Looking for a .308 or 30-06 rifle.

[CyberSnow]

Living in the Valley County area we are blessed with an abundance of hunting options. While I have my AR 15, I would like to buy a more powerful rifle. Don’t really want a semi automatic, thinking a bolt or lever action. Any suggestions?

 

[Deleted member 20]

Thru the decades, I've had real good luck trolling the pawn shops. nice, little used, Rem 700's and first choice pre 64 Winchesters have been had for less money than a "muffler on a used car". If you can stomach a 30-06, or less often a 270w, 243. Watch for bbl erosion on the hotter calibers and avoid the much older 30-06's from the corrosive primer surplus ammo days.

 

[CyberSnow]

I grew up hunting with an A3-O3 ( IIRC) which was a 30-06. I liked the rifle but it disappeared when my father passed away while I was on deployment. Unfortunately the closest pawn shop I’d 2.5 hours away. Do lever action rifles lose something in terms of accuracy?

 

[DR505]

In my experience lever actions seem a bit less accurate than turn-bolt rifles. I have lever actions in .243 Win, .30-30 Win, and .44 Magnum, and tend to use them in more brushy terrain where shots are closer.

I have bolt actions in .350 Remington Magnum, .270 Winchester, .25-06 Remington, and .22 LR. I am comfortable with the .350 out to 400 yards, and the .270/.25-06 a bit farther. I qualified with my .25-06 on a 1,000 yard course, but would not shoot anything but rodents at that range (though best shot was 403 yards on a p-dog).

Both .308 and .30-06 are solid choices. I've used a .308 out to 800 yards on a USMC rifle range and it worked as advertised.

 

[CyberSnow]

I was watching a movie where a person shooting a lever action 45-70 shot a moving target at about (my guess ) 600 yards. In another show I saw a Federal Ranger carrying a Browning BLR. My reaction was about the same. Living up in the Payette Forest area, I see a lot of game but very seldom see them further away than about 100 yards. I have carried a .308 (7.62) for a number of years and also have qualified out at 800 meters with it, but really would like to go with a much lighter weapon. Maybe the answer is to buy at least one of each.

 

[DR505]

I was watching a movie where a person shooting a lever action 45-70 shot a moving target at about (my guess ) 600 yards. In another show I saw a Federal Ranger carrying a Browning BLR. My reaction was about the same. Living up in the Payette Forest area, I see a lot of game but very seldom see them further away than about 100 yards. I have carried a .308 (7.62) for a number of years and also have qualified out at 800 meters with it, but really would like to go with a much lighter weapon. Maybe the answer is to buy at least one of each.

One can NEVER have too many rifles.

 

[Alan]

Living in the Valley County area we are blessed with an abundance of hunting options. While I have my AR 15, I would like to buy a more powerful rifle. Don’t really want a semi automatic, thinking a bolt or lever action. Any suggestions?

For bolts I'd suggest .308 or 30-06. Tikka T3x is great, Savage 110 solid value. For lever actions you can try Marlin .45-70 for elk/bear and Henry .30-30 for deer.

 

[CyberSnow]

Next time I head down to Boise, I will check them out. Anyone have a favorite gun store they would recommend?

 

[DR505]

Next time I head down to Boise, I will check them out. Anyone have a favorite gun store they would recommend?

I frequent Buckhorn Gun and Pawn on Ustick. Before he passed this was John Taffin's favorite place...you would often see him there.

 

[CyberSnow]

Thanks, it may be April before I can get down there.

 

[DR505]

Thanks, it may be April before I can get down there.

They do not carry much in the way of AR style rifles, but have many bolt-actions, singles, shotguns, and used firearms. They are what I would term as an "old fashioned" gun store.

 

[CyberSnow]

That is great! Not looking for another AR anything. Bolt or Lever Action for our area is on the choice menu.

 

[Tdog10mm]

For bolts I'd suggest .308 or 30-06. Tikka T3x is great, Savage 110 solid value. For lever actions you can try Marlin .45-70 for elk/bear and Henry .30-30 for deer.

Also look at HOWA. They have a light weight model with a beautiful trigger that can be adjusted stupid light. Good quality at a decent price.
If your a Cheap S.O.B. like me, you can sometimes save some bucks buying online and doing a transfer with a local home based FFL.