Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help The Ideal Rifle

At the risk of sounding like a total city slicker, I'd like to post this question for advice. This year we bought a pretty piece of property. 14 acres at the end of a dirt road. Quiet, secluded, and teaming with wildlife. I've been thinking I need to buy a rifle. Mostly for protecting the family and my property and maybe doing some hunting. In the last few weeks I've noticed signs of hogs on the property. I haven't fired a weapon since my time in the military 20 some years ago, I figure its like riding a bike. What would be a good rifle to start with, Just for piece of mind and maybe bringing down a hog or buck?

Welcome to 3 guys sitting on bar stools, you've asked your question, now you'll get 5 different answers from 3 guys.

I would recommend investing in a 12 gauge pump shotgun, a Remy 870. I would also recommend investing in either a bolt action rifle chambered in .308, such as a Remy 700 SPS, or an AR chambered in .308 such as FnH's SCAR 17H.

Before putting anything downrange definitely walk the perimeter of your property to learn what lies beyond your property line.

Also, don't discount a .22LR rifle, such as a Ruger Takedown in .22LR, for varmints and plinking.

Ah, the silverware debate. Fork, spoon, or an attempt to capture perfection in one utensil, the spork. I'll be curious to hear other's thoughts.

What's the terrain like? Heavy brush, wide open space etc.

Here's a fairly recent thread on the subject written by a whole bunch of guys on barstools!

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=404500

300 win mag is hands down one of the most powerful and versatile rounds ever. you can get a light load for long range shooting or a heavy load for up close/thicket hunting. 180 grain bullet will pretty much do either.
i also agree with basslover on the 22, everyone needs a 22lr.

The property is heavily wooded. Cow pastures and trees surround the property. I've thought about a shotgun. The best choice for taking down a charging hog?

Based on the terrain and the nearby cow pastures, FWIW I would go shot gun as well. If you have a lot of woods and hogs around, carrying a sidearm might not be a bad idea when you are out moving around the property.

Welcome aboard....what part of east Texas are you and where did you move from?

You might consider the AR10(.308) or the AR15 in 6.8.

I mostly have AR15's in 5.56 Nato and have killed a number of pigs with them though I am looking for an AR10.

For a smaller, brushy property.......357 or 44 mag is hard to beat. Lever or bolt action rifles for both are available, and use the same ammo in a handgun if you are so disposed. 41 mag is another great cartridge, and Marlin did chamber a LA for it, but they're hard to come by now.

L, I'm sure you've noticed that choosing just one weapon to be a perfect fit for all situations is a tough call. You mentioned protection, and a family...I would advise tempering your decision with the knowledge that someone other than yourself might need to pick that weapon up in that regard, someday. A horrible thought, one we hope never materializes, but it's there none the less. How comfortable will other members of the family be with a heavy caliber?

+1 My wife asked me to teach her to shoot in case someone breaks in and I'm not home. I taught her to shoot the 410 from the hip. If the intruder is in the house, the range is not great. A gut shot from a 410 loaded with 4 shot will make anybody wet his tidy whities at 20 feet and my little wife can handle it well.

You ever breach that FOID card issue?

Yes Sir! And my pic on the FOID card makes me look 10 years younger...maybe that's cause they used my driver's license pic from 10 years ago even though I had to provide a recent photo with the application!

Better have a Pro teach you how to take out an intruder. You would be surprised at how many people cower after firing one shot, then go investigate and get killed by the intruder.

Unload, throw another clip in, unload again, then drag their body outside for the cops to deal with.

Around here, the body better be inside unless you want to get sued by the intruder's family and possibly arrested as you were not in "imminent danger!"

Analogy of taking out the trash.

I forgot that you live in a dis-armed state.

I second the .41magnum for a very practical sidearm.

Best gun I have found for hogs is a 30-30. If longer distance shots are required, then a .308.

As for self defense...most cases are very close range...Ruger SR9.

Sean

Nice, BL. I like my .44 for an occasional "out in the woods" type of thing, but never found a reason to carry.

I let my guy's carry at work if they had the proper permits. Seemed to ease their minds, and never bothered me.

Only problem was, a short term emp. heard about this policy. Got pulled over in his Durango with a loaded .45 in his glove box. He had a permit, but not one that it could be loaded while in a vehicle. Cost me $100.00 to clear it up to get him off the hook, and never saw him again.

If I could have only one gun to fit your criteria (small property, hunt hogs,deer, protection etc) it would be the tried and true, old school lever action 30-30 with open sights.

I can't imagine one gun that covers everything.

Coupla thoughts:

For home protection I would go with a shotgun. I keep a sawed off 12 gauge next to my bed. It's an alley cleaner and nobody likes looking at a shotgun. If I were awakened from a sound sleep and grabbed a pistol, I would probably either shoot my wife or blow my foot off.

For hogs on 14 acres, I would buy a 30/30. If you shoot at them a couple of times they will probably avoid your property.

Agree about a 22 rifle. They are cheap to shoot and lots of fun. I have 4 or 5 of them.

I recently bought a Taurus Judge for the time that cops aren't the only target. I carry it in my pickup. I alternate the cylinders with defense bullets and three ought buck. The buckshot is because I'm a lousy shot with any kind of side arm.

The best gun for protection (and most other things) is the one you are very comfortable using. Whatever you buy, make sure you practice with it and stay safe. Think about ammo cost and do not price yourself out of practicing. My father always told me not to point any gun (real or toy) at anything that you do not want to kill. I think this is a good thought.

Since you are looking and since there are so many choices to chose from, I will give you one that has not been suggested until now. You mentioned heavy woods and pigs. I have a Marlin 45/70 lever action Guide Riffle that will do massive damage. And since there are cattle bordering your place this riffle has short range when compared to something like the 300 Winn Mag. You will save on ammo cost because after making just a few shots you will say "That's enough" Remember it's a guides riffle and will take down grizzlies and such

Tracy

L's Pond, you've gotten lots of great advice, but going by your original post, I'd probably start with something like a Ruger 10-22. They're reliable, light, don't kick, and cheap to practice with. You said we, so I'm assuming a significant other, or kids/grandkids also come into play. If so, this is a great "starter rifle", and a great way to teach them gun safety, and respect for any firearm.

As far as a more long term solution? I like the AR platform. Sprkplug's reference to a spork, is actually pretty accurate for an AR, but I like to think of them more as a swiss army knife. As Tbar mentioned, they're available in many calibers and configurations, and prices seemed to have dropped quite a bit in the last year or so.

Which ever way you decide to go, I wood start with a firearm that's enjoyable to shoot, and safest for the the group.

Hope this helps.