[BigBlue]

In PA. when we talk about hunting, for the most part we mean whitetails. While I enjoy shooting at longer ranges, deer hunting in my area is limited to about 50 yards. My longest shot ever on a deer, was at 80 yards, and that was because it stopped on a straight section of a path. Because of this close quarters hunting, I've come to favor rather short rifles. Easy to carry, easy to swing, and with a barrel length that's more than adequate for the hunting range. I guess that's one reason I like single shot and lever action rifles. They lend themselves to being shorter. My latest rifle is a bolt action however, a Ruger Compact with a 16.5" barrel. I also favor heavy for caliber bullets. At 50 yards, you don't need the bullet to break any velocity records, just make a big hole in and out. Some of my favorites are the Marlin 1894P, a 16" ported barreled .44 mag., the H+R Buffalo Classic 45/70 with a chopped 27" barrel, which because of the single shot reciever, it's still plenty short, and lastly a Marlin 444P again a ported barrel, but at 18".
What's your favorite rifles and calibers for this type of close in hunting?

Don

[cowpoke]

Well,

I used to have a Winchester 94 in 375 winchester, one of my good buddies who collects Winchesters has it now.

A remington 7600 pump in 30-06 shooting 180 grain silvertips might do the trick too.

However

For the kind of shooting you are talking about, the firearm in my current aresenal that best fits would be my 12 gauge Remington 870 with the rifled slug barrel.

My centerfire rifles are better suited for busting a coyote out to around 300-400 yards of so.

[C96]

I have a Winchester Trapper Model 94 in 44 Mag. Put a Marbles receiver sight
on it. Very nice, very handy. I like the sight out to 100 yards or so. Don't
think I would use it past that.

allan

[7.62mmFMJ]

A vote for the lever here. Sounds like 30-30 territory. The .44 maggie should also do well.

[cheekser]

I like my Marlin 1894 in .44MAG. it is the 20" tube, but it is still very handy. BTW Blue, what area of PA are you in?

[Popeye]

Marlin 336 lever action. .30-30 Win. or .35 Rem.

[BigBlue]

I like my Marlin 1894 in .44MAG. it is the 20" tube, but it is still very handy. BTW Blue, what area of PA are you in?
Lehigh Valley, right where Northampton meets Carbon and Monroe counties. Those .44 mags are something on deer at close range. I hit a buck broadside last year, right along the AT, using a 320gr. Cast Performance bullet. It went clean through and the deer never took another step. I never saw blood loss like that before. It was pouring out both sides while the deer was still dropping.
Don

[ladder51]

well lets see , around here it is Shotgun only so it's a rem 870 12 ga. when i get out near the N.y. - Pa border , A lever action 30-30 suites me just fine...
open country a 30.06 or .270

[DWARREN123]

My new one, CZ 527 carbine in 7.62X39, bolt action.

[dipodomys]

Win 94 Big Bore in .375 Win.

[jimfox]

Marlin 1895 (45/70), although the Marlin 1894 Cowboy in .357 Mag gets a respectful nod. While the short barrels are indeed more handy, My aging eyes favor the longer sight radius.

I like the larger slower moving bullets. Good penatration, and, as the saying goes - you can eat right up to the bullet hole.

[BigBlue]

While the short barrels are indeed more handy, My aging eyes favor the longer sight radius.

I like the larger slower moving bullets. Good penatration, and, as the saying goes - you can eat right up to the bullet hole.
Aging eyes are definitely a big problem. I've gotten to the point where almost any iron sight is useless. The only rifles I use with iron sights anymore are a Marlin 1894P with a Williams firesight/peep combo, and the Mosin with an excellent range adjustable sight.
I couldn't agree more about the slower moving heavy bullets. They work as well now as they did more than 100 years ago.

Don

[Shadowcatcher]

White tail: Winchester Trapper in 30-30 or 45LC, modified Mauser 98 in 45/70 for the short ranges, which we do not have alot of in these parts.

Mule Deer: 243, 308 win, 300 win mag

Elk: 300 win mag, 7mm Mag, 8mm Mag

Varmint and javalina: 243 Win

Feral pig: Trapper in 45 LC or the 45/70

Black Bear: 338 Win Mag, 375 H&H

[Stillwater]

White tail: Winchester Trapper in 30-30 or 45LC, modified Mauser 98 in 45/70 for the short ranges, which we do not have alot of in these parts.

