Rifle advice needed

[NW Redneck]

Re: Rifle advice needed

"Beware the man who owns but one gun. He likely knows how to use it."










But more is better!

 

[steve201]

Re: Rifle advice needed

try a .308.....definitly a good solid weapon.....will drop just about anything..if it were me..I'd have a 357 or 44 strapped to my leg if I'm out in the woods....a good solid shotgun..pump action or semiauto with the biggest ugliest slug you can buy for it....

but that's just me....I'm chicken to be in the woods out here in the pacnorwest.....

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Rifle advice needed

If you want some serious bang for the buck, get a Mosin Nagant. It shoots a 7.62x54R, with some SERIOUS energy.

The best part is that they're a dime-a-dozen. I picked up two of them for $39 each, a few months back.

You can find 'em all day long for under $100.

My brother shot a 1/2" steel plate spinner target with one of those, and thought he'd missed, because the spinner didn't spin.

Went and looked at it, and the thing sliced right through the plate so fast that nothing moved. True story!

Yep, they are fun guns, but far from ideal for this guy's intended use. First, the safety on them is hard to operate. You can't just thow it up and flick the safety off. Heck, most owners don't even know where the safety is on theirs. Second, they are powerful, but nothing extreme. They are on par with the 30-06. The reason your brother shot thru a steel plate was because he was using hardball ammo and mostly steel cored stuff at that. Sure, it will drill thru plate steel, but it also will drill thru flesh and leave a tiny clean hole doing less internal damage than an expanding bullet. You want a bullet to expand and stay in the body, transfering it's energy to the body. If the bullet goes out the back, the energy is lost.

 

[dave11]

Re: Rifle advice needed

If I had any reason (Even a poor one) to carry a really heavy caliber pistol, I would get a Smith 500. Not only is it a pretty gun, it will get the bear's attention.

 

[Uraijit]

Re: Rifle advice needed

Yep, they are fun guns, but far from ideal for this guy's intended use. First, the safety on them is hard to operate. You can't just thow it up and flick the safety off. Heck, most owners don't even know where the safety is on theirs. Second, they are powerful, but nothing extreme. They are on par with the 30-06. The reason your brother shot thru a steel plate was because he was using hardball ammo and mostly steel cored stuff at that. Sure, it will drill thru plate steel, but it also will drill thru flesh and leave a tiny clean hole doing less internal damage than an expanding bullet. You want a bullet to expand and stay in the body, transfering it's energy to the body. If the bullet goes out the back, the energy is lost.

The safety isn't hard to operate when you learn how. I've heard that complaint quite a bit, but I stripped down the bolts on mine and got after that old cosmoline with some carb cleaner. It works just fine. You're right, you can't flick it with your finger, though.

The round is on indeed par with the 30-06, but at a MUCH lower cost. The rifle is impressively accurate, and dirt cheap.

He could buy both of the weapons I recommended to him, and a decent scope for the Mosin Nagant, for less than the cost of a Remington 700, or comparable rifle, and still have money for a couple thousand rounds of practice ammo...

And I guarantee that both of those weapons will serve him reliably for as long as he chooses to own them.

I was speaking in terms of bang for the buck, not the ultimate killing machine. For an entry level shooter, these are some sweet guns!

BTW, steel core ammo or no, shooting through that steel with no movement IS a feat. My steel-core AK47 rounds only went about 3/4 through, put a huge bulge in the target, and naturally, spun the target over about 5 times...

The 7.62x54 ammo he used was simple Copper FMJ with lead core. NOT steel core.

Steel core ammo is also not what I'd recommend for killing anything besides paper, cinder blocks, or cans.

You can get soft-point 7.62x54R rounds for about $0.32/rnd (cheaper than most 30-06 I've seen in a LONG time), and pay about $0.18/rnd for mil-surp practice rounds.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Rifle advice needed

I'm no stranger to the Moisin. I've got a couple that I bought at Rose's department store about 20 years ago for 49 bucks each and several thousand of rounds that I picked up back then for less than a dime a round. It sure is fun, but hardly what I would pick as a quick handling gun to use in a defensive situation.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Rifle advice needed

I agree. The Moisin is too long and bulky to swing and use with speed.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Rifle advice needed

I'd use my ar15 Bushy M4.... with AP ammo and maybe a few tracers here and there just to pi$$ it off.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Rifle advice needed

I'd use my ar15 Bushy M4.... with AP ammo and maybe a few tracers here and there just to pi$$ it off.

