takurpic

AK with a 1K rounds of Wolf ammo is going to to run about $700-800 right now. Not as politically correct as a 30/30, but IMNSHO more effective due to faster cycling and greater ammo capacity. I ve read that the cartidges are ballistically similar.

A cheaper option would be an SKS +1K rounds for under $500.

FAL is a sweet rifle, but it's going to set you back about $1400-1500 for the rifle +1k rounds.

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palmgopher

you know i saw a neat little rifle from puma.....its a .454 lever action. bet that is a beast and a blast to shoot. =o)

sgtD

Count me as one more vote for the SKS as a "do all" rifle that won't break the bank, however I consider it every American's duty to own at least one lever action. But that's JMO.

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born2die

I'm planning on getting a marlin .357 lever action sometime later this year. I alreadly have a couple .357 revolvers, so i like the idea of having a rifle in that caliber. if that wasn't the case, i would choose the 30/30.

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Paladin132

I LOVE my Marlin .357... Sorry, I saw your post born and just had to throw it out there one more time, b/c I have so much fun with that thing.

retsupt99

This seems to have been 30-30 night.

I'll vote for the 30-30 here, too! I have the 336 in stainless and put on a fiber optic sight instead of a scope...great gun to reach out and touch some BG...

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mcp1810

I think the 30-30 is a fine caliber for a rifle. Mine was a Marlin Each of the rifles you mentioned has some sort of compromise involved, but what in life doesn't? If I did not own my rifles and was shopping like you are these are the questions I would ask myself.
1) What is the maximum range I could be engaging targets at while defending my home?
2) What is the biggest critter I might encounter and have to dispatch with this rifle?
3) How will this complement what I already have?
4) What deficiencies will this potentially leave me with?

If 1) is say 350 yards I would lean towards the .270. If the greatest distance from house is 50 yards, any of them will do just fine.
2) If there are Big tough mean critters that might like to make a snack of you I would lean away from the bolt gun. If they get that close rate of fire from the lever gun wins in my book.
3) If I already owned a .44 handgun and bought the .44 rifle I could carry one box of ammo and feed both of them.
4) Is very subjective based solely on your perceived needs.

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palmgopher

to be honest im looking for a gun with a range at least 75 yards and up to 200 yards with decent hitting power that could drop a black bear if confronted while hunting deer. For the home defense it would obviously need to be a shorter barrel rifle. I've looked up a lot of different rifle calibers. There is so much information out there right now. Oh yeah the other thing i need to add is that I dont want a "black evil rifle". I dont want anything that will draw that much attention. A simple semi-auto hunting rifle would do just fine. NO SKS or AK or AR15/M4. I've had a lot of different rounds suggested. 35 remington,
7mm-08, and a few others. My only complaint about the 30-30 is that it is limited to what kind of rifle you can get. I know it is a wonderful cartridge. I actually have a 32 winchester special in lever action. I will eventually get the reloading dies. So with new info provided what do you think? Oh yeah and when i mentioned home defense i didnt mean from burglers....i mean for looters during an emergency. You get the idea.

Ghuqu2

Drop a SKS in a synthetic stock and you have a standard looking, all around gun. It will shot angle of whitetail, bear or mob out to your stated range. You might consider a shotgun w/ an extra slug barrel or rifled choke. Might drop best accuracy range to ~150yds w/ slugs, but would do all you have asked for a SHTF scenario.

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Janq

Seconded.

I don't own one, yet (I've been searching for a NIB supplier with one in stock), but the Marlin or Winchester 1894 .357 lever rifle would be my choice too for the OPs stated ala around GP desires. And it is.

Not the best in any one sector of application but on the whole and overall it'll get any one of the jobs done within most folks needs and when running .357 Mag through it follow up shots will not be difficult or painful for most anyone. You can hunt deer and lesser with it which is good enough without falling into $pecialized ammo and arms for specialized applications.

- Janq

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Monday, March 12, 2007 -- Op Ed -- The Washington Post