Looking for advice on a new rifle!

CyberSnow

CyberSnow

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Jun 30, 2025
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I am looking for a new "all purpose" rifle. While I have a number of pistols the only rifles I have are a .22 and an AR15. Am thinking of going to a larger caliber for deer, elk and ranch general defense, Not really looking for a bolt action but trying to decide between a lever action or an AR10. Also wondering about caliber, something large enough to kill an elk or a predator.
 
CyberSnow said:
I am looking for a new "all purpose" rifle. While I have a number of pistols the only rifles I have are a .22 and an AR15. Am thinking of going to a larger caliber for deer, elk and ranch general defense, Not really looking for a bolt action but trying to decide between a lever action or an AR10. Also wondering about caliber, something large enough to kill an elk or a predator.
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A 30-30 would be a good choice, or a Marlin .444 or a 45-70 all are lever action. Each will take bear too. As far as predators go, if you plan to keep the hide, these would be an over kill in my opinion. Maybe a .22 mag would be better. I have a Winchester lever action in .22mag. And also a .357mag lever action would be good.
Many people turn their noses up on the lever action or the calibers that I mentioned. Now days it seems that many people like the metric calibers and plastic guns.
 
2A Idaho said:
A 30-30 would be a good choice, or a Marlin .444 or a 45-70 all are lever action. Each will take bear too. As far as predators go, if you plan to keep the hide, these would be an over kill in my opinion. Maybe a .22 mag would be better. I have a Winchester lever action in .22mag. And also a .357mag lever action would be good.
Many people turn their noses up on the lever action or the calibers that I mentioned. Now days it seems that many people like the metric calibers and plastic guns.
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I know what you mean about plastic striker fired pistols. I am a metal hammered fired pistol carrier in .45 and 9mm. After looking at a number of rifles I am down to a BLR in .308, an AR10 or a Henry .300 Winchester.
 
After watching a number of videos have eliminated the .300 winchester. Any thoughts on a decent but affordable AR10?
 
Good question! One reason is that I already own a precision bolt action rifle. Another is that I live on the edge of a National Forest and spend a lot of time on my ATV and have been approached on a couple of occasions by predators. The choice became whether to go lever action or semi automatic.
 
Nice idea but .308 ammo is 1/2 the price, is flatter shooting and in a 16" barrel good for an easy 300 yards. The SFAR I am looking for only weighs 6.8 lbs about the same as an AR15. The 458 SOCOM certainly hits harder though, if we had Grizzlies my choice would probably be different. The .308 is adequate up to and including Elk.
 
Find a Winchester M 100, or 788 in 308. I one saw a .284 but did not then know what it was. Beware many semi auto require factory or fresh brass to chamber reliably.
 
The Ruger SFAR seems to have a lot of chambering issues. Anyone have AR10 experience with Sig Sauer, Springfield or any other company?
 
I would go with something in the 30 cal range or larger. 308 is always a good choice but some of the new sexy stuff in the 44 class is always good too. 308 will give you a bit longer range than say a 45-70 but also loses in short range stopping power.

What caliber is your bolt gun? Perhaps consider carrying that for hunting and investing in a 10mm (glock 20 gives you 16 shots and buffalo bore ammo is about enough to stop anything in the lower 48) or 44 mag for close in stopping power. In some cases easier to use at closer ranges too.
 
Huntaddict said:
I would go with something in the 30 cal range or larger. 308 is always a good choice but some of the new sexy stuff in the 44 class is always good too. 308 will give you a bit longer range than say a 45-70 but also loses in short range stopping power.

What caliber is your bolt gun? Perhaps consider carrying that for hunting and investing in a 10mm (glock 20 gives you 16 shots and buffalo bore ammo is about enough to stop anything in the lower 48) or 44 mag for close in stopping power. In some cases easier to use at closer ranges too.
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The bolt rifle is a .308 but is a precision shooter and while it has proven itself out to 800 meters, there is no way I would lug it out hunting. My other rifle is a Barrett REC7 and it is okay for deer but not for anything larger. I wonder how good a 44 mag would do for Elk? Any thoughts on a reliable and hunt ready lever action?

As for a side arm, I carry an Sig P227 (double stack .45 with red dot). When I am in territory that might be inhabited by grizzlies my pistol is loaded with buffalo bore ammo. So far just a precaution and I am happy to keep it that way.
 
CyberSnow said:
The bolt rifle is a .308 but is a precision shooter and while it has proven itself out to 800 meters, there is no way I would lug it out hunting. My other rifle is a Barrett REC7 and it is okay for deer but not for anything larger. I wonder how good a 44 mag would do for Elk? Any thoughts on a reliable and hunt ready lever action?

As for a side arm, I carry an Sig P227 (double stack .45 with red dot). When I am in territory that might be inhabited by grizzlies my pistol is loaded with buffalo bore ammo. So far just a precaution and I am happy to keep it that way.
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I have a Marlin 1894 in .44 Magnum. It is very accurate, but I would not use it too awful far past 100 yds. I use heavier loads, up to 300 grain bullets.
 
Here in the Payette National Forest I would be surprised to get a shot much further out than 100 yards. Too many trees and other forest vegetation and I never shoot through brush. I am still thinking about a Browning BLR in either .308 or 30-06.
 
CyberSnow said:
The bolt rifle is a .308 but is a precision shooter and while it has proven itself out to 800 meters, there is no way I would lug it out hunting. My other rifle is a Barrett REC7 and it is okay for deer but not for anything larger. I wonder how good a 44 mag would do for Elk? Any thoughts on a reliable and hunt ready lever action?

As for a side arm, I carry an Sig P227 (double stack .45 with red dot). When I am in territory that might be inhabited by grizzlies my pistol is loaded with buffalo bore ammo. So far just a precaution and I am happy to keep it that way.
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Ok, some good options here. I have never and probably would not hunt elk with a pistol. Even one as powerful as a 44 mag.
From experience, a 45 in G-Bear country had better be perfect and I mean perfect. If that is all you have, ok B Bore is a great choice but something at least 10mm or larger is optimal if you are not going to carry bear spray. Spray is always the first option.

I have not hunted with a lever since my early days of deer in the south. A 30-30 Marlin lever.

What part of Idaho are you in? It is rare we see a guy in the woods with a lever unless you hunt the deepest and thickest stuff.
 
Huntaddict said:
Ok, some good options here. I have never and probably would not hunt elk with a pistol. Even one as powerful as a 44 mag.
From experience, a 45 in G-Bear country had better be perfect and I mean perfect. If that is all you have, ok B Bore is a great choice but something at least 10mm or larger is optimal if you are not going to carry bear spray. Spray is always the first option.

I have not hunted with a lever since my early days of deer in the south. A 30-30 Marlin lever.

What part of Idaho are you in? It is rare we see a guy in the woods with a lever unless you hunt the deepest and thickest stuff.
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You have made some very valid points. I live in the Payette National Forest and often run across deer and elk while shrooming or berry picking. Last year I was even braced by a pack of wolves. The more I read about the 44 mag, the less I like it. I think that it is more likely that I will go with either a 30-06 or .308.

No argument against bear spray as first line of defense. After running a number of timed drills on my two 10mm and a long discussion with Tim from BB I went back to my .45. Assuming a bear attack will not be a frontal and that response time is around a few seconds, I wanted to see how many rounds I could get into a 4" circle from a holstered condition in 3 seconds. The answer was one vs three and the holes were bigger on the .45. Also assuming that due to surprise that there was a probability that I might miss about 50% of the time (and yes I am a combat vet and have been in firefights so have a little experience under pressure) I would rather have the opportunity to hit or miss three times versus once.
 

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