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Post by dartonjager on Oct 22, 2015 18:25:56 GMT -5
Would like to have 358 Hoosier built for next years deer season using one of the fallowing as the donor rifle, either a T/C Venture or a Marlin X7 and if I can get a good enough deal a X7hv. I've researched the Venture and the Marlin utterly to death and they appear about equal in all aspects with a slight edge in fit and finish going to the Venture, but that is negated by the fact the Marlin is cheaper.
The marlin and the Venture are my main picks because I feel they have the best combination of quality and price for a donor rifle for a 358 Hoosier build that is presently available.
So can anyone reading this suggest a reason to prefer one over the other besides personal preference? I am not at all concerned about the Marlins bolt doesn't lock on safety or one of them have a plastic detachable mag. I'm asking because between the two besides the Marlin being cheaper, I can't seam to find a clear advantage of one over the other.
Thanks, Art. |
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Post by span870 on Oct 22, 2015 21:15:57 GMT -5
There really isn't. All you are keeping is the trigger group and bolt depending on what calliber you are getting for the donor. It's not going to be a match rifle so IMO you aren't going to go wrong with either. Now I don't know as much as others on here so maybe I'm missing something.
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Post by esshup on Oct 22, 2015 23:32:54 GMT -5
Look at any of the Savage Rifle packages (I'm not sure about the Axis models). You can swap out the barrel yourself and keep the orig. barrel, and have a more versatile rifle. Say you get it in .243. Switch barrels for deer season, put the .243 back on for varmints.
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Post by steiny on Oct 23, 2015 9:28:18 GMT -5
I used a wood stocked Tikka T-3 as the donor for my .375 Whisper, kicked around the idea of the TC Venture.
If I were to do it over again, I'd spend the bucks on a nice wood stock Winchester 70 or Browning A-bolt as the donor rifle.
It's not like this is a practical, budget conscious undertaking. This will be a one of a kind custom rifle built just for you, so why not go ahead and get all the bells and whistles and make it pretty to boot.
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Post by dartonjager on Oct 23, 2015 10:42:03 GMT -5
I used a wood stocked Tikka T-3 as the donor for my .375 Whisper, kicked around the idea of the TC Venture. If I were to do it over again, I'd spend the bucks on a nice wood stock Winchester 70 or Browning A-bolt as the donor rifle. It's not like this is a practical, budget conscious undertaking. This will be a one of a kind custom rifle built just for you, so why not go ahead and get all the bells and whistles and make it pretty to boot. I wish I could, but I adhere to strict self imposed financial rules when it comes to buying items that are PURELY wants/luxuries and not needs/necessities, and I already have two top tier slug rifles. So I am left with little choice but to do this as affordable as I can. I can RIGHT NOW buy a X7 in .308 or 7mm/08 for under $275 and a Venture for under $400. If given my choice of any donor rifle under $1000 I'd likely go with a Stainless Tikka T3 with a laminated stock. As IMHO there is no better production rifle for under $800 let alone $1000 than a T3.
I must also consider the fact that only a few gunsmiths that are capable and familiar with performing a Hoosier conversion are located close enough to me to be geographically practical as I DO NOT wish to have to deal with the added cost and hassle of a FFL transfer beyond acquiring the firearm. My plan is first find a Gunsmith who will receive the donor rifle I buy on line and have shipped directly to him to perform the conversion, then when done I pick it up F/F. All other required components, dies and brass I can have shipped directly to me.
A additional financial contributing factor is firearms for my sons to deer hunt with. It is painfully obvious (pun intended) that my boys have yet to develop their fathers tolerance for recoil and have been using my inlines. I have a Encore and access to a second Encore a friend is wiling to let me use indefinitely if I do the same with one of my inlines. I can buy a Hoosier barrel for both Encores FAR cheaper than then buying a Savage 220 or about the same for a single shot 20ga slug gun. And if I'm already reloading my own ammo for my own Hoosier doing so for additional guns becomes even more cost effective, especially considering sabot ammo is averaging over $3 per round these days and I can't reload my own sabot ammo.
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Post by omegahunter on Oct 23, 2015 12:36:29 GMT -5
I used a wood stocked Tikka T-3 as the donor for my .375 Whisper, kicked around the idea of the TC Venture. If I were to do it over again, I'd spend the bucks on a nice wood stock Winchester 70 or Browning A-bolt as the donor rifle. It's not like this is a practical, budget conscious undertaking. This will be a one of a kind custom rifle built just for you, so why not go ahead and get all the bells and whistles and make it pretty to boot. I wish I could, but I adhere to strict self imposed financial rules when it comes to buying items that are PURELY wants/luxuries and not needs/necessities, so I am left with little choice but to do this as affordable as I can. I can RIGHT NOW buy a X7 in .308 or 7mm/08 for under $275 and a Venture for under $400. If given my choice of any donor rifle under $1000 I'd likely go with a Stainless Tikka T3 with a laminated stock. As IMHO there is no better production rifle for under $800 let alone $1000 than a T3.
