I'm gonna try to make this as short and not whiney as possible lol. I had to sell 3 rifles in the spring of last year due to losing my job at UPS, I was off work for a good while but once my grievance was finally heard I ended up getting my job back and all has been good since. So fast forward. Hunting season is fast approaching and the rifles I sold were my 700s. Left me without my 2 that I use for deer season and my 221fb that I use for cats and coyotes. I really hated to sell but it was either that or my some of my Muskie rods, reels and tackle....so the guns had to go.
Im doing good with finances again, but I'm still short on my rifles. I'm still not ready to drop the amount of $$$ I had tied up in these 3 but I do need something to get me through deer season and predator season until I get my tax returns and can start building back up.
I hate the look and feel of most of those entry level rifles and really don't care for plastic stocks but I think I'm gonna just have to deal with it for this year. I'm Thinking of a ruger American in .243 and maybe topping it with a vx1? Maybe picking up a used 700adl for roughly the same price? What would you guys so if you were in my shoes? I'm not a big .243 fan but that's about as dual purpose as anything and should be easy to resell later on.
Although that is a pretty good deal and I'm a big 30-06 fan.
I've hunted a great deal with the 30-06 and a little with the 308. I'm just getting to the point where I'm wanting a smaller cartridge since our deer are a bit on the smallish side. Burn a little less powder, little less recoil, etc etc
There is a reason the marlin is $200. Get the rar and have fun.
I'd be interested in hearing those reasons. I don't see much functional difference between the RAR and the XS7. I have an X7 in 223 that shoots very well.
The PSA Marlin XS7s for $200 is a killer deal! I have a bunch of these rifles and they are very accurate. $200 for the XS7, $200 for a VX1 3-9x40 from Natchez, and somewhere between $15 and $50 for a set of Weaver-style rings to mount on the one-piece base that comes installed on the Marlin.
I wish that I'd waited to buy my XS7s from PSA when they dropped to $200 per unit. I paid $250 per unit and felt that it was a really good deal, but $200 per unit is SMOKING HOT!
Don't over thnk it, just get something to get you through the short term and then rebuild slowly and thoughtfully when you can. A used whatever might give you trouble when you can least afford it. I think a .243 is a good choice. I finally bought one last year after thinking about it for 40 years or so and could very well get by with it alone if I had to. Without any direct experience with either, I like the Marlin because I dislike detachable mags on bolt guns, but the boys do seem to love their RARs too. Don't overlook Amazon when scope shopping. They have the VX-1 3-9 for $195 and shippng should be free. They also have a good selection of mounts.
I've tried several and think the RAR is the best deal on a budget gun. I think they are best in short actions. A 6.25 lb 30-06 is just too light for most people. The 308 or 7-08 is a better option in my opinion.
The Predator with a slightly heavier barrel is only slightly more and they seem to be more accurate. I have a compact in 223 and the Predator in 308. Both are shooters, especially the Predator.
Ruger American is not a bad idea. Could also try the Marlin XS7 in 243. Palmetto State Armory had them for $200 last week.
Yesp, same barrel threads as the standard small shank savage. I love mine, turned one into a Creedmoor. Anyone tells you they are junk, never owned one.
From a quick search it appears a 223 is legal for deer in Kentucky. A 223 kills a deer without any problems. The same chambering would be good for cats and totes. Or a 22-250. RARs are twisted correctly for the 22s.
I have killed a couple deer with the .223. Standard 55grain soft point. Also loaded a 50g Sierra soft point for my 221 a few years ago and killed a little 8 point with it lol....would have thought you hit him with Thor's hammer.
I just got a 223 in a tikka, I held the ruger American side by side, and there is simply no comparison. The ruger felt like it had sand on the action. Sure ruger is a great entry rifle, I just don't care for it if I have little extra cash to spend. There was or maybe is a steal on here for a TC venture in 06. They are shooters and great smooth action. That's just me. I'm sure you'll be happy with ruger, they are popular for a reason.
A short action RAR with a 3-9 vx1 is going to be tough to beat in the new rifle market. You "might" find a military sporter with an old redfield for the same money.
"I hate the look and feel of most of those entry level rifles and really don't care for plastic stocks...."
