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Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Just to generate some conversation on rifles, about which I am clueless:
What is the right general purpose rifle for the "not rifle" guy?
Ground Rules are:
1) Bolt action, non detachable magazine
2) Centerfire
3) Caliber? Suitable for casual target shooting and/or hunting in North America (up to deer, or deer+)
4) Brand/model for decent quality at a reasonable price
5) Probably scoped, but with what, again at a reasonable price
Note: reasonable price is up to you, but add input on what YOU think reasonable means
edit to add: obviously, "modern sporting rifles" are not under consideration here.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
August 28, 2009
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Without getting into crazy money territory, the Remington 700 BDL is by far, hands down, the best in the "off the shelf" rifle market. In a standard 30-06 cal. you can't beat it, anywhere.
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June 25, 2013
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I know the one that I would like
http://www.ruger.com/products/rotaryMagazine77357/models.html
http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/ruger-77-357-rotary-magazine-rifle-review/
I'm probably accentuating the casual target shooting
otherwise I have a scoped 7mm mag Browning BAR that might t/s.
Endeavor to persevere,
Press on regardless.
Need little, want less, love more.
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June 25, 2013
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harly said
Without getting into crazy money territory, the Remington 700 BDL is by far, hands down, the best in the "off the shelf" rifle market. In a standard 30-06 cal. you can't beat it, anywhere.
Very popular indeed...
My Son in Law picked one up from my BIL recently, $200
Endeavor to persevere,
Press on regardless.
Need little, want less, love more.
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Dans Club
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July 2, 2011
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I would vote for either of those rifles in a heartbeat. I'm a bit partial to full the Mauser double lug extractor in the Ruger. Any discussion along these lines would have to include the Winchester Model 70. Over the years I've owned all 3 of these (scoped and not scoped). Fine long guns, comes down to personal choice.
Shot a lot of Whitetails with the 30-06. I would feel confident hunting most anything in North America with a 30-06. Scoped or not comes down to what you hunt and where. Whitetail hunting in MI, I found a scope got in the way. Of course my mark I eyeballs were a lot younger then! Hunting out west, scoped for sure. Hunting in TX, a scope because I can't see **** any more. lol A good 3x9 is fine. Out west I'd probably have to step that up to something like 6x24.
If I could only pick one, I think I would opt for the Ruger (that's only because I think the parameters wouldn't include my 1937 Mauser K98).
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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I hate to add another, but the Savage line is awesome since the introduction of the Accutrigger. "A man needs a 22-250 and a 7mm Rem Mag; nothing else" says my dad... I'd stick with Savage 110 and then decide on caliber based on what's available in your area or what you like. A .243 is hard to beat, based on your ground rules. Then, I'd have it reamed for .243 AI to get that little extra.
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Keep it coming, guys! Just the kind of stuff I was looking for.
I was thinking .30-06, I'm kind of a traditionalist
BTW-someone who is staying with us for a few weeks brought along a rifle that he wants to get out to the range this week or next.
.375 H&H?
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
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July 2, 2011
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rwsem said
I hate to add another, but the Savage line is awesome since the introduction of the Accutrigger. "A man needs a 22-250 and a 7mm Rem Mag; nothing else" says my dad... I'd stick with Savage 110 and then decide on caliber based on what's available in your area or what you like. A .243 is hard to beat, based on your ground rules. Then, I'd have it reamed for .243 AI to get that little extra.
Oh, man. How could I forget the Accutrigger. Those things are great.
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
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July 2, 2011
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Steve CT said
Keep it coming, guys! Just the kind of stuff I was looking for.I was thinking .30-06, I'm kind of a traditionalist
BTW-someone who is staying with us for a few weeks brought along a rifle that he wants to get out to the range this week or next.
.375 H&H?
.375 H&H. Now there's a real nice general purpose rifle for a freaking safari! 
That someone gone to bank yet for his ammo loan?
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
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May 2, 2009
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Sorry, but ever since Remington started to cut corners, their flagship 700 is a piece of junk-- and I've own/owned many of them. The older ones are great and well built. The newer ones have horrible triggers, and poor bluing in my opinion. My brand new 700 VLS in 204 ruger lasted a whole 24 hours in the house before I replaced the trigger. I have to oil the barrel "coating" all the time to keep the rust from forming.
In the last 10 years I have bought mostly Savage--and for good reason. Excellent triggers, and super accuracy. ONLY bad thing is the plastic stocks suck for a serious shooter--you'll notice all mine are choate and Bell Carlson.
I'd go for a Savage model 10 in your choice of caliber (I'd suggest .243 / 30-06 ). You can't beat the price, and it will shoot moa out of the box.
All savages-- some pre-accutrigger
SHOOT
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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brucertx said
Steve CT said
Keep it coming, guys! Just the kind of stuff I was looking for.I was thinking .30-06, I'm kind of a traditionalist
BTW-someone who is staying with us for a few weeks brought along a rifle that he wants to get out to the range this week or next.
.375 H&H?
.375 H&H. Now there's a real nice general purpose rifle for a freaking safari!
Yeah, when we were at Cabelas snd he willingly laid out a third of my monthly car payment for 20 rounds of .375 H&H ...
