thanks in advance.
I am super surprised that no one has recommended a Garand,30-06 or .308.
For $900,the Rifle and 500rounds CMP.
I have a 7mm mouser,great hunting Rifle,very accurate at100yrds. AMMO limited and pricey!
Being a complete noob, I will start some .308 research :pop:
.308 or 30-06,
one is slightly more accurate,(I don't shoot well enough to notice)
The other has a slightly longer effective Range(Again I can't see far enough to notice).
BTW, there are many threads on this,and the controversy goes on forever!
Well, since Publican is in PA the Garand is out for a hunting rifle.
3006 is a very good option though. Tons of flexibility with the ammo and WAY more common in most small town PA gun shops.
I thoughtbyouncould hunt here as long as you used a 5 round mag or something to that effect.
~PlatzOut~
Quote from: SSG Platz on July 28, 2012, 02:29:11 PM
I thoughtbyouncould hunt here as long as you used a 5 round mag or something to that effect.
~PlatzOut~
Unlawful Firearms & Devices: 1) Automatic and semi-automatic
(autoloading) rifles and handguns; 2) air or gas operated rifles and
handguns.
- from the Hunting and Trapping digest. Maybe you are thinking of WV?
That's good to know, so it has nothing to do with magazines then, as long as its a bolt action it's ok!
Bolt, lever, pump....just no autoloaders. But riflemen don't need follow-up shots. :)
Here in Fl. the five round mag legally puts you in the woods.
The Mosin is very fun and even cheaper,Rifle $100 900rounds$250
My only follow up shots will be in his deer friends that charge over the burm at me because I just took out their buddy.
~PlatzOut~
Quote from: EZ3 on July 28, 2012, 03:48:56 PM
Bolt, lever, pump....just no autoloaders. But riflemen don't need follow-up shots. :)
Might have a chance to shoot a .30-06, post 64, Model 70 Winchester and a Rem. 700 in .243 Win.
This is a start. I like to be able to shoot "things" before I decide on anything. I am actually fairly intrigued by the .243
I know, I know...less powerful than the .30-06 and .308. Not as versitile either, but...intrigued none the less :P On the low end for deer and like critters but all that I have read states that with proper shot placement, should be OK.
After all, what am I trying to do here anyway? Become a better Rifleman ~~:)
You are more than welcome to come out to the range and shoot with me any day.
~PlatzOut~
My first center fire and go to rifle is a Rem 700 BDL in 30.06.
Sweetest shooting rifle out there (contrary opinions will be ignored). 30.06 will drop anything on this continent and ammo is available everywhere in more configurations than you can count. Not to mention CMP ammo for KD at 50 cents a round.
2cl
Quote from: Publican on July 30, 2012, 07:58:12 PM
Might have a chance to shoot a .30-06, post 64, Model 70 Winchester and a Rem. 700 in .243 Win.
This is a start. I like to be able to shoot "things" before I decide on anything. I am actually fairly intrigued by the .243
I know, I know...less powerful than the .30-06 and .308. Not as versitile either, but...intrigued none the less :P On the low end for deer and like critters but all that I have read states that with proper shot placement, should be OK.
After all, what am I trying to do here anyway? Become a better Rifleman ~~:)
Never owned one and I did not sleep in a Holiday Inn last night....
I spent 16 years in West Texas and the 243 is quite popular out there. They use it as an all around rifle for Coyote, Turkey, Deer, Antelope, Mulies, and Prairie Dogs. When I first considered joining the dark side and trying the new fangled smokeless stuff (it ain't smokeless), the 243 was highly recommended as a first rifle. Ammo can be found at gas stations it seems and countless New Mexico Elk have been killed with it.
If you call it a 6.2mm-08 it suddenly sounds sexy and carries the power of Thor's Hammer to game.
YHJ
Quote from: dart67eb on July 28, 2012, 04:52:21 AM
Read 'Boston's Gun Bible' first.
O0 O0 O0
Just remember that he wrote it before any AR-10's really achieved battlefield tested reliability though. (I haven't read the 3rd edition, but suspect he hasn't changed his mind.)
My copy is due here tomorrow I believe.
My .02: I shoot 7x57 at deer, elk antelope, whatever. I also feed my son's 8x57 and wife's 6.5x55. All are great rounds, capable of anything I need to do.
Having said that, if I wasn't a reloader with a good supply of components, I wouldn't consider anything BUT a .308!
Recoil less than 30/06, shorter, faster action, wide selection of bullets, everythuing on the market from bargain surplus FMJ to premium-grade match and hunting bullets.
After reading through my copy of Boston's, I have changed my mind...again. Leaning toward the 30-06 now. Hmmm, I know it was mentioned somewhere in this thread :slap:
Thanks all for your input.
For price and versatility it's tuff to beat the Garand from the CMP (unless you're left handed...loading can be a pain while you are slung up, ask me how I know!).
Being left handed, I went with the box fed modernization in the M1a, so I get to spend 2x as much per rifle :'(. But I can load them way easier while slung in prone.
