Posted on 08/13/2012 7:03:40 AM PDT by bjorn14
I am looking for recommendations for three types of rifles and have a budget of about a $1,000.
1. Semi-auto .22 preferably tube feed
2. Semi-auto big game rifle (deer/elk/moose) with scope
3. Semi-auto or pump 12 gauge rifled for slug and shot.
Thanks in advance.
I have a tube fed Remington 550. I like it because it will shoot shorts, longs or long rifles without any fuss. That is a cool .22 rifle.
For the shotgun the Remington 870 is an excellent choice. More accessories and interchangeable barrels than you will ever need. Plus the receiver is still made of steel so it can take quite a bit of abuse. Reliability excellent. Price is typically just under $250 on sale.
I don't have a specific recommendation for the center fire rifle since I've always used bolt guns for big game hunting. (Older Winchester model 70 & Remington 700)
Exactly. Some people like Ruger 10/22s because they can get all kind of crap to put on it, even big, big magazines. No contest, it’s a great gun. I like my Marlin because it is simple and cheap - one of Marlin’s best selling models.
A good tube-fed 22 is compact as it’s gonna be, let’s you get close to the ground and cover as you can without some bulky magazine poking down, and snags on clothing, brush,etc. less easily. And, as you say shorts, longs, etc are an option. The only round they won’t shoot are 22 WMRs
I second what Jim and Gaffer said, although in my neck of the woods you can get the Marlin for under $100 used.
1. Ruger 10/22 ~$250
2. Ruger American 30-06 (Bolt action not auto) ~$350
3. Maverick (made by Mossberg, cheaper than the 500) ~$200
You’ll even have a little money left over for some ammo!
If you are willing to go with a pump deer/elk rifle, then the Remington 760-7600 has a good reputation and are readily available.
The added advantage of the 760 is that the controls are nearly the same as the Remington 870 pump shotgun.
If you wanted to make your entire arsenel have the same controls, you could get the Remington 572 pump .22, which is a wonderful rifle. You can find them used for $200. I am not sure that they are still available new, but the last price I saw for a new one was $532.
The Browning BAR has a good reputation, but cost your entire budget for one.
I agree on the Marlin, fun little rifle. I was assuming he was purchasing new. Therefore using my favorites: Mossberg 835 - $550 add $175 for the slug barrel and $20 for a sling.
Weatherby Vanguard 300WM - $600, add at least $200 for a decent quality scope and mounts. $50 for the sling. 150 for the Marlin brings the total to $1795 and there has been no ammo purchased.
If the purchaser is content to buy pre-owned then that is a different story. If they take their time and look maybe $1000 can do it.
Dunno what SOF criteria were, but I use an Ithaca 37, ‘cause its a bottom feeder, and thus ambidextrous, and an all metal gun, no plastic here..
I agree on the price for a used Marlin....my BIL asked me once to replace the tube assy plug (his son lost it in the woods) on his Marlin 60. 25 years old at least - never cleaned but still shot. I got a new tube from Numrich and cleaned it and refinished the stock...when finished it looked almost new...liked it so much I bought a new one with a scope for about $160....
For .22, either the Marlin 60 (~$160.) or Ruger 10/22 (~$200.)is a good choice. Marlin also has the 795 (~145.), which is equivalent to the 60 but had a detachable magazine instead of the tube. You might find a used Model 60 for $100.
A used Browing BAR is probably $600-$800. (and up). Savage has a huge number of bolt-action models that are reasonably priced and generally accurate. A few years ago I sold a new-in-box Browning A-bolt Hunter 30-06 for $650. with Leupold rings and a cheapie scope. Whatever you get, remember that a halfway decent scope will cost you. A Leupold VX-3, VX-2 or Redfield is pretty good for the money.
My son just got a Mossberg 500 home-defense shotgun for about $300. This model has a slightly shorter stock and 18.5” barrel. It will accept other Mossberg barrels
I’m going to go against the grain and suggest you stay away from the 10/22. It’s certainly the most popular and it has a bajillion aftermarket parts. After spending another 500-600 dollars above the cost of the 10/22 you almost have a rifle that can compete in terms of accuracy to a Marlin, Savage or CZ.
I’ve got two of ‘em- after I shot one belonging to a friend I decided it was pretty much everything I’d want in a .22 rifle.
May I ask why you are looking at all semi-autos?
You need at least one good single shot if this your SHTF plan.
Agree with you about the Mossberg 550. I have one next to my bed. My wife shoots lefthanded, I am right handed. Having the safety on top of the weapon makes using it much easier. Also, the safety has a red dot indicator next to the switch, very easy to see when you raise the shotgun to fire.
I also have a Walthers PK380. It also has an ambidexterous (sp) safety.
Agree with you about the Mossberg 500. I have one next to my bed. My wife shoots lefthanded, I am right handed. Having the safety on top of the weapon makes using it much easier. Also, the safety has a red dot indicator next to the switch, very easy to see when you raise the shotgun to fire.
I also have a Walthers PK380. It also has an ambidexterous (sp) safety.
1. Ruger 10-22. yes, not tube fed.
2. I love my FNHR .308, but it blows your $1000 budget by itself
3. Same with a Bennelli, love it but blows your budget.
Note, the only thing I hunt is paper or people that kill my family.
Remington 870 Police Magnum. Comes off a special, Police assembly line. Extra QC. Not that Remington really needs it, but it does serve a purpose. Carried by PDs for decades now. Both weapons are proven performers.
Ruger 10/22. Excellent little weapon. Been around for a long time now.
Wally World use to have a deer hunter special every fall. Savage bolt action. Can't recall specific model. Quality weapon. Choice of calibers. Came with scope, sling,etc. for $300. Not pretty furniture, but who cares if weapon does what it is supposed to do? And it does.
Alternative would be to look for Pre-1964 Model 70 Winchester. $$. But you do not want junk.
If I've learned anything in my life (about firearms) it is to buy QUALITY to begin with! No junk. Junk will always be junk. Finely built firearms will only increase in value or hold their price. I own all of the above weapons (except the Savage) and have no complaints about them.
1: .22 tube feed——REMINGTON NYLON 66. Make sure it is a Remington!
3: Mossberg 500 slug gun.
The Mossberg 702 Plinkster is based upon the MArlin 60 action but is magazine fed ... under $150 newThe Maverick 88 is a good shotgun, but I would go the extra and buy a Remington 870 for the feed issues ... under $400
And for a dependable rifle which will kill ANYTHING, a Mosin Nagant in carbine version but the 91/30 is also dependable ... $ under 200 for a good one
Now, if you want to upgrade, buy the black plastic stock 1022 and two extra Ruger 25 round mags, get the Remington 870 and a magazine extension, and select a clean, tight Mosin Nagant and buy ten stripper clips to go with it.
One last thought: if these weapons are to be used by different sized people, buy a twenty gage shotgun, a Henry repeating .22 which shoots everything except .22 magnums and is under 36 inches long, and build for yourself an AR 15 in 7.62 x 39 with three extra thirty round mags (you can build one right now for under $600 and it shoots one of the best all around cartridges ever developed, which are also available in hollow points). You will still come in under $1000 and be ready for TSHTF to arrive in your neighborhood.
Ruger 10/22 or Marlin 795 and get to an Appleseed. See my tagline.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.