Help Me Choose a Brush/Defense Rifle

Which Rifle?

  • Marlin 336

    Votes: 18 37.5%

  • Savage Hog Hunter

    Votes: 3 6.3%

  • Mossberg MVP Patrol

    Votes: 3 6.3%

  • SKS

    Votes: 7 14.6%

  • Other

    Votes: 17 35.4%
  • Total voters
    48
  • Poll closed .
M

Malcolm Reynolds

New member
I've been wanting to get into boar hunting for a while and I think I'm going to buy a rifle next week with this in mind. But I'd also like something to use as a brush deer rifle and even for defense in a SHTF type of situation (where I might want something more than my pistols or shotguns). This is new ground for me as I've only hunted with shotguns in the past. This would be the first rifle I've owned in a while.

Here are my criteria:
1. Must have iron sights
2. Must have decent capacity
3. Must be under $700

So far I've considered the Marlin 336, the Savage Hog Hunter, the Mossberg MVP Patrol, and an SKS. Any suggestions would be much appreciated, either in the form of a vote for one of these or for something else. Thanks!
 
How about a Marlin 1894 in 44 Magnum? It meets all your requirements, and is a few dollars shy of $500 online. Ammo is easy to find, something that must be considered in a SHTF situation, and Lee makes the Lee Loader for it and that can be carried in your BOB
 
Marlin or Winchester lever gun in the cartridge of your choosing. My idea of a brush gun is basically a short handy rifle, for example a carbine. One of my favorites is the long discontinued Ruger 44 Carbine. I want a rifle I can hold vertical by my side which won't drag the barrel on the ground and a rifle which I can come up quick with on target. Hog or deer sized game inside of 100 yards I like the 44 Magnum but choose a cartridge of your liking. I like the 44 Magnum as it is easy to match the rifle to a complimentary side arm if that ever trips your trigger. The 45 Colt I also see as a good choice and if you want more bang the 444 Marlin and 45-70 Government are also nice choices.

Ron
 
GP rifle

The multi roles you see your new rifle filling Make me think of the Scout Rifle concept. Whether or not your a fan of the scout concept, a short, light portable rifle, of ample caliber, highly reliable and durable, capable of multiple tasks, is basically what you are describing.

Of those on your list, the MVP patrol in .308 seems a likely choice. The Marlin 336 is a very close second. I've got a Savage Hog, and while I like the rifle alot, it is not really light, due to it's medium taper barrel. I've always been an SKS hater.
 
Since you mentioned defense, as in defense against humans possibly, the SKS if the winner. The other guns mentioned aren't much suitable to that role.
 
I have a thing for lever guns...

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Although it pains me to say this, short range, fairly large target(s), sort of handy to carry, decent mag capacity, and enough power to be noticed= SKS.
I would prefer a lever 44 mag but the slow reload kills it's other advantages. Compact bolt action has limited mag capacity and is slow to reload/cycle. 45/70 =same plus heavy recoil. 30/30 doesn't offer much more power/range and has similar limits.
 
Asking one gun to fill multiple roles is usually unsatisfying in the long run.

"The other guns mentioned aren't much suitable to that role (defensive)."

Ever seen somebody good with a lever gun on a combat course? I have.

I would suggest a short lever carbine as a viable compromise to your criteria. A 240 grain bullet over 22 grains of 2400 clocks 1980 FPS from the 16" barrel and it is very compact and fast handling.

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I voted, "Other": As in lever-action, 44 magnum. It has all the power of a 30-30, and while it gives up some long range trajectory, it gains about double the magazine capacity. I prefer the Marlin 1894. While my choice is the very similar 45 Colt, I do think that the 44 Magnum would probably be a better choice for most folks. Mine is a 14-shot Rifle, but I think the 10-shot Carbine would be just right for the purpose of this discussion. A viable alternative would be the same thing in 357 Magnum.
 
P.S., I see the Marlin 336 is getting the most votes so far. that makes sense to me. Of the listed choices, I would take a lever-action 30-30. You can get great receiver-mounted peep sights for Marlin lever-guns.
 
If you intend to put a rail on it for a scope, not the Hog Hunter.
I put a one-piece rail on the top of mine, and it makes it a bit of a pain to reload, since the Hog Hunter has a blind magazine.
 
Ammo is easy to find, something that must be considered in a SHTF situation
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First off, we don't do SHTF or TEOTWAWKI fantasies here on TFL. They can be entertaining, but there are other places on the web to play those games.

That being said, we do entertain serious discussion about realistic situations where the normal rule of law and order of business could be temporarily interrupted. Fire, flood, earthquake, hurricane, volcano, or people rioting like chimps, and their aftermath are acceptable topics. The base understanding is that law & order WILL return. No post apocalyptic fantasies, please.

so, does a certain caliber being easy to find matter that much???

I don't think so. Even if one is cut off from buying ammo the normal way for month (which I consider pretty extreme) is that going to matter??

Yes, if you don't have any ammo of your own, BEFORE the disaster. But if you don't have your own ammo, who's fault is that??

Don't count on being able to scrounge or salvage ammo, because, #1, its called LOOTING and people get shot for that...
#2 what makes you think any place that would have ammo will be deserted, and won't be picked clean well before you get there?
(if you get there early you are a looter!)
and #3, the more popular calibers will be the first ones taken, so odds are small you will be able to resupply during the duration of the emergency. (and even smaller you will be able to legally "resupply". Remember the rule of law will return and there is always the possibility you will have to answer for your actions.

Choose what suits your needs best, and supply yourself with enough to get through any reasonably forseeable tough times. Remember also that if the law is suspended (martial law) sales of all arms, ammo, and alcohol are legally suspended as well. So even if was physically available, you can't legally buy any.

Since you mentioned defense, as in defense against humans possibly, the SKS if the winner. The other guns mentioned aren't much suitable to that role.
Click to expand...

This is another point. There is a significant difference between justifiable self defense with a rifle and the fantasy of holding off gangs of mutant biker ninja poodles...

An SKS, or something similar, designed for infantry COMBAT will certainly serve. However, even though not optimized for combat, any sporting rifle will provide accurate shots out to ranges where justifiable self defense becomes a questionable matter.
 
Go to a pawn shop and find a Remington 760 pump rifle in such as .308 or 30-06. Add a apertures sight (and get rid of that rear leaf sight) and you are good to go. After market companies even make 10 shot mags!

Deaf
 
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