Understated defensive rifle: suggestions?

[ccw9mm]

Yo, rifle gurus ... Am looking for a basic rifle, a single rifle, for defensive uses when out in the country, for occasional light hunting (small game) at shorter ranges (< 250 yds), and for the home. Must be dead solid reliable, relatively simple to maintain, tolerant of various brands of ammo. By "understated" I mean non-AR, non-AK in appearance ... rather, something that wouldn't be out of place on a simple gun rack in the cab. Prefer auto-loading, but could accommodate bolt action if required.

I like the idea of a "ranch" rifle or carbine, but am open to alternatives. I'd consider up to a .30-06 or 7.62x39mm, and definitely prefer larger than .223. Prefer rifled ammo, though I would consider 9mm or .40 (ie the Ruger carbines). Understood on certain ammo availability, right now; forget that as an issue.

Am competent with smaller rifles, shotguns for skeet. Has been awhile since I've owned a small- to midsize rifle.

Suggestions on possible choices (make/model)?

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Bud White]

To fit most of what ya want easy to maintain and dead reliable a bolt gun like the 700 or ruger mark II fits

Could get a ruger scout lot shorter and available in 30-06 smaller and bigger calibers

['75scout]

Ruger Dearfield 44mag. Ruger Mini 30. Ruger Carbines. Marlin levers wouldn't look out of place, nor would any bolt gun.

[SIXTO]

I'll second '75scout's post

[JT]

Saiga. AK based (with AK reliability) but looks more like a normal rifle than an assault rifle style. Especially if you get the wood stock. Available in .223, 7.62x39 and .308.

http://www.raacfirearms.com/rifles.htm

[absit]

30-30 Lever Action.

[NevJohn]

Hi-Point 995 9mm carbine..... $190 Just like a Timex watch.... "takes a licking; and keeps on ticking"... You can find them even cheaper. Lifetime warranty. Just run a cleaning rod down the barrel everyonce in awhile, good enough. I know they arent the best looking piece, but still gives you both a rabbit and a HP gun. They also come in .40S&W.

[farronwolf]

If you want a rifle that is dead solid and easy to maintain. I would suggest a bolt action 30.06, .270, or .243. My personal preference would be the 30.06, in my mind you just can't beat it. Most of these have a 5 to 7 round capacity, and are good well out to 250 yds or better depending on the scope or sights your using.

It doesn't get any eaiser to clean or maintain than a bolt action, and they will normally shoot anything you put in them and usually extract just as well.

If you want to shoot out to 250 yds then I don't think you can go with the 9mm, 40, or 44 mag.

Anyway, take it for what it is worth.

[Detachment_Charlie]

I agree with JT...get a Saiga. Kalishni-reliable, wood furniture doesn't scare the soccer moms. 7.62x39, 5.6 and 308. Mucg "Go Boom" for little bucks. As rugged as a brick. I've got one, but with evil black furniture.

[hsuCowboy98]

Maybe I can suggest something no one else has...although there have been great answers, and many I agree with.

A good Enfield rifle may fit the bill nicely. even a "Jungle Carbine". The enfield action is one of the fastest bolt actions ever made, and they are reliable, strong, and readily available.

They can still be found for about $200.00-$300.00

The newest production Enfields from Ishapore are chambered in .308, and have generally more capacity than either lever acton rifles in rifle chamberings, and most bolt actions.

Just a low-cost suggestion.

[rocky]

Many rifles would fit. Scout 75 picked most of the rifles I wopuld suggest. also , consider a M1 carbine.

[ccw9mm]

Great suggestions!

• .44 mag Ruger Deerfield auto, 4rd, 18.5" barrel, 37" OAL, 6.3 lbs. Hm. Pistol load in a rifled bore ... out to 125-150 yds maybe, on mid-sized deer or smaller.
• .44 mag Marlin 1894, lever-action, 10rd, 20" barrel, 38" OAL, 6.5 lbs. Double the rounds of the Ruger DF.
• .44 mag or .30-30 Winchester 94 Timber, lever-action, 4rd, 18" barrel, 36.5" OAL, 6 lbs light.
• .30-30 Marlin 336, lever-action, 6rd, 20" barrel, 37.5" OAL, 7.5 lbs.
• .30-06 Remington 7400 auto, 4rd, 18.5" barrel, 39.5" OAL, 7.5 lbs.
• 7.62x39 Ruger Mini 30 All-Weather auto, 5rd, 18.5" barrel, 38" OAL, 7.3 lbs.

Hm. If 9mm, .40, .357mag or .44mag, then the rifle could pair up with a pistol in similar chambering, resulting in single ammo in the field. ie, Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in .44mag paired with a Deerfield .44mag. Interesting.


Questions:

1. The bottleneck design of 7.62x39, 5.56/.223 and others will tend to offer more-reliable cycling as compared to the non-bottlenecked ammo designs, yes? (9mm, .40, .44mag & .30 carbine, versus the .30-06, .30-30, 7.62x39, etc.) Or, does this really depend mostly on the rifle itself (ie, AK action could reliably shoot "rocks" without jamming)?

2. M1 .30 carbine round is a but low on power, with a rep. of not penetrating at distance. Anyone know differently, @ 150-200yds against a small-ish deer? Seems a bit out of place for that purpose, as compared to some of the other mid-sized load options. Large magazines though.

3. The .30 carbine and .30-30 have more of a "rainbow" trajectory by comparison to, say, .30-06 or 7.62x39, yes? Problematic for penetration of small game at 150 yds, or just a bit more challenging?

4. The 9mm and .40, definitely, would have limited distance at which smaller game could be taken. But, inexpensive/available pistol loads. Why consider, if want one gun to take a small deer @ 150 yds? What if 100yds were the maximum for this gun (in 9mm or .40, ie the Ruger carbine)?

5. What about the .45-70? In a more-lightly loaded bullet, it would still have strong knock-down power, at the expense of greater distances. (ie, the Marline 1895G.) It's a straight-necked design. Certainly geared toward larger game, so it's more power than I'd need. Much more expensive loads. It would seem the .44mag chambered rifles above would be more suitable for 70% of .45-70 performance though limited to < 150 yds. Yes?

6. The .44mag chambering seems very interesting. Powerful enough to hunt light game at 100yds. Perhaps limited through brush at distances. In lighter loadings, can be easily managed. Auto, lever choices. Why would this be preferable to, say, the .30-30 or .30-06? (Again, my goals are mostly non-game protection, with occasional small game hunting at relatively close distances.)

[Redneck Repairs]

I would look for a mauser or a mosin myself , pick up a couple of em for less than $150 and you have a spare or one for parts , spend the rest of that 3 to 600 bucks on cases of milsurp ammo . Buy hunting rounds seperatly over the counter , and now you have a nice little setup for shtf , defense , plinking ( the milsurp ammo ) , and hunting ( over the counter soft points ect. ) for a minimal investment .

[RSSZ]

You left out the best......a Lever Action. Why did you rule these out ?? -------

[MattInFla]

How about a pump rifle?

http://www.remington.com/products/fi...model_7600.asp

Matt