I must also consider the fact that only a few gunsmiths that are capable and familiar with performing a Hoosier conversion are located close enough to me to be geographically practical as I DO NOT wish to have to deal with the added cost and hassle of a FFL transfer beyond acquiring the firearm. My plan is first find a Gunsmith who will receive the donor rifle I buy on line and have shipped directly to him to perform the conversion, then when done I pick it up F/F. All other required components, dies and brass I can have shipped directly to me.
Once you pick a 'smith, ask them what they would suggest as the donor: Marlin, Savage Axis (in the same price range as the Marlin), Ruger American (again, same price range) or a cheap Remington. My guess would be that the Ruger would not be in the list because of the smooth barrel nut. The grooved nut simplifies the process; even though my Ruger American .308 shoots great. You are not going to get a great stock with any of those choices, but the Marlin stock seems stiffer to me than the Axis. I would lean toward the Marlin for the build even though I have more Savages than any other brand of rifle. |
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Post by dartonjager on Oct 23, 2015 13:22:35 GMT -5
Appreciate the sound Good advice. If anyone is wondering why I just don't buy one of the afore mentioned barrels for my Encore is, the Encore is one of the inlines my sons presently are using making using both during gun season not possible for obvious reasons.
The 358 Hoosier is the most affordable choice for use by my sons and I. The motivating factor driving my desire to get one is the cost, accuracy and performance short comings of 12ga sabot ammo. I own a Browning A-Bolt and a Marlin 512. They both shoot Federals now discontinued Barnes Tipped sabot ammo more than well enough to make both legitimate 200 yard deer rifles if conditions allow, and I have cleanly killed enough deer at 200yrds to know it's completely within mine and the firearms capabilities. I have enough of the federal Barnes ammo left for 3 maybe 4 seasons so I have been shooting what's out there to find a acceptable replacement. I don't go more than 10 shots before I do a complete cleaning using acetone to remove all plastic fouling, and I use the bench shooting form recommended for shooting slug guns by Randy Fritz.
During this process I was hard struck by the realization I was spending a lot of money and getting unacceptably disappointing results. I just finished two days ago shooting the fallowing sabot ammo out of both guns, none of which came close to the 100 yrd performance of my beloved Federal tipped Barnes ammo for get 150 or 200yrds. 15 rounds each (gun) of Hornady's American White tail, and SST, Partition Gold, Remington Accutips, and federals replacement for the old Barnes ammo their Trophy copper. I basically spent over $150 being disappointed. As a control medium I also shot my favorite, or should I say my A-bolt and Marlins favorite ammo the discontinued Federal/Barnes tipped ammo to confirm I wasn't having a bad range day, I wasn't.
Several ammo types did achieve "minuet of animal" at 100 but I still prefer more accuracy for a number of reason and none shot CONSISTANTLY under 3.25" at 100. So I face one of three choices: #1-accept the accuracy and range limitations once I run out of Federal/Barnes tipped ammo #2-Buy three new Savage 220's (I've personally seen how well these guns shoot with ammo that is in no danger of going out of production soon) or #2-find a way to afford 358 Hoosiers for me and my sons. Buying two Hoosier Encore barrels and having a bolt gun built wouldn't cost so much more than three 220's to be out of my financial wear with all. I also am strongly considering buying a used 358 Hoosier as well,
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Post by omegahunter on Oct 23, 2015 13:47:57 GMT -5
Not to mention the beating you take behind the slug guns at the bench!
Good, sound reasoning.
Best of luck to you.
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Post by esshup on Oct 23, 2015 19:54:12 GMT -5
I've given up on using a slug gun in Indiana with the one exception of special hunts where a fast follow up shot might be needed. For all the other times, I use my .45 cal Savage Muzzleloader. It can be loaded down to lower recoil, or loaded up and have better performance than any of the Indiana legal CF rounds.
But a budget is a budget and I agree with talking to the 'smith that is going to do the work.
I wonder if Pac-Nor is making a drop-in barrel for savage rifles chambered in any of the Indiana CF legal rounds? You could do all the work yourself then, and not have to spend $$ on a gunsmith.
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Post by span870 on Oct 24, 2015 5:14:08 GMT -5
Or sell the two slug guns; by your own account you're going to be without ammo satisfactory to you in several years. Quit dreaming, they aren't bringing the Barnes expander back. I have 2 boxes I'm hoarding. Anyway sell both and buy you an encore frame and three 358 barrels. Done deal.
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