KY221,
Felt the same way and was disgusted when Ruger came out with the RAR. Then I needed a suppressor host, couldn't find a Remington (due mostly to the trigger recall) so I picked up a RAR Predator in 308. I like it a lot, extremely accurate, like the tang safety, nice & light (which is a consideration when putting the additional weight of a suppressor on a rifle). Going to pick up the RAR Ranch version in 300 BO next.
The RAR Predator comes in 6.5 Creedmoor, might give that cartridge a look, has a 22 inch barrel I believe.
There is a reason the marlin is $200. Get the rar and have fun.
I'd be interested in hearing those reasons. I don't see much functional difference between the RAR and the XS7. I have an X7 in 223 that shoots very well.
Agreed. I picked up a 243 XS7 (stainless) for a truck gun. Installed a Weaver VX9 on sale for $119 from Natchez and loaded up some 100 SGKs over N160 that I used for nothing else, just to use it. The gun has yet to shoot that load over an inch and shoots 85 TSXs and 85 NPs almost as well over Varget.
It's no gem, but I don't care if I beat briars out of the way with it to get where I'm going, or hand it to anyone for a loaner on the farm. It's a a real value.
Although that is a pretty good deal and I'm a big 30-06 fan.
I've hunted a great deal with the 30-06 and a little with the 308. I'm just getting to the point where I'm wanting a smaller cartridge since our deer are a bit on the smallish side. Burn a little less powder, little less recoil, etc etc
cdnnsports has Rugers in .204, .223, .22-250, .243, .25-06, .270, 7mm-08, .280 and 7mm RM also.
As well as .300, .300RCM, .338W, .338RCM, .375 Ruger.
PSA is out of the Marlin XS7s in 243, so that is no longer a $200 option.
I know that a lot of people dislike Wal-Mart, but they have youth model Remington 700 ADL(?) in 243 for $380+/- with a throwaway 3-9x40 scope and Weaver-style rings.
I'd find me a 257Roberts even if I had to pay a little more. Great deer rifle and a great varmit round. You can keep this gun in your arsenal forever. Thank me after your purchase. powdr
Actually for deer hunting in Kentucky if I could only have one rifle it would be my muzzleloader. We have 3 seasons a early ML a 10 -15 day regular gun season in most zones and a additional week long ML season in Dec. Frankly until about 5 years ago my longest shot had been with my ML at about 125 yds. Easily 90% of my shots have been under 100yds. So a ML is really not much of a handicap. I can also relate that coyotes don't seem to care for them either. So I would probably look for a nice clean New Englander or Renagade and use it for all three seasons.
Some really good suggestions here.. Thanks guys. Most people seem to really like their RAR. I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for a 700 ADL first because then I wouldn't have to resell, then buy a 700 later. I could just modify to my liking as I go. If I can't score a good deal on a 700 by November, it looks like the RAR will be getting the nod....
Not long after I bought my S&W 1500 back in '83 the synthetic stock craze started. Since there were no aftermarket stocks,or anything else as far as that goes, for the Howa at that time the gunsmith used a Brown Precision for a Sako.
Despite my advice to get a good muzzleloader I would also mention that you are also in KY so don't forget you are just an afternoon drive from Whitaker and Buds. Either should be able to easily fix you up with a nice Howa for the same $ as a RAR . I will also venture that given your parameters of deer and varmints in Kentucky a good 243 would be hard to beat.
Here's an update for you guys. Made it down to the gunshop today. Handled the ruger American and man I just can't warm up to the plastic and the feel of the action. Just loooks and feels flimsy all over. Nothing against the RAR, I can't warm to the feel of a m70 or m77 either. I'm a m700 guy at heart. I'm gonna hold out and just find a 700 in a chambering that I want.
Grab yourself a Ruger American in .243 and buy two boxes of Federal Fusions.
Mount glass to your taste.
Get zeroed and fill the freezer.
One other rifle you might want to consider, is the TC Venture. They have a pretty nice rebate on them right now, and if you can stand the looks, I hear that they are very good shooters.
Can't do it man lol. I really didn't care for the way it felt to me. I haven't bought factory ammo since I was a freshman in High school I also had a venture in 22-250 when they first came out. Was the biggest piece of junk I've ever owned. Would never own another Tc product.
I also had a venture in 22-250 when they first came out. Was the biggest piece of junk I've ever owned. Would never own another Tc product.