Lynx Defense

I need a rifle

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  • Wraith

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    Oct 17, 2009
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    Because the only one I own is a .22

    So I'm looking for a good all around hunting/paper-puncher rifle. I had been looking at the Remington SPS tactical in .308 as it would be a good ordinary cartridge in a proven action. If I am to own only one bolt gun is .308 the cartridge to go with or should I step up to 7mm? Or another caliber all together? Or even another rifle? Maybe Howa or Savage? Would like to keep the initial rifle cost under $600. TIA
    DK Firearms
     

    Texas42

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    Nov 21, 2008
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    You can kill anything in Texas, comfortably, with a .243 at reasonable distances.

    You don't need a 7mm remington magnum, and it hurts to shoot quite a bit (my shoulder is kind of sore right now from shooting Thursday).

    But if you want one, then get it.
     

    codygjohnson

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    Nov 11, 2009
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    Initial cost under $600? Better go for the Savage. I'd get a 10FP in .308 and put the most expensive Bushnell scope on it that you still have budget for. Throw on a steel one piece picatinny base and some Warne Maxima rings. That's your best bang for the buck and it'll be one hell of a shooter for a cheap setup.
     

    Wraith

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    Oct 17, 2009
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    You can kill anything in Texas, comfortably, with a .243 at reasonable distances.

    You don't need a 7mm remington magnum, and it hurts to shoot quite a bit (my shoulder is kind of sore right now from shooting Thursday).

    But if you want one, then get it.

    I had thought about .243 but for only one rifle I would rather err on the side of a larger caliber which is why I think the .308 will do it all.
    The 7mm? Well what if I need to shoot something at 1500 yards?
     

    Texas1911

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    I had thought about .243 but for only one rifle I would rather err on the side of a larger caliber which is why I think the .308 will do it all.
    The 7mm? Well what if I need to shoot something at 1500 yards?

    At 1500 yards you will hit nothing with either bullet. You need ALOT of powder and a good BC to push a bullet out that far with any repeatable accuracy. Think .338 Lapua Magnum and bigger.

    A .308 is sonic until about 900 - 1000 yards depending on weather conditions.

    A .308 is an ideal round for many things, from target to hunting. You can load it to do whatever you want it to do.
     

    Wraith

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    Oct 17, 2009
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    I know that even 1000 yards is pushing it for .308 but I would only hunt the elusive paper bullseye at that range and truth be told the chances are slim to none that I would even shoot this gun past 500 yards.

    For some reason this is the rifle that trips my trigger right now,
    [url]http://www.snipercentral.com/spstactical.htm[/URL]

    But I would love to have a rifle in .338 Lapua someday.
     

    Dawico

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    Oct 15, 2009
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    That is a nice rifle.

    I personally am a Savage man myself. The out of the box accuracy is excellent and the Accutrigger is amazing. Savage's value is unmatched in my opinion.

    308 is an excellent caliber to start out with. It will do everything you will need it to do at ranges less than 1000 yards. Ammo and componants are readily available for any purpose you have in mind. Recoil is very tolerable also.
     

    Texas42

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    I had thought about .243 but for only one rifle I would rather err on the side of a larger caliber which is why I think the .308 will do it all.
    The 7mm? Well what if I need to shoot something at 1500 yards?

    I wasn't recommending a .243. I was just commenting on that any of the cartridges you get will be plenty for deer. If you don't find your deer, it isn't because of the cartridge.
     

    TexasRedneck

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    A .243 will handle 'bout anything in Texas - but a 5-600 yard shot is gonna need a .308 or 7mm mag. I've gotten to the point that the shot is as much fun as the meat, so I tend to go for the longer distances....as a result, I've used a 7mm mag since the 80's. It just adds to the experience for me.
     

    ROGER4314

    Been Called "Flash" Since I Was A Kid!
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    Jul 11, 2009
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    You guys confuse me. If a person wants ONE rifle and wants something to hunt and target shoot with how the heck did we get on 1000 yard shooting? Few people ever shoot at 1000. I shoot at 600 pretty often and at 1800 feet, THAT is a real stretch! It's all bullet out there and you'd better be prepared to do extensive research on the load that you use.

    So I'm going to get back down to the real world and make a recommendation. For just ONE rifle.............308.

    First, the .308 is a favorite with 1000 yard shooters. The 300 Win Mag is a favorite, too but the barrel life at about 1000 rounds really sucks. .308 does a lot better in barrel life.

    The choices of .308 bullets are extensive both for hunting and target shooting. The Sierra Match Kings are some of the best and most cost effective bullets anywhere and the track record of the 168 gr Match Kings is without equal. Everyone buys them. Everyone uses them.

    Powder choice? IMR 4895 is a standard for .308. A lot of guys think they can improve on the IMR 4895 performance but decades of experience with tens of thousands of shooters might argue with that. The .308 has been so completely researched that information can be found anywhere.

    Brass and other components or factory loads........ .308 is always available.

    Cleaning supplies are easy to find and special bore cleaners for the .30 bore are numerous. Patches, cleaners, jags, brushes can be found anywhere.

