Help me pick a bolt action

[MH19]

What’s going on everyone. Looking to get a bolt action for the upcoming deer season soon. Always bow hunt and plan to continue doing so. But wanting to get into a bolt gun for firearms season. Unfortunately only going to be public land hunting so options are obviously limited. Trying to decide what caliber and model. All opinions welcome.

 

[ISP 5353]

I would highly recommend taking a look at CVA. My wife uses a Cascade XT in 350 Legend. Great trigger, smooth action and extremely accurate. I am very picky when it comes to good rifles, and for the price, this one checks a lot of boxes. Good luck in your search.

 

[greg]

Winchester’s XPR rifle in 350 Legend….​

 

[Mgderf]

CVA Cascade
Mossberg Patriot
Ruger American
Remington 700
Savage Axis
Thompson Center Compass

There are many to choose from...
Public land you say?
.300 Blackout
.350 Legend
.450 Bushmaster


So many choices.

 

[Hawkeye7br]

If you plan to suppress it, or add a muzzle brake for range or a youth shooter, be sure it has conventional thread diameter and pitch. My son in law bought a Winchester and then discovered it had an 11/16 diameter thread and he has to jack around with adapters.

 

[Ark]

Had a Ruger American Ranch for a while. Pretty excellent, extremely accurate. 350 Legend would probably be the ticket.

 

[bwframe]

 

[MH19]

My understanding of allowed calibers on public was that 300 blk was not legal unless in pistol?? Unfortunately since Indiana doesn’t allow use of sbr for hunting I’d rather not get a second 300 blk. I agree that there are way to many rifles to choose from, but seems the consensus is either 350 legend or 450 bushmaster. Just trying to narrow it down.

 

[1nderbeard]

Ruger American 450 Bushmaster. Straight walled, and will knock any deer to the ground.

 

[Expat]

When I set up a rig back in the day, I went with Henry Big Boy in .45 Colt.

 

[MH19]

Ruger American 450 Bushmaster. Straight walled, and will knock any deer to the ground.

Any issues with a lot of ruined meat, one of the complaints I’ve heard about the 450.

 

[MH19]

When I set up a rig back in the day, I went with Henry Big Boy in .45 Colt.

Huge fan of lever guns, but the prices they are getting lately are insane

 

[1nderbeard]

Any issues with a lot of ruined meat, one of the complaints I’ve heard about the 450.

I double lung shot a nice buck a few years ago and didn't really notice any. Just the entrance hole in the ribs. I didn't see an exit wound; the bullet liquified both lungs. If you hit higher in the shoulder I can see some loss in the front shoulders.

 

[MH19]

I double lung shot a nice buck a few years ago and didn't really notice any. Just the entrance hole in the ribs. I didn't see an exit wound; the bullet liquified both lungs. If you hit higher in the shoulder I can see some loss in the front shoulders.

Nice appreciate the real world experience!

 

[1nderbeard]

Nice appreciate the real world experience!

Also a really nice suppressor host. I have a silcencor hybrid on the end of mine. Put their muzzle break on the end of the barrel. Makes recoil and noise much more manageable.

 

[Purdue1991]

CVA Cascade
Mossberg Patriot
Ruger American
Remington 700
Savage Axis
Thompson Center Compass

There are many to choose from...
Public land you say?
.300 Blackout
.350 Legend
.450 Bushmaster


So many choices.

.300 Blackout isn't legal on public land.

And if I were hunting with a 450 Bushmaster, I'd do it out of an AR15.

 

[bwframe]

Looks like it's my mistake for suggesting the 300 blk Ruger American GEN 2? Sorry about that!

The IN DNR, in their infinite wisdom, has made bolt guns a difficult choice for public ground hunting. Even if the deer legal calibers for bolt guns are worthwhile for deer hunting, their application is fairly limited to just that?

 

[Purdue1991]

Looks like it's my mistake for suggesting the 300 blk Ruger American GEN 2? Sorry about that!

The IN DNR, in their infinite wisdom, has made bolt guns a difficult choice for public ground hunting. Even if the deer legal calibers for bolt guns are worthwhile for deer hunting, their application is fairly limited to just that?

Bolt guns are generally built for medium to longer range applications. Indiana caliber regulations for public land are designed to minimize danger to the public with high power cartridges. This why you see bigger bore and shorter cartridge length. AR15's and semi-autos (.44 mag) cater more to these cartridges.

 

[ed1838]

The savage axis in 350 is budget friendly

 

[bwframe]

Bolt guns are generally built for medium to longer range applications. Indiana caliber regulations for public land are designed to minimize danger to the public with high power cartridges. This why you see bigger bore and shorter cartridge length. AR15's and semi-autos (.44 mag) cater more to these cartridges.

Thanks for the explanation, my friend. I understand why IDNR has the rules, I just don't agree with them.

Plenty of other states don't regulate with the overbearing rules that Indiana does. Much less allow a practice on private land while gun controlling on the king's land.

We are ALL responsible for the flight of the bullet, from beginning to end. According to Indiana, public ground hunters don't have the mental capacity to be allowed the same responsibility as the land owner?