Good discussion. Let's keep it going. Just a word to BrandonWisconsin: I pray that your grandfather will be able to beat the cancer, and continue to hunt for many years. Hang in there friend. Cancer doesn't necessarily mean "Goodbye." Plenty of fruits (blue berries, strawberries, bananas, raisins, concord grapes) and vegetables can work wonders. I lost my father last April. He deer hunted with me one season (in Texas) with a 30-30 Winchester. We didn't get a deer, but we had a great time in the woods.
I also agree with Wannabe Redneck that the Winchester 94 has "that" feel to it. It was "made" to hunt deer; lightweight, "swingable", low recoil, and it's almost the perfect ticket (to this very day) for hunting deer in thickets and timber!

For a lively discussion,
BOLTACTION

"Unless we protect the freedoms we enjoy, we will one day have no freedoms to enjoy."

Depends on conditions. I'll use a Marlin 1894S in .44 mag with Lyman receiver sight when hunting brush, but prefer my bolt action Model 7 in .308 for open woods and fields.

cogito, ergo armatus sum.

Edited by - Legionnaire on 01/31/2002 15:31:46

I use a Marlin model 336 in .35 Rem.

I have a browning lever in .308
my dad has a marlin 30-30 and a win 94 in 30-30. I love everyone of them.

Shorthair,
My 270 bolt is still a virgin. After hunting with it for 4 years with no luck, I got a lever action with experience. I've gotten a deer every year since. This is not mine but close and I'm in the process of getting another either in 308 or 358.

Elandy,
I use a featherweight but they're just like the 'C' model. You can have all my other guns but you don't get the 99. NO WAY! Ain't gonna happen.

Boltaction,
Give'm a try. The C's E's and F's.

I've harvested deer with 30-30's in both a Winchester 94 and a Marlin 336. Currently I use a Marlin 1894 in 45-70 for deer. The best deer round ever has got to be the 30-30. It kills deer just as quickly as my 45-70 and 30-06 and 7 Mag, with much less recoil. It is great on deer out to 200 yds!

I've used a Marlin in .35 Remington and a Winchester Model 88 in .308 to take deer. I actually like carrying the Marlin more. With a peep sight, it just feels like it belongs in the Maine woods where I hunt.

Hit Em Hard

If I'm going to still hunt in the nasties, or driving deer, I take the old '94 lever in 30/30. Its short and with iron sights I can get on them quickly.

Marlin in .44 mag. I used my old man's this season cuz I loaned my .30-06 to a buddy of mine while we were still hunting. Loved it, lightweight, great brush gun, little kick, and lots of doe shattering frontal bullet area.

shot my first deer with a pre64 25-35 winchester then when to a 30-30 marlin with a scope but didnt like the scope so switched to a pre64 32 winchester special and i think its the perfect brush,snow,plain old huntin rifle