    Reputation...... How would you argue with a .308? You'd need to be a bit nuts to bash a cartridge with the reputation and extensive use of a .308. Hunting, target, warfare, tactical, the .308 does it all.

    Rifles? The Savage FP10 is a real winner and very cost effective. Mine was purchased from a SWAT member in Texas. Yup, Swat uses them, too.

    My favorite is a Remington 700VLS. It's a bit expensive but it's as good as it gets. Not into Remington or Savage? Virtually anything can be bought in .308.

    So.......that's my recommendation and why I recommend it. One rifle............ .308.

    Flash
     

    RetArmySgt

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    Aug 14, 2009
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    .308 with the right round can hit in excess of 1000yds all day long but the large holdover is what makes it hard for most. Take the M118LR round for example. It is the round that the army uses for its .308 snipers. The longest confirmed kill with a 308 in combat was over 1500m headshot. anyone who says a 308 cant hit 1000yrds might want to do a little research. Not trying to offend anyone with that but that is the truth about the 308.
     

    SC-Texas

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    Feb 7, 2009
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    Guys, why not an AR15?

    Great paper puncher, great hunting rifle.

    Multiple calibers by switching uppers.

    Accurate enough out to 800 yards.
     

    Wraith

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    Oct 17, 2009
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    Guys, why not an AR15?

    Great paper puncher, great hunting rifle.

    Multiple calibers by switching uppers.

    Accurate enough out to 800 yards.

    Absolutely not, I despise the AR, had two and I traded them away. First time I shot mine I had to look at it when it went SPROINNNNGGG! Reminds me of those toy guns I had when I was a kid that you cocked back and went sproing when you shot them. Also I am not a fan of .223 either, never understood why the army thought it was good idea when most consider it to weak for hunting deer.
     

    114

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    Nov 19, 2009
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    Couldn't agree with you more about the AR, Wraith. There are so many better (IMO) military style rifles out there. The entire AR/M16/M4 platform has just never appealed to me in the least. Besides, when people see my RPD or PPSH-41 in a crowd of AR's, I enjoy the sight of all of those AR people completely losing interest in their toys :D

    Not to beat a dead horse, but I would have to join the .308 bandwagon as well. For a single rifle with a lot of versatility, you can't go wrong there.
     

    dee

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    Nov 22, 2008
    2,468
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    Red River Way
    for inside 5-600 yards, go with the 6.5x55mm. lots of deer, and people have been had inside that range span.
    very flat trajectory, great ballistics, and no a lot of recoil.

    the rifles can be had cheap, and it is a Mauser, so it is INFINITELY customizable .... lots of choices for ammo, and reloading supplies are plentiful.

    that and paper punching can be had at a grand or more.


    if you are going to be hunting small game (smaller than moose/bear) this will work for you.


    Very good round but you may want to be carefull buying new ammo for some of the versions, my reloading manual says barrel specs can very and be a lil tight for the hotter loads. And as far as my opinion I'd say .308 or even .30-06 I have more experiance with the later of the two being that I just picked up my first .308.
     

    tenfeathers

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    Sep 12, 2009
    140
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    crawford tx
    Because the only one I own is a .22

    So I'm looking for a good all around hunting/paper-puncher rifle. I had been looking at the Remington SPS tactical in .308 as it would be a good ordinary cartridge in a proven action. If I am to own only one bolt gun is .308 the cartridge to go with or should I step up to 7mm? Or another caliber all together? Or even another rifle? Maybe Howa or Savage? Would like to keep the initial rifle cost under $600. TIA

    Get you a Remington VTR in 308 witha good 200.00 scope and you can kill anything you want out to 800 yrds for sure
     

    tenfeathers

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    Sep 12, 2009
    140
    1
    crawford tx
    I like a 308 I have 3 of them a Cetme,M1A ,Remington VTR. Of all these the VTR is more accurate at a 1000 yrds or 800 yrds, then the M1A, then the Cetme if your lucky
     

    ROGER4314

    Been Called "Flash" Since I Was A Kid!
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    Jul 11, 2009
    10,444
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    East Houston
    I read all of the posts again and think we missed some things. There's no question about the choice of .308 as a "one only" rifle. It just makes sense so I'll quit beating that horse.

    The choice of rifles may be a problem. The target rifle will need a heavy barrel and stock. Hunting rifles are much different as the bull barrel with heavy stock is a chore to horse around.

    Conversely, the skinny spaghetti barrel of a hunting rifle would be a waste of time in a match. Finishing up a string of 20 rounds in a match stage, that skinny barrel would be waving around like a stick in the wind.

    I shoot a Springfield 1903A3 30-06 in matches and can say that the metal parts of the hand guard get so hot they will blister you after 20 rounds. That hunting, spaghetti barrel would get hot and have a mind of its own!

    My .308 match rifle makes the M1 Garand look like a lightweight! I'd hate to carry that thing around all day for hunting. Maybe some little wheels on the butt plate........................?

    Very light trigger pulls of a target rifle would be unwise or even dangerous in a hunting rifle.

    So there you have it. The best choice of a single rifle is .......................... two rifles!

    Flash
     
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