What recommendations do you make for a rifle

[amazingflapjack]

In the mountains of Virginia, or west Virginia, it is a rare thing to get a realistic shot of more than about 50 yards, with a typical max of 100. What works there, and has for a long time, is a short barreled lever gun in 30-30, the quintesential brush gun. If he likes bolt guns, the .243 is a great choice, and as Richard suggested, it's hard to beat the Savage with an accu-trigger. Having said that, there are good reports from Mossberg rifles, and the new Ruger "American" as well. As for a scope, I like a long eye relief 1 1/2 or 2 power scope on a forward mount on any of these guns, there's just a lot of advantages to that set up. A forward mounted red dot is another good option, in my view. If he can't but a new gun, it might be a good idea to look around for something locally, hopefuly establishing a relationship as well. Flapjack.

 

[Badquaker]

It's too bad that the 257 roberts fell out of favor. It's a wonderful chambering.

 

[Fishslayer]

and as Richard suggested, it's hard to beat the Savage with an accu-trigger. .

The things have been getting rave reviews on the websites I visit. The general consensus is that they are probably the best bang for the buck going. One guy who knows rifles claimed it might be the best production trigger being offered.

My local Turner's often has a rifle/scope combo for $500-$600-ish in a number of calibers.

 

[jkc]

Unless he'll be hunting in farm fields or huge meadows or similar wide-open spaces, he'll be much better served with a relatively low magnification scope such as the Leupold 1-4 or 1.5-5x. A wide field of view is way more important for hunting coyotes than high magnification. A four power scope is plenty of magnification for any ranges at which he ought to be shooting at deer size animals with a .243.

 

[mwtdvm]

Remington 7600 in 270

I picked up one very cheaply several years ago and it is surprisingly accurate. For some reason they do not hold their resale value as well as a bolt gun. With 90 or 100/110 gr bullets they are humming along and mine shoots a 1" group at 100. I have read that some people have cycling problems with the 7400/7600 but when mine is worked with "authority", it cycles fine.

 

[GatorFarmer]

A 22 magnum should suffice for coyotes and most nuisance animals. Ammo is cheap. Rifles aren't that expensive either. Marlin sells a stainless bolt action model that comes with a scope already on it and bore sighted. These are what 250 ish, maybe 300, haven't priced one in a while.

For deer any centerfire rifle will suffice. Military surplus bolt actions will work well and are cheap. Carcanos, Mosin Nagant, a sporterized Enfield, a Mauser, even a Yugo SKS... any of these will do. You don't really need optics if the range is close, but a Centerpoint Scope from Walmart will do fine. The best of them runs 70 bucks or so. Keep the receipt in case you get a bad one. You'll need a mount or to have a gunsmith rig one, but still not that hard for most mil surplus rifles.

The pair as a complete package will cost less than what an expensive optic, let alone a rifle, will cost. Maybe 500 dollars total invested, give or take.

 

[Mickey D]

I latched on to this CZ 527 Varmint with Kevlar stock chambered in .204 Ruger.
Straight across trade for a S&W M19 non pinned barrel.

Bushnell Elite 4-12 and home made stix. Not a deer rifle but great for coyotes and ground squirrels.

 

[jkc]

The .223 and smaller calibers are marginal on coyotes --- sure, it's possible to kill them with a .223, and I've killed plenty with .223s, but competitive predator callers prefer more potent calibers. The .223 is not adequate for ethical and humane use on deer.

 

[Muley Gil]

In Virginia, a deer rifle must be .23 caliber or larger.

Depending on where he is in the mountains, shots can be 25 yards to 250 yards or more.

I'm right in the heart of the Blue Ridge and own 20 acres. It is about 300 yards from my back door to the edge of my property, which is where the treeline starts. The deer come out of my neighbor's woods and feed in my pasture.

This is a good time of the year to haunt gunshops and pawn shops for a .243, which I feel is a good comprimise rifle for your friend's needs.

 

[true_shooter]

The .223 and smaller calibers are marginal on coyotes --- sure, it's possible to kill them with a .223, and I've killed plenty with .223s, but competitive predator callers prefer more potent calibers. The .223 is not adequate for ethical and humane use on deer.

maybe for the muleys of AZ but here in WA a .223/5.56 would have NO problem dropping a blacktail. not to mention .223 is probably the most used varmint round being used. as for the OP a rifle chambered for .25-06 is another to think about.

 

[Cyrano]

As many have said, the 243 is perhaps the best caliber if the emphasis is to be on varmint shooting but some use on deer. I second the recommendation of the Savage: they're cheap, VERY accurate, and their new trigger is said to be about as close to perfect as you're liable to get.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I think your buddy should consider shooting distances. 100 yards? 200?

Will he be on foot? Horseback? ATV?

How well can he handle a semi auto rifle? Bolt action? Lever action? Single shot?

Answers to those questions MAY help in deciding.

A good alternative might be a Ruger Mini Ranch or Mini 30. They aren't known to be the most accurate rifles but will do just fine around 100 yards.

If 223 is legal to hunt with there stick with that. Or go to the Mini 30 and 7.62 X 39. Other calibers are great but you must consider the cost compared to 223 or 7.62.

