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Friend needs a rifle

Foul Mike

Foul Mike

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Apr 18, 2001
3,082
4,909
Eastern Colorado
#1
I have a friend/farmer that needs a rifle to shoot coyotes, coon etc.
He is not user friendly as to taking care of his bullet launchers.
He was in the Army, so I know he has had training as to how to do it, maybe some kind of mental block, as he was in Military Intelligence
Now he needs a rifle to protect the farm and I know he will not take care of a rifle as I as grunt would. So I won't give him one of my rifles.
I was thinking maybe a Handy Rifle single shot that he could change the barrels out to a shotgun and/or retain the rifle capacity.
What are your thoughts? He is damn sure old enough to learn how to take care of something better. Regards, FM
 
#5
Re: Friend needs a rifle

Any man who won't take bare minimum care of a rifle to make sure that it doesn't turn into a rusty sewer pipe needs to have his ass kicked through the goal posts of life.
 
#14
Re: Friend needs a rifle

I think a rifle in 223 would be ideal. A mini 14 in stainless would be really nice and corrosion resistant, but I don't know what they go for. He could always do an AR build for $600-700. Single shot wouldn't be bad, but they can be pricey......might as well get a semi auto, unless you can get a good deal on a bolt gun. BTW, a 223 will take down a deer, but is not legal to hunt with in CO (.24 and larger I believe). Just some things to consider.
 
#18
Re: Friend needs a rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: marduk185</div><div class="ubbcode-body">dont sound much like he got no bidness havin one ta me. </div></div>

Although I do agree with this post he does need something. The Handirifle would be what I would suggest. Sole reason is less to go wrong with it.
 
#19
Re: Friend needs a rifle

I think a lot depends on the budget for a rifle

For cheap and reliable, I'd consider getting him a SKS, those are cheap and tough and provide okay accuracy in the 100 to 200 yard range

A Ranch Mini-14 in stainless would be better but also much more expensive.

A good long barreled pump shotgun may also work well as he could put slugs in it for any big critters and then smaller shot for the rest.
 
#21
Re: Friend needs a rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PSL1078</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You know what calibers that guide gun comes in? I love Marlin lever guns. I will look into it. </div></div>

.45-70 and .450 Marlin. They used to make it in .444 (about a year or two) but there aren't nearly as many of those around.
 
#23
Re: Friend needs a rifle

Thank you all for your input.
I now have some ideas, thanks to your help.
My friend is not a moron who needs his ass kicked through the goal posts of life.
Quite the opposite, he is a very successful farmer who owns several thousand acres of land that anyone here would be more than grateful to have access to hunt and/or shoot on.
That said, he does not have the mindset that most on this site have as to maintainance of a good rifle.
Cost is not the thing here, he could buy and sell most here with his pocket change.
I have tried, to some avail, to teach him about taking care of his rifle, and unfortunatly, he has now learned how to do it the hard way.
I sure as hell am not going to loan him my SAKO but he does need something.
He is not good with recoil so I think a .223 is right in there as I will be reloading for him too.
I also think an SKS would maybe good too.
There used to be some Romainian .22 bolt rifles around that were magazine fed that might be a good shop gun for him, but I haven't seen them for sale for a while.
Thank you for your help, the Handy Rifle is looking better to me the more I think on this.
Again, thank you for your input. Regards, FM
 
#24
Re: Friend needs a rifle

You could always have him spend a little more and get an AR clone, I ran into the same problem for myself a while back and bought a Bushmaster XM4 for like 800 bucks. Alright gun never really a problem and kinda fancy as well.
 
#25
Re: Friend needs a rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shibby</div><div class="ubbcode-body">AK they don't need up kept. </div></div>

The AK and SKS are good options too. They are comparable in price and you can get a Romanian AK with a scope mount that will accept hi cap mags, so why not a WASR? He can even get it in 7.62x39, .223, or 5.45x39. Ammo is cheap.
 
#27
Re: Friend needs a rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Foul Mike</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My friend is not a moron who needs his ass kicked through the goal posts of life.</div></div>

I never called him a moron. Cleaning a firearm isn't difficult, and anyone who thinks that they may need a rifle should be made to understand that its proper function without occasional maintenance isn't a sure thing. Seeing as to how he has thousands of acres that you undoubtedly hunt, I'm sure that you're willing to take care of it for him anyway. Problem solved?
 
