back-up rifle
 

I posted something similar a couple of months ago, but I got off track with school. Now I am out of school, and I am looking for a good back-up rifle. I have a 7mm mag, and it will take down anything that I hunt, but I want something smaller, with less kick, and cheap. I want to be fine sitting is the rain with it or banging it on a tree. I know I shouldn' t, but I hate messing my 7mm up. I am considering a .308, .243, and possibly even a 30-30. One are there any other calibers that I should consider. Two what makers make a decent inexpensive rifle. I am a college student, so I don' t have much extra cash. Also I don' t reload, so I need something that I can get ammo for easily. I have also thought of single shots. What do ya' ll think? I appreciate any help. Ya' ll are always great.

RE: back-up rifle
 

The 308 Win. sounds good. Good luck.

RE: back-up rifle
 

a 308 is a good chos but in a bugit i would look at a marlin 30\30 ammo is chep and its a good gun for whit tell good luck

RE: back-up rifle
 

savage model 10FCM " scout " rifle. in 7mm-08rem or 308win

RE: back-up rifle
 

A buddy and I have REALLY been pouring over this for the last month or so, he' s contemplating his next purchase for his first " back-up" deer rifle. (although I pointed out that his SKS that he just sold was a " back-up" whether he had considered it or not. His primary is a " bolt action" 6.5x55swe Mauser. He' s considering many of the same cartridges you are.

When I get a " back up rifle" I' m really just buying another deer rifle, because it' s far more often that I would fill a tag on one rifle, and want a different style hunt for the next tag, so my " back up" rifles aren' t really back ups, they are alternatives. It' s a rather rare occurance that a gun would fail to the point it would be un-huntable, but it' s extremely common that I want to change things up a bit, so my plan goes thusly:

Primary:Ruger Mark II M-77 .30-06 boltgun
Then: Norinco SKS Semiauto
OR: Marlin .45-70gov. 1895GS Levergun
OR: Marlin .44mag 1894 levergun
OR: Ruger Superblackhawk .44mag revolver
OR: ......

Each gun presents a different style of hunt, my primary can pretty much cover any scenario, while the " back-ups" are better suited to individual schemas, giving me a wide variety of hunts to enjoy, each quite different than the other.

Since you have a 7mm, why get another high velocity bolt action?? You don' t change your hunt at all by changing from a 7mm bolt to a .308bolt, the .243bolt doesn' t really change anything either, it' s quite capable out to 200yrds, which is the max reasonable range for most hunters anyway. I HATE dirty-30' s, however, in this case, of what you mentioned, I' d get one (I only dislike them because I' m so fond of its levergun counterparts the .44mag and .45-70, both of which promote extreme advantages over the .30-30.) If you' re open to advice, if you want a levergun (and every boy should have one, they' re just too much fun), then get it in .45-70, it' s more than stout enough to handle anything you may hunt, and the increase in recoil is minimal. The .30-30 is a great round, don' t get me wrong, it' s just playing out of it' s league, it' s better suited to short range/brush hunts, similar to the .44mag (which consumes less powder, kicks less, and holds twice as many rounds but gives similar or better results, especially with all lead bullets). If you want a levergun that will reach out and touch them, then the .45-70, .444marlin, or .450marlin are great for it.

Try a single shot, get a .45-70 buffalo classic from H&R 1871, it' s a WHOLE LOT of fun, and they are very cheap, plus, a single shot teaches the importance of shot placement, and gives that 19th century aire to your hunt.

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RE: back-up rifle
 

Savage sells a package that includes a synthetic stock rifle, bases, rings and a cheap scope for around $375 depending on where you buy. I would add a better scope but you can probably get by with the one sold with rifle. Get one in either 308 or 7mm-08 and you would have a decent foul weather rifle that doesn' t cost a mint.

