Hardwoods with a bench-rest rifle?
 

Today I used my climber to hunt thick hardwoods where I knew deer were. I was using my Remington 700 .308 SPS Varmint, which has a 26 inch heavy barrel and weighs 8.5 pounds. I quickly found out that it would be very hard to manuever quickly with that gun.

I hunt hardwoods a lot. Do you think it would be worth it to buy a semi-auto rifle for when I hunt the hardwoods?

If so, what model?

Thanks guys,
Kellen

How about a lever? It's hard to beat a Marlin 336 in .35 Rem or 30-30. When it come to maneuverability this rifle is awesome.

Yeah I've thought about that too. How long is the barrel? And how heavy is the gun?

Most marlin 336's have a 20 inch barrel but the xcr has a 24 inch barrel. Out to 125 yards it's hard to beat a 3030 or 35rem. Also Remington makes a carbine 742 and 7400 with a 18.5 inch barrel I think it'd be hard to beat and it comes in 243 308 270 30-06 and 35 whelen any would work. I'm acually thinking amour getting one in 35 whelen to use as my brush buster. I'm not sure of the weight on either the Remington or marlin but they will weigh less than what you got I think it'd be worth it just to have a backup

Yeah. In the mornings I'm almost always in the woods where I don't get more than a 70 yard shot. I want something that I can rely on to hit the bullseye at 50 yards and be able to get a quick follow-up shot. The more holes the better!

A Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08 caliber is made for this situation, top it with a VX-II 2x7 scope and you are ready to go...

As far as more holes, put the 1st one in the right place and you won't need another...

A deer hit with 2 bullets through the lungs will travel just as far as one hit with one bullet through the lungs...

I've always thought a Browning BAR would be good for that. They make one called the ShorTrac Stalker that comes in a bunch of calibers from 243Win to 325WSM, 22 or 23 in barrel and ranging from just under 7 to just over 7 pounds.

I always do make my first shot a good one, but it gives more confidence to know I have an opportunity to make another shot if I have the chance to.

If I had $1400 to spend I'd get it.

Winchester model 70 feather weight
Ruger ultra light, compact, or laminate compact
Remington 700 sps tactical
Remington model seven
Remington 7600
Marlin 336, 444, 1895