Expensive decisions

[bumpus]

I have been mulling the idea over about getting a heavier caliber long gun. I have an ar15, and a ruger mini14.

I love shooting the mini, but it is an older one and the barrel is kind of whippy , so the accuracy ain't wonderful.
It am considering either a Mini 30, or a socom m1a in .308 or possibly a Remington 700 in .308.

I know that the Remington is about half the price as the other 2 and is legendary for its accuracy.

The Remington is also much lighter than the Socom and a bit lighter than the mini 30.

The socom and the mini are more compact too, the remington is a long long gun.

The socom is at the top of my budget.

I just wanted to have a heavier caliber in case I want to shoot a deer or antelope some day, and to have a more rounded out collection.

Any advice or other ideas as far as another rifle to consider that would have better than average out of the box accuracy?

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[NeoBlackdog]

For use as a hunting gun the Remington 700 would be my pick of what you've presented. A Winchester Model 70 or a Savage 110 would also fit the bill nicely.
The M1A Socom, nice as it may be, is really just a neutered battle rifle and not great as a hunting gun. The Mini-30 is just an overgrown Mini-14 with a relatively wimpy 30 caliber chambering.
Stick with a good bolt gun and don't scrimp on your glass and mounts.

 

[MikeInOr]

Remington for hunting. M1A for fun. If you aren't happy with your Mini 14 as far as accuracy the M1A should be more accurate than the Mini 30.

 

[User 1234]

Consider the M1A scout model. A happy medium between length and portability.

 

[Knobgoblin]

Consider the M1A scout model. A happy medium between length and portability.

Excellent suggestion. They are still fairly heavy, but overall length is just about perfect for a .308

 

[fredball]

keep in mind your going to be hauling it around on your back all day and 7pounds is better than a 15lb M1A JMO

 

[Yarome]

keep in mind your going to be hauling it around on your back all day and 7pounds is better than a 15lb M1A JMO

Agreed.

I'm with @NeoBlackdog on the 700 or a model 70. For a larger bore and highly versatile/accurate hunting rifle... you really can't go wrong in all respects with either.

 

[TorchRedTulsan]

If an M1A is in your price range, and already being familiar with the AR platform, I'm surprised you didn't list an AR-10 as an option. You can play with the light, cheap, accurate scales to best fit your needs while being able to reconfigure if desired

 

[bumpus]

If an M1A is in your price range, and already being familiar with the AR platform, I'm surprised you didn't list an AR-10 as an option. You can play with the light, cheap, accurate scales to best fit your needs while being able to reconfigure if desired

That is a solid tip, thank you. I am not certain why I didn't think of it either. Sounds like the Mini 30 out of the box does not like steel cased ammo. You have to get a longer firing pin. I am going to look into the AR10. and get more info... Thanks

 

[dmmv]

I'd recommend a Bergara 308, which is based on the Remington 700 platform or an AR-10. Good luck!

 

[TTSX]

Get the M1A, this isn't about shooting deer, it's about looking cool at the range

 

[P7M13]

Get a Tikka T3 Hunter in 308.

 

[Nosferatu]

Henry single shot.

 

[Illuminaughty]

I have been mulling the idea over about getting a heavier caliber long gun. I have an ar15, and a ruger mini14.

I love shooting the mini, but it is an older one and the barrel is kind of whippy , so the accuracy ain't wonderful.
It am considering either a Mini 30, or a socom m1a in .308 or possibly a Remington 700 in .308.

I know that the Remington is about half the price as the other 2 and is legendary for its accuracy.

The Remington is also much lighter than the Socom and a bit lighter than the mini 30.

The socom and the mini are more compact too, the remington is a long long gun.

The socom is at the top of my budget.

I just wanted to have a heavier caliber in case I want to shoot a deer or antelope some day, and to have a more rounded out collection.

Any advice or other ideas as far as another rifle to consider that would have better than average out of the box accuracy?

Accuracy schmaccuracy….. get a 45/70 and put some hair on ur chest!

Jk! agree with the above Tikka or begara 308. Also a great caliber to practice yardage drops….

 

[Knobgoblin]

Henry single shot.

Damn straight! Put some hair on your chest!

 

[Knobgoblin]

Op , explore this tangent a little. Don't let the price of 45-70 scare you. You won't be shooting much of it .

 

[Illuminaughty]

View attachment 1807257

Op , explore this tangent a little. Don't let the price of 45-70 scare you. You won't be shooting much of it .

It conquered the west for a reason! Yes it won't take game long range… but there isint much of anything in North America inside of 200 yards you can't solve with it

 

[ZA_Survivalist]

I have been mulling the idea over about getting a heavier caliber long gun. I have an ar15, and a ruger mini14.

I love shooting the mini, but it is an older one and the barrel is kind of whippy , so the accuracy ain't wonderful.
It am considering either a Mini 30, or a socom m1a in .308 or possibly a Remington 700 in .308.

I know that the Remington is about half the price as the other 2 and is legendary for its accuracy.

The Remington is also much lighter than the Socom and a bit lighter than the mini 30.

The socom and the mini are more compact too, the remington is a long long gun.

The socom is at the top of my budget.

I just wanted to have a heavier caliber in case I want to shoot a deer or antelope some day, and to have a more rounded out collection.

Any advice or other ideas as far as another rifle to consider that would have better than average out of the box accuracy?

I own the socom, if I could do it over again, I would have got the squad scout M1A instead.
Slightly longer but from my understanding it has a "standard" op-rod versus the more proprietary Socom.

The socom is not bad. I'll never sell it.. but I still lust after an M1A with a longer barrel. I may still get the standard length Springfield M1A. I also have not taken it beyond 150 yards either. It's just not a firearm I shoot much.

However your needs are for hunting in brush.. R700 and Mini 30 would do just fine, heck an SKS could get the job done as well..

Side note, Mini 30 has been on my list.. I too own a mini 14 and love it, however the thought of the mini 30 and having to get proprietary, expensive mags turned me off. For the right price I'd still pick one up, but I won't go out of my way for one.

 

[gmerkt]

The socom and the mini are more compact too, the remington is a long long gun.

If you don't like the "standard" Rem. 700, they make (or made) a "tactical" version with a shorter barrel.

Somebody mentioned the AR10, I had one made by Armalite. I liked it but I didn't use it for hunting. Now my only .308 Win. semi auto is an M1 Rifle.

My .308 bolt gun is a beater Winchester Mod. 70 that is a tack driver. It's one of those ugly guns that you don't sell because it shoots so well.

Henry single shot.

I don't know if this was intended as a joke, but I've go two of them. One in .45-70, the other in .357 Magnum. I like them both. Quite superior to the earlier New England Firearms single shots (which I have many of). We won't even talk about Rossi and other imported single shots.

 

[ZA_Survivalist]

Oh I forgot to add.. the mossberg MVP patrol is awesome too!