[Hudge]

Ok, I am getting atax return for the forst time in several years from the state. The wife is getting part of it for her business trip and coat to take with her, and I am allowed a new rifle. My limit may be roughly $300. Right now, I am thinking either a 17HMR, or a .223, or .308. My goal is to have a cheap rifle to shoot, and also use it for hunting. The 17 would be used for squirrel and rabbit, where as the .223 or .308 for deer and target with the cheaper surplus amm (no, I won't hunt deer with surplus ammo). If you were me, tell me what you would buy and why. I know which way I am leaning at the moment, but that may change in two weeks when I get that money in the bank account.

My MAIN purpose for this new rifle is target shooting with a caliber I have been wanting, with hunting a distant second as I have other guns I usefor squirrel, rabbit, and deer.

 

[possum]

man why don't you make it difficult.:smack:

I've got a .17HMR and absolutely love it but it's a bit much for squirrel and probably rabbit with anything other than a head shot. But you want to talk about accurate right out of the box and I just got the little cheap $200.00 Savage, I've popped crows out in the 275/280 yard range and yes it took a while to figure out the hold over but it's shooting 1" groups @ 150 where it is sighted in at.

Never had the other two but have shot several .308's and they just seem to be inherently accurate.

.223 never even squeezed the trigger on one. :frown:


Myself, I'd lean toward the 17

 

[factory909]

i really like the looks of the new Marlin XL7, I believe they are priced around there. Stevens Model 200's are priced right, and so are the Mossberg ATR 100s.
f909

 

[squirrel hunter]

look at a saiga .223 or .308. they are based on the AK, but they are sport rifles. the .223 and 7.62x39 are about 300$ but the .308 is a little higher. i looked at a saiga .223 before i got my WASR 10 (romanian AK). they would be fun to shoot and from what i gather, pretty accurate. I believe they are made in russia, but im not sure. people run down the ak for accuracy, but even as rough as my romanian is it stacks the bullet holes at 100 yards with it's 4x12x40 bushnell. one thing about the .308 though, it offers alot more power than the .223. you may even want to look at a saiga 7.62x39. the 39 makes quite a bit of power inside 100 yards.

 

[jimmyh]

How'd ya get a tax return.

 

[Hudge]

I paid in WAY TOO much, as I forgot to adjust my taxes from when my wife was an independent contractor and we had to pay in taxes. That and I was tax free for 7 months while deployed, so I was POOR this year. :biggrin:

 

[John Stiles]

Hudge, you may already know that 223 is a very accurate calibre, well qualified for any hunting from varmints to deer, and an excellent piece on the range as well. I'm partial to .308 because I fired about a million of those, but I cut my military teeth on an M16 A1. I wouldn't even blink at the HMR.17...not very economical....but a good'ole mossburg 12ga is the taker of all things game!:thumb:

 

[possum]

I wouldn't even blink at the HMR.17...not very economical

John, explain that one please.

 

[John Stiles]

Well....in my feeble way of thinking, it's the way other end from the mossberg 12ga!:biggrin:

 

[possum]

While that may be true I didn't see that one in his list. :biggrin:

 

[John Stiles]

While that may be true I didn't see that one in his list. :biggrin:

Naw, I know it...I sliped it in!:thumb:

 

[reflex1]

Since I already have a Winchester .308 and a Remington .17 HMR - I would opt for the .223!

 

[Mr. Chitlin]

You know what they say about opinions, they are like armpits, everyone has a couple, most stink...

With your options, and since target shooting is your primary goal, unless you reload, the 223 and 308 can become fairly expensive to shoot. From what I am hearing, 5.56 FMJ is now running ~$500 per case of 1000. 308 FMJ is running about the same. If you don't reload, I could see those getting shot a few times and then put in the safe. Also, recoil can become a factor with the 308.

17 HMR isn't cheap, either, at ~$10 per box of 50, but it is still cheaper than the centerfires at 20 cents per round vs 50 cents per shot. Now if you reload, 223 all the way!! I shoot ~10K rounds of 223 per year, and I load them for ~$75/K. The only thing cheaper than this is 22 long rifle.

Have you considered a 22 rifle?? You can shoot 1000 rounds for about 20 dollars.

 

[johnf]

I would go 308 in case I ever wanted a gun to elk hunt with. 223 is marginal for deer. If ammo cost is close to the same I think I would opt for more power.

 

[JR1]

You'll probably have a lot more fun with the .17, its cheaper to shoot, it has that "wow" factor with accuracy, and it is fun to shoot (did I say that already?). FMJ makes an awesome round for squirrel and rabbit. Or take only head shots, and it is beyond capable of this at very surprising distances.

You will be a little undergunned for predators, but then again, you can use a .17 on WMA's where you can't use a centerfire.

I've got both, and unless I was looking specifically for a centerfire to target shoot with, I'd take another .17 in a heartbeat. As for the .308....unless you need something to take deer with, you really won't realize anything with that until you start putting targets waayyyyy out there.

 

[Hudge]

Mr. Chiltin,

I know everyone has opnions, that is why I went with maybe at the end!:thumb: I already have a 22, so I don't want another one at this point. Right now the 17HMR is tops on the list with the .223 in second place. I am going to look at a couple different places this week to see what they have in my price range that intrigues me.

John,

I've got several different gauges, shotguns really do nothing for me. I like my rifles a LOT more. Now come turkey season the 870 will get some use.

 

[Bruin]

For a modest amount of money you could build one of these.

I built this one from an old beat up 1983 Ruger 10/22.

It's cheap to shoot, deadly on Rabbits and Tree Rats., and with proper aim, and shot placement, Will Kill Hogs, Deer, and anything else that walks (or fly's for that matter) in Arkansas. Opps, did I say Deer??

 

[reflex1]

Chitlin - where you getting .17 HMR for $10 box? Gander Mtn and Ft Thompson sell theirs for anywhere from $15 to $20!

 

[Mr. Chitlin]

Online, brotha. :thumb: Heck, even Wally World has it for under $13 per box.

 

[Mr. Chitlin]

Right now the 17HMR is tops on the list with the .223 in second place. I am going to look at a couple different places this week to see what they have in my price range that intrigues me.

I happened to notice a heavy barreled blue Marlin 17 at Wal Mart today for $209. That and a decent scope should keep you in your price range.