ReeferMac

Wow, thanks for the detailed and thoughtful responses. Thanks for the ballistics chart Runco, that does a great job of helping me visualize things. I'm going to look that up in some of the other sizes mentioned!   Sorry if my post was confusing for some, I appreciate the help. By "Long Range" I meant around 200 yds. Getting much beyond that will be hard even at a good range, and as I said, I'm not a hunter, so don't_really_ need to target game out beyond that. That being said, I want to acquire the firearm and become proficient at it should the need ever arise... Be it 4-legged or not. I do want to be able to impart significant energy at that distance and put the target into the dirt with the first round, hence why I was leaning to the larger size. Being a very common size, I also anticipate availability to be good across the spectrum of bulk rounds, hi-quality, reloading, etc. HOWEVER if I can get similar results from a smaller round, w/ less recoil, cheap lead, and equally 'available', then I'd certainly consider it, as the Total-Cost-Of-Ownership for such rifle will be much less... and frankly, I hope I never HAVE to use the thing (just want to be prepared in the event).   We are also looking at farmland/homesteads in rural settings, and I anticipate run-ins w/ Local Fauna inspecting our livestock, crops, and like issue's, so effectiveness will trump cost benefits. But lets face it, most of the lead is going to end up in the dirt-pile behind an iron-target in the back corner of my lot.   I don't really have a budget per se, but I don't need to impress anyone at the range, and obviously don't have the skill to warrant a $1500 rifle. I've been looking at the M1A, the Ruger American Rifle, and Remington's. I have a Mossberg Shotgun I'm less-than-impressed with. Frankly I'd rather a used Remmy than a new off-brand after that experience.   Admittedly I find the array of rounds confusing... I simply don't have enough experience nor know enough to select between them all (that chart really helped, though I think I like the 300 WinMag!) Is there a big difference between the various .30- rounds? Growing up in the NE I knew lots of people that hunted deer w/ 30-06 and 12-ga. slugs, but not many would attempt 200 yd. shots. Having sat in a few fields thinking about what I want this gun to do, I'd like to be able to try 300-500 yd. shots... but wouldn't expect to do it often.   So good knockdown power and trajectory out to 500 yds would be about the maximum? Affordable, common, easy to find/trade, etc. I was quite surprised at the situation that's come up w/ .22's. That's one reason I'm searching for a highly available round to build a rifle around. What about the various styles of bullet? Would a hollow-point of a smaller round be as effective as FMJ of a larger since more of the energy is absorbed by the target? I've heard some great things of the .243/.270's   What's the difference between a .308 and 300 WinMag? Bigger bang and a slightly smaller bullet = flatter trajectory? Do the longer barrels increase accuracy significantly, or does the extra weight make aiming that much more difficult? A friend had a nice Stainless Steel Barrel rifle that he let me shoot that was very nice, but I found the regular steel easier to shoot, as the stainless was too light? However they were both short-barrels. I would like more than an 18", but don't know if I should be searching for 24"?   I was very grateful to John @ Fighting Sheep Dog and the folks at Windrock Shooting range for their Range-Day w/ the AR's last month. Was a great time, a lot of fun, and I learned a lot. Got to try a bunch of AR builds, including a 300-Blackout model. Nothing like a few boxes of ammo to decide if something's for you? Anyone w/ an M1A or a Ruger and some space, care to let me buy you some ammunition in the Kingston/Knoxville area, please drop me a line! No, that's not me in the avatar....   Thanks again!   - K  

I know it's dangerous starting a 'which round is best debate', but I'm looking at a getting a rifle. Primarily for shooting at the range, and long-range shooting. I don't hunt currently, however an additional purpose of said rifle, besides plinking @ 200 yds., is in the event I ever DO need to shoot something, 2 or 4-legged.... I only want to have to hit it once. I want a powerful round that can touch something at a distance, yet doesn't cost a buck-and-a-half a pop! I've shot some AR's, and they're not to my liking. I'm more interested in on old-school semi-auto or bolt-action, iron sights as well as scoped, long barrel is fine, it will be my stress reliever (and occasionally put to real use on the farm). I don't want just a varmint gun. Want something that can take down a deer, or possibly larger, and at a distance. I've primarily been considering .308, but for quality ammunition, that's an expensive day at the range. Whatever I get I'll want to reload, but I still want to be cost conscious, when selecting the cartridge. I'm concerned w/ some of the less-common sizes being able to get the ammunition if availability get scarce, so kind of hoping to stick to one of the more common ones. A friend has suggested I get a quality Mosin Nagant and a nice scope dialed in, but want to consider other options, idea's, and cartridges. Thanks for your input!   - Kevin  

I can't comment as to the gun, but my old boss back in NY got a new Rifle that was .223 and he took it out a few times before I left... LOVED IT. Said he was shooting 2" groups at 100 yds out of the box, 3" @ 200 yds. Never did any further testing. :cool:    

I have the Mossberg 500 20 ga. field model, and frankly I've been a bit disappointed that it jams up sometimes. I've missed a few 2nd shot on clay-targets b/c the round got jammed up. Always used commercial ammunition, no reloads. Could easily be operator-error, or in need of a cleaning or something, but I will admit I've been slightly less-pleased w/ the unit and will probably try a different manufacturer with my next one.   - K  

Hi Leprechaun! I recently moved my family  from (Rochester) NY to TN. Great decision, you won't regret it! There are gun shops all around, 2nd only to churches. Most shops offer the 8-hour gun-safety course for $40-45, the pre-requisite to getting licensed for carry in TN. After the course, it's a trip to the county Courthouse for permit application. FYI, you can get Class III weapons in TN. Good times! Folks here are considerably more friendly than what you and I are used to, but they do cock their head and look at you funny once you open your mouth. Casually mention you left NY to get away from all the whack-jobs and crazy politics, and they'll warm right up, and ask how cold it really gets up there. Got a friend outside Nashville (Lasscassis), also a transplant from NY. Nice country out that way. I'm outside Knoxville. Reminds me of the Finger Lakes and ADK's. Just gorgeous country here. Lush and green, fantastic weather. Have met a lot of transplants. So far we are very happy w/ the move. Feel free to ping me if you have any questions.   C'mon now, the 9's aren't THAT bad, are they really? Hollow point is still going to leave a big hole on the way out, won't it?   - K