Just doing some gun dreaming for down the road. What would your rather hunt with. Remington .308 is well proven as is the M21. M21 would be more fun with semi auto but 700 is likely more accurate(not sure though/but I believe for the most part bolt is always more accurate than semi auto even when semi auto is being fired single shot). M21 definitely wins in my mind for cool factor. Everyone and their mother seems to have a model 700 somewhere. M21 costs a lot more though.... http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?model=20 we all know what a model 700 looks like...
I have never considered using a Military type weapon for hunting. Browning makes a very nice Semi auto for Hunting. However; not "sexy".
What are you hunting, and why would you need a gun like that? Whatever happened to the good ole bolt action rifle?
What kind of hunting? Unless you are hunting from a stand the M21 (11.6lbs empty, w/o scope) will get a bit heavy to walk around with. The 700 is a nice rifle but the FN PBR would be my choice
For varmints, I prefer the 375 H&H Magnum; decent at range and good against a variety of small animals. I blew the dander off of a Kodiak at 500 yards with a 375HMag and he just looked at me funny. Now I pack .50 BMG revolvers, one on each hip 5 rounds per. Decent against most game save for big bears in remote areas of Alaska, and can be used to put down large trout if you have good aim and hold them just so.
If you try to use a M14 for long distance work . After about 3 shots if you have a scope installed, the heat off of the barrel obstructs the vision thru the scope. Best to stay with the 700 bdl with a heavy barrel. Just remember "Long distance is the next best thing to being there".
700 all the way. Go the Paradise Sniper Challenge. You won't see ANYONE using a semi auto EVER. There's good reason why. Bolt beat semi auto when is comes to accuracy. Not that semi auto can't be accurate, but bolt is better.
i currently use a Ruger M77 All Weather(stainless steel) in 7mm Win. Mag-no iron sites has a bell & carlson kevlar/fiber stock in realtree camo w/loupold vari-x II 3x9x40 silver satin scope does real well here in the woods of WV......would like a camo'd scope if i could find a "quality" one but i am kinda hooked on the loupold's. several years ago i picked up a Browning BAR "safari grade", also in 7mm Win Mag-no iron sites. brand new gun,won in a raffle and traded to my buddy's hunting shop....have yet to shoot/hunt with this gun, want to put a loupold vari-x III 4.5x14x50 with the illuminated reticle on this one.... the Ruger is, well, very ulitarian looking/definately a hunters rifle, and a very nice shooting rifle in my opinion. the Browning is a very pretty rifle, but is known to be an excellent rifle as well...... doug(always love to talk guns)
Leupold Have you considered getting one of your scopes painted to match your rifle? I've seen that done a number of times and the results are usually quite nice.
yea, i am at work and i didnt spell check too well.......and my "other" mistake, did no one catch it? ;-) its "supposed" to be 7mm Rem Mag, not 7mm Win Mag.....duh!!!! i just got 300 Win Mag on the brain.....thats what i want next...maybe a nice Weatherby or Sako? yea i would have to find a custom shop i guess to paint it......havent really researched that option....what would be really cool is to have it laser etched with a camo pattern maybe, just something to break up the silver a bit? doug
I have a Remington 700 (.223 heavy barrel , synthetic stock- complete with compass .) I use it for groundhogs and crows. Great weapon. I also have a M1A for range duty. Its great too but it does take its tole on my shoulder after twenty or so rounds firing from a bench.
I'd give the .300 Remington Ultra Mag a serious look as well. You can buy factory ammo in three different power levels. The lightest loads are similar to a .30-06, the mid-level is on par with the .300 Win Mag and full-bore rounds are .300 RUM. That kind of flexibility could come in handy for people who don't reload on their own.