Rugged hunting rifle suggestions

I say buy what appeals to you and your pocketbook.

Regardless of your choice it will probably outlive you.

I'm currently "retiring" three rifles that are about 60 years old because I want something new, not because they lack in function.

Yes, they are a little banged up, some of the bluing is gone, perhaps a little crack here or there in the forearms and they were hunted in near primitive conditions for many many years.

You can spend more and get some better fit/finish, but it will take 40 or 50 years before anyone can "definitively" give an opinion on some of the "cheap" plastic stocked rifles on the market today.

I don't particularly like the Axis (but sell many). They don't stay on the market because they break at first use or even repeated use.

Actually, if you figure you may "wreck one" from heavy use, then why not stick with the lower offerings. That way in five or ten years you can replace it possibly spending less on the two rifles than you would buying one that is currently rated "superior or durable" only to find out that it really isn't in comparison?
 
Why is there even a question about this? Its obvious and the answer has been the same one for a century now. The answer is: Anything based on the Mauser '98. There are tons of them by different manufacturers out there. New and used. Cheap, accurate, rugged.



Big_red_truck said:
I need suggestions for a rugged hunting rifle boys. I need quality and accuracy. This thing is tagging along a quad , truck, snow mobile and boat. Have my eyes on a tikka t-3 or ruger scout. 2 different classes but hey ... YAy or nay? Need 2 rifles , one in 22-250 and one for big game.
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Rob said:
Why is there even a question about this? Its obvious and the answer has been the same one for a century now. The answer is: Anything based on the Mauser '98. There are tons of them by different manufacturers out there. New and used. Cheap, accurate, rugged.
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Essentially everything is based on the Mauser 98.
 
For a rifle that will see some abuse I wouldn't be spending a grand on it. Buy a Savage 11/111 trophy hunter, great accuracy, accu trigger, synthetic stock, and not a care in the world when you smack it around.
 
grelmar said:
M38 is the Carbine length version without a bayonet (and no provision for mounting one). If you have such a low opinion of them, you've probably never shot one.
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I've shot, and owned, several. 91/30s, m38 and m44, including a couple hex receiver Finn captures. I currently have none. Terrible sights, bad triggers, and sub-par accuracy. Not to mention ridiculous muzzle blast on the short ones.
As historical milsurp rifles they are kind of neat, however the op asked about a hunting rifle - which is something that a Mosin is not.
 
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Have two Hawkeye's now both in .257 Roberts for my boys when they get older as well as three vanguard s2's. The Hawkeye is a great rifle with a good trigger and good accuracy. Built to last and smooth action. On the other hand the vanguard has a great trigger and great accuracy. Smooth action and a better feel to the stock. Also built to last. Either one is a great choice but for the money I would go with a vanguard.
 
My 'Bush gun' for the brushy / muddy/ muskeg/ rocky stuff here in the mountains of Alberta is my Ruger Scout. Short stiff barrel (easier to drag through underbrush and load on quad/side by sides), stainless barrel and action (doesn't rust), Laminate stock (have had some BIG deep rock and metal dents on the stock and the Laminate seems to 'pop out' over a couple weeks. Back up Iron sights if something happens to the scope, Mauser action seems to eat EVERYTHING and never have any issues if dirty/muddy/wet, short overall length lends itself to a short & quick draw/sight.

The box mags also allow for me to carry 3 different ammo loads in different magazines;

1. loaded with 2 grains of powder & a 00 buck for grouse (I have a sizer that shapes the 00 buck pellet to .308)
2. loaded with 168 gr Nosler hand loads for white tail
3. 200+ gr tips for big stuff that might show up (if I have draw or something tries to surprise us).

Handy.

Not the be all and end all, but thats what I finally settled on.

.
 
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Quote: I need suggestions for a rugged hunting rifle boys. I need quality and accuracy. This thing is tagging along a quad , truck, snow mobile and boat. Have my eyes on a tikka t-3 or ruger scout. 2 different classes but hey ... YAy or nay? Need 2 rifles , one in 22-250 and one for big game.

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If Tikka T3, why not the new CTR, .308?

I'm going to say they're rugged enough, accurate enough, built-in rail, teflon bolt, threaded muzzle, 10 round double stack metal mag, and you have a rifle entry into long range shooting too.
20" barrel, not too long or heavy to throw into a truck or pack on a quad/sled/your back. All in all, a very versatile package. For my money, nicer than a Ruger Gunsite Scout.
Under 1200.00

CTR-3.jpg
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BigUglyMan said:
Essentially everything is based on the Mauser 98.
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Okay, Okay..."everything" is based on a rifled musket too.....I mean actually built on a Mauser 98...with actual Mauser 98 features like controlled round feeding, mechanical ejection, three position safety, ease of rebarreling and scoping, and a huge aftermarket of all possible accessories...among new rifles a Zastava comes to mind...among used military rifles, any chopped down K-98 would do...if you want a truly reliable and rugged hunting rifle, then go with a M-98. For the over-inflated new price of a cheap Yankee rifle like a Savage you could buy a good used Husqvarna built on an FN-98 action.
 
"Rugged"? If you want something to beat up just buy any of the cheap entry level rifles and replace as needed when you beat it up.

If you want an accurate rifle of high quality look at brands like Sauer, Steyr, Heym, Merkel, etc but it gets costly if you plan to beat up the rifle.

It all comes down to what your needs really are.
 
If you are going to beat the hell out of them, buy good used firearms of desired cal/manufacturer. By the sounds of it you could get away with any cheap rifle. No sense spending a pile of $$ to beat them up.
 
Brian46 said:
no, I just find the quality to be higher with european rifles which was part of the op's request. Oh and Steyr is not german
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Of course politically Steyr (the company and the city) is not German, its Austrian....but culturally, ethnically and linguistically of course it is, as is most of Switzerland. One side of my family is from Steyr....where my great -grandfather and great-uncle were both riflemakers and were both "Germans".

“...perhaps almost every gun, in some way or another, is a German gun.”
-Mike Pintea 2001
 
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