Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles I need a working rifle

You could try out one of those Remmy XCR's in 30-06 and see if that coating lives up to the hype. I drive a BDL SS 30-06 in a McSwirly with a VX-III 3.5-10x40 for the less than ideal conditions.

........... in 30/06 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />





How true!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Waders! you are the bird that ended up with my last stainless rifle. I sure could have used that thing yesterday. Oh well, I hope it is still shooting well for you.

I appreciate all the responses, and there were many recommendations that I hadn't even thought of. I am beginning to lean toward a Stainless Ruger 77mkII in .270 WCF.

I already have a .30-06, but it is a Browning BAR that was my Grandfather's, so it is out of the question for abuse.

I have owned several Rugers, and have had nothing but good experiences with them. I know others have had problems, but overall, I think that they are a quality piece and have a reputation for being sturdy.

The sick thought process went one step further this morning, when the idea came that I should just lay in a supply of remington Corelokts of the same lot number and once the Leupold is zeroed, then "no touchee!" (and no loadee).

Laziness. has to be it.

Ruger MK.II in .308 with barrel cut back to 19". I still get over 2800 fps with a 150 grain bullet and it's down right handy! The shorter, stiffer barrel even improved the accuracy a bit. 1" or less at 100 yds. Even though I got this one as a "rain gun", it is now the one I grab the most.

Ruger 77 LSS Compact in 7-08. This is my favorite "go to" gun for wet weather.
It's short enough that I can hold it horizontally and only have about 6" of gun poking out both sides of my raincoat.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Virgil B.

I'd second the recommendation for a Ruger M77 MK II synthetic in 30-06, or else 270 Win. or 280 Rem.

It's one heck of a tough, well-built, well-designed, weather-proof rifle, and the price is fair.

AD

That is a slick little set up. Thanks for the input. My mountain rifle is cut back to 20". They sure are handy.

I just bought your rifle, a Stevens Model 200 in 7mm-08.

The stevens rifles are a good buy, but I think my next rifle will be stainless. I am a 7mm/08 fan though.

Should I be in your shoes, I would be running a .308, I suspect you have a case or two rattling round in your trunk right now! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Remington Model 7 or 700 short in stainless should do the trick. Plenty of things that can be swapped out and improved upon later when the urge to tinker hits you!

You talk like you have seen inside my trunk.....That's right, you have!

I came to the same conclusion as a couple of other folks here--a Ruger "All Weather" M-77 MkII .30-06. I had to order it, and while waiting for it to arrive I had a bit of buyer's remorse--something along the lines of it being too "plain vanilla". However, now that I've used it a bit, I'm very happy with my choice. It fits all the practical requirements I wanted very well and while it doesn't have the soul of blue and walnut, it does have the appeal of a fine tool. (I wonder what a Snap-On rifle would look like?)

I do have another "working" rilfe that has a different sort of appeal--it's an old Savage 110. I installed one of those inexpensive barrels Midway sells; a .257 Roberts. I found a new "take-off" maple stock over on the Savage forum for $20, shipped. The grain of the wood even has some good figure to it. While I certainly don't abuse it, I'm not going to be heartbroken if the stock or metal gets dinged up. The best part is that it shoots very well indeed! So, I'm also in agreement with those recommending the Stevens 200. I was at the gunshow a couple of weeks ago and one of the dealers had 10 or 12 of the Model 200s for $269--a deer season special. He had all the standard calibers in short and long actions, even a 7-08. IMO it's hard to beat that rig for value. YMMV. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

A working rifle? Then it would have to be a Ruger M77 MK-II (stainless/synthetic). That's why this Ruger is a favorite Alaska-hunting rifle. The only big game rifle I have and use is one of such, but in .338WM. It often rains and snows during moose season, and sometimes my rifle is peppered with mud from my ATV's tires. I just cover the muzzle with a mini-baloon, and the scope is covered with a set of flip-up caps.

If you don't like the shiny stainless, you can always spray the barrel and receiver with some of the paints sold for this purposed. Besides, it should not be a problem to even tape one's working rifle with camouflage tape.

I remember a time when I placed the rifle on the tailgate of my truck, leaning against the topper I sometimes sleep in. I stepped down from the tailgate, and the rifle fell over the end of the tailgate. I saw the rifle bouncing off the tailgate in a slow motion, and the muzzle down like a spear stuck in the mud. The scope is a Leupold Vary-X III 2.5-8x, and it too has taken a lot of punishment. But both have never failed me once.