From my understanding, you can hunt with any rifle (semi, bolt, or single shot) that fires a sufficiently sized center fire cartridge. However, similar to shotgun hunting, you can NOT have the capability of holding more than a total of 4 rounds in (3 + 1 chambered) for game like deer. Hog and varminant have no such restrictions.

I heard this from a friend who had an AR 10 in a 308 with a really short clip.

Don't believe everything your "friends" tell you. There are no magazine restrictions for game animals or non game animals in Texas. Also no restrictions on the type of gun either i.e. AR 15/10.

For fun, eye catching, deer killing, long and accurate I would go 257 WBY hands down, any day over a 308. Plus everyone and their mom's have a 308. Downside though is that you prolly won't find a tactical rifle in 257 WBY and the shells are $54 a box and up.


Someone said the Howas are not very popular for whatever reason. The reason for me is that they are god awful looking. Especially the axium.

What you need is a CZ550 fullstock in either 6.5x55 or in the .308 if that is your choice. Guarantee it will turn heads, and they are known for being accurate. i have a regular stock model in 6.5x55 and it was sub MOA out of the box. Also comes with a single set trigger that you will love.

Yep CZs are awesome, too. I had a 550 varmint 22-250 and it was a tack driver. Best factory trigger on the market too, IMO.

that set trigger is bad azz on those CZs, but I dont like the backwards saftey

My 550 American has a regular sfety. i was thinking all the 550's got changed to "proper". I would like a 452 and a 527 except for the funky backward safety.

oh ok as I had a 527 American .223 and liked it aside from the safety

Something a little extra exciting looking.

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_rifles/model_700/model_700_tactical_target.asp

http://www.remington.com/products/firear...ct_tactical.asp

http://www.snipercentral.com/rifles.htm
those are some great reviews of a bunch of tactical rifles that are still readily available.

Guess the CZ is one more to look at. I really think Im going to go tactical just so its different from my 30-06. Still debating between ar and bolt action. Might try to by something second hand that is already ready to go since Im not too keen on customizing.

i didn't say there was a restriction on a guntype. and granted you take all information with a grain of salt. However, if i don't know any better I am going to go the conservative route. if i were using his ar 10, then i am going to use the 3 round clip. 1. don't need that many shots and 2. better safe than sorry.

I don't believe there is a magazine capacity restriction. I sure hope there isn't bc I have carried my ar with a 30rd clip hunting for those pesky hogs

once again, not for pigs and varminants, but native texas game animals such as deer.

I always thought that big game magazine capacity was limited to 5 rounds. I just looked it up on the TP&W web page, there are no restrictions regarding magazine capacity except for shotguns used for migratory game birds.

"Magazine Capacity (number of shells/cartridges allowed): There are no restrictions on the number of shells or cartridges a legal firearm may hold when hunting game animals or game birds (except migratory game birds, see Legal Shotgun)."

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/hunt/means/

The AR will be as accurate as the bolt rifle but they will fetch about double depending on the model you purchase. They will weigh about the same. The only issue then gets to be if you can afford to feed a semi-auto .308. Since you will want to use quality ammo it will cost a bunch if you get trigger happy.

For 500-1000 you should have no problem finding a tactical .308 that will shoot far better than you can. I would just try to suggest staying with one of the more mainstream models even if 50% of this forum has a bull barrel rem 700 .308. There is a reason they are so popular.

Yeah, I agree, Im not a marksman by any means, but I want to really work at it and see what I can do. Thats why im willing to spend a little extra and Im going to spend a little extra on a scope as well.

Im just going to have to get my hands on as many as I can, I just still am not sure what is worth spending the money on and what is not. really appreciate all the input, this has been so helpful

Talked to game warden buddy earlier today. Ar is ok to use on deer, and there is not a clip capacity restriction.

bigharge, CZ makes a varmint gun with a kevlar stock that is pretty sweet. Kinda "tactical" like.

Im going to try to find one of those to look at, Im just not sure about the varmint style, what exactly does that designate? I dont do a lot of varmint hunting other than pigs. But I do want some thing that will be accurate up to a good long distance just for fun. I am going to head up to a gun shop this afternoon and try and see what they have to look at! thanks, again

Varmint to elk is a huge variation. Most of the game you have listed are on the larger side. My favorite rifle is my Browning A-bolt Medallion in 300 WSM. It a very comfortable gun to carry and the WSM allows for a shorter barrel. It is extremely accurate out of the box. I think the 308 would be a desirable caliber and it might be my next gun, perhaps a Remington R-25. I have the Remington R-15 and absolutely love that rifle but it is basically limited to the varmint side of things. If you go down the 308 path, I encourage you to take a look at the R-25.

Pretty much just a heavy barreled gun. You don't have to get a varmint caliber. This one comes in 308 also. Check out the one with the kevlar stock in the link. It is sweet.
http://cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-550-varmint/

What are the advantages of having a heavy barrel?

I really like the cz, I got to see one at the gun shop this afternoon. Although Im starting to rethink my game plan here. Instead of spending that much on the gun I might be looking into cutting back the budget and spending it more on the scope! But I still need something to turn some heads, lol!

So. it looks like the more research I do, the more I change my mind. Really wanting something with some knockdown power at a long distance, so kind of looking at the 7 mag or a 300 mag. Just dont want something so powerful that the recoil makes it uncomfortable to shoot. which is why im staying away from the 338 or ultra mag.

I just got a tikka t3 and couldn't be more impressed. I had been shooting 30-06 and went with 7mm rem mag for a faster, flatter round.

I read up quite a bit on rifles before deciding on tikka - couldn't be happier with it.

You can get the 700Police in 300 win mag. Should be good to 1000 with decent glass.