Looking for a light, inexpensive 100 yard gun

[steveNChunter]

An SKS would be as fun as a barrel of monkeys for shooting tin cans at 100 yards. You can find a decent one for $300 and the milsurp or new manufacture steel-case ammo is dirt cheap. It will accept about any kind of sight you would want to put on it. They come with a wood stock so that's another plus for you.

A cheap used .223 bolt action with sights is another good option.

A pistol caliber carbine like the Kel-Tec or Hi-point in 9mm, .40, or .45 would do the job and are around $300 new I think.

 

[Johnny Falcon]

Ruger American is a great rifle that fits your requirements.

 

[SR420]

QuarterHorse I have fun with lever actions, mine happens to be in 45 Colt, but 30-30, .357, .44 mag, lots of options.
Besides, flipping that lever is so much fun! It's like I'm a kid watching cowboy movies!

+1

IMO, a .357 Mag lever gun that is capable of shooting .38s would be ideal.

 

[doofus47]

sks. tough, short, always functions; accessories and ammo are both available

 

[Colt46]

I'll add to the levergun idea

Might be a little more than the $300 you want to spend(unless used), but the .357 in a 6 lb 1892 is a perfect 100 yard gun.
Nothing wrong with a .223 bolt, but it seems like it's a little excessive for 100 yard work.

 

[FrankenMauser]

The Western Field 30-30's were Mossbreg 472-479, very close to a Marlin except for the trigger moving with the lever. Marlin made Glenfields are good 30-30's for less than the norm.

There were also .30-30s, .44s, and .35 Rems under the Western Field brand name, that were made by Marlin (on the 336 action).
...same thing for several other store brands.

Western Field, in particular, was notorious for changing manufacturers regularly (even with each new production run). So their ".30-30 levergun" offering was constantly changing, if they even had one. In addition, they often recycled model numbers. For example, over a 30 year period.... a Western Field "Model 50" can be a Browning-designed, Stevens-built pump action shotgun; or a re-branded Glennfield Model 60 semi-auto .22; or a re-branded bolt action single-shot Stevens .22.

The world of store-brand firearms is a nightmare to try to figure out.

 

[jaughtman]

Plus one for the lever gun!

A used Marlin or Winchester can usually be found around here for around or a hair under $300.....and they just look right with peep sights. I bought a Winchester 94 two years ago for $225 that had just about zero finish left on it, spent $14 on a Wonderblue kit, and now it is my truck/knock-around gun.

J

 

[coldbeer]

An M1 carbine sounds perfect for what you want too bad they cost a fortune. A lever action rifle in 357/44 magnum or 45 Colt is what I'd buy if I was looking for an accurate light and affordable 100 yard rifle with a peep site.

 

[Clark]

Jack O'Conner The Savage 219 is an exceptionally well built featherweight rifle. To mount a scope, the smith commonly solders a base into place.

Although this model went out of production over 40 years ago, they're still found at a number of websites such as GunBroker.

Good luck!
Jack

From reading De Haas' A Potpourri of Single Shot Rifles and Actions, I surmise:
The Savage 220 single barrel break shotgun started in 1937 and Savage then offered it with rifle barrels.
The 219 Rifle, 1938 - 1948, is the best with a striker.
The 219B Rifle 1959 - 1965, is second best, looks the same, but with an internal swing hammer
The 219C rifle 1965 - 1965, is almost the same as a 219B
The 219L Rifle 1965 - 1966, is the worst, "L" means side lever and stamped parts

Of the 219s I own, I would have to agree.
To take a 219L apart is to learn to hate it.