All Around Hunting Rifle

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MedicMark

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This is what I need:

A quality hunting rifle suitable for game ranging in size from a coyote to a nice buck for $300 or less.

I've been wanting to develop the inner sportsman in me for years now. Now that I have the money to do so, I am going to. That said, I'm not rich. My money is budgeted between savings, debt reduction, land purchases, and my hobbies. Oh - my girlfriend! (Don't tell her I almost forgot to include her on the list).

My gun collection is quite humble at the moment. I've a Ruger LCP for personal carry. Some hand-me-down shotguns from Granddad. A .22 rifle and a Browning Challenger II (.22 pistol). Next week I'm buying a Remington 870. Then a Lee Deluxe Turret kit to start reloading. The only thing I'll be needing is a decent hunting rifle to start me out. I'll upgrade once I get my basic collection started.
 
Given the parameters you spelled out, I would consider a lever action 30-30, such as a Marlin 336. You can probably find a used one in the $250 - $300 range at a pawn store or gun store. New ones are more like $370.
I have seen some bolt action rifles in that range; but I wasn't impressed with the quality at all.
 
hmmm, with the limbo bar set at $300, I think you're going to be looking at buying a used rifle and doing a fair bit of haggling. That said, it can be done, I picked up a pre-accutrigger savage 110 30-06 in excellent shape at a gunshow for $250 OTD. It even came with a crappy Simmons scope that may or may not have worked, I didn't leave it on there long enough to really find out. That's the downside of going the bolt action route, you will likely need to factor the price of a decent scope into your budget; I would say at least a vortex crossfire, or equivalent. If you go the lever gun route then you can probably skip the scope. A few used rifles I would keep an eye out for:

Stevens 200 or Savage 110, Marlin xl7, Howa 1500, Weatherby Vanguard, Marlin 336, Winchester 94

Also, to minimize ammo prices, in bolt guns i'd stick with .223, .243, .270, .308, or 30-06. In lever's I'd stick with 30-30..... basically what dominates the shelf at your local wally world.
 
If you know how to use a phone, you can call every pawn shop within a 50 mile radius and find a used Marlin 336 for $300. I have two that I paid $299 for. The 30-30 or 35 Rem. is what the 336 is typically chambered for. They also came in 32 Winchester Special. Do some research and you'll have yourself a great rifle for cheap.
 
I don't think you can do it for $300, even used. a new Marlin XL-7 or Stevens 200 can be had for a little over $300. If you can wait about 2 months places like Bass Pro Shops often run those guns at very good prices right before deer season starts. They will often run them for $250 or even less for a special weekend sale.
 
The Mossberg 100 ATR with Barska 3-9x40 Scope is $299.99 at Academy. That may be your only option for a new rifle at the price point.
 
I'd shop around for a used Marlin 336 30-30 or a used Savage 110 in 30-06. Both can be found on the used racks of almost every gunship in your price range. Both will accomplish what you are looking for and will provide years of service. Also ammo is plentiful in both calibers anywhere you can buy ammo. Both are bullet proof rifles that have been around for a long time, you just decide which one you are more comfortable with. If you want a little more range and a larger variety of ammo selection go with the Savage, if you wont be shooting beyond 125-150 yards the lever action 30-30 is tough to beat.
 
I'm a big fan of the Marlin 336 in 30-30, so I'll add +1 to that selection. However, you might also consider an NEF single shot in the caliber of your choice. You should be able to find one and put a scope on it for $300.
RT
 
+1 lever 30-30 for your price range and game. My Win Mod 94 has killed white tail at 120 yards.
 
The Savage 340, a clip loaded 30-30, is about as cheap as you are going to find a deer rifle. They were also sold under the Stevens and Springfield names. Get a Lee Loader and you can load pointed bullets which improve the performance of the 30-30 quite a bit, also giving you a wider choice of bullet weights.
 
From www.gunsamerica.com
Marlin Model 336c Lever Action 30-30 937824329
***NEW IN BOX Marlin Model 336c Lever Action 30-30*** Our Descriptions: While we may list multiples of the same items and duplicate much of the description copy we do not use ... (read more)
Seller: Bear Creek Outfitters $202.50
Click to expand...
For that price you can pay shipping and your local FFL to do the paperwork and still come in under $300.
 
