Deep Woods Hunting Rifle

The Ruger is a little more coin than the others though, I can get the Remington M7 about a $100.00 cheaper, that is a good chunk of change to me especially in these times.

Thank you guys for all your help!

Keep your comments coming, I am always looking and researching, trying to get the best bang for my buck.
 
next best step up from the Ruger's 16.5" barrel is....

Savage 11/111 Lightweight Hunter.... 20" blue wood ....5,5 lbs, clip

Savage 16/116 FSS ..22" Stainless, synthetic, 6.5 lbs ...and an internal box that is always there...
 
I would choose the Model 7 or the Savage over the Ruger. The ones Ive handled have been hit or miss in the accuracy dept. I have a Model 7 in 308 that Ive had for almost 20 years. If I had to pick just one rifle to hunt with , that would be my choice. They're not target rifles but more than accurate enough to hunt with.
If youre on a tight budget for a scope, Id cruise the net for one of the Nikon Monarch UCC 3-9 x 40 scopes. You can usually find find them NIB for a couple hundred bucks. Second choice for a budget scope would be one of the Redfield by Leupold.
 
At what sort of range do your shots come?
If you're going to shoot at 200 or more, I'd follow the above advice and get a 308 or 7mm-08.
If you're in really, really deep woods, do an AR with an assault rifle upper. It's short and light. When I hunt really dark woods (50-75 yards visibility), I use my 7.62x39 upper on a CavArms lower--6.5 lbs empty. 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel would be equally ok choices also, although plinking is more expensive. Additionally, those more modern calibers would be able to reach out to 200+ yards very effectively while the x39 can't.
Just sayin'.
 
Ruger rings

Ruger's integral scope mount and rings are good and solid, IMHO as good or better than anything else on the market. Keep that in mind when price shopping. Add the cost of scope mount and rings to another brand rifle.
 
Steep and thick = light rifle and 100 yards range = cheap and readily available ammo = Nothing exotic but highly effective for over a century = A classic deer rifle = Marlin 336 in 30-30.
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If your goal is to look like John Wayne, buy a lever. If you want a good hunting rifle get a bolt gun. The Model 7 you are looking at is smaller, much lighter, much more accurate, more powerful, much more reliable, can get off aimed repeat shots just as fast, and can be purchased for less money.

How much velocity would you loose with the 16" barrel in 7mm-08?
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At 100 yards not enough to matter, but who says you will never get a longer shot. I like short handy rifles, but wouldn't want less than 20". I've never found 22" to be too much. Not only will you keep the velocity up, the gun will be much quieter and enjoyable to shoot.

How about the Ruger
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I actually like Rugers a lot. They are near the top of my list and normally would be ranked above Remington, but Rugers, even their compact models are NOT light. They have among the heaviest actions. Screwing a thin, short barrel on them makes them a little lighter, but at the expense of performance. Other guns, with a lighter action can keep the weight down while still givng you a longer, thicker barrel which helps you shoot.

looking at about $200.00 for optics).
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Look at the Burris Fullfield II. They have introduced a new version that is selling for about $199 for a 3-9X40. I actually like the older version just as well and they are discounting them now for $179, $139 for the 2-7X32 model. I would be tempted to save the money and a little weight going 2-7X. Don't put a big heavy scope on a lightweight rifle. The Talley lightweight mounts are what you want as well. They only weigh 2.5 oz. compared to 6-8 oz for most steel rings and bases. They are actually stronger since the rings and bases are 1 piece made together.
 
A neighbor's Rem Model 7 loves 140 grain Core-Locts and groups them under 3/4" at 100 yards. I'm really impressed with the rifle and the owner absolutely loves it.
 
I live in WV and it doesn't matter what kind of caliber you use. Some use .223 calibers and some use .45-70 guns. Just depends on the shooter. I have a .243 Savage model 110 and love it. But on the rainy days I'm gonna start using a 45-70 with open sights. If you hunt where there's a lot a brush and trees, then you should only use soft point bullets, no hollow points and no ballistic tips. Ever seen one of those steel spinning targets? Ive seen a 30-30 with 150 grain Winchester lead points put a hole in one at 80 yards. It was 3/8ths thick and was rated for a .44 mag. So I'm a firm believer in using lead points when hunting. In a perfect world you wouldn't need them, but good luck shooting a deer that's standing behind brush without them.
 
Will be using soft points, I learned that lesson the hard way one year.

I received an email back from Thompson Center on their venture weathershield rifle, it is actually a little shorter than the regular blued venture model, the OAL length on the weathershield model is 39 1/4", which is nice and short but it still has a 22" barrel and only weighs 7 pounds.

I read good things about this rifle as well, any of you guys have experience with these?

Thanks!
 
I hunt deer in thick East Texas woods with a Ruger Frontier in .308. I shimmed the stock, added a packmyer, and mounted a Leupold VX2 3X9X40 over the reciever. Its a good deep woods gun but still lethal within 300 yards or so.
 
buy the savage. i can't say enough about their rifles. the exact same gun cost 2 grand i'd still buy it. they're that great. tough and accurate.
 
I've had good luck with my 44 MAG carbine.

Jack

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I got a Ruger Compact SS Laminate in 260 while they were available. Great trigger and MOA with the preferred 129 Hornadys. I really like the 3 position safety in a tight space rifle. In 708, you won't give up anything in velocity to the 20" 700.
 
I am looking real hard between the Ruger Compact and Remington M7 of course the caliber will be 7mm-08. I just wish I could go handle both models.

I am also pretty sure about the Burris Fullfied II scope.

I really appreciate all the help from you guys, so far seems like a great forum that I look forward to being in.

Thanks
 
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