Hi all!

I'm returning to hunting after a 15 year sabatical of living in the city and having kids. I need some gun input.

I live in Baton Rouge, LA, and recently visited some family just east of the Homochitto Nat. Forest in Mississippi. (Nice deer in those parts!) There, I received an open invatation to hunt 80 unhunted acres of private bottom, overcut and hardwoods that are surrounded by heavily hunted land. No one else will be hunting there. Sign is everywhere, and all I need now is a gun, some camo, and a freezer.

Since the main purpose is to get meat in the freezer (of course I'll have a blast too), I have to do this as cheap as possible. I need something that I can use for stalking, and still hunting in the woods and the overcut where a 100 yard shot will not be out of the question.

My gun has to be rugged, versatile, and CHEAP...with widely available ammo too, cause I'll need a LOT of target practice. (Right now, all I own is my grandfather's old Remington Speedmaster.)

My budget...please don't laugh...$200 or less.

I have seen some inexpensive military rifles from yesteryear, but I honestly know very little of what is what when you get away from standard "american" calibers.

I have also seen some Marlin 336s in that price range. Sorry about the novel.

Since I'm clueless, any and all suggestions will be valued.

BTW...GREAT site!

Save your rubles a bit longer and buy a savage package rifle in .270 or 30-06. The latter will give you the most versitility in factory ammo, and will keep the cost down.

Only problem is that I'm a bit intimidated by scopes. they are high-maintenance and not as versatile...unless you spend money on a good one. I would almost rather a good set of open sights.

Find a good used 336 or win 94. in 30-30 or 35 remingtion.

they go fror around that price rnage

The nef handie rifle is also in that price range its a single shot.

you can get it in a number of sutibal caratages.

A Marlin Model 336 in 30-30 Win. will do the job. Good luck.

well for the price range, and heavy cover, the marlin 336 with open sights would do fine in my opinion too. As long as your comfortable with that it wont be a problem. You can always add a scope later if you wanted one. Anything to get you back in the woods is a plus

I suppose i sort of feel the same way about scopes. Thats why I had a set of Williams Fire sights installed on a .300 I had a while back. Maybe check out the used gun market around your neck of the woods. You may find a good deal on a decent rifle. Since you were asking about old war guns, try to find a good shape springfield. They were 30-06, so ammo is cheap, good quality, because lots of customs are still uilt on that action. And best of all, I bet they can be had for reasonable prices. If they are anything the the old Enfields are like up here, they sell pretty cheap.

For your budget, I think you will do well with a used rifle. I like the marlin levers, 30/30 on up to 45/70. You'll find bolts out there too, just look a used gun over before you buy it. Check out the bore, compare to a new gun. If it looks good, it will probably shoot good. Maybe consider a shotgun if you want a multipurpose gun.

possibly check out gunbroker.com after you decide on a gun