The Rugers are a little spendy but can be found used. But it's an investment that will serve him well for many years.

 

[jkc]

maybe for the muleys of AZ but here in WA a .223/5.56 would have NO problem dropping a blacktail. not to mention .223 is probably the most used varmint round being used. as for the OP a rifle chambered for .25-06 is another to think about.

This is the voice of inexperience, or indifference to ethical and humane hunting. The .223 has insufficient delivered energy at all but powder-burn range to be an humanely, effective, one-shot, dead-right-there round on deer of any subspecies, or any animal of similar size. Shoot enough coyotes, javelina, feral dogs, or etc.,weighing +/- 30 lbs., to test the theory, and you'll find that the .223 is at its upper margin of efficacy, in the hands of an expert marksman, at fairly close range, when wielded against fairly small and lightweight animals. It may be legal, in some states or circumstances, to use .223 or equivalently puny cartridges to hunt deer and similarly-sized game, but it's unethical and an embarrassment to the hunting community to endorse it.

 

[jkc]

maybe for the muleys of AZ but here in WA a .223/5.56 would have NO problem dropping a blacktail. not to mention .223 is probably the most used varmint round being used. as for the OP a rifle chambered for .25-06 is another to think about.

May we hear, please, the extent of your experience with
"... NO problem dropping a blacktail." I'm willling to stand corrected, if any actual evidence is explicated ...

 

[rojodiablo]

A buddy is looking to find a suitable rifle to help control the predators & varmints on his land in the Va. Mountains. Coyotes etc. May even be used for deer hunting. What manufacturer produces a quality rife suitable for suggested game, what caliber & please suggest a good scope too. This buddy is not on an unlimited budget. I'm not educated on the long guns and associated hardware so we need your help, Thanks

With the thoughts of hunting deer along with predator control, I will steer to the .243 over the .223. I have seen several really big bucks in Va. and a .223, though lethal, would likely result in more work tracking the animal and possibly losing it. The .223 simply does not have the KO power that I look for in a deer rifle. The .243 is barely there; a .308 is a better choice still.
I choose the .243 because you can hit flies on a **** at 200yds with them. Beavers making nuisance dams, 'yotes, and other unwanteds will be easily in the rifles' covered range.
With cost being a factor, I will vote for the Savage, or the Howa 1500. Slightly more expensive are the Remington 700 and the Winchester 70.
I own the Howa 1500, and the rifle is brutally accurate. Using box Federal 100 gr ammo, I regularly see.75MOA, and carry this to 200yds. At 300, I am seeing 1MOA. The Savage has the accu-trigger, and it is a fantastic rifle, with very good accuracy. I bought my son one, and he has been very successful- his is 30-06. The trigger is superb, and the rifle is very accurate.

Crazy as it sounds, check Wal Mart for prices. And, Dick's Sporting Goods had some awesome prices in Fredericksburg 2 weeks ago.
Good luck!!

 

[rojodiablo]

This is the voice of inexperience, or indifference to ethical and humane hunting. The .223 has insufficient delivered energy at all but powder-burn range to be an humanely, effective, one-shot, dead-right-there round on deer of any subspecies, or any animal of similar size. Shoot enough coyotes, javelina, feral dogs, or etc.,weighing +/- 30 lbs., to test the theory, and you'll find that the .223 is at its upper margin of efficacy, in the hands of an expert marksman, at fairly close range, when wielded against fairly small and lightweight animals. It may be legal, in some states or circumstances, to use .223 or equivalently puny cartridges to hunt deer and similarly-sized game, but it's unethical and an embarrassment to the hunting community to endorse it.

I must say I agree with this sentiment. If....... IF a hunter were able to take 100% neck/ head shots, then a .223 is sufficient. But to consider things like property lines to not cross, clean quick kills, and swamps and impenetrable forest to dig thru, I want my game to drop right there with as little tracking as possible. I do not want them to get away injured.
Having seen a large Ca. muley take a tough to place 30-06 round 2 years ago, and the subsequent 1hr tracking job to catch up to him (He was in sight almost the whole time, and he was just so determined, he would not stop. We second shot him to end the whole fiasco) I can't endorse the little bullets for deer, or hogs.

 

[David LaPell]

I would either get something in .243 or a caliber I had good luck with, the .257 Roberts. One in a Ruger bolt action proved to be a very accurate and relaible rifle.

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
LIMITED BUDGET! I am there.
Consider a Marlin Model 336 (used) with a inexpensive scope. 30/30 cartriges are easy to reload plus most any small "Mom & Pop" country store will carry 30/30 ammo.

 

[mg357]

If i may offer my own 2 cents smitholdtimer does your buddy like older rifles? Why not a nice surplus military rifle.

 

[smitholdtimer]

This buddy is a N.C. resident but ownes a nice cabin in the SW mountins of Va.

Although he is the proud owner (making payments) of this very nice cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains he isn't in the High Cotton part of the income bracket and says he already has a combo rifle/shotgun. It is a 20 gauge with the rifled or smooth barrel he will use and only needs to obtain a suitable scope. He will soon learn if that's good enough. Again thanks for all the suggestions which have been conveyed on to him to aid in his decision making!
I was sure that I wasn't qualified to help him decide and you all have been so very helpful with the information you have shared.