30'06, .223, and 7.62

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ljhj45

New member
I have successfully progressed from handgun to shotgun. I am now looking to get into rifles. Previous experience has only been with various .22's. Please give me your opinions as to which of these calibers would serve as best all around (once I settle on which, it probably will be my only rifle) and what are good choices of rifles in said caliber. I am working with $400 (what better way to spend your quarterly bonus - wasn't even in the budget!):D
 
I like 223 Rem myself, but I am wanting to get something in 30-06 real bad to go with it. If I was going to stick with just one, I would probably go with 7.62x39mm. That way, you have a 30 cal bullet packed in an inexpensive cartridge.
 
Yugo Mauser!

If you must limit yourself to those three, I'd go with the .30'06. Between that and a .22 you can deal with anything in North America.

HOWEVER, in my experience, most old .30'06's (1903 Springfields, M1 Garands, etc) are increasingly expensive. Unless you're in the CMP, you'll probably pay thousands. New .30'06 hunting rifles start at $500 (plus a scope) and go up and up. I'd suggest getting an unissued Yugo Mauser instead. You can get a complete package for $150-$200. The 8mm Mauser is the cartridge which inspired the .30'06. It's plenty powerful if you stay away from domestic ammo.

I've been extremely pleased with my Mauser. It's tough, accurate, powerful and probably the best buy I've ever made. They really don't make 'em like this any more. It's the next best thing to getting an unissued Springfield, and a whole lot cheaper. I was so happy with it, I even changed my username to Cosmoline ;-)
 
Depends what you're going to do with it. I got my ADL in 30.06 for around $300 used. It can get groups in the 4's. Man o man is there alot of things you can do with a 06.

Lots of things you can do with the .308/7.62X51, but it kind of peters out after 700yds with some of the lighter bullets.

My only experience w/ .223 / 5.56mm is the M16 in the Corps. Of course the bolt action 22-250, 220 Swift crowd can get really awesome hits if you're into varminting. Tough to recommend it for larger game.

$400 bucks sounds like a used bolt action. ALTHOUGH you can still get a DCM M1 Garand. I'm personally in a quandry beween the DCM M1 and a Bushmaster.

Let us know your decision!
 
"Depends what you're going to do with it." And, what you'll expect it to do for you. Prime questions.

If general plinkin' & occassional varmit-work, get a .223 If you'll want to hunt big game at some time, go for the '06
 
Cosmoline, you don't have to be "IN" the CMP to buy their M1 Garand. Just go to their website http://www.odcmp.com and download the forms and rules from the rifle sales section.

There is one rule about being "IN" something. You need to belong to an associated group. They have a list. For example, I joined the Michigan Rifle and Pistol Association for $20/yr.

There is one rule about shooting. You need to shoot in some kind of qualified match. Many clubs have open matches, and have Garands and AR15s to lend for the match. You can bypass the rule about shooting if you are/were in the service or law enforcement.

The CMP does the NICS check and ships the rifle to your door - not to a dealer.

The M1 is a fine .30-'06 with nice sights and a nice trigger, but not easy to put a scope on.

Regards.
 
What are you going to shoot: Paper, get a nice targetgrade bolt in .308 or .223. Varmits, get a rem 700vls in .223. Big game any nice syn stock bolt lightweight in 30-06 or 308. allaround .308bolt.
home defense shotgun
or just dumping rounds downrange AK-47
 
If you reload, then I would definitely say 30-06. It is extremely versatile. Reloading allows you to tailor a load anywhere from short range paper punching to medium/longer range big game just about anywhere in North America.

Decent bolt actions can be found for as little as $300 on sale (i.e. Ruger M77 MkII) new, or between $400-600 used to new for a "better" grade i.e. Win M70 classic (my personal preference) or Remington700.

My biases only :)

Regards,

Bob
 
you will love Yugo M48/M48A, I love mine,
where can you buy new Mauser for 150$??? this is the best buy going now,(I think M48 is much better than Ruger M77, haven't handled M77 thou)
mauser ammo is as powerful as 30.06, .223 is good if you have $$$ to buy good M16(not joe-basement-manufacturer M16)
if you have $$$, buy FAL or AK-47, AK-74 while STILL you can, here Kali, I cannot buy even if I get big loan or something
 
Lots of things you can do with the .308/7.62X51, but it kind of peters out after 700yds with some of the lighter bullets
Click to expand...
Most of us have shooting abilities that peter out much sooner than 700yds!
Personally, for the money you are looking at spending, I would purchase a used Ruger M77,Savage 110, Remington 700 or Winchester 70 in .308. The .308 is easy to find cheap ammo for, and is found in a rifle with less weight (short action) and similar power to the 30/06. The .223 is a wonderful cartridge, but it just isn't as versatile. The Yugo's and similar milsurp shooters are great, and have cheap ammo, but scoping them is a hassle. I'm assuming that you want a sporting type rifle. If in fact you want a rifle more for plinking fun and self defense, that could double as a sporter in a pinch, I'd go with a semi-auto: SAR-1 in 7.62x39.
 
Poodleshooter,

How much should one spend on an SAR-1 in 7.62x39? There is a gun show in Dallas this weekend and i'd like to pick one up.

Thanks much.
 
Several retailers such as www.aimsurplus.com sell the SAR-1 for $289.95 Add to that about $10 for shipping, and the $20-25 (or hopefully less) that your local FFL will charge you to perform the transfer and you get the price you should buy it for- about $325. That should include 2 30rd magazines and 1 10rder, along with sling and cleaning kit.
 
I own all 3 calibers. I like them all!

If you dislike milsurp (which I love by the way) and you are not going to hunt deer, I would stay away from the 30-06.
 
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