Looking for do it all rifle.

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Mike705

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I currently have a Savage Axis Precision MDT with a Zerotech scope. I am thinking of trading/selling it as I don’t know if I would do enough precision shooting to justify a dedicated rifle. I think a rifle that I can use in the bush for deer, push some longer shots moose hunting and can still do some longer range target shooting would be better suited to me. I like the idea of a semi auto and this has me interested in the Browning Bar MK 4 in 308.

If anyone had any thoughts, comments or suggestions that would be greatly appreciated.

Mike
 
Target shooting and hunting in the same platform, there’s a tall order, bordering on pretty much not feasible.

My take is get a dedicated hunting rig, and a dedicated target rig…..

But I’ve also been called a polygamist gun owner. So read into it what you will.
 
.308 is the Walter Mitty caliber ...... best fit for the do all rifle.
find an action you like and drop it in an MDT field chassis and away you go.
Hunt with it, target shoot with it, dabble in some long range with it....... you will find many ammo choices wherever you go and can go from light to heavy depending on game being hunted.

I target shoot with my hunting rifles more often than not. I'm not competing against anyone but myself. Trigger time and shooting drills are important for the hunter who desires to take precise shots on game. I routinely do drills from 50 to 500 yards and try and simulate hunting scenarios/positions. To say a hunting rifle is not suitable for target shooting seems kinda wierd to me. Don't guys practice throughout the off season?
 
i understand it’s a tall ask for sure. I wasn’t thinking about compensation or anything like that as hunting is definitely my priority. Just wanted something that i could also have some fun with target shooting and try to push the limits. From what I have found online the MK4 seemed most promising.
 
Mike705 said:
i understand it’s a tall ask for sure. I wasn’t thinking about compensation or anything like that as hunting is definitely my priority. Just wanted something that i could also have some fun with target shooting and try to push the limits. From what I have found online the MK4 seemed most promising.
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an enfield mk4 .303?
that is seriously limitting yourself in my opinion. Surplus ammo is all gone and store bought ammo is ridiculous now. Not so bad for hunting but pretty pricey for target shooting.
I love hunting with the .303brit but that rifle is not a target rifle, it's pure utility.
 
Depending on the local regs the .223 is a good 'light' hunting rifle. In NB they are legal for all game, but common sense eliminates Mooses in most cases. @45's idea of a 308 is pretty 'do it all' except for 'really long shots' RE having the power to bring down big game.
I'd suggest you practice with the 223 to get the basics down, and take some time to consider your next step. I have an old 223 that's good for MOA out to ca 200 yds and it's just a Ruger American. Head shots out there would do it, cause the power dwindles for big game body shots.
And Ajohn has a point too, 6.5 is good as are many 200 series like 243, 270 . . . IOW Lots of good DIA guns.
 
Mike705 said:
No sorry I was talking about the Browning BAR. As I understand they have made the MK4 more accurate than earlier models.
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Machining and component quality is relative with new models regardless of action type. They are improving across all models. The felt recoil on any auto reload is a little worse due to the double tap of the bolt sliding back and forth. Though the additional weight of the mechanisms will subdue the felt recoil.. but you will be carrying that too. The BAR will be inherently less accurate than a traditional bolt action. It is also more difficult to service. I do like the gun though I don't own one. I almost purchased one loaded in 7WSM that was at a very low price. I even bought the reloading die set. However I think of the BAR as more of a pig hunting gun.. multi shot use and there are almost no opportunities for them here yet.. Then there is the elephant in the room... This model is as likely to turn into a Dodo as an SKS may, due to poly want a cracker.. Ultimately that's why I didn't get the 7WSM BAR. Cheers
 
Mike705 said:
No sorry I was talking about the Browning BAR. As I understand they have made the MK4 more accurate than earlier models.
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ha my fault..... i totally glazed over where you mentioned the BAR previous to my post.
My walter mitty rifle was a custom 18.5" barrelled M14 type in .308 so I get the attraction to a semi auto. A BAR wouldn't be my first choice but to each his own in that regard. :)
 
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The rifle that would have fit your bill would have been the FNAR ... but it got banned on round 3 i think... it was a .308 semi, very reliable, good handling (made to compete in 3 gun, or take hunting) very accurate.. had 2 range buddies with them ... they swore by them used them in run and gun, hunting and long range plinking.
Only downside it was ugly as sin (to me... and most people)

I was fond of the xcr-m in .308 i ended up selling it because i just found it to heavy, i regrete doing so because i never found a rifle as good (famea 542 ended up being a flop for this role) but i geuss it worked out with the bans...

With whats out today.. your best bet is the AD500 if you want semi
 
I chopped a .308 Remington 7600 pump to 18.6".

Zeroed the irons at 25 yards and have an illuminated PA 1x6 LPVO with a .308 reticle in low QD rings. So going irons quickly is easy.

I have 5 four round mags and three legal 10 round mags so I'm good for hunting. Also for hitting dinner plates fron 2 yards to 300 yards.

I bought a 7400 semiauto to keep it company with an illuminated PA 1x8 LPVO with a .308 reticle. I think of it more as a DMR. Of course I would never run the 10 round mags in the 7400.
 
Target shooting long range & hunting are different games...

When it comes to hunting & considering there are caliber restrictions (minimum for bison up north), my ONE gun would be a stainless fluted Tikka T3x in 30-06...

I topped mine with a Bushnell Elite 4500 2.5-10x40 (30mm tube) using Leupold medium height Backcountry rings.

It's the rifle on the left in my pic...

TikkaT3xRifles.jpg
 
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