Best Rifle for me?
Hello, I am new to these forums but I wanna ask a question.
What is the best rifle all-round that is useful for hunting and home-defense?
I want a cheap rifle, within the 400$ range and I wanna know what is best and what caliber. If you could give me some info on why the caliber is best, that would be great.
What I hunt is deer and things of that nature, and I want it to be good enough to protect my house if necessary. Thank you.
What is the best rifle all-round that is useful for hunting and home-defense?
I want a cheap rifle, within the 400$ range and I wanna know what is best and what caliber. If you could give me some info on why the caliber is best, that would be great.
What I hunt is deer and things of that nature, and I want it to be good enough to protect my house if necessary. Thank you.
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Welcome to the forums, N2, I hope we can help.
My choice for you would be a semi-auto rifle in .44 magnum. This is ample for deer and more than enough for home defense. It is also not a high-powered rifle caliber, which will make it safer to shoot in a residential area if you need to. Here is a good example:
http://gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=20321161
I hope this helps. Make sure you can hunt with semi-auto rifles in your area.
Ben0 -
That is a good idea, get that Ruger carbine in .44 mag. Good deer rifle at under 100 yards.
It is the caliber Dirty Harry used, in a pistol, so if the bad guys come, just say "Make My Day."0 -
A ruger mini-30 would fit the order nicely if you can use a semi to hunt in your state. 0 -
Why not try a shotgun. They have made alot improvements in ammunition and the accuracy the guns. It not unheard to make 200 yard shot with the proper set up and enough practice. I can say there is nothing more chilling the the action of a smoothbore cycling 0 -
I would say go for a Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70. Using jacketed bullets in the 300 to 350 rain range is excellent for deer and could be used all the way up to Elk if that is something you would like to do down the line.
If you want it to double as a home defense rifle, you could buy 405 grain lead rounds for the trapdoor which would have much less of a tendency to penetrate walls and ruin someone elses day.
These are fairly light, easy handling guns and as I said would do great work all the way around dependant upon the prescribed use. Additionally, short of a pump 12 gauge, the sound of that lever gun racking one in the hole will generally give a bad guy sufficient cause for pause!
"When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
"Power corrupts...Absolute power corrupts absolutely"(Descartes?)
"History is written by winners"(Patton)
"You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
"There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)0 -
I know you asked about a rifle, however you may consider a 12 gauge (pump?) shotgun. If most of your deer hunting is 100 yards or less, you can use saboted slugs or buckshot out of a smooth barrel. For home personal defense almost any variety of bird shot should be adequate. The sound associated with the chambering a shell in a pump shotgun is a deterent in itself. Later on you could purchase a rifled barrel if you felt it was necessary. If close neighbors are an issue the bird shot will not pose the potential risk of collateral damage that any center fire rifle would. You can find a fine pump shotgun for less than $400.00. Good luck.
Worry is the interest humans pay on the debt of miscalculation.0 -
We can debate on cal. and what type of gun for quite a while. For the price range. I still say a shotgun will be the most versaitle fot the money.
darell neal0 -
I agree w/ 5x5. If a shotgun will fit the bill, then that is the way to go.
Ben0 -
12 GA PUMP OR SEMI AUTO WITH DUAL BARREL SET UP,SMOOTHBORE FOR HOME DEFENCE AND SMALL GAME HUNTING AND RIFLED BARREL FOR DEER AND UP CAN'T BEAT IT FOR A ONE GUN SPORTSMAN[:)]
Dewayne E. Geer0 -
Depending on distance he would shoot deer, I was going to suggest an SKS. Got enough to do a deer in at 100 yds. and plenty of pop doing close in work.
John
A friend will post your bail. A good friend will be sitting next to you in the cell saying, "man that was fun!"0 -
I'd like to add I'm a rather small fellow, around 5'11" and weight 120 - 130. So keep in mind, I am nervous shooting a 12 gauge, it is quite a large rifle and I'm quite a small fellow. 0 -
I would have to agree with the shotgunners.In the state i grew up in ,centerfire rifle was forbidden by law for deer hunting.My brother and i took an awful lot of deer,too.For home defense there is no comparison between pistol ,rifle and shotgun.No overpenetration issues which is good for neighbors.Much greater margin of error for accuracy which is good for you.Plus a bad guy would have to have a serious death wish to face you down when you throw down with your 12 ga.If he in fact does,then you can accomidate him[xx(] 0 -
You're not quite small but you are quite skinny. 0 -
I would go with the 7.62X39 or the 44mag. The are both a littel over kill for a home defence weapon. With the right ammo it should work. I use the .223. I do not hunt but it will do what I want it to do with in 300 yards. My 2 cents [8D]
Greg
Former Marine
A N G L I C O0 -
Ok.. I'm skinny. Now, how much would a good 7.62 cost? 0 -
N2shato: You can pick up a good SKS for under $200.00 a SAR3 for under $400.00. both use the 7.62X39 cartridge My 2 cents [8D]
I am not sure where you are so I am not sure if your local gunshop would have them. If you are in New Yourk or Kalifornia probably not. Call you gun shops and your pawn shops. Check here on GB to see the difference in price so that you will be informed before you purchase.
Greg
Former Marine
A N G L I C O0 -
You think a local gun shop would sell them or just online? 0 -
2 other rifles that use the 7.62x39 is the Ruger Mini 30 (semi-auto) and the CZ 452(bolt action) both are priced in the lower $400 range depending on model,
I would also look at the Marlin or winchester in 30-30 good deer rifles , ammo is pretty low cost, easy on the shoulder,
if you would post what area you are from maybe , some one from the forums would live closed enough to help you out0 -
I'd have to agree on the 12 gauge. However, if you want a rifle, a Chinese SKS is a good choice (used for $60, and shoot fine). Consider ammo price, as well. Any military cartridges will be cheaper (.223, .30-06, 7.62, and so on). Happy searching. 0 -
I live in Tennessee, I am pretty sure there are no bans on SKS's here but I am not 100% sure. I have a local gun shop down the road from my house, I will go there soon to check if they have one, and maybe if the guy is cool, he will special order one for me. 0 -
Hello:
With any luck on this "Hot Topic" I'll get the last word! I can't think of a good "home defense" rifle. You can buy 44 mag. The 44 will do the job on deer out to 150 yards; but I consider it a huge compromise. If you really want home defense, buy a pump shotgun. These can be purchased in a number of configurations (a shorter legal barrel length would be best; and are a great deal safer to discharge in a home than most high powered rifles. If you want an all around rifle, my vote goes to the 6mm or 243. These calibres are giant killers, and if you look at ballistics rival the 30-06 out to 250 yards. I wouldn't shoot a rifle in my home, and I wouldn't expect a shotgun or 44 mag. to do the job on deer at the 250 yard mark. A dependable pump 12 gauge for $100 and $300 on a real bolt action rifle. Your asking too much out of one gun; besides who wants to only own one gun?0 -
Don't worry about managing the 12ga, I'm the same size as you, it's not a problem. You will need instruction, regardless. I would not want a 7.62 for home defense. The bullet is going to keep on going, and poses significant risks to a neighborhood. My vote is still for a 12 ga or a .44mag. This may draw unpopular criticism, but I do not believe a beginner should start out with an assault rifle. They can be a slightly more complicated, and less forgiving weapon for a beginner.
Ben0
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