A single shot handi rifle in 25-06. It's big enough for deer and small enough for coyote. It will shoot out to 300 yards with no problem.
 
My local gun shop had three new Weatherby rifles in .243, .308. and 30-06 for something like $269 each. They have Traditions scopes for something like $75. That would hit close to your number and give you a good set-up.

Your post doesn't list your location. If you are close, PM and I'll give you the info.

If you're not close, as noted used is the program. There are tons of used rifles (at least in this area) that are marked way down.

I have a .30-30, but for your needs I'd go with a .243, 25-06, etc.

YMMV
 
If all you want is dead coyotes, then focus on the "nice buck" for choosing the caliber.

Calibers I would look at .257 Roberts, .25-06, 6.5x55 Swedish, .260 Rem, 7mm-08, .270 Win, .308, .30-06, .30-30, 7.62x39, 7.62x54, .35 Rem.

I wouldn't turn down a rifle in .243 Win, .243 WSSM, .25 WSSM, .280 Rem (7mm Rem Exp), .284 Win, 7.5x55 Swiss, 7x57mm Mauser, 7mm Rem Mag, 264 Win Mag, 6.5 Rem Mag.

In the price range you are after, Stevens and Marlin are the ones I would recommend for a new bolt action rifle, or H&R and Rossi for single shots.

An SKS in 7.62x39 with the right hunting ammo would do as well as a .30-30 (probably a 200 yard rifle), and Mosin Nagant in 7.62x54 is VERY cheap.
 
Instead of buying a reloading set up right now put that money toward your rifle. Having a $400 budget would expand your options immensely.
 
Lotta nice used ones out there for $400 :)

Try a bunch and see what comes to shoulder well and lines up easily with your sight line. Having a good fit is way important than caliber. Anything from 243 to 8mm will do. But the gun has to fit and function.
 
Sacrilege to most but I (just) purchased a Busmaster Predator and I'm getting rid of my Rem. 700 LTR in .308.

Figure I can go 75-79 gr. and still kill most animals in the South plus the added protection of carrying a couple of full 30 round mags with green tips in case I get into a SHTF situation either with a bunch of horny hillbillies or ferrel urban zombies.
 
Good hunting rifle on the cheap......Gatta go Savage 110 or Marlin XS-7 owned both really liked both. That said I would not trade my $408 Tikka T3 stainless for the whole Savage factory. 30-30s make a great hunting rifle in the woods but I would not recommend them as an all around rifle, due to their lackluster trajectory.
25-06, 6.5x55 and 7-08 are all sissy kickers if you are a little recoil shy. 7mm rem mag, 30-06 and 270WSM if you have a tough shoulder and want super duper killing power, and the 270win or 308 if you are somewhere in between.
My fav by far is the 6.5x55 even though I have a tough shoulder I enjoy a lighter weight sissy kicking rifle more and I have yet to have to track any deer/hog shot with it. 260rem, 6.5 Creedmore, and 6.5x47 are all modern ballistic twins to the old 6.5x55 which leads me to beleve that the Sweeds really knew what they were doing 120 year ago :) In my experence it is easier (and cheaper) to find brass and loaded ammo for the old 6.5 then any of its modern copies.
If you have no plans on reloading and only buy ammo from wal-mart I probably would stick to the 270, 308 or 30-06. Lets face it they are everywhere and not really expensive to shoot.
 
I really like the looks of a Marlin 336! I've always wanted a lever action gun too. I'll do some scouring and try to find a good deal when the time come for me to buy it.

I can go a bit above $300. I just wanted to see what I could get for close to it so I set a firm price.

I'm going to look more heavily at the other guns mentioned here including the Savage. Thanks guys. You've been very helpful in steering me in the right direction.
 
If you are going to buy a Lee loading press? Chose a caliber,you can load down for yotes,& load up for deer. 25-06,243 ect. Nice rang of bullets to choose from with either caliber.
 
25-06 is a top contender, but as far as the 243.....umm I think of that as more of a kids caliber. Yeah it can still kill a deer, my grandmother used one for many years, but nowhere in the same legue as the 7-08, 6.5x55 or 25-06 all of which pack much more punch thank to higher available bullet weights. I did a very detailed breakdown of those and others in my "head to head low recoil hunting rifles" last year. You might want to serch it and give it a read if low recoil is your game.
 
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