Mule Deer: 243, 308 win, 300 win mag

Elk: 300 win mag, 7mm Mag, 8mm Mag

Varmint and javalina: 243 Win

Feral pig: Trapper in 45 LC or the 45/70

Black Bear: 338 Win Mag, 375 H&H

When I finally get moved, back to where I come from, it will either be heavy woods hunting, or open plains hunting.

Woods hunting:

I have new Marlin lever action rifles in 44 Magnum, 45 Colt, 44-40 Winchester and 357 Magnum.

Plains hunting:

The tried, and the true, the .30-06. Anything out to 400 yards, and I own it.

Bill

[Irish Jaeger]

Deer: SKS
Small Game: .22
Varmets: .223
Birds(Depending on size): 410ga, 12ga

[Mike Weber]

In the modern or should say newfangled cartridge I've got it narrowed down to three rifles. Out West where I do most of my hunting ranges tend to be longer and for accuracy work I prefer a bolt action. For deer sized game I like my Rock Island Springfield sporter in its original 30-06 chambering. For bigger critters elk and moose I like my Mauser in.338 Win Mag. For hunting the brush country I like my Reproduction Winchester model 1892 rifle in .45 Colt which I plan on taking on a Tennessee hog hunt The Lever gun is a 241/4 octagon barreled rifle. I've also been giving some serious consideration to a Sharps in 45-90 for big game applications. I've also done considerable hunting with muzzleloaders and I prefer Civil War reproduction Carbines and Muskets in 58 caliber for their sheer knockdown power.

[Hook]

For Whitetail deer or Black Bear in the North country I use:
Ruger model 77 .308 or
" " " .280
When hunting the swamps:
Marlin lever action 45/70 or
" " " .44 mag
and sometimes a Ruger Redhawk .44 mag

During black powder season a Thomson Center Renegade .54

For western Pronghorn or Mule Deer:
Ruger model 77 7 mag or
" " " .280

For Elk:
Ruger model 77 .338 or
" " " .300 mag

For Moose in Canada:
Ruger model 77 .338 or
Winchester model 70 .375

All my bolt action rifles wear Leupold scopes and the lever actions have Williams peep sights.


Hook

[TODD 3465]

Winchester 1895 in .405Win.,.

[HiPower]

Savage 99 in .300, just cuz I have one.

[Rusty]

I grabbed too late at a Savage 99 in 308.

Missed out on it, but the same guy had another 308 for $250 that I took - a metric FAL on an Imbel receiver. Later on I did aquire another Savage 99 in 308. That one needs some fixing up, but then so do I. I believe we'll tolerate each other's foibles.

Now if I could find a 7x57 bolt gun to match my SAFN49 in the same caliber...

[BigBlue]

I grabbed too late at a Savage 99 in 308. Later on I did aquire another Savage 99 in 308. That one needs some fixing up
About a year ago I would see at least three Savage 99's every time I went to my local gun shop. Now that they've piqued my interest, I'm not seeing any. I'd like to find a good fixer upper. What calibers were they available in?
Don

[Hook]

About a year ago I would see at least three Savage 99's every time I went to my local gun shop. Now that they've piqued my interest, I'm not seeing any. I'd like to find a good fixer upper. What calibers were they available in?
Don



.303 Savage
.30-30 Win
.25-35 WCF
.32-40 WCF
.38-55 WCF
.300 Savage
.22 Highpower
.22-250
.243 Win
.250-3000
.7-08 Win
.308 Win
.375 Win
.358 Win
.284 Win
And between 1920 and 1940 they even made one with a .410 shotgun barrel.



Hook

[BigBlue]

With all of those great caliber choices available in the Savage 99, tell me the story about why they aren't made anymore. If Remington can ressurect the Mod. 600, Savage should be able to give the Mod. 99 a second chance.

Don

[7.62mmFMJ]

Here's wishin' :beerchug:

[Popeye]

When Savage discontinued the 99 they said it had become too expensive to manufacture and sell at a reasonable price.

[7.62mmFMJ]

Oh well, I guess my .308 brush gun will be a FN FAL :D

[HiPower]

If you do a search on Auction Arms you'll probably find several. The model EG in .300 Savage (a near .308 equivalent) is probably the most common.

[dipodomys]

You'd think they'd push the price up as long as they're selling instead of just discontinuing them. Just how such marketing decisions are a mystery to me.

[Ice]

Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70 or a Belgian FN BA in 7x57 Mauser fills the ticket for my hunting.

Ice