A good walking around gun.

[9x19]

I have a Ruger American Ranch 5.56. It comes with a 16" barrel and 5 round mag. Great little rifle, excellent accuracy but light weight.

[Dragunfire]

Several of these guns would fit the bill perfectly. I just want another gun, a bolt action rifle I can carry around and not worry about every little branch or bramble I go through.

I was really looking at a few of these rifles, mostly the MVP patrol, the Ruger american ranch and the CZ 527. I was in the city last night and stopped by the gun store/range there to see what they had, just so I could get a feel for them. I am a weak man. First off they only had one rifle in what I was really wanting, the Mossberg MVP Patrol Thunder Ranch edition. I just couldn't stop looking at it and handling it. So now it is sitting in layaway with my name on it. Haha. Now to figure out some optics for it.

[Sure Shot Mc Gee]

Nothing fancy. Nothing imported. Just a plain jane lightweight good shooter and one I have owned for quite a few years. (223 model) So this recommendation comes from experience.

http://www.remington.com/products/fi...synthetic.aspx

[9x19]

Good choice.

I had an MVP Patrol (my son still does), good shooting rifle, but I decided I didn't really need the heavy barrel or the AR mag features, so I sold it in favor of the Am. Ranch.

[Snyper]

Those extended mags can poke you in the back if you use a sling, and are generally right at the balance point if you want to carry it in one hand

[Big Shrek]

Prefer a front-carry 1-point sling with the M16/AR15,
you can hump it all day long and it still feels like a poodle shooter
My Army toy of choice was the M60-E3, & could carry it all day with 10 belts & be perfectly happy,
of course, I was built like Lou Ferrigno back then...6'3 & 220# of pure muscle

Nowadays I'd probably have to work a bit to hump the 60 & a ruck all day...
but it would be a Good Workout!! HooAh P.T.!! Good for you, good for me!!
Anyone kvetching about a rifle that weighs less than 10# needs to get to the gym fast anyway.
Some joker on another board was complaining about the Extra Added Weight of a gas piston system...
yeah, that .28# really slows ya down, does it sparky??


Note on 1, 2, & 3 point slings...

1pt, quick transitions but hits you in the nuts if you run with it and don't hold onto the weapon

2pt, simple and works, not as great for transitions

3pt, great for weapon retention, but is like wrestling an octopus because of all the extra webbing

[badlander]

I know you like Bolts but not much carries easier than A trim little lever action.

[DPris]

I think you'll find out right quick that the extended mag & an optic will make the Mossberg awkward to carry in hand & the mag may become an annoyance when slung, as Snyper mentioned.

The wood stock also adds weight.

It's all up to you, but for a general woods-walking carbine, you picked the heaviest & most ungainly.
Good luck with it.
Denis

[zachattack2]

If you really really want a bolt action get a bolt action, I would recommend the mvp patrol, buti would go with a semi auto,.

But where do you live? Do they allow you to hunt with semi autos? Cause if you are allowed use semi autos just take out your AR-15.

[mainegunner]

Buy Mosin. Go inna woods.

[skizzums]

I wish you weren't settled on caliber, because nothing carries around as comfortable as a "ranch hand" lever in my opinion.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...ducts_id/64706

[Water-Man]

Take a look at the Tikka T3 Compact.

[gman3]

I recently had the same dilemma in reference to finding a rifle for walking and stalking in the thick stuff. I originally wanted a bolt rifle with irons, but ended up buying a Remington 750 carbine in 308 instead.

I haven't shot it yet. I'm hoping there were no Gremlins in the box with it.

[wbw]

Some folks haven't noticed that you've made your selection. I've got the MVP Patrol also, but just got it last week and have not tried it yet. It uses AR mags and you already have some of those, so that helps. I picked up a PMAG 10 rounder last weekend. It looks much more substantial than the mag that came with the rifle.

I'm looking forward to trying mine out.

[Longshot4]

Have you considered a Ruger 204? It should be a great varminter. Light super fast and accurate.

[Pond, James Pond]

I've oft looked at the Ruger Scout as a neat, handy-sized gun in a competent calibre. .223 or .308.

That seems in the same vein as the Patrol.

[603Country]

For carrying around, that Ruger Compact and my Dad's Ruger Ultralight were perfect. What made them better than the rest was that they balanced well in the carrying hand, and the thumb fit perfectly between the action and the scope. My Tikka T3 Lite carries well too, but the thumb isn't a perfect fit between action and scope.

Almost as good is my Ruger Hawkeye.

[WVMountaineer]

If you can get over that ridiculous magazine sticking out of the bottom, the Mossberg would be fine. I couldn't. So, I'd go the Ruger American Ranch. It's a Ruger. Nobody does guns better. And that American series is affordable and very accurate. It is ridiculous the bargin they are.

I'm not real sure why the want for just a 5.56 but, if I wavered from that decision, I'd go with the Ruger American Compact in 308 or 243. Both far more capable and versatile for all around use and medicine than the 5.56. And both come in very light, handy platforms in that compact gun. No problems with accuracy out of those shorter barrels either. They are stiffer. Just sayin.... God Bless

[ELMOUSMC]

I know that you want a bolt gun,but I carry a Rossi lever gun in 38/357, handi, light weight,and with the right load enough gun for anything I'll run across in my nocturnal wandering here in N.E. Iowa I'm just saying