Buying a Ruger ,but which one I don't know.

Turkeyslayer 1300

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I am buying a ruger rifle in one of the following calibers: .257 roberts, .25-06, 6.5x55,7mm-08 or .260 rem. Which variant should i buy? I would like to be able to purchase the rifle and a good scope for 1200 or less. What would you buy? ( which scope and rifle in what caliber) The rifle will be used for groundhogs all the way to moose. Any previous experiences?
p.s. I handload so availability is not an issue.
 
I would vote for the standard 77 in the walnut/blued configuration. Myself, I would consider the 7mm-08 or 6.5x55. Both great rounds, lite recoil, accurate and fun to shoot. And both capable of anything short of grizzly. Yeah, I know it will do it, but I wont.
 
If it weren't for the moose I suggest the 257Roberts, but like the others, I'd say the 6.5x55 as well.

Buy one in 257R for the small stuff and another in 30/06 for moose. :D



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Im not going for a magnum of any kind because the are not needed, plus this gun will be used to introduce people to hunting and shooting and too many beginners are handed guns that cause them to flinch and miss.
 
If you don't handload, none of those you mentionned. I'd go with a .270(very similar to the .25-06 but a bit more bullet weight offered and more readily available and cheaper ammo).

If you handload, 7mm-08 if you are looking into short action rifle.
 
The reason I picked the 6.5X55 was because you said
"ground hogs all the way up to moose"
The 7o8/7X57 would do okay, but there is a better bullet choice in the 6.5 caliber for the lighter stuff, all the way down to 87 grains, and they do bette than thee 7's in the lighter stuff.
160 grain drops moose dead, as well.
You are going to shoot more small stuff and targets than moose , I would guess.
If you are not going to shoot a lot of wood chucks however, Martin's suggestion would work perfectly.
Cat
 
the 260 or 6.5x55 would be my choice. light on the shoulder, low cost reloading components....... I'd probably buy the Stainless/laminate Sporter and put a Leupold VX1 3-9x40mm on the roof. should come in around $1200 and would be a great way to introduce new shooters to the sport.
 
get the 260 remington

90-95 grainers @ 3300 fps for varmints, and a premium 130-140 grain @ 2800 fps for game

a 4-12x40 would be a good all purpose scope
 
Turkeyslayer 1300 said:
I am buying a ruger rifle in one of the following calibers: .257 roberts, .25-06, 6.5x55,7mm-08 or .260 rem. Which variant should i buy? I would like to be able to purchase the rifle and a good scope for 1200 or less. What would you buy? ( which scope and rifle in what caliber) The rifle will be used for groundhogs all the way to moose. Any previous experiences?
p.s. I handload so availability is not an issue.


Since you handload I think I'd get (1)the 6.5x55, (2)the 7-08, (3) Tie between the .25-06 or the .257, last choice would be the .260 (for me).
 
In real-world effects, all of the cartridges are roughly equal in big-game performance, with the Roberts lagging behind a wee bit.
So for me, the rifle choice would dictate it. If I were buying a Ruger, I would want a Hawkeye stainless. According to their web page, Ruger is so far only chambering that rifle in .25-06 and 7mm-08 (of your choice list, obviously.)
Since I love both cartridges, and don't care whether a rifle is long or short action, I'd flip a coin as to cartridge, mount a Bushnell 3200 on her, and start shooting.
 
A standard Mk II in .260 Remington. ... walnut & blue thanks !
... hang a Leupold VX-II 2-7 in the factory supplied rings & have at it.

120's for for deer & less, 140's for anyuthing bigger.
 
I'd go with a .308 myself, but on your list the 7mm-08 will do nicely. I'd think about what a good moose cal would be, and not worry about the hawgs, they'll all kill small animals. Put a VXII 3-9 on it and go hunting...:)
 
Turkeyslayer 1300 said:
Im not going for a magnum of any kind because the are not needed, plus this gun will be used to introduce people to hunting and shooting and too many beginners are handed guns that cause them to flinch and miss.
You didn't mention that .......then I would say 7mm-08 in one of the compact rifles.:D
 
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