What rifles do you hunt with

[BigAl52]

Just a pole I guess for lack of better words. But to you hunters out there how many hunting rifles do you own and of the ones you own what caliber rifle do you use the most when hunting big game. I have several 45-70's in leverguns of course but I keep thinking I need one good bolt action for big game. Dont know why just thinking and boy is that ever dangerous. Al

[JEBar]

to you hunters out there how many hunting rifles do you own and of the ones you own what caliber rifle do you use the most when hunting big game. Al

until purchasing our Henry 44 Mag & 45-70, our family had settled on 30 caliber for our big game rifles .... this decision was based on the us choosing to hand load all of our hunting and practice ammo ... back then (the mid 60's) and so far as I know its still true that all of the major bullet manufactures offered a wider range of bullets in 30 caliber than was offered in any other caliber ... collectively, our sons and I have one 30-30, three 308's, three 30-06's, and one 300 WBY Mag .... when our sons were just