I have the Rock River NMA4 and right now it has the Luepold 6-18 on it for long range playing..... even though I do sub MOA with it I still would grab for the 45-70 lever or 12 Ga pump for a bear.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Rifle advice needed

I'd use my ar15 Bushy M4.... with AP ammo and maybe a few tracers here and there just to pi$$ it off.

I've got a Bushmaster outfitted with a Trijicon Reflex sight that my employer provides that I carry with me everyday. We've put thousands of rounds thru an armory full of Bushmasters with hardly ever a problem.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Rifle advice needed

Remington 11-87 or 1100 semi auto 12 gauge. For the house loaded 00 buck.Shoot a bear or big cat in the face with that, there dead close range.

30-06 180 grain bullet for deer or elk. Tell you what anything that walks gonna die hit well with one bullet. Nice semi Remington will do. Best all round hunting rifle made. Mines 35 years old.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Rifle advice needed

the biggest thing is getting yourself some ap ammo....
its funny
you can't buy loaded cartriges, but you can buy the bullets themselves if your gonna handload.
personnally i'd never hunt with a 5.56... just to small of a bullet to hunt humanely.
but i'll take 30 rounds of ap ammo that i can pop off without missing a beat against anything that wants to eat me

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Rifle advice needed

AP ammo is far from the best choice of ammo for anything that wants to eat you unless it is coming at you from behind a body bunker.

 

[matt2002]

Re: Rifle advice needed

I agree. The Moisin is too long and bulky to swing and use with speed.

Not the M-44 carbine.Even comes with a fold out bayonet.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Rifle advice needed

Not the M-44 carbine.Even comes with a fold out bayonet.

Good to know if you don't have a bullet, a mafunction or just plain old feeling real tough...... you could "Fix bayonet" and go for the bear hand to hand!

I could do it but (I'm crazy).... I have alot of training....(and alcohol would be involved). the average homeowner may not win that battle.

I have taken deer with a M-16 and the meat damage with a well placed shot was terrible..... that .223 tumbles and changes direction after striking.

I have alot of respect for the Bushmaster's..... I have shot against many of them.

 

[Wingnutt]

Re: Rifle advice needed

Might as well jump in here with my $.02. You will be hard pressed to beat the '06 in versatility. Having said that, the '06 can have quite a bit of recoil in a light package. Another thought is the British 303. You can find a Mark IV SMLE for around $200 is very good shape. I'm not 100% sure how it would perform on larger critters, but from experience it has more than enough power to cleanly take whitetails at 200 yards.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Rifle advice needed

Might as well jump in here with my $.02. You will be hard pressed to beat the '06 in versatility. Having said that, the '06 can have quite a bit of recoil in a light package. Another thought is the British 303. You can find a Mark IV SMLE for around $200 is very good shape. I'm not 100% sure how it would perform on larger critters, but from experience it has more than enough power to cleanly take whitetails at 200 yards.

One thing is for certain...... seems as if everyone is advising for a 30 caliber of one type or brand from the .308.... .303.... 7.62X54 or we have suggested slugs and 12 Ga in the big bore arena 45-70.

We all agree on ease of use AND 2nd shot capability.

Basically whatever fits your budget and will suit your needs. A 12 ga pump can later be choked for birds and small game until you can afford something else.

Please let us know what you decide on.

 

[Windykid]

Re: Rifle advice needed

One thing is for certain...... seems as if everyone is advising for a 30 caliber of one type or brand from the .308.... .303.... 7.62X54 or we have suggested slugs and 12 Ga in the big bore arena 45-70.

We all agree on ease of use AND 2nd shot capability.

Basically whatever fits your budget and will suit your needs. A 12 ga pump can later be choked for birds and small game until you can afford something else.

Please let us know what you decide on.

I agree, and a back up pistol, say a 45 or so would be a great choice also.

 

[xxturbowesxx]

Re: Rifle advice needed

i would carry an ar-15 a3 tactical and a .45..

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Rifle advice needed

i would carry an ar-15 a3 tactical and a .45..

You'd protect yourself and your family with a 22 on steroids against an animal that could weigh several hundred pounds?