RE: back-up rifle
 

Since you already own a 7mm mag, I would opt for the .243. You can use this round for groundhogs to antelope and big buck deer. Choose at least a 100 grain bullet of premium design. Nosler, Barnes, Sierra. I would skip the ballistic tips and go for a controlled exspansion design. Not to mess up your thought process but I have read and believe that a person needs a minimum of 4 rifles. 7mm Mag (dosen' t matter short,standard, or brand), .308, .243,.223. With this group you won' t be too overgunned or undergunned for anything on this contintent. Of course you could replace the .243 with the:6mm, 25-06,250 savage etc. the .308 with the 7mm-08,.270.280 etc. Sorry but nothing is as good as the .223 for gorundhogs and praire dogs. You could up the caliber of the 7mm mag, but unless you plan to shot dangerous game such as grizz nothing bigger is needed. Just my opinion not wanting to start a big caliber debate.:)

RE: back-up rifle
 

I' d get a .270 Win.

RE: back-up rifle
 

308 would do just fine;)

RE: back-up rifle
 

well out of the choices you mentioned above , i' de go for either a .308 or a .30-30

in a .308 i' de look at a savage model 11 , they are made in a synthetic stocked version and can take a beating and are also highly accurate.

in a .30-30 , i' de go for a winchester mainly because they offer a model 94 in that caliber in the ranger version , it' s got a hardwood stock ,
marlin also makes rifles that are weather resistant , like the 336ss , it' s a stainless steel rifle or the model 336cc , it' s got a hardwood stock , and the whole rifle is done in mossy oak camo.

those would all be good choices especially on a tight budget :D:D

RE: back-up rifle
 

Thanks guys I always get great advice on here, and I try to do the same, especially in fishing which I have a lot more experience in. Nomercy you had some interesting choices, and some of them I am not familiar with. I am definitely open to lever action and single shot rifles. My question is what price range are we talking about, and do any of ya' ll know where I could find any of these. Also is ammo available. Thanks.

RE: back-up rifle
 

I' ve not looked at the H&R prices on their single shot rifles in a long time, but they are quite cheap, I bought my W&R, which is now H&R 1871 for $200, I think new they are around $300, but I' m not certain, wally world had them last I looked, although I don' t condone buying guns from them. Used single shots, in either NEF or H&R (now the same company) are all over if you look, and many can be bought for $150.

I too am very concerned about ammo availability when I buy guns, I reload, but when a guy has to pay a dollar per empty brass, that' s still expensive. Every round I listed is fairly common, with probably at least two loads of each to be found at every store I go to, usually much more than two even. (.44mag, .444, .450, .45-70, .30-30)

The leverguns are a bit more expensive than the single shots for sure, however, at the right shop they aren' t bad, I bought a Marlin 1984 a while back for $425 in .44mag, and a marlin 1895GS in .45-70 for the same. The .444' s and .450' s are the same. The thing about the .44mag and the .45-70' s is that they are fairly common to find used at pawn shops, maybe not as much so as .30-30' s, but when you do they are similarly priced, $200 is a decent price on a good conditioned one.

Around here, at any decent gun shop at least two of those guns I mentioned were present, and I found all of them at one shop or another (I drove around to make sure for you!!) I usually order them in if they aren' t there and they can get them, if they try to charge you extra, just tell them the next time they order in a " shipment" to put one of what you want on the list, and you' ll buy it from them when they have it " in stock" then walk towards the door, they' ll knock off the order fee in a big hurry when you do that.

RE: back-up rifle
 

I really appreciate your help. I am very limited on my knowledge of hunting rifles, something that I hope to change, so your help is very much welcomed. I think I am going to try a single shot, since I' m a broke college student. I found some H&R' s online, but it says I have to have a signed current FFL. I have no idea where I can get one or even if I can. Seems like I have heard that you can have someone with a FFL order it for you, and pay them a fee, but I might be mistaken. If anyone knows how I can go about it let me know please. I found it at http://www.guwholesale.com/Rifles/Neweng.htm they have some for $169. Again thanks for the help

RE: back-up rifle
 

How about a ruger 77/44 . This is a 44 magnum bolt action with a 4 round clip in a synthetic stock and 18 1/2 inch barrel.

