Dilemma

[clayton86]

I'm in the market to buy a new rifle just can't decide on what. I'm torn between getting another .204 ruger or a .308. I have a 204 already but don't like it. Love the round love how it shoots but I have a savage 11 with the tiny pencil barrel and blind mag.

I have also always wanted a bolt 308 with a medium or heavy contour barrel nice action nice optics a "tactical" tack driver built for long range shooting. Not so heavy you can't hunt with it though.

I want to sell my 204 for something with a heavier barrel and detachable magazine. I do a lot of fox and coyote hunting and the 204 fits the niche very nicely in my county that only allows centerfires smaller then 22cal during deer seasons for fur bearers. After deer season I can carry a 338 if k wanted to but from October 1 threw Christmas pretty much it's 204 or 17rem or 17 hornets only if you want to carry a centerfire.

So I'm torn between a savage 10P in 308 that's forsale at a shop set up bi pod, cabelas custom 4x12 with extra turrets, and only 80 rnds threw it. Or a savage 10 predator in 204. Or a mossberg MVP predator or varmint in either caliber.

I'm kinda leaning towards a new 204 because it's more practical and while the 308 set up would be sweet I don't have anywhere to really shoot long distance when ever o want.

I wouldn't mind a AR platform but I live in NY so it's out of the question.

[ww2farmer]

I wouldn't mind a AR platform but I live in NY so it's out of the question.

 No it's not.............................don't be a neckbeard or a fudd. Plenty of AR options in NY....all safeact compliant. Feature less with detachable mag or full featured with fixed mag. Do some research before you start spouting nonsense. It all starts with a stripped lower, WHICH CAN BE LEGALLY purchased at many many gun stores all over WNY. I get mine from DD's Ranch in Alden, or K+K Guns in North Java.

[clayton86]

Yeah I know it's just a pain to many cops don't know the rules or laws it's not worth the head ache to take out it would just sit and never get used. Main reason I never got one yet I own all hunting and target rifles something in going to use and get my money's worth. Not that I can't use a AR for hunting.

[retiredbosn]

Clayton fwiw I would stay with the Savage line, awesome guns and still American made. Have u thought about re-barrelling the gun you already have? A good Smith can put a high end barrel that would theoretically improve accuracy sometimes drastically. The Savage predator line does come with the accu stock and a great barrel tho, of course the accu trigger is sweet too.

[clayton86]

The cost to re barrel the current one I could go buy a new one already set up.

[bigbill]

The 308win bolt actions are so affordable look for a sale at dicks sporting goods, walmart, cabelas etc.

With the 700 bolt action in 338win. Mag. It's a great powerful round but I wish I purchased it in a BAR SEMI AUTO. As I get older I'm not sure how much longer I can shoot it.

I can put two rounds of Winchester super X ammo through two holes at 100yds.

For smaller calibers the 270win, 6.5mm Swede, 7mm mauser are good accurate rounds too.

[clayton86]

The 308win bolt actions are so affordable look for a sale at dicks sporting goods, walmart, cabelas etc.

With the 700 bolt action in 338win. Mag. It's a great powerful round but I wish I purchased it in a BAR SEMI AUTO. As I get older I'm not sure how much longer I can shoot it.

I can put two rounds of Winchester super X ammo through two holes at 100yds.

For smaller calibers the 270win, 6.5mm Swede, 7mm mauser are good accurate rounds too.

If I go the 308 route it's not gonna be cheap. The whole reason I want it is for long range and cheap(cheaper) plinking. I can't hunt with a 308 where I hunt deer it's shotgun only but I can travel 30 minutes and use it. The property I do hunt though has two big fields I can shoot at. I was leaning towards a second 204 because I didn't have anywhere to really just get up and shoot when I want but talking with the land owner and his grandson my buddy from high school he's all for us shooting there. He said he's got a manhole he painted orange he can put on the end of the first field and from the porch to the edge it's 980yards!! Or we can drive threw the woods to the back lot and it's over a mile and a half alfalfa fields perfectly flat. So if I build or buy the 308 I want I can now drive 10 minutes and do all the long range shooting I want and have a old timer spotting for me and letting me use his new kabota side by side to drive down and set up targets.

Been looking at some of the higher end 700s and savages made for long range shooting or maybe the mossberg mvp-lr.

The girl friend got her settlement from her car accident and even though I keep saying no she has the kids all on her side of getting me a gun I've always wanted for Christmas this year. Part of me wants to just tell her a cheaper 204 since it will be in and out of the truck a ton chasing coyotes or go out with the 308 and nice optics.

Now before anyone says you can't shoot 1000yards with cheap optics or rifle you can. I hit the 800m e type silhouette with a beat up M4 carbine with a equally beat up 4x acog. $1000-1200 will get me the set up I need to do it affordably with out going all out crazy custom barrel, action, optics. And even at that price point I'm still half the price of the guns she was looking at for me but I don't want to feed no 338 or 300win mag as much as I'll be shooting it. 308 will still be a bit more but not expensive like the big boys plus I'm already set up to reload 308 with a old set I picked up.

[Djf3864]

That 10P is a sweet gun but if it will just sit better to get the 204 and get some mileage out of it.

[clayton86]

That 10P is a sweet gun but if it will just sit better to get the 204 and get some mileage out of it.

That's what I'm also thinking also. I already have a 204 and it goes just about every where with me with my caller. I live for predator hunting. I have a 204 already but to be honest I don't like it. The round I love the tiny pencil barrel and blind mag on the gun I hate.

[clayton86]

I ordered a mossberg MVP predator today it will be in in 1-2 weeks