Author Topic: pack rifle (Read 2673 times)

drewD · « **on:** September 23, 2008, 07:09:21 PM »

I just recently listed my handi barrels for sale in the classifieds forum but now the monkey on my back is telling me one more. Hence the title, pack rifle. I want a rifle that I can pack all day and not feel like I've been toting a howitzer with me on the trail. I've got a frame and stock set but I need help deciding on the barrel.

I had a 243 superlight barrel and the accuracy from the barrel wasn't really up to par. I thought maybe to try another one but the results could be the same. I want something capable of a 100 yard shot. What are y'all sugestions. What ever caliber I go with will be cut down to 16 inches.

With the rifle weighing as little as possible recoil is the next concern. I'm not afraid of recoil but I don't want something that is gonna be punishing to shoot either. What are y'alls suggestions?

trotterlg · « **Reply #1 on:** September 23, 2008, 09:03:37 PM »

30 Carbine? What are you going to kill with it? Larry

cwlongshot · « **Reply #2 on:** September 23, 2008, 11:55:34 PM »

Exactly,
What are you hunting and where?

CW

Swampman · « **Reply #3 on:** September 24, 2008, 01:22:12 AM »

.30-30

STUMPJMPR · « **Reply #4 on:** September 24, 2008, 01:26:24 AM »

I agree with the 30-30. Possibly, the 500 s&w barrel is pretty light since the barrel walls are so thin.... Ammo is expensive though... 44mag would also be a good choice...

Datil · « **Reply #5 on:** September 24, 2008, 03:09:15 AM »

I would say maybe 357 mag or max. Need to know what you want shoot with it.
Next choice is a 30-30-. Marv.

petemi · « **Reply #6 on:** September 24, 2008, 03:35:07 AM »

Quote from: Datil on September 24, 2008, 03:09:15 AM

I would say maybe 357 mag or max. Need to know what you want shoot with it.
Next choice is a 30-30-. Marv.

I agree with Marv. The .357 can shoot .38s for small game and .357 Mag or Max, if converted, for big game. My Handi is also superbly accurate. Ammo is available everywhere and doesn't cost a fortune.

Singleshotsam · « **Reply #7 on:** September 24, 2008, 03:40:16 AM »

I agree w/ needing to know what you are going to be hunting...

drewD · « **Reply #8 on:** September 24, 2008, 04:59:32 AM »

I'll be hunting mostly deer the occassional wild hog and coyotes that frequent my father in laws farm

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #9 on:** September 24, 2008, 05:09:03 AM »

I read about a guy in California who backpacked in the mountains. He needed a gun for protection from bears and cougers and for survival in case he was stuck up there. Pistols were out because of legal restriction. So, he took a Marlin .44 mag. Cut the barrel down to 16-1/2". Trimmed the magazine back to just beyond the stock (made it a 5 or 6 shot). Hollowed out the stock. Put spare ammo with shot shells in the stock. The gun weighed less than 5 lbs when he got through.

canon6 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 24, 2008, 05:26:28 AM »

30-30, here is a picture of my wifes pack rifle, a NEF,it also has a 22 in 12 gauge barrel. Doug

canon6 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 24, 2008, 05:28:45 AM »

And here is a picture of mine,a Winchester '94 in 30-30.It should handle any of the critters you mentioned. Doug

Singleshotsam · « **Reply #12 on:** September 24, 2008, 05:49:14 AM »

Hmmm decisions decisions. With cutting down the bbl to 16" I would shy away from the 1/2 breed deer/varmint calibers such as a .243 / 25/06. If I were going to build a pack rifle for deer/hog/yoter, I'l pick a .308 myself. The AR-15 setup w/ a 1-10 twist has been proven a tack driver w/ a 16" setup, and you would still have enough range to extend a 100 yard shot should you choose to hunt elsewhere. I would be sure to put a nice crown on the bbl and if I were going to have it cut/recrowned, i'd have it threaded for a flash hider. That would be a fun project

Top it off w/ a nice 4x scope and your set

Just my sick opion though

drewD · « **Reply #13 on:** September 24, 2008, 07:36:57 AM »

Canon6, can you tell me how much your wife's 30-30 weighs? What type of stocks are on it?

What is everyone else's experiences with 243 superlight barrels?

Would you go with a fixed 4 power or a red dot?

PartsMan · « **Reply #14 on:** September 24, 2008, 08:03:36 AM »

Cutting down a superlight may calm down the barrel harmonics enough to help accuracy.
I wouldn't want to shoot a 16" 243 without ear muffs and plugs in though.
All the full length ones I've been around had quite a "crack" to them.

44mag would work great.

Swampman · « **Reply #15 on:** September 24, 2008, 08:07:05 AM »

Quote from: drewD on September 24, 2008, 07:36:57 AM

Canon6, can you tell me how much your wife's 30-30 weighs? What type of stocks are on it?

What is everyone else's experiences with 243 superlight barrels?

Would you go with a fixed 4 power or a red dot?