RE: back-up rifle
 

Ideally your backup rifle would be of the same action and handle similar to your main rifle. If you are looking for a 300 yard deer rifle with less recoil than the 7mm Rem Mag then look into a Savage 7mm-08 Rem. If you are really looking for a value in guns and don' t mind a different action type then H&R/NEF is now chambering the HandiRifle in 7mm-08 and it should be available this summer. I think they sell for around $275-300, maybe less depending on your area. As far as a 30-30 goes, you couldn' t give me one. I know I will catch heat but I feel that is a cartridge that should have been retired years ago. It is one dimensional and not even great at that.

RE: back-up rifle
 

I guess back-up rifle is probably not the best term. I want a secondary rifle. I like my 7mm mag, and it is perfect for the open fields that I hunt primarily, but there are a couple of places that I hunt that a 7mm mag is a little overkill. Plus, I just want another toy that has a different feel. My problem is that I don' t have much extra cash. If I was smart I would not even be talking about getting another gun, but I never said I was smart.

RE: back-up rifle
 

The NEF single shots sell at Walmart for about 200.00 bucks new. I have several. I am starting to lean toward the low pressure calibers in these guns. They are 22 hornet,223Rem 357 mag 44 mag 3030 and 45-70. They seem to shoot a little better than the others. Going a little higher and my choice with what you alredy have would be a 22-250 Synthetic 700 Rem. About 379.00 where I live.

RE: back-up rifle
 

Look at it this way, the 7mm you have will take anything on the NA continent. Do you anticipate varmint hunting or thick brush, your from GA, so I would imagine you hunt the swamps some. I would go with a lever action in 45-70 or 35 Remington for the thick brush, for the varmint and up I would look at a 243 or 25-06 giving the advantage to the 25-06. If you really want to be different then a 257 roberts is in order. Another consideration is a Remington 7600 pump action, though I haven' t shot one yet, I' ve heard good and bad about it. Being on the budget check out the pawn shops and buy used.

RE: back-up rifle
 

I am thinking about a H&R singleshot 44 mag. I think that it would be a fun gun to have, and shoot. A buddy of mine has a 25-06, and I really liked it when I shot it, but I think the 44 mag would be fun, and none of my buddies have one. Thanks guys. Probably going to be a while before I get it now though. My dad' s furniture store was flooded, so I don' t have a place to work this summer. Oh well I' ll get one before the season.

RE: back-up rifle
 

I also have a 7mm Mag. and worry about beating it up to bad. It is also long and cumbersome when I hunt in a climber or in some of the box stands. I bought a Winchester Lever action 44 Mag. from a pawn shop for $200 for my son. I will use this gun when I hunt in tight areas with short shots (<100 yards). I have shot it several times and it is a real treat compared to the heavy kicking 7mm Mag. (I weigh 155 lbs.). I would recommend it to anyone.

RE: back-up rifle
 

Don' t mean to really start something, just giving you a ribbing I guess....Complaining about the 7mm mag' s recoil is just complaining!!! Especially relating it to size!!

I' m only 165# at the present (" dressed" weight), and only bulk up to 175-180# during the summers (I wrestle, so " sucking weight" in the winter is a must), I guess I' m inured to high recoil rounds, as I' ve been shooting them since God knows when, my second deer rifle, and the second gun rifle I was allowed to handle (.22lr' s not included) was a .375H&H, my current battery displays a couple .416' s and several .45-70' s capable of handling loads pushing beyond the recoil of average 7mms. It' s all in your head!!!! Go hunt ducks with a 12ga and 3" mags for a while, I bet you don' t think your shoulder hurts that bad, but I guarantee your 7mm doesn' t generate as much recoil as your 12ga. You just need to learn to handle recoil, and probably shoot more often. And wear ear plugs and muffs, try that for a bench day and see how bad your shoulder hurts at the end, bet it' s not half as bad as if you don' t wear both, or any at all for that matter, as many folks don' t!!!

RE: back-up rifle
 

i vote for 308:D

RE: back-up rifle
 

As it seems your backup or secondary is actually a second primary I would have to agree with nomercy and recommend a 45-70. My first was an old H&R and it was great. If you want more than the single shot the Marlin lever guns are superb and a load of fun. Picking up that short range powerhouse will give you a well rounded variety coupled with your long range shooter.

Maine Hunter

RE: back-up rifle
 

you can get an 8MM mauser for little or nothing and it' s a powerful round for a back up.