What is the most important thing when selecting a rifle?
I do not mean calibre. Let's say that you have decided on a new rifle. What do you look for? We live and hunt in different places, and for different animals, so it's likely that there will be a wide swing of answers.
Consider this a Reader's Digest type of questionnaire. Here are seven considerations.
Rate your choice from most important to least important from this list.
1. Action type?
2. Barrel length?
3. Weight?
4. Overall length?
5. Stock material?
6. Overall appearance
7. Price?
Here is my rating. 1, 5, 2, 4, 6, 7, 3.
Some things to consider.
Action Type
Personally, I look for a bolt action or a single shot. In the picture, you can see a bolt action with a 23.7 inch barrel. Immediately above it, a single shot with a 26 inch barrel. This rifle is 4 inches shorter than the bolt action. Top, a 24 inch barrel for the single shot. You can get a longer barrel on a shorter length rifle. Would you choose a single shot over a bolt action? A single shot can save weight and increase bullet velocity. The only downside is chambering a quick second shot. Is that an honest consideration?
Barrel Length
As a general rule, longer barrels produce more velocity. Most bolt action rifles are sold with 22 inch barrels, but would you choose a rifle with a 26 inch barrel (if you could get one) for the extra horsepower? It's powder dependent, but is an extra 75 to 150 fps the most important thing to you? It might be, if you are looking at a 270, 280 or a magnum.
Weight
How important is a light rifle? Are you climbing hills or mountains? Walking long distances? Or sitting in a stand? Would you sacrifice accuracy or velocity for portability?
Overall Length
This is tied to weight. Some people like a short, light rifle. That's why lever rifles continue to be so popular. An 18 or 20 inch barrel is the cat's meow when you are dodging tree branches and other vegetation. Or is it?
Stock material
The material that cradles your action generates a lot of debate. Forgetting competition rifles, stock material can lighten your rifle, make it impervious to the weather and can be had in many colours and finishes. Or would you rather have wood or a laminate?
Overall Appearance
This is another topic that ties in closely to stock material. When you look for a rifle, would you sacrifice accuracy, velocity or velocity for a nice looking rifle? Do you believe that life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun?
Price
It's nice to say that you would buy a European drilling or custom rifle by a well known maker, but at the end of the day, does the bottom line decide it?
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Okay, it's gonna be tough, but can you put these seven things in order from most to least important?
I do not mean calibre. Let's say that you have decided on a new rifle. What do you look for? We live and hunt in different places, and for different animals, so it's likely that there will be a wide swing of answers.
Consider this a Reader's Digest type of questionnaire. Here are seven considerations.
Rate your choice from most important to least important from this list.
1. Action type?
2. Barrel length?
3. Weight?
4. Overall length?
5. Stock material?
6. Overall appearance
7. Price?
Here is my rating. 1, 5, 2, 4, 6, 7, 3.
Some things to consider.
Action Type
Personally, I look for a bolt action or a single shot. In the picture, you can see a bolt action with a 23.7 inch barrel. Immediately above it, a single shot with a 26 inch barrel. This rifle is 4 inches shorter than the bolt action. Top, a 24 inch barrel for the single shot. You can get a longer barrel on a shorter length rifle. Would you choose a single shot over a bolt action? A single shot can save weight and increase bullet velocity. The only downside is chambering a quick second shot. Is that an honest consideration?
Barrel Length
As a general rule, longer barrels produce more velocity. Most bolt action rifles are sold with 22 inch barrels, but would you choose a rifle with a 26 inch barrel (if you could get one) for the extra horsepower? It's powder dependent, but is an extra 75 to 150 fps the most important thing to you? It might be, if you are looking at a 270, 280 or a magnum.
Weight
How important is a light rifle? Are you climbing hills or mountains? Walking long distances? Or sitting in a stand? Would you sacrifice accuracy or velocity for portability?
Overall Length
This is tied to weight. Some people like a short, light rifle. That's why lever rifles continue to be so popular. An 18 or 20 inch barrel is the cat's meow when you are dodging tree branches and other vegetation. Or is it?
Stock material
The material that cradles your action generates a lot of debate. Forgetting competition rifles, stock material can lighten your rifle, make it impervious to the weather and can be had in many colours and finishes. Or would you rather have wood or a laminate?
Overall Appearance
This is another topic that ties in closely to stock material. When you look for a rifle, would you sacrifice accuracy, velocity or velocity for a nice looking rifle? Do you believe that life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun?
Price
It's nice to say that you would buy a European drilling or custom rifle by a well known maker, but at the end of the day, does the bottom line decide it?
---
Okay, it's gonna be tough, but can you put these seven things in order from most to least important?