Author Topic: WHICH RIFLE SHOULD I GET? (Read 3709 times)

vbhunter · « **on:** June 30, 2010, 03:49:22 PM »

Due to an unforseen windfall, I now have about $400 that is burning a hole in my pocket. I own a 30 year old Marlin 336C that looks brand new, but I've been wanting to get a bolt action centerfire also. It would be used for whitetail in eastern woods and also for the occasional elk hunt out west. I've narrowed it down to a Marlin XL7 22" in .30-06 or a Weatherby Vanguard Carbine 20" in .308. I really like the shorter barreled Weatherby, but it runs about $100 more than the Marlin. Is the Weatherby worth $100 more, and is a 2" shorter barrel really that much easier to maneuver around in the brush? Any advice is appreciated.

Swampman · « **Reply #1 on:** June 30, 2010, 04:03:35 PM »

Of the 2 the Marlin would be my choice because it's made in the USA and it's a great gun.

drdougrx · « **Reply #2 on:** June 30, 2010, 04:32:03 PM »

Marlin.

hillbill · « **Reply #3 on:** June 30, 2010, 04:48:08 PM »

ive heard a lot of good things about the marlin, ive had the weatherby vanguard and traded it off without shooting it, wasnt that impressive to me.im sure they are both fine firearms but the marlin is the one ive been looking into getting.

Huffmanite · « **Reply #4 on:** June 30, 2010, 06:16:15 PM »

Don't have a Vanguard, but I do have a Marlin xl7 in 25-06. It is a very good rifle for its price. Very accurate.

SteveHawaii · « **Reply #5 on:** June 30, 2010, 07:02:42 PM »

I've had a Vanguard for about 6 months now. Very nice rifle for the price ($400). Extremely accurate and very well made.

Steve

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #6 on:** June 30, 2010, 07:17:48 PM »

Both are good rifles.

For elk I would prefer the .30-06.

roper · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2010, 09:48:31 PM »

I would buy the rifle that work for 100% of my hunting needs instead for that maybe out of state hunt.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #8 on:** July 01, 2010, 01:58:59 AM »

Quote from: roper on June 30, 2010, 09:48:31 PM

I would buy the rifle that work for 100% of my hunting needs instead for that maybe out of state hunt.

He's narrowed it down to a .30-06 and a .308 Win. Both will work for 100% of his stated hunting needs, but the .30-06 is more flexible.

roper · « **Reply #9 on:** July 01, 2010, 03:47:14 AM »

Quote from: Coyote Hunter on July 01, 2010, 01:58:59 AM

Quote from: roper on June 30, 2010, 09:48:31 PM
I would buy the rifle that work for 100% of my hunting needs instead for that maybe out of state hunt.

He's narrowed it down to a .30-06 and a .308 Win. Both will work for 100% of his stated hunting needs, but the .30-06 is more flexible.

CH, I can read. I answer his question and he asked for advice.

Rangr44 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 01, 2010, 10:14:09 AM »

That "Weatherby" is actually a japanese Howa - my next-door neighbor bought one.

Although the Howa's actualy a decent rifle, the Marlin is the better value, and IMHO a sleeper buy in the bargain.

.

SD Handgunner · « **Reply #11 on:** July 01, 2010, 10:19:30 AM »

Quote from: vbhunter on June 30, 2010, 03:49:22 PM

Is the Weatherby worth $100 more, and is a 2" shorter barrel really that much easier to maneuver around in the brush? Any advice is appreciated.

As to the 1st question only you can answer that one. I would be more concerned with the fit & finish of the rifle and most importantly how it fit me than I would the name.

As per the 20" Barrel .308. I've been working with a Remington Model 700 SPS in .308. The very first thing I did was to shorten the 24" Barrel to 20" and have it recrowned. That totally changed the feel of this rifle. It balances and handles so much better it is hard to imagine. A buddy of mine recently handled it and is now considering shortening the barrel on his Remington .243 from 24" to 20". As for performance, my nephew has a 24" Remington Model 700 Stainless-Synthetic BDL in .30-06. I load for both his .30-06 and my new .308. When all was said and done the 24" .30-06 shoots the same bullet (150gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips) as the .308, but the 20" .308 shoots them 148 FPS slower.

I think the best advice I can provide is to try to handle the different guns you are considering and buy the one that feels the best in YOUR HANDS.

Larry

Huffmanite · « **Reply #12 on:** July 04, 2010, 12:54:37 PM »

Marlin or Vanguard? Both are good rifles. I have a Marlin XL7 in 25-06 that I'm happy to own. Don't think you are giving anything up, but Weatherby name (yes, it is a Howa) and its extra cost by going with a Marlin. As far as your concern with a shorter barrel for hunting in a brushy area, I don't think 2" will make that much of a difference for deciding between the two rifles. If your area for hunting is that brushy, then think about another shorter barreled rifle that would be easier to handle and not a concern for accuracy and effectiveness at long distance shooting. By the way, Marlin does have the XS model rifles in 308, but its barrel is same lenght as the XL.

jhm · « **Reply #13 on:** July 05, 2010, 05:37:29 AM »

we bought one of the Marlins for a fund raiser for a person with some extra large Medical Bills and put it on DISPLAY in the Pawn Shop with a sign saying WIN this gun and sold tickets for it, we recieved more request for them we was ordering another one abt. every other day, I would say get the Marlin, now the Weatherby is also a excellent choice, and they were being advertised for $399.00. Jim

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #14 on:** July 05, 2010, 06:59:45 AM »

I have the Weatherby model you're looking at. Superior construction and hinged floorplate, I'd say Weatherby.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #15 on:** July 05, 2010, 12:17:11 PM »

Quote from: roper on July 01, 2010, 03:47:14 AM

Quote from: Coyote Hunter on July 01, 2010, 01:58:59 AM
Quote from: roper on June 30, 2010, 09:48:31 PM
I would buy the rifle that work for 100% of my hunting needs instead for that maybe out of state hunt.

