When to a family reunion and I started talking to my girlfriends uncle because he had seen my two old model vaqueros and asked me if I'd be interested in a trade for his Ruger 77 chambered in .270win. I shot it and it was a pretty good little rifle. He said i could have it scope and all for my two pistols. A day earlier his son and I were shooting my pistols and his M-1 (Military style in 30-06) and its a fun little rifle to shoot. And we started talking about a deal.

Now I have to mention here that I baught the 2 pistols alittle more than a year ago for cowboy action. I don't shoot cowboy action anymore for acouple reasons but the main reason being the rising cost of ammo and gas. I use my little lever action as a brush gun for deer and coyotes because only pistol cartridge rifles are allowed for deer rifles in indiana. I've been thinking about trading the pistols off for awhile now just because I don't use them. I was looking just go get a good big game rifle because I'm starting to save up to outwest for mule deer and or elk and then in the near future after that maybe moose, or caribu, or boar, or black bear and most definately wisconsin whitetails with my girlfriends family. Both rifles shoot well. The ruger has a scope while the m-1 doesn't. Ruger is a bolt action and M-1 is a semi-auto. Bottom line is I really like ruger but I'm not sure which would serve my needs better. Right now it would be a coyote rifle til I move somewhere that allows centerfire rifles in rifle cartridge. I'm looking at two extremely versital rounds and can't make up my mind. Give me your feed back.

side note: if this seems a little bit scatter its because i've just gotten done with a 10 drive.

First I would have to ask what the 2 pistols are worth, and then second I would have to ask what kind of scope is on the Ruger. I am looking at the values of the gun exchanges.... If that is not in any question, the Ruger is a wonderful rifle. I own an M77 Mark 2 Stainless / syn. in .308 and it is one of my most accurate rifles. They are very reliable.

I, for one, perfer bolt action rifles for most all hunting situations, but I will not turn down a shot with a Browning B.A.R. either ...., but in the end it will all come down to what YOU perfer and are most comfortable with.

But you asked for opinions, and I would say if you feel o.k. with the deal, go for the Ruger....

God Bless

MET

I also don't know the value of your pistols. The value of the Ruger though could be calculated if the scope is known.

The value of the M-1 is another matter. It could be worth as little as $400.00, or as much as a couple grand, depending on manufacture, condition, and matching numbers, etc.....

If I was gonna pick up a rifle for hunting it would be a bolt.
BUT, if you grab the M-1 and it is worth a bunch of dollars, you might be able to buy yourself more than a new hunting rifle of your own choice and style.

As much as I love them, unless the M1 has some collector value (already menitioned), I'd steer away from it if your intent is to hunt with it - unless you'd rather hunt over open sights and carry a very heavy (comparatively) rifle in the field.

A GOOD scope mount for the M1/M14/M1A is extremely expensive. Check your local laws as well regarding magazine capacity before you push a loaded M1 stripper clip into it. The M1 wasn't ever meant for hunting, and its design features show. Bolt-action rifles are much safer and simpler to operate.

Just curious... How expensive? Who makes the best mounts? I plan to scope my M1A. Just bought a scope this weekend, but haven't been to a shop that has mounts yet.

The scope that I'll get with it is a bushnell 6x but I would probably either switch to the scope that I have on my 357 puma with is a bushnell 3-9 power. As for what I can get for my pistols. I've seen em go for around $400 a piece but so far the best offer i've gotten was $275 for each. So I'm estimating the rifles value is probably more than $550 plus the scope i figure somewhere around $100-150 and the m-1 is in pretty good condition and shoots well so I don't figure the $700 he was askin was too bad.

Thanks for all the input guys. I think the biggest thing for me is i'm not sure how to choose between a a rifle chambered in 30-06 and 270 win but after thinkin about it, I'm thinkin the 270 is more up my alley but my biggest question is, I know the 270 will do any deer or preditor that i go after but will it be big enough for bear(black or griz), elk, caribu, wild boar, ect. because I'm thinkin sometime in the next few years thats what i'll go for.

So is the 270 win big enough?

ipsc - check your mailbox.

Indy - The .270 is adequate for black bear, provided you use the proper bullet and do your part putting it where you need it to go, just like anything else. It's a proven elk and caribou round, as well.

Not sure I'd be completely comfortable carrying it for grizzlies, especially the coastals. I know a couple of guys who've downed interior grizzlies with .270s, but seems just a bit too adventurous to me. I'd look at the .30-06 as a minimum caliber for grizzlies, but won't go so far as to say that it can't be done with a .270.

yea. if I am gonna go after griz i'd get something alittle bigger.

Point to consider....I don't know of anyplace that doesn't allow the use of a bolt action rifle that permits rifles to be used. But, just for instance, Pennsylvania does not permit the use of any automatic or semi-automatic centerfire rifle or shotgun to be used to hunt big game. So if you choose to hunt in an area that prohibits these weapons, I think you're out of luck with the M-1.

Another thing to consider is the weight of the M1, imagine luggin that thingaround a mountain chasing an elk. It may not seem that bad at the range but at 8000 feet climbing and dropping that M1 will give you a stroke.

Alot of elk are killed witha 270 every year, use premium bullets good shot placement and you should be fine.