#28
Re: Friend needs a rifle

my dads friend needed a rifle for almost the same type of job.He found a cheap Romanian PSL did a good job.Its almost impossible to break, because its basically a ak and rpk hybrid that shoots 7.62X54R
 
#30
Re: Friend needs a rifle

"I never called him a moron. Cleaning a firearm isn't difficult, and anyone who thinks that they may need a rifle should be made to understand that its proper function without occasional maintenance isn't a sure thing. Seeing as to how he has thousands of acres that you undoubtedly hunt, I'm sure that you're willing to take care of it for him anyway. Problem solved?"

True, you never called him a moron, but you were a little harsh. I am sure you were kidding...........
 
#31
Re: Friend needs a rifle

Calling the guy a moron is indeed a bit harsh.
I am not saying you did call him a moron, a generalization on your part that I agree with.
Yes, I do hunt and travel the farms he owns.
He is my best friend and I am free to go anywhere he owns and either give permission for people to come on or eject them as I see fit.
If there are problems on the place, the LEOs call me first as well if I find something, I am the one to call them.
That said, I borrowed a Handy Rifle in .223 from my daughter in law, as if she would tell me,"No, you can't take the rifle you gave me to show someone."
He shot it and did well. He liked the Burris on the top, but was wondering how well it would hold up in the truck and/or the tractor.
He knew it was my daughter in laws rifle and said he would like to buy it but knew better than to ask.
We went to Denver early this morning and bought a new one.
I furnished the ammo and watched as he adjusted the iron sights, with my help, and got closer and closer to the center of the target.
We did the cleaning thing after a few shots and I explained to him about breaking in a new barrel.
He now has a cleaning rod and gun oil in his shop office and is out there now shooting some more. I bought the cleaning kit on the sly.
Don't take a toy from a kid, and I am not calling rifles a toy for the next attack.
He just returned from the back lot and is cleaning and oiling the rifle. Happy as a bug in a rug.
Problem is solved except he now wants to go get an Easy Rider rifle rack for his truck, so I guess another ride to Denver tomorrow.
Single shot, easy to maintain, and he is amazingingly good with the sights that came on the rifle although he is now getting out files to make it a smaller sight picture.
Thanks to all. Regards, FM
I am sure that better sights are now needed. Any thoughts as to that? They need to be robust as the rifle will be carried everywhere and get some knocking around.
I am Happy. I am also getting out brass to reload for him as he is going through anything I hand him and telling me how different stuff shoots, ie, reloads and white box.
I have created a dragon.
 
#33
Re: Friend needs a rifle

My daughter in law just called and told me he was out on the front porch cleaning her rifle that we shot earlier. He said,"I shot it and got it dirty so I will clean it."
He is very interested in the Burris and waiting for the 7.62 bore cleaner to work.
Something must have gone right.
Regards, FM
 
#35
Re: Friend needs a rifle

Right now I see 7.62 x 54 ammo dirt cheap so if he wants a beat it up, thrown behind the seat rifle get a cheap ass Mosin. for under 400 or 500 bucks he can get a rifle,scope and 1250 rounds.
Thats just my 2 cents.
 
#36
Re: Friend needs a rifle

I agree that an AK would be good, as well as a Mosin.
Problems arise,
1. An Ak has too many moving parts and more places to clean, nuff said, but I do agree an AK or SKS would be good as to a semi-auto.
I am HAPPY that he is cleaning and oiling a single shot.
Maybe later I will move him into a semi-auto, but for now, one shot at a time is good.
He is going through enough ammo as it is.
2. A Mosin, yea good call. Cheap and Dummy proof.
I have one that I bought a few years ago, Tula hex reciever, arsenal rebuild, matching numbers, new barrel, all the accesories, looks like new and shoots good too.
I did mention that my friend is recoil sensitive,
so therefore prone to flinch.
I named my Mosin "Mule" and it fits.
That is why I didn't go with that.
Simplicity is the key word here.
He can open the thing up and see if it is clear or not.
Few moving parts and what does move he can't mess with.
He is happy and shooting and cleaning the bore so therefore, I am happy too.
Thanks to everyone for your input.
He is not too impressed with the sights that came on the rifle so I would like to know what anyone has come up with that is better.
May be that I just go to Brownells and pick and choose.

Thanks, FM
 
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