Rifle Selection Question

Hello all, An avid shotgunner for several years, I am finally buying a rifle other than a .22. Bird hunting and clay sports are going to remain my biggest interest, so I am not looking to buy several rifles. I don’t expect one rifle to be great at everything, but if it can be good at a fair percentage, I will be happy. I’m not going to buy anything cheapo, but I’m not going to go for top-of-the-line, either. Let’s think $$, not $ or $$$ I’ve been checking around, and think I’ve found what I’m looking for. However, there are still a couple of questions I would like to pose. The rifle I am looking at is the Remington 700 VS L-H (a composite stocked varmint rifle) in .308 Win. Oh, yeah, in cse you didn’t notice the model designation, The rifle must be left handed.

At 9 pounds, this is not a lightweight rifle. I’m reasonably sure it will top 10 lbs. once the scope is added. I’m not too trouble by that, as a heavy rifle will absorb a lot of recoil, but it brings up my first question. Just about all I’ve read or heard concerning deer, etc. hunting in Texas says it’s done from blinds. 10 pounds of rifle doesn’t really seem a problem there, but if there is a reasonable chance actual “hunting” as opposed to ambushing will be the way it’s done, a lighter rifle will definitely need to be considered. Is most of the hunting from blinds, or should I expect quite a bit of hiking?

Second, I chose .308 because I have heard and read mostly positive things about it. However, a wise friend has pointed out shot placement is more important than caliber. A dead deer doesn’t really care if it was dropped by a .308 or a .243. He has suggested a 25-06 as an alternative to the .308. Right now, I will tend to stick with the .308, just because I have convinced myself over the past year that’s what I would get when I got a rifle. However, I like to think I am not so stubborn that I will go against my “best interests” if there are compelling reasons to go with something other than .308. Let’s assume deer at the upper end of the game window, and prairie dogs at the bottom. Is there a more 'suitable' caliber than .308.

Thanks for your input, Jeff Dragons slain, Damsels rescued No dragon too small, No maiden too fair, No reward too large

Jeff,

You have already made the argument but your not listening to yourself. Accuracy should be your top concern at this time. You need a rifle that you can practice with and get good at shooting FIRST. A lot of people make the mistake of buying a belted magnum first because an experienced hunter tells them it's a great all around gun. Which...it is if you can shot it good...but if you have no experience shooting rifles and that's your first gun, your bound to develop a flinch which means you ain't gunna hit any game anyhow so who cares what caliber it is.

Now I'm not saying a .308 is a bad choice...or that it is not a good gun to learn to shoot. But there are other calibers that will cleanly take a white tail in Texas that are easier to shoot, easier to find over the counter ammo and lighter weight in case you do get to go hunting rather than ambushing (your comments, not mine...although I agree with them...but it was you who said it forst...lol).

A .243 is kinda small for those mulies that roam around Texas...so if that is an option for hunting, don't go .243. But man would that be a great gun to start learning to shoot well. NExt recommendation is not based on experience, but rather based on what I see on the shelves of every ammo store I have been too. .270. It's a good caliber...capable of taking elk and the ammo is readily available and cheap. I have never shot one or looked at balistic charts...all I'm saying is the ammo is available to practice.

But....308 is a good choice too...

How's that for advice? I didn't help you a bit, did I?

Jeff, If you're looking for a dual purpose varmint/deer rifle I recommend picking something lighter than the .308, such as the .243, .250 Savage, .257 Roberts, .25'06, .260 Remington, or just maybe the .270. But unless varminting is the vast majority of what you'll be doing and sitting in a stand is the only way you're going to hunt deer I recommend a general purpose rifle of conventional weight and length. With these lighter kicking rounds in a regular weight rifle recoil should not be a problem unless you find a really good dog town.

All that said there is another way to accomplish what you seek, and then some. Buy a Thompson/Center Encore rifle <http://www.tcarms.com/encrifle/index.html> in .308 now, then buy a .223 barrel when varminting actually happens. With these two rounds you can shoot (most) surplus, milspec, or whitebox ammo for less expensive practice. You can get the usual varmint rounds in a heavy 26 inch barrel, but most rounds are provided in a conventional weight 24 inch tube to make a more convenient walking around rifle. The rifle is ambidextrous, and is essentially a takedown for compact storage and convenient travel. It comes in blue or stainless, wood or synthetic. With the swipe of a credit card and the turn of the fore end screws it can become a 12, 20, or 28 gauge shotgun, a 209x50 or 209x45 inline muzzleloader, or a 10, 12, or 15 inch barreled handgun. Many combinations T/C does not catalogue can be had from the Custom Shop <http://www.foxridgeoutfitters.com/customshop/ index.html> or the many aftermarket suppliers <http://www.singleshooters.org/tclinks.htm> Good hunting! Michael

The rifle I am looking at is the Remington 700 VS L-H (a composite stocked varmint rifle) in .308 Win. At 9 pounds, this is not a lightweight rifle.

my first question - Just about all I’ve read or heard concerning deer, etc. hunting in Texas says it’s done from blinds. 10 pounds of rifle doesn’t really seem a problem there, but if there is a reasonable chance actual “hunting” as opposed to ambushing will be the way it’s done, a lighter rifle will definitely need to be considered. Is most of the hunting from blinds, or should I expect quite a bit of hiking?

Depends to large degree on where you plan to hunt - and the requirements/set-up on the ranch you hunt. Generally speaking, hunting in East and South Tx. is primarily from stands. Hunting in central Tx. is mixed. Hunting in West and North Tx. is more open and more walking is an option. In many of the stand hunting situations, there is 'usually' not a long walk (so a heavy rifle would be ok). With respect to all those who hunt from a blind/stand, I personally prefer to walk/still hunt as I find it more interesting.

As for the rifle, if there is any chance you will want to walk, I would purchase a lighter rifle - the Remington 700 ADL or BDL are good choices - but there are many others. As for caliber, 243 is on the light end but will work if deer is your biggest game. A 308 is fine. A 270 or 30-06 are probably the most versatile. You are correct - bullet placement is the most improtant requirement. If at all possible, find a friend who will let you shoot his/her gun at a range and try it to make sure the recoil is ok for the caliber you chose.

Good hunting.

..

A heavy-barreled .308 is really not a hunting rifle at all. It is a special-purpose target/sniper rifle. Even Remington's 'Varmint' designation is really inapplicable to the .308. . .unless you plan to hunt some awfully damn big varmints. For deer hunting just about anywhere that permits centerfire rifle, you would be much better served by a 6-8 lb rifle with an 18-22 inch barrel in any of the following: .260 Rem, 6.5x55 Swede, 7-08 Rem., 7x57, .308 Win, .257 Roberts, .25-06 Rem, .270 Win, .280 Rem or ..30-06. Assuming identically placed shots and quality bullets at 300 yards or less, there is not a deer on earth that could tell the difference between these rounds. 300 yards, by the way, is one hell of a ways away to shoot a

Well, you're going to pay a premium for the LH (I know from experience).

But you are on the right track with the Rem 700. Best value in an accurate hunting rifle and you can have everything 'tweaked' the way you want it (eg. the trigger) later on. Replacement/improvement parts are easy to find and therefore less expensive. With regard to the weight issue, you might look at the Mountain Rifle Rem 700 line. They are stocked with a better kevlar/fiberglas stock, have skeletonized bolts, lighter actions and weigh in at around 6.5 lbs., IIRC. They offer them in several calibers in LH. I would choose the .30-06 over the .308 for hunting, since I could load a 180 to 220 grain bullet for larger game (ie. elk, moose, bear) but the .308 will be fine for most North American game, so get what you like.