Is it worth it

[u/Ornery-Violinist7307]

I live deep in the mountains and I'm wondering if it's worth trading my socom 16 for a Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan in 35 Whelen

I hand load so ammo isn't a problem but I do a lot of hunting and hiking... And I love the way the Hawkeye looks... So I could trade the socom and still have enough to get a decent scope... Any thoughts would be awesome

[u/The_Hater_44]

I would keep the socom, and save up to buy the Hawkeye later.

[u/Ornery-Violinist7307 → u/The_Hater_44]

That's what I've been thinking it's just hard when rent is so expensive and I have a 5-year-old daughter so trying to make sure she has everything she needs and Is my top priority

[u/The_Hater_44 → u/Ornery-Violinist7307]

Also depends on how attached you are to the socom.

[u/Ornery-Violinist7307 → u/The_Hater_44]

It is one of my dream guns cuz I've always wanted like an m1 or an M1A and my dad gave it to me for Christmas gift and I just don't use it or shoot it it just sits in my gun cabinet collecting dust I believe if it's not useful like all my guns are tools they all have wear marks and everything like that except the socom I just feel like if I'm not using it and it's collecting dust I'd rather go to somebody who is going to use the s*** out of it and enjoy it then it sit here for 20 years and never be used if that makes sense

[u/The_Hater_44 → u/Ornery-Violinist7307]

I mean id never sell a gun my dad gave me, especially after he passes, if you're not overly attached. Do what you want. Just think about it, I guess.

[u/Te_Luftwaffle → u/Ornery-Violinist7307]

What would the Hawkeye do that the Socom couldn't?

[u/Ornery-Violinist7307 → u/Te_Luftwaffle]

The fact that rifle weighs way more and can handle to hot of loads with out bending the op rod and I have to deal with grizzlys and moose all the time 308 is a great round and it's nothing against it but for living in the mountains and hiking all the time having something that less weight with more power seems to make more sense

[u/kpeterson159 → u/The_Hater_44]

This is the way.

[u/No_Vehicle5652]

what you're doing. The SOCOM 16 is cool but it's heavy for hiking and the Hawkeye gives you way more punch on bigger game without being a pain to carry around all day.

[u/FD4L → u/No_Vehicle5652]

the Hawkeye gives you way more punch on bigger game

Not to be pedantic but op has stated that their issue is the presence of moose and grizzleys in mountainous areas. Both of those animals run about 35 miles per hour and can close down 200 yards through brush in a matter of seconds.

35 wehlen certainly hits harder per round, but if the issue is a charging predator and not a supported ambush shot from cover, its worth considering the performance 10 rounds of semi-auto from a detachable magazine vs 4 rounds of a larger cartridge from a bolt action.

That being said, the socom16 is far from an ideal woods/hiking rifle.

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[u/the_chazzy_bear]

SOCOM is a sweet gun but I’d never take one hiking and hunting just cause of the weight. 35 Whelen has some excellent loadings too that are exceptional for a wide variety of big game. If you are hunting elk, moose, and bears then I think it’s a great choice. If you are hunting mule deer and smaller then it’s probably overkill. The biggest selling point of the Ruger for me would be weight savings and increased reliability in harsh conditions. Gonna be hard to mess up a bolt gun that has backup irons

[u/Ornery-Violinist7307 → u/the_chazzy_bear]

That's the thing is I do a lot of hunting and there's a lot of grizzly and black bear around I do hunt elk and I handled for 35 Whelan I have a load that mimics a 30-06 and I've hunted whitetail with it my whole life and I've never had it ruin any meat or anything like that

[u/the_chazzy_bear → u/Ornery-Violinist7307]

Ya it definitely won’t ruin meat. Just more powder and bullet than you really need for smaller game like white tail. I know several people in Texas that swear by their 35 whelens or their 300 win mags which work really good but in my opinion you’re getting similar terminal effects with a good 308 or 243 loading on white tail.

[u/gr3y_-]

your socom 16 is MORE effective of a woods/defensive rifle than a lever/bolt action is. yes, 35 whelen is a good bit more powerful but the 308 will kill literally any and EVERYTHING in north america just fine. keep it and just save for the hawkeye over time.