All Purpose "mans rifle"

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Rustle in the bushes

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What would be a good bolt gun for everything,to hunt with, shoot a bunch at the range, and be able to run away from zombies as well of course.

- Must be a decent manly calibre, .308 probably or 30-06.
- Cant have a thin sporter barrel
- Also cant be a super heavy bench rest gun (needs to be decently portable)
- Needs to be scoped, variable scope with a low to high range. 2-9x

Im thinking of something akin to the WW2 bolt actions but Id be interested to hear opinions!



Which rifle puts these two types of guns together(modern hunting rifle and serious range rifle) and comes out with a decent compromise?
 
http://ruger.com/products/gunsiteScoutRifle/models.html

You would have to drill and tap the receiver for a normal relief scope, but you would have to do that with any WWII carbine as well. If you can't drill and tap it, just get a scout scope.

http://ruger.com/products/m77HawkeyeCompact/models.html

One of these would work as well, just no detachable box magazine for you zombie scenario. But we are discouraged from discussing zombie scenarios on THR, so there is really no reason that the gunsite is better (on this forum). This one has a scope mounting groove in the receiver, and I think that scope rings come with the gun.
 
Nothing smaller than .45-70 is truly manly. (I've read that on the internet so many times, it must be true.) You can get them in a Marlin lever action and scope them however you like.
 
interesting I didnt know that. Its a habit I mention zombies but really mean "practical survival purposes", the zombie branding I see on everything annoys me to be honest.
 
An "all purpose" rifle - the "all around" rifle of the 1950s - must be powerful enough for your toughest target and accurate enough for your smallest/most distant target.
Everything else is personal preference, style, and fad.

Go.
 
Lee Enfield.

Twice as many bangs for your buck, .303 is a very capable cartridge (despite what the WSM/RUM/WSSM proponents would have you believe) Can be fairly easily scoped, not too heavy, cheap ammunition (although not as easy to find as -'06) Almost boringly accurate, fast shooting AND it comes with a nice pointy, stabby bayonet.

Why accept anything less?

;)

Oh yeah, you can still find 'em for under $300 too.
 
Pre-64 Winchester 70 in 30-06. Great looking, quality built rifle, made in the USA. The "rifleman's rifle" is the nickname it earned for many many years. Built like a tank and only weighed half as much :D The new one is REALLY good too.
 
Mauser lover http://ruger.com/products/gunsiteScoutRifle/models.html

You would have to drill and tap the receiver for a normal relief scope, but you would have to do that with any WWII carbine as well. If you can't drill and tap it, just get a scout scope.
Click to expand...

The Ruger Scouts have the same receiver as the standard Rugers, no problem putting a standard scope on them.


Your criteria is a bit unclear, you don't want a standard sporter barrel, but don't want a heavy barrel, and feel a WWII bolt action would be about right. Most standard sporters have barrels in that barrel weight range. An ultralight or featherweight may have some degradation of grouping when it gets hot, or not, if it's bedded well, and you get one without stresses in the barrel. Standard sporters are a good general purpose rifle. 22" is a good length for all around use also. If you're serious about its shooting ability, spending real money on a high quality barrel may be worthwhile for you. Most folks can shoot factory barrels a long time before they can really tell the difference in a factory or custom quality barrel. I'd say spen the money on reloading components and load development first. Good quality glass is money well spent also.
 
FWIW, I did get to handle the Ruger Gunsight Scout rifle this weekend, I didn't get to shoot it. But it was light and handy with a detachable box magazine, being a bolt action it would be more reliable.
 
Firearms that come to mind are 30-30 lever action, M1a, 30-06 or 308 bolt action. All will do the job if you get formal training (such as Gunsite and Appleseed) and you practice often.
 
Modern hunting rifle and serious range (target ?) rifle. Dream on-- But you could take a Rem 700 action and have it blue printed , then have a custom heavy sporter 308 Win barrel installed on the action. The barreled action would be put into a piller and glass bedded fiber glass stock , the barrel free floated. It would have a high quality adjustable trigger set at about 2 1/2 pound pull. With a top quality scope and mounts you might keep it under 9 1/2 pounds. You would have to learn how the light weight target shooters reload their ammo with top quility reloading equipment to enjoy the rifle. For about $ 3000 you could come close to what your dreaming about.
 
Honestly, there's more out there that fits your criteria than what DOESN'T fit your criteria.

You didn't say you need an extreme precision match rifle, or that you must be able to hit a groundhog at 600 yds, so common, good accuracy levels are sufficient. You want a mid-weight barrel. You want .308 or .30-'06. You want to be able to mount a scope.

You could walk into WalMart or any of the big box sporting goods stores and buy any of probably a dozen brand new rifles that would exceed your needs. Stevens, Marlin, and Mossberg have new rifles that are very accurate which would do everything you want for just a very few hundred dollars. Or Savage, Remington, Winchester, Tikka, Howa, etc.etc. all do too, for more money.

You've sort of aksed, "what car will get me to work, carry 4 people, and has cupholders?" :) 'Most all of 'em!
 
I'd say a Scout rifle fits the bill pretty well. I like a bolt rifle that can load from strippers and can sport a receiver mount aperture sight for backup. Gotta have a good shooting/carry sling (I make my own), and a good scout scope, and you're all set. I know you said you wanted variable power, but personally I prefer a low powered optic for shooting, and some higher powered binocs for spotting.
 
Plenty of good suggestions already, just wondering why you're so set on a bolt action? I get that bolts are reliable and accurate, just saying you could get all that in an AR style platform like a DPMS LR308 or such, and with a multitude of aftermarket parts for fine tuning to your preference.
 
Most of the "manly" guy's I knew carried .30-30 Winchester 94's.
Click to expand...

This is my thought, too. It's simply an iconic "man's" rifle, IMO. :)

As for the OP's bolt rifle stipulation, I'd say the Ruger Gunsite scout fits the bill nicely.
 
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