None of the .243 barrels are worth fooling with IMO.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #16 on:** September 24, 2008, 08:26:35 AM »

pick your pistol round ....they are designed to work in short barrels so 16 inches is a bonus [and no cylinder gap is a 22 in barrel the 357 is almost a 30-30 but not as loud....the 44 mag exceeds the 30-30 at short range the specials are real quiet and be good for foraging,,,,,,the 500 if you want power or even a 12 GA at 16 in of coarse but 357 or 44 be best be guided by any future pistols you may carry 357 with 38 Special is cheapest if dollars matter

quickdtoo · « **Reply #17 on:** September 24, 2008, 08:31:47 AM »

I have four 243 H&Rs, two are Superlights, one for each of my older grandsons, will need another in a few years for number 3, he'll get one too. The Superlights can be accurate if you don't let the barrel heat up too much and find the load it likes, they just take a little more patience to get there. I haven't shot the second one yet, but the other one works well with Stimpy's handload using the 100gr Speer and H4895, it only shoots acceptable at about 2" for a 3-shot 100yd group shot within 2 minutes with the 80gr Remington factory load. Howard NZ gets excellent accuracy with his too.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,126195.msg1098449825.html#msg1098449825

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,108207.msg1098316670.html#msg1098316670

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,120452.msg1098403544.html#msg1098403544

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,69409.msg424720.html#msg424720

canon6 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 24, 2008, 09:44:20 AM »

Drew,her 30-30 weighs @ 6.5 pounds with the scope and spare ammo. The stocks are a reworked pair of NEF wood stocks, work done by fellow member longcruise.He also did the paint work.I did the barrel shortening, and new front sight work.HTH Doug

drewD · « **Reply #19 on:** September 24, 2008, 10:25:53 AM »

just a thought here....

what say i go with a tracker 2 barrel? have it cut down to 18, could i possibly have a scout set up attached to where the rear sight is fastened? i know the thread pattern for the scope base and the rear sight are the same. Is there anyway i could have 2 more holes tapped?

Do you think this would be an acceptable 100 yard set up?

canon6 · « **Reply #20 on:** September 24, 2008, 11:03:26 AM »

If by Tracker 2 you mean a shotgun,of course additional holes can be drilled for a scope mount.I hope you have considered the weight of shotgun ammo.ie 20 rounds of assorted 30-30 ammo weighs @ 14 oz.20 rounds of assorted (shot and slugs) 20 ga weigh 1 pound 15.5 oz and takes up @ three time as much space. Just for you to think about.Yes a scope can make it a one hundred yard outfit,with slugs of course. Doug

tykempster · « **Reply #21 on:** September 24, 2008, 11:18:35 AM »

Out to 100 yards 45-70 or 500 Smith & Wesson for sure. Will put a thumpin' on everything from squirrel to bears! A good red dot, 16" barrel and survivor stock...5 lbs of fury!

coyotejoe · « **Reply #22 on:** September 24, 2008, 01:10:01 PM »

Quote from: tykempster on September 24, 2008, 11:18:35 AM

Out to 100 yards 45-70 or 500 Smith & Wesson for sure. Will put a thumpin' on everything from squirrel to bears! A good red dot, 16" barrel and survivor stock...5 lbs of fury!

5 lbs of fury, you bet, coming right back at you.

petemi · « **Reply #23 on:** September 24, 2008, 01:25:25 PM »

Ouch

5 lb .45-70. Where's my chiropractor???

Swampman · « **Reply #24 on:** September 24, 2008, 01:32:36 PM »

With Trapdoor level loads, the .45-70 doesn't kick bad at all. They are enough to kill anything.

petemi · « **Reply #25 on:** September 24, 2008, 02:07:45 PM »

Quote from: Swampman on September 24, 2008, 01:32:36 PM

With Trapdoor level loads, the .45-70 doesn't kick bad at all. They are enough to kill anything.

I never shot trapdoor level loads out of mine, so I don't know. I push stuff that runs from 1800 to 2200 fps, and I wouldn't want to shoot them out of a 5 lb. rifle. They WILL kill anything in North America, almost the shooter too!!

jdwolf · « **Reply #26 on:** September 24, 2008, 02:24:21 PM »

Get a HI POINT carbine. They're available in 9mm and 40S&W.

Tallwalker · « **Reply #27 on:** September 24, 2008, 03:34:03 PM »

I would go with a 30-30 with a plastic stock. Perhaps you could keep the weight the same, and leave the barrel longer, or end up even lighter. I handled one the other day, and liked it but wasn't sure about the price. It had extra barrels, 243, 50 ML, 12 ga, and 357, and they wanted $450 for it.

GatCat · « **Reply #28 on:** September 24, 2008, 11:27:55 PM »

I think that if you are going to shorten the barrel to 16" or so, your best bet would be a .357 or a .44. If you need a scope, a fixed 4X compact would be all you need, even a 2 1/2 would be fine. Plastic stocks are the lightest, if you can get by using them, the plastic youth buttstock is lightest. If you don't need a scope, I'd go with a good peep sight.
I've mentioned it before, my lightweights are 1) a newer .44 mag, barrel shortened to 16", and turned down in diameter, with peep sight.
and, 2) and older H&R 58, .30-30. This has the light, tapered barrel. I removed the sights, used the one-piece "dead-nutz" scope mount with a leupold 4X compact, plastic stocks. It is a wand!
I went a bit overboard on both, I found a place that sells titanium bolts, and got two of the ones that hold the butts to the recievers!!
A similar .30-30 would also serve you well!!
Mark

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #29 on:** September 25, 2008, 01:14:29 AM »

Kind of a rehash of the above advice - If ranges are limited to 100 yards - I would go with the 357/357 Max, 44 mag/445 Super Mag or 45 Long Colt/460. If one of those do not appeal to you then the 30-30. All shortened to 16.5 inches. The 44 or 45 would be the lightest because the side wall will be the thinest (bigger bore). Synthetic stocks are the lightest. For what you want to use it for a 4X scope would be fine. If you are going to do most of your shooting at 50-60 then a 2.5X would be OK or a good red dot. Get the scopes in a rouged, compact, long eye relief form.