what do you guys got and what do you recommend for a big caliber rifle under 1000 bucks, i got a 1871 H&R Buffalo Classic chambered in .45-70 i gave 425 for new. i am looking at a H&R Handi-Rifle in .500 S&W cause they are only 250 bucks or so new and you can get like "50" interchangable barrels for them and they are cheap. what else do you guys recommend, i would really like something in .308 or .338 if possible. ammunition price isnt a concern cause i know if you want a big bang, you gotta spend big bucks on shells.

 

Are you going for target shooting accuracy or a hunting rifle?

308 is a good all-around caliber for just about everything and is inherently accurate. I own a Remington 700VS in .223 and just got a DPMS LR308. I hear that Savage and CZ have both stepped up with some accurate rifles as well. My buddy owns a Handi-Rifle in 25-06 and other than the awful trigger that it came with he likes it after tuning it up.

Here is my DPMS:

 

What are you wanting it for i will tell you my 270 has a decent bit off bang for anything we do.

 

target and hunting, i like to play sniper every once in a while with groundhawgs and other small fluffy woodland creatures. i am going to dress my handi-rifle up real nice when i get it. synthetic stock, scope, bi-pod, you know, all the nice toys.

 

Savage 300 Win Mag. A bit large for small fluffy things though.

 

That's the one right there. If you want to play sniper with the fluffy creatures the AR platform is pretty good. Parts are easy to find.

 

For all my "light" work, I use this one. Sharps, .50-140-3-1/4. 32" tube. Varmit load is a 450 grain in front of 140 grains of Pyrodex. Heavy stuff calls for a 700 - 750 grain (depending on hollow point or not) in front of 140 grains of Pyrodex and just a tad of 4227 in front of the primer. Bullets are hot swaged using 1/2" roll copper tubing as a jacket. It is NOT one that you shoot prone or off the bench(much). You need plenty of room behind you so it will "gently" walk you backwards about a step.

 

And, let's see, you use a 16 pound hammer to swat flies..... j/k Be glad when I move away from this "gun control" state. THEN, I can ask some questions.

 

I like my .308 & .338 Winchester.

 

dad used to have a .308 or 300 with a scope about 1/2 the length of the gun, i was pretty young and cant remember off hand, but we used to sniper groundhawgs (dad was a sniper in the marine corps for 2 years) around here on the farm. groundhawgs lived in fear everyday of their lives. some guys were illegally hunting on our property and he told them to leave, well they both had shot guns and he wasnt going to argue with them there, bad idea, so he drove about 1/2 mile away onto a hill above them and shot the top off a pop bottle on the roof of their truck then gave them a friendly wave. they left. you better believe it, ive always had a love for guns, dad probably had 50 or so at one time, he had his FFL 3, especially the big calibers, just something about having a nice bruise from shooting a few rounds that i like, ive really though about a NICE muzzleloader, but if i do i will use it for only seasonal hunting, i think i will probably go with something chambered in 300. anyone else got any nice long range rifles.

how do you like the .338, ive never shot one, are they a good flat fast bullet or fat and slow with alot of knock down power. you got me thinkin about that.

 

all dpends...

Get a leupold scope for what ever you choose.

 

Most of my hunting the last few years has been with a .375-.358STA or a .416 Rem. There is no such thing as too dead. But I also shot my last mulie at 809yds with a .300RUM that I built. I also have a .375 RUM, a .338 Baer, a .458 LOTT, a .30-.338 Win., a .358STA, and a .30-8mm Mag amoungst other lesser calibers (under .30 cal). If you want to do long range work it's hard to beat the .308 caliber guns. The bullet selection is way better than the .338 and above stuff.

 

I use a 300 Weatherby Magnum for ground hogs. I know that may be overkill but if a 400 pounder ever comes out of the hole with an attitude, he is MINE!

 

I like a big bore as much as anyone...but for me, my 220 Swift is wicked enough for anything legal in Southern Ohio.

But I'd take a .300 Rem Ultra Mag if someone wanted to give me one
Chris

 

I like your thought process!

Just out of curiosity, where did you pick up your .50 and how much did it set you back? I want to pick up a Sharps after I get my Marlin .45-70 and would like something to gently walk me backwards also...... ( I LIKE that phrasing! )

Also, why Pyrodex?