So, bought new vegas on steam in the sale, finally got round to modding it and playing it.
anyway, i recruited boone as i had done on the 360 and wanted to replicate my build, in my first battle with some ghouls, boone picked up a random plasma rifle, used the 8 ammo on it and switched out to his machete.
he now seems to have permanently either lost his hunting rifle or refuses to requip it no matter how many times i switch his attack style from ranged to melee. Ive tried to give him the hunting rifle with console commands, dropped it on the floor for him. i dunno how to fix this save starting a new file or something? any ideas?
as my first experience with New vegas pc, its annoyed me

Why would Boone use a hunting rifle if you keep him on melee? He has a default hunting rifle so you don't need to give him one.

i didnt give him one, i mean he picked up a random plasma rifle instead of using his own 'boones hunting rifle' and now refuses to requip his 'boones hunting rifle' even when i change his weapon states

Perhaps remove the plasma rifle?

you think if ive tried console commands and such i would have already taken the plasma rifle, no? ive taken all weapons off him, taken all ammo off him, tried giving him my own ranged weapons, tried everything. he refuses to use his hunting rifle. ive waited 24 hours, dismissed him, etc etc