Need help in buying a rifle

[Shooting in the wind...]

Hey guys I am looking to buy a do all rifle for hunting. I live in the mountains of Pa and shots are rarely over 100yds. I am also Left Handed so that really limits my options. I am stuck between the Ruger Marlin SBL in 45-70 and the Ruger Gunsite Scout in 308. I have watched and read everything for these 2 rifles the last month and can't make up my mind. I am only looking at these 2, I don't like any other ones. I mainly hunt whitetail and target shoot some aswell though not to much target shooting the last few years but I would like to get into doing more of it. I only have access to a public 100 yard range and sitting on a bench shooting paper only at 100 yards got old. I may also hunt some black bear but that is definitely not a priority for me. Any suggestions?

 

[CJ6]

Get the 308.
Easier on the shoulder and way more accurate. Components are Easier to get also.

 

[ben-o]

45-70 is overkill for deer, and ammo is going to be difficult to find (and expensive). I don’t really really understand the appeal of the scout rifle, but a carbine length .308 is a pretty useful gun

 

[Dkk37058]

308 definitely

 

[450BM]

Hey guys I am looking to buy a do all rifle for hunting. I live in the mountains of Pa and shots are rarely over 100yds. I am also Left Handed so that really limits my options. I am stuck between the Ruger Marlin SBL in 45-70 and the Ruger Gunsite Scout in 308. I have watched and read everything for these 2 rifles the last month and can't make up my mind. I am only looking at these 2, I don't like any other ones. I mainly hunt whitetail and target shoot some aswell though not to much target shooting the last few years but I would like to get into doing more of it. I only have access to a public 100 yard range and sitting on a bench shooting paper only at 100 yards got old. I may also hunt some black bear but that is definitely not a priority for me. Any suggestions?

Where in the mountains of PA? I’m in Tioga County.

Unless you plan on shooting cast in the 45-70, I would go with the 308.

I shoot left handed and prefer right handed bolt actions. Only ”left handed” guns I have are a flintlock and two Stag AR’s and the flintlock is the only gun I insist on being left, I have other right eject AR rifles.

 

[Okiehunter85]

Get the 308.
Easier on the shoulder and way more accurate. Components are Easier to get also.

Absolutely, especially on deer. A lot easier on the wallet as well.

 

[Shooting in the wind...]

Where in the mountains of PA? I’m in Tioga County.

Unless you plan on shooting cast in the 45-70, I would go with the 308.

I shoot left handed and prefer right handed bolt actions. Only ”left handed” guns I have are a flintlock and two Stag AR’s and the flintlock is the only gun I insist on being left, I have other right eject AR rifles.

Somerset County

 

[Shooting in the wind...]

I had 2 45-70's prior, had to sell them both cause of hard times a few years ago. I did cast bullets for the Henry 437grWFN, worked amazing on deer as most were drt. I borrowed a Remington Gamemaster in left hand 308 for this season. I've shot deer with almost everything from 6.5creed to 375H&H and the only consistent one where most were drt was a 45-70 with my 437grWFN at 1550fps. I'm mainly interested in looks and function, not really the caliber. That ruger marlin sbl sure is pretty, but the ruger gunsite scout is aswell in its own way. I want to do more tracking like i did this year. I watched alot of videos of those Maine boys track deer, learned alot so i went and tracked my first group of 3 deer almost a mile before catching up with them. When I did I took my doe, was alot different feeling then just sitting and waiting for a deer to walk past, felt like I was actually hunting and involved in the sport. They were the first deer I ever tracked in 23 years and actually found them, was a great experience.

 

[Ranger188]

With what you need it for, definitely the 308
More accurate than the 45-70
Will kick less
Easier to find factory ammo in a wide range of bullet weights and construction.
Cheaper to shoot with factory or reloads.
Will kill a deer just as dead.

 

[Shooting in the wind...]

I was tossing up the Bergara Wilderness Sierra in 308 aswell but I'm on the fence there also cause I'm a wood and blued steel kinda guy.

 

[tmwinds]

White tails at 100 yards. A used Savage Model 99 chambered in 300 Savage and a good 4 power scope.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I would go with the '08. It has to be one of the most flexible cartridges ever! 125g for small deer 180g plus for large or dangerous game. So many bullet choices out there. I like the look of the Ruger, but have resisted the temptation to buy one - I guess that I have sufficient 308s for this lifetime , ic 2 FTR guns, 1 collectable and 1 BSA hunting rifle.

 

[Gary in MD]

Look at the Tikka Hunter in 308
Walnut and blued, accurate, all you would need.

 

[Shooting in the wind...]

Look at the Tikka Hunter in 308
Walnut and blued, accurate, all you would need.

I did, didn't care for the looks of them.

 

[Shooting in the wind...]

I've never had such a hard time buying a rifle, I like them both lol but I can only have 1.

 

[DGP4]

I had a weekend house in Pike County in NE PA for 20 years. I did all my deer hunting with a Winchester Model 94 in .30-30 with iron sights. Never needed to take a shot beyond 80 yards in that wooded environment and got my quota every year. I'd say all you need is a Winchester or Marlin lever action and, at most, a low power scope. A lever action gives you a very fast follow up shot if necessary.

 

[Shooting in the wind...]

I had a weekend house in Pike County in NE PA for 20 years. I did all my deer hunting with a Winchester Model 94 in .30-30 with iron sights. Never needed to take a shot beyond 80 yards in that wooded environment and got my quota every year. I'd say all you need is a Winchester or Marlin lever action and, at most, a low power scope. A lever action gives you a very fast follow up shot if necessary.

That was my thought. The guy I borrowed the gamemaster from said he would sell me that which is fine but I still wanna pick up something else aswell. That Ruger Marlin SBL sure looks nice doesn't it?

 

[22LRaddict]

I am lefty too. All my bolt guns are right handed. My flintlocks are left handed too. I can shoot a right handed bolt gun pretty fast

 

[22LRaddict]

My vote a 308, it would be a Remington 700 tho.

 

[Shooting in the wind...]

I just bout that Remington Gamemaster in 308. Got it for a good deal. It's well used but shoots straight and groups well, was made in the 70's. Still might pick up an SBL 45-70, never can have to many guns! Thanks to all for the 308 recommendations.