If I weren't wrong handed I would have a half dozen Garands (m1)
What state are you in? I'm sure you can find an appleseeder who will let you test drive whatever you're curios about!
Quote from: Publican on August 02, 2012, 10:35:08 PM
After reading through my copy of Boston's, I have changed my mind...again. Leaning toward the 30-06 now. Hmmm, I know it was mentioned somewhere in this thread :slap:
Thanks all for your input.
I think you should shoot a 30-06, and a 308 and see which one you like after you feel the recoil you may change your mind. Also if you plan to hunt with it, a garand is out. I get the new scope mount for my rifle tomorrow, plan on zeroing at 25 Friday, then to the 100 sat. You are welcome to come out if you want, either day. Just send me a PM.
~PlatzOut~
OK, if you are going to go 30 cal (and I think 223 AR is a MUCH better alternative for first centerfire (especially if you don't live in a brushy country location where you actually need a rifle to kill things), and would suggest a cheap AR with a good trigger and good iron sites and a truckload of ammo to shoot) then you really should look at the Ruger Scout.
My main rifle. Easy to handle, shoots like a dream, can easily handle AQTs with the 10rd box mags, and lots of options for sighting. Works well for south-paws (I shoot lefty), particularly with the forward mounted optics.
The factory iron sights are OK for short range (<150), but you don't want to shoot 400yds slow fire with them. For that you need optics (just to handle hold-over).
Funny story, and I'm not discounting the Ruger Scout (would like to have one myself), but at one of our shoots in Midland a year or so ago we had very few returning shooters on Sunday as the weather forecast predicted high winds (good old West Texas dust storm) so after some excellent KD/long-range classroom instruction by ASHRN03 in the morning the instructors decided to try some practical long-range skills in the wind on the silhouette range.
The visiting Shoot Boss couldn't seem to dial his Scout in at 500 meters consistently with the 25 mph winds so I decided to show him what I could do with my M1A (not my "Super Match", my worn-out :cool2: "Loaded" model with +/- 5,000 rounds down the barrel). On my first shot the elevation was perfect (I know my clicks), but could see the bullet splash slightly right of the silhouette using the estimated windage dope I had put on my sights - took one click off and rang steel 5 times in a row in a "Rifleman's cadence" and hollered "NEXT"
After loaning the SB my rifle (first time he had ever shot an M1A ???) and using my dope on the sights, I had him ringing steel consistently after a couple of sighters. After he was done I asked him if he wanted one (an M1A) - the grin on his face said enough. ;D
Consequently, two more instructors tried out my rifle and all of them were able to ring steel after a few sighters using my initial dope and tweaking it slightly for their eyes/position.
Has anyone ever told you that the skills learned at 25 meters apply to the full distance?
As far as hunting goes - there's no magazine or semi-auto restriction in Texas (praise the Lord) and I used this same rifle several years back to take a buck at ~150 yards (iron sights) so I would be able to say that I had shot something with it other than paper or steel. After I shot the deer and was waiting for him to bleed out I spotted a coon at about the same distance on his way to the feeder to steal some corn and took him too.
Git-R-Done! :---
Edited to add - If there's no magazine or semi-auto restriction in your State, the M1 or M1A is absolutely an effective hunting rifle (target detection and range estimation being the biggest challenge).
Ruger Scout is an Awsome rifle, and comes in left handed, which I'd you're left handed I guess you can't beat. I do like Box mags, that's why I went with an M24a2, 10 round box mag. The only issue you will find with a scout is you can't just put any optic on it, you have to get a long eye relief optic. I know us optics makes a good one, but you're talking about money.
~PlatzOut~
Go with the Garand, I'll put mine up against any AR. You have a piece of history to boot plus ammo@ .50 a round. Zero it in and tape your come ups on the stock and you got yourself a man's rifle! O0
Many good suggestions on this thread.
AR in 223
Ruger Scout
Garand
M1a
Even the Mosin Nagant is good choice within it's limits.
Sticking with a common caliber like 30-06 or .308 is wise as you can bolt and semi auto rifles that use the same ammo. Standardizing/simplifying your ammo will make you life easier.
If you are looking for a good center fire deer rifle check you local gun shops for a used Remington 700 or Savage Model 10 in either 30-06 or .308. They can be found quite reasonable and are good start. Buy lots of ammo and practice. Later on you can add a semi auto in the same caliber.
Or if you enjoy tinkering. You can buy a new Stevens 200 (.308) for $350 and by upgrading parts build a respectable long range rifle. Google Stevens 200 project and you will get the idea.
Remember you are buying your first center fire rifle. It probably wont be your last. Choose one, shoot it learn from it and you will have a better idea of your needs for your second rifle.
Enjoy the journey you are about to begin.
Yeah, go to a few AS and shoot different ones ...then shoot a M-1 and go buy one! Lol, kidding :DH:
Thanks all for the advice.
Decided on a 30-06, Savage, Accu Trigger/Accu Stock, Model: 16/116 FHSS
Now I guess I just need to find some money :sos:
Good choice, you can go th the range and the woods with it =^)
~PlatzOut~