Don’t get me wrong, I love my Bushy. But, admittedly, part of the reason I love it is because 1) it’s a rifle 2) that is legal in Iowa for deer hunting and 3) is accurate at any range I’m capable of taking a responsible, sportsmanlike shot, 4) and isn’t a “wildcat” so factory ammunition and reloading are accessible to a greenhorn.
I have a beautiful Ruger mod. 77s .30-06, I think today they call it the “Hawkeye” or something, that I really love to carry and shoot. It’s well balanced, nicely finished, slim across the action for carrying & handling, and it has perfect drop at the comb to fit me just right. I’ve carried it for bear in Ontario, elk and deer in Montana, deer in Pennsylvania... but when I get back home to Iowa, it stays in the case because the only way to shoot a deer in Iowa was to sling cannon balls out of a pheasant gun. Then Iowa law changed and “straight wall” cartridges became legal! I honestly can’t afford a $1000 or even $800 lever action rifle to take one shot a year and fill my deer tag (so I didn’t even really consider 45-70, 44 mag, 357 mag levers), but with a reasonably priced barrel (see the BearCreek Arsenal threads) I could build an AR in 450B for well under $500. And I did. And I hunted with it in both Iowa and Wisconsin. And it kills deer with far more ease and accuracy and class than any slug gun could.
But I’m not military or ex-military and, for me, an AR stinks as a hunting rifle. Not nice to carry, heavy, not well-balanced, corners and catch-points sticking out everywhere... So I’ve been looking at bolt-action 450B’s. The Rugers look best- esp the varmint variation with 22” barrel. But Mossberg makes one that runs a good $150 less.
So here’s the dilemma: now Iowa’s considering a law that would allow standard center-fire rifles, including my .30-06. I personally don’t think we need such a law, but if they pass it, I won’t be able to justify leaving that mod. 77 in the safe. Would you choose a 450B over .30-06 if both were legal deer rifles?