He's narrowed it down to a .30-06 and a .308 Win. Both will work for 100% of his stated hunting needs, but the .30-06 is more flexible.

CH, I can read. I answer his question and he asked for advice.

If they both work 100%, which would you get?

Happy · « **Reply #16 on:** July 05, 2010, 02:45:21 PM »

I had both the 308 and the odd six . Overal I never met an 06 that I did not like .Lost a few deer with the 308, as a bullet would get loose on a twig or tall grass but never with the odd six. I have traded a few rifle's off , but after awhile always gone back to this cartridge (3006). I had a winchester with a 24 inch barrel and also a tikka Battue with the 19 !/2 " barrel .In heavy heavy brush I prefered the 35 Marlin lever , otherwise either 06 never was a real problem to carry really .

Never hit a tree swinging the barrel at a running deer . Has any one ? Then in real heaxy cover, I have learned a flat point out of a lever or a round nose out of a bolt has still a chance if you hit a twig before the targeted animal.

The best over all rifle is the one that fits the best with a cartridge where in the recoil will never make you finch,

Cheesehead · « **Reply #17 on:** July 05, 2010, 05:50:39 PM »

An 06 will go through tall grass accurately and a 308 will not?

Cheese

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #18 on:** July 06, 2010, 08:33:38 PM »

Quote from: Cheesehead on July 05, 2010, 05:50:39 PM

An 06 will go through tall grass accurately and a 308 will not?

Cheese

Yup...bump up to the .300 Win Mag and you can shoot through small trees...

jhm · « **Reply #19 on:** July 07, 2010, 04:17:09 AM »

My thoughts exactly Cheese !! I must be loading my 2 with something different as they will both kill the heck out of TALL GRASS oh wait I usually use the SAME bullets and POWDER, it must be the PRIMERS I use. Jim

ftlupton · « **Reply #20 on:** July 07, 2010, 10:16:29 AM »

I've got the Marlin in .308, have not hunted yet this year with it but it is accurate, smooth and handles well. Nikon 2 x 7 scope on it and handloads of 165gr Hornady, ready for mulies or elk. Have shot elk with .270, 30-06 & 300 H & H, the right bullet is more important than the round out of all these and I am confident the .308 will do the job as well as the 06. Right bullet, proper placement equals dead elk!

glazer1972 · « **Reply #21 on:** September 11, 2010, 11:26:21 AM »

I'd pick the Vanguard in .308.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #22 on:** September 11, 2010, 12:22:58 PM »

Pick them both up, handle them which ever one feels better and points better in YOUR hands is the one to but. Both are decent quality and the 308 to 30-06 have very little terminal difference.

Swampman · « **Reply #23 on:** September 11, 2010, 01:41:15 PM »

The .30-06 gives you 200 fps in the same weight rifle. The .308 was designed for machine guns and works ok for that.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #24 on:** September 11, 2010, 05:08:57 PM »

The 308 was designed for the M14, not exactly a machine gun.

Cheese

billy_56081 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 11, 2010, 05:22:17 PM »

vbhunter, looking at your post count you are fairly new here to the board, no one takes any advice from swampy too serious. Like I said it will be YOUR gun, which ever one fits, feels and points best for YOU will be the rifle you should buy.

Swampman · « **Reply #26 on:** September 11, 2010, 05:34:04 PM »

Yawn! The smart ones do.

Swampman · « **Reply #27 on:** September 11, 2010, 05:35:36 PM »

Quote from: Cheesehead on September 11, 2010, 05:08:57 PM

The 308 was designed for the M14, not exactly a machine gun.

Cheese

Yes, "exactly" a machine gun that didn't last very long.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #28 on:** September 11, 2010, 06:02:49 PM »

Quote from: Swampman link=topic=210615.msg 1099163778#msg 1099163778 date=1284262536

Quote from: Cheesehead link=topic=210615.msg 1099163768#msg 1099163768 date=1284260937
The 308 was designed for the M14, not exactly a machine gun.

Cheese

Yes, "exactly" a machine gun that didn't last very long.

Not a machine gun by definition, a battle rifle. Sorry Swamp.

Cheese

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #29 on:** September 13, 2010, 06:55:59 PM »

Quote from: Swampman on September 11, 2010, 01:41:15 PM

The .30-06 gives you 200 fps in the same weight rifle. The .308 was designed for machine guns and works ok for that.

Actually, my understanding is they could never get the .308 Win to work reliably in a machine gun - but not for lack of trying.

By the way, that 200fps is not free - in addition to burning more powder, the recoil is greater. The .30-06 is not always the superior choice.