what gun to buy next???

[soutthpaw]

So I got my G20 and got hooked on the 10mm bug. but I am undecided on which upgrade to do.  currently have the LWD extended/ported barrel.   Would like to hunt  up to deer size at some point.  so was thinking of getting the Mechtech CCU. 

Other options would be long slide and the 9inch LWD barrel or stay with OEM slide and prob cut barrel down to about 7" and possibly port or thread it.   The long silde LWD threaded barrel with comp would be another option...

I have a friend that is willing to teach me to hunt as I have never done it before, so is the hunting season different for rifle vs handgun?

However the only rifle I own currently is an AR15.    So might I do better getting a dedicated hunting rifle or caliber.   seems I can get a 6.8 or 7.62 for the AR or possibly just buy a Lefty bolt action like the Trophy hunter XP which I would prob go with 30.06

Unfortunaltely I can't afford them all       Being a Lefty I'm not keen or right handed eject long guns which is one negative against the CCU but video look like the rounds eject down and forward.   the big down side to shooting a righty rifle is if there is a catastrophic failure its going to blow out across my face.......  Not something I ever want to have happen.    My AR is a lefty as would be the other AR caliber or the Savage bolt action. 

So I read through the dozens of 10mm hunting threads.   just trying to decide if the 10mm is suitable.   
Hopefully we can keep the replies out of the popcorn dept...   thanks

[Steve4102]

  Depends on what you are "Hunting" and most important at what distance.

[soutthpaw]

stuff I can eat.  deer, Hog, (is 10mm overkill for rabbits?)  prob sub 100 yards due to forest and terrain in Colorado mountains.  Buffalo would be good but those are not even hunts here.  if I add elk or moose i would prob need one of the rifle calibers though not sure which (so recommendations without these last two) though feel free to add suggestions for an occasional hunter of the bigger game. at which time i will prob be able to afford the dedicated 30-06 or similar.  when hiking and  backpacking i walk up on wild game regularly.  so i don't see needing to be far away other than the challenge of it.   

[DAVIDF]

The AR will do fine for deer & hogs. And, of course the 10mm will too. With the right loads the 10 will work on Moose & Elk. A 7.62 upper would be great. I would go that way before going to a bolt gun personally unless cost is the only consideration. I prefer the AR platform.

Elmer Keith used one of his .44s on rabbits, so the 10 won't be overkill! Use a fmj (like Federal American Eagle) at slower velocities so less meat is destroyed.

[sqlbullet]

Ok...Hear are some thoughts.

If you want a 30 caliber for your AR lower, get a 300 blackout.  7.62X39 has reliability issues in the AR, and magazines are a pain, and don't hold as many rounds.  The blackout makes the same power, but was designed for the AR platform.

In fact, your 5.56 magazines will work fine for 300 blackout, and will have the same round counts.  And your 223 brass can be used to make 300 blackout brass with just a tubing cutter, sizing die and trim die.  Further, if you know how to do a barrel swap on your AR, you can go to the blackout with just a  barrel change since the BCG is the same for 5.56 and 300 blackout.  Buy a Wilson Combat 300 blackout barrrel for about $250 and you are ready to roll.

Only downside to the 300 blackout is there isn't tons of com-block surplus ammo for next to nothing.

For a bigger game rifle, look at the Mosin Nagant.  Same basic ballistics as 308/30-06.  More than capable of anything you will see in the US.  And can be found for under $200 usually.  If you want a scope you would need a side mount or a long eye relief scope with a rear sight base mount, which is what I have.  Either way works fine, but for hunting I really like the long eye relief scope mounted further forward.  Give my better field of view and awareness when I am on the juice and about to take a shot.

These are out of the box ideas as they say, but if we weren't out of the box thinkers, we wouldn't be here.

[Tact]

300 BO is the way to go.....

[soutthpaw]

Well fate solved this dilemma for me.  here is the story. been looking at left handed 30-06 and similar calibers for a couple years just hadn't really decided on which brand model etc.  Anyway, this summer my son broke the portable DVD player on the way back from CA to CO.  As we are heading out there for the winter break, I needed to replace the DVD player for our sanity.  20+ hr car trip with a 5 and 7 year old   couldnt find anything decent for cheap online so went and hit about 7 or 8 pawn shops.   in the second to last store, i happened to glance at the gun rack, always looking for left hand bolts.  Low and behold I saw one.   so asked to see it.  turned out to be a Savage 116 SS in 30-06.  Like new with scope mount and bipod.    Priced at $375.   Ok, I know from researching that its a $600 rifle new without the extras.  Asked what kind of deal i could get ..  10% off.   SOLD.   out the door for $374...   Merry Xmas to me.. then the last stop found a nice Sony portable DVD...  persistence and patience pays off...
Moral of the story, Good things come to those who wait
Here is my new toy..

Thanks for the previous replies, I thnk i will be content with my current G20 setup for a while...   Just spent all my upgrade money heh


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[sqlbullet]

Savage makes  a good gun, especially the models like yours with the accutrigger.  Congrats!

[soutthpaw]

Thanks.  Yeah they are one of the few firearms manufacturers that recognize that 10% of the population are lefties and we buy guns too!  Joined the Savageshooters forum as well.   

[ragsflh]

my vote on savage

[yankee2500]

Nice score on an early Christmas present.