Hardwoods with a bench-rest rifle?
11-01-2010, 12:28 PM
#12
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location:
Posts: 5,130
11-01-2010, 04:59 PM
#14
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: May 2009
Location: NE Alabama
Posts: 1,060
Id look at a Marlin 336 in 30-30. Fast and easy handling,light weight,accurate,fast follow up shot,very light recoil. That'd be perfect for shots up to 125ish yards. If you want something more powerful look at a Remington 742 or 7400 semi auto in 243 270 308 30-06 35 whelen. Its good out to about 300 yards if you feel comfortable shootin that far. But for your situation 30-30 wins hands down in my opinion.
11-05-2010, 07:08 AM
#15
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 3,902
I'm a heavy barrel fan, in any conditions, but alas, it's not for everybody...
That said, I do keep a few options around for hunting short range areas like dense brush or thick woods, in my order of preference:
Number 1 option: Ruger Superblackhawk 44mag with a 4x red dot sight.
#2: Marlin 1985 Guide Gun .45-70 with peep aperture sights and QD 6-24x50mm scope (just in case)
#3: Ruger Mini-30 7.62x39mm with 4-12x40 scope
#4: Marlin 1984 .44mag with peep aperture sights
Handgun hunting is a specific rush, and there aren't many firearms faster handling than a handgun.
The leveraction .45-70 and the .44mag are both GREAT rifles, very light and fast handling, and very deadly. I hand load both .45-70 and .44mag, so I can maximize the power from each cartridge, which are both loaded fairly conservatively in factory ammo.
The autoloader, on the other hand, is a great option too. The 7.62x39mm cartridge is plenty for deer, about equivalent to the .30-30win in power and trajectory, especially in handloads specifically for the Ruger rifle. Coupling the autoloader with such a low recoil cartridge means my cross hairs barely jump off target on the shot, so confirming the hit, or making a quick follow up shot is super easy.
Honestly, I probably prefer the autoloader more than the leverguns as far as LOGICALLY, but usually when I head out to hunt dense brush, I'll take the handgun, then sling the light .45-70 guide gun over my back, just in case I need some extra range.
That said, I do keep a few options around for hunting short range areas like dense brush or thick woods, in my order of preference:
Number 1 option: Ruger Superblackhawk 44mag with a 4x red dot sight.
#2: Marlin 1985 Guide Gun .45-70 with peep aperture sights and QD 6-24x50mm scope (just in case)
#3: Ruger Mini-30 7.62x39mm with 4-12x40 scope
#4: Marlin 1984 .44mag with peep aperture sights
Handgun hunting is a specific rush, and there aren't many firearms faster handling than a handgun.
The leveraction .45-70 and the .44mag are both GREAT rifles, very light and fast handling, and very deadly. I hand load both .45-70 and .44mag, so I can maximize the power from each cartridge, which are both loaded fairly conservatively in factory ammo.
The autoloader, on the other hand, is a great option too. The 7.62x39mm cartridge is plenty for deer, about equivalent to the .30-30win in power and trajectory, especially in handloads specifically for the Ruger rifle. Coupling the autoloader with such a low recoil cartridge means my cross hairs barely jump off target on the shot, so confirming the hit, or making a quick follow up shot is super easy.
Honestly, I probably prefer the autoloader more than the leverguns as far as LOGICALLY, but usually when I head out to hunt dense brush, I'll take the handgun, then sling the light .45-70 guide gun over my back, just in case I need some extra range.
