Need a entry level rifle...but which one?

[PFactorDave]

(p.s. before anyone comments that's a long range fuel tank )

I've got one of those too!     Been working on it though, so my range isn't what it used to be...   

[oneway]

Entry level rifle?

Strange choice of words

Your first rifle should be an AR 15 chambered in 223

You should be intimately proficient in its use, cleaning and repair

You should own at a minimum 2000 rounds of ammo (55 grain FMJ BT)

You can kill game with a knife or spear, and start fires with a 9 volt battery and steel wool

If you own one rifle...make it an AR...and your next investment should be a folding shovel

Keep your powder dry

Salute

Oneway

[1sum41]

I'd say get a marlin 30-30.  its a gun great for everthing!

[Melvin]

Entry level rifle?

Strange choice of words

Your first rifle should be an M-16A2 chambered in .223 ball. Open sights, of course.

You should be intimately proficient in its use, cleaning and repair. Until you are qualified 50/50 or "Expert".

Keep your powder dry

Salute

Oneway

I'd say get a marlin 30-30.   its a gun great for everthing!

Got one, love it, no good past 100 yards. (Marlin 336CS to be exact.) I hunt in brush, open sights. I mean USED to hunt in brush. Quit in '99. Birds only now. Maybe coyotes this winter...


EDIT: I did edit Oneway's post. oops.

EDIT2: Actually, I think it was 40/40. It's been 12(?) years.

[oneway]

Entry level rifle?

Strange choice of words

Your first rifle should be an M-16A2 chambered in .223 ball. Open sights, of course.

You should be intimately proficient in its use, cleaning and repair. Until you are qualified 50/50 or "Expert".

Keep your powder dry

Salute

Oneway

That is a felony...but I concur with your sentiment

The GCA passed in 1968 makes that impossible other than in terms of transfer of existing systems and platforms pursuant to the NFA passed in 1934

But like I said...I concur...with the exception that FA is a waste of ammo...Burst (3) selective fire is far more desirable

Salute

[Melvin]

That is a felony...but I concur with your sentiment

The GCA passed in 1968 makes that impossible other than in terms of transfer of existing systems and platforms pursuant to the NFA passed in 1934

But like I said...I concur...with the exception that FA is a waste of ammo...Burst (3) selective fire is far more desirable

Salute

I was pointing our friend toward an enlistment.  

EDIT: A2 is 3 shot burst iirc.

[oneway]

I was pointing our friend toward an enlistment.  

EDIT: A2 is 3 shot burst iirc.

Copy A2 = 3

I did not know that because I am just another civilian

They will not let me own such things

Having shot both Full and Burst and SA....in the M16...

Selective SA is still my preferred choice...I would rather put less bullets in a smaller pie hole than a more bullets in a bucket hole

Nothing demoralizes the opposition faster than measured, accurate, effective  and concentrated fire...

Quantity of fire will never overcome Quality of fire in 1 v 1 small arms engagement...all else being equal

[SmokinLoon]

308 is the round I prefer.  More manageable recoil, a bit flatter traj out to 300 yrds or so and still uses the mean old tried and tested .30 cal.  

30-06 works great too.

I wouldn't turn down either of those rifles.

You better check your charts again, the .308 Win has nothing on the .30-06 in terms of performance regardless of bullet weight.  The are very close, but the .30-06 will edge out the .308 every time in trajectory/velocity, and it can handle the larger bullets easier. 

Someone mentioned the "7mm", by the statements made it appears as if the cartridge in question is the 7mm Rem mag.  It is truly a beast of a 7mm, but there are other popular rounds that rank even higher in recoil, namely the .300 Win Mag.  I reload the 7mm-08 and the 7mm Rem Mag (.30-06 too).     

[oneway]

You better check your charts again, the .308 Win has nothing on the .30-06 in terms of performance regardless of bullet weight.  The are very close, but the .30-06 will edge out the .308 every time.

.308 is a standard NATO round aka 7.62×51mm NATO...

The 308 will kill anything inside of 200 yards...and if you can't stalk that close...hmmm...do a few seasons killing with a bow an arrow and the 308 will seem to be a cannon

The 308 is lethal on head shots out to 600 with some basic training (windage, elevation, ballistics)

A deer rifle that is chambered in the 7.62x51 has the ancillary benefit when the you know what hits the fan...the ammunition will be more readily available

[Melvin]

Anybody talking headshots at 600 is full of beans.

Or expertly trained.

[oneway]

Anybody talking headshots at 600 is full of beans.

Or expertly trained.

OUT TO

The ballistics are lethal OUT TO that range

[Melvin]

Longest I ever shot was 350, and those little plastic green men with the red stars on their helmets were awfully small.

Knocked 'em all down though.

EDIT: Ahhh roger that oneway. Please be a little more clear for dummies like me.  

But still, "lethal on head shots out to 600 with some basic training"?

I smell beans.

[oneway]

Customized Long Range AR15 plan form

And this is an AR spitting 223

I have a Remington 700/308 in an Accuracy International Stock system that I can promise you...with less than an hour of training, you could punch holes in soccer balls at 600 and not break a sweat...

The win 308 is not a great round...I would rather have a 7mm Rem Mag...but the 308...in the right hands with the right tools is potent...I would not want to be down range of my 308 under any circumstance

To illustrate the point...here is some meek 223 stuff...and again...you would not want to be on the receiving end of this accurate fire...under any circumstance

18" barrel 1:7 twist chucking 77 grain Sierra Match Kings, Varget hand loads..LCA Brass, Remington SR 7.5 primers


INPUT: Down Range view through a 12x Leopold...range to target...500 yards (gps)...5 degree elevation...plate size 12x18...x-wind 10 kts


OUTPUT:

[Melvin]

That's a 34" tire! 90% of those rounds at 500 yds woulda missed my pin-head. 

Nice shooting though... 

I will leave you with this... no more bean smells because beans don't burn on the grill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjVtKsSZwE4

[AHTbolt]

Toe Tag you got alot of good info here but in the end You have to make the choice. Check with true gun store and better yet one with a rifle range, you can try different calibers and find the one that fits you best. When you find your gun take it to a good gunsmith have him set your scope and bore sight it, and have him polish the triger assembly it really helps. When you go to sight it in get 3 to 4 different brands of ammo every gun shoots ammo different  get a good note book to recorde your dope. AHH crap I could go on and on, what ever you get take your time dont rush and ask lots of questions if your not happy it will never be a joy to go shoot.