Help me pick a rifle.

V

Vermonter

New member
Here is what i would like. I need a compact, short, high caliber, and light gun for long scouting hikes. Recently while deer scouting i could have had a bear if i had a rifle.( shot was too long for a reliable handgun shot.)

The caliber should be able to reliably put down a bear. I would like to pick from one of the following options.

Left handed ruger gunsite scout rifle
A short lever gun possibly in 357 (because i could share 38 amm)

I would be willing to consider any caliber but it should be a lever or the gsr

Thanks for your time, Vermonter
 
The Ruger would be the better rifle, but that's in the eye of the beholder,(and if you got one you'd beholding it) I like the caliber, and the various usefullnes in general.
 
I would recomend the Little Ruger, I have a Similar rifle, but its the Frontier Model. Its not light though, but very sturdy, and feels good to carry.
The Gunsite Rifle would be very comfortable to carry while hiking.
The .308 cartridge still does quite well out of the short barrel.
 
.308 will be plenty enough for any of the bears we have running around our hills, Vermonter.

What kind of action is your preference? I have a Winchester 94 in 32 Win Special that I would trust to take down any bear around here, contingent on good shot placement of course

Cheers,

Another Vermonter
 
Forget the .357

Have a look at the Browning lever actions. They are magazine fed which means you can use "pointy" bullets and the mag is easily removed.
You can get this in .308 (or bigger )
.308 ammo is modestly priced, which means you can practice more than most of the BIG calibres.
The quality of Browning is first rate and it will be a gun to be proud of for years to come.

PS The 45-70 might be a bit too punishing but with a Limbsaver recoil pad it is livable. I love my Marlin 1895. Range 150Yds
Humbly Submitted Jd
 
I agree with C7AR15, a Browning lever .308 is a fine rifle.

.45-70 is a bit of overkill for any critters we have in VT, except maybe some people. You want something that is hot enough, but ammo doesn't cost a fortune (in case you don't reload) and is easy to find.

Don't have to worry so much about the left-handedness with levers, either. The safety location is the only issue.

I love lever guns. Now Hornady is making the "lever revolution" ammo, you can use pointy bullets in your tube mags too. ;)
 
leaning towards gsr

So sparks what neck of the woods are you in? Hope your home is intact after our flooding here.
Seems like those here are leaning ruger way anyone know where ican fine a lefty?

I would still consider a lever gun so i could have a revolver and a rifle in the same caliber. Anyone have additional suggestions?
 
I'm up in Franklin county, we weren't too badly affected by the flooding here.

Nothing like folks in the central/southern areas.

Good luck with that rifle search, I hope you find something you really love. :)
 
im in killington

Glad to hear ur up north. This was starting to be a real shtf situation here not a fictional one on the forum. I am really lookig hard at that gsr.
 
I hope you are OK where you are.

Seek one of those out, only way you'll know if you will bond with a weapon is to get it in your hands.

I just picked up a Ruger PC9 last Friday, only put a magazine through before a competition match kicked me off the range. Nice little rifle if the SHTF, compliments my other 9s. Not quite enough oomph for a large bear however. Had been lusting after one of these for a long time.
 
Here is an idea that although not a lever gun would fit the bill otherwise.... a Remington 760 pump. They have either a carbine length barrel (18") or a longer rifle barrel. Several rifle calibers available. I have both a .270 and 30-06. Both mine are 1960's era vintage. Out of production but still available on GB and other sites. I use my -06 carbine for night hog hunts.
 
I would still consider a lever gun so i could have a revolver and a rifle in the same caliber. Anyone have additional suggestions?
Click to expand...

Nice idea but you would be hard pressed to take a bear down with a 357 mag, more likely you would have a better chance with a 44 mag loaded to the hilt with heavy powder and bullet. But that might prove a problem with a side arm though GP-100s are pretty strong. Many use them in Alaska for bear protection along with 464's and 500 S&W.

Just pick on a small bear 450 lbs or so.(LOL)
Jim

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/lee_marlin44.htm
 
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Yeah, lever for brown bear particularly I'd say leave the .357 pistol home and only use such a rifle if that's all ya got. Get .44 mags...
 
It's Vermont kids, so no brown bear.

Forget about what round the rifle is in. If it'll kill Bambi, it'll kill Yogi.

I like the Ruger. But you should try on some bolt actions for size.

A Marlin 336 is always a good choice.

Pistol caliber lever actions give up a bit of range compared to rifle calibers. If the distances you plan to shoot are inside that range limitation they'll do ok.
 
Remington 660 in .350 magnum or equivalent. .357 is a little light for bear. Had a brother who was a bear hunter who said a .357 was alright if the bear was at your throat and you didn't want to feel pain. .44 magnum or .454 Casull or 45-70 would be better medicine.
 
thanks

Keep the suggestions coming i love it. Sparks, my personal home is ok but it got uguly here for a spell.

Twobit, i hadent thought of a rifle caliber pump. May be tough to find but good call. Gb is tough for me because i never buy a gun without touching it first.
Someone commented that a pistol caliber carbine will loose some range. Can anyone comment on the balistics of a. 44 for example in a carbine?

This is such a great place. I cant exactly have these discuasions at the water cooler because well there is no water cooler.

Thanks, vermonter
 
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