I almost excreted a "molded rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln until hard and used as a building and paving material"
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
February 26, 2012
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Steve, I agree with all the rifle suggestions, especially the Savage but you might consider one in 308. You'd give up, maybe, 150 - 200 fps to the 06 but the deer that goes down to a 308 will swear it was a 30-06.Plus you can find 308 anywhere you can find 30-06.
You might also want to consider a Savage Mod 10 package rifle. Comes with a scope. Not the best optic but it's there. The price won't break the bank.
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
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July 2, 2011
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pecos bill said
Steve, I agree with all the rifle suggestions, especially the Savage but you might consider one in 308. You'd give up, maybe, 150 - 200 fps to the 06 but the deer that goes down to a 308 will swear it was a 30-06.Plus you can find 308 anywhere you can find 30-06.
You might also want to consider a Savage Mod 10 package rifle. Comes with a scope. Not the best optic but it's there. The price won't break the bank.
You are absolutely right about the .308. It's a great load, especially for white tails here in TX. In fact it's on my active acquisition list. I guess I had running through my mind that in North America, I could probably push a 30-06 to hunt darn near anything. Besides, it really sort of is the iconic American rifle round. 
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
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July 2, 2011
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Steve CT said
brucertx said
Steve CT said
Keep it coming, guys! Just the kind of stuff I was looking for.I was thinking .30-06, I'm kind of a traditionalist
BTW-someone who is staying with us for a few weeks brought along a rifle that he wants to get out to the range this week or next.
.375 H&H?
.375 H&H. Now there's a real nice general purpose rifle for a freaking safari!
Yeah, when we were at Cabelas snd he willingly laid out a third of my monthly car payment for 20 rounds of .375 H&H ...
I almost excreted a "molded rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln until hard and used as a building and paving material"
Man for that kind of money, there better a smoke and some afterglow when he sends one downrange!
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
September 22, 2011
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Surprizing that the 7mm-08 hasn't been mentioned. Great ballistics, and you can shoot one all day and not dislocate a shoulder. Got the wife a Savage 110 last year in 7-08 and if I wasn't so fond of the M77 MKll in 300 WM, I would get one for myself. The 2 deer she took in Maverick County Tx. never even took a step.(high shoulder shoots) I handloaded her some 139 gr SST's for the deer and some 100 gr Sierra HP for coyotes.
Great all around gun, hot too heavy, fairly light recoil and not expensive to shoot.
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April 20, 2010
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I do not have a centerfire bolt action rifle, but I have been wanting to get one so I have been doing some research and tire kicking the last year or so.
I will echo several other guys here and suggest the Savage, they seem to be the most quality for the price, and they are priced well within the reach of the working man.
For caliber, hmm. Many great choices. For one do-all rifle I would suggest the .308, it is not abusive to shoot, ammo is plentiful, and there are many factory loads good for deer+.
If you are not recoil sensitive then go for my favorite the (IMO) great American cartridge, .30/06. Stopping power enough for any living thing in North America up to grizzly. My favorite deer cartridge, I've never had to trail one they go right down.
For optics, definitely a 3X9, if you are cheap get a Bushnell, they are fine for the price. If you can spend a little more a Leupold VX2 or VX3. For low-light performance the Leupolds to me are impressive and worth the price.
-Lonwolf
"The lion and the tiger may be more powerful, but the Wolf does not perform in the circus"
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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Ah yes, glass; here's a can of worms... Generally- you get what you pay for. For an average hunter/ shooter grade scope I think the Nikon Monarch and Bushnell Elite lines are pretty good. Light gathering and clarity are very good and the price doesn't break the bank. However, I lean towards Leupold on most of my single shot handguns as I like their EER scopes the best. That being said- I have a few NcStars too; I know....
Here's one of my regular stops on the interweb:
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
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November 17, 2008
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OK I will keep my answers simple. turty naught six (excuse the drawl) is probably the most versatile of all for North America. 308 is a close runner up and probably a better choice unless there is a moose or grizzly in your future and it would still do. Brand, well any reputable maker will do. I tend to like Rugers, Savage is great, I have no experience with Remington. Heck My deer rifle is a Mossberg, (go ahead and laugh) but it shoots MOA all day long. Glass you usually get what you pay for, Leupold, Bushnell, Nikon, all have a range of good stuff. A 3X9 will cover most any application. As for reasonable price, well you should be able to get a nice rifle and scope for a grand but as always you could easily mortgage the farm if you liked. One thought, Cheap rifles commonly shoot very well, cheap glass rarely is worth the price.
LB
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
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July 2, 2011
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For budget minded scope people, NcStar and BSA have worked for me. not the greatest, but I think you get a bit more than you pay for. Barska? No way! Was given a Barska 3x9 as a gift. Mounted it on my Mauser. By the 6th round the reticle had become unpinned and was "floating". Contacted them about a warranty replacement. By the time they had quoted shipping and "handling", it was cheaper to buy another scope.
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
DWF Supporters
July 11, 2009
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Winchester Model 70 in .30-06 with a Redfield Revolution 3-9x50. Bonus points for a Classic model pre-64 pattern. Double bonus points for an actual pre-64.
Im a fan of my M70 Classic Stainless in .375 H&H. You can load heavy bullets at modest velocites for hunting deer, etc (much less meat damage than the .30 cal magnums at high velocities) or load up solids at bruiser pressures for thick skinned/dangerous game. If i was limited to one rifle caliber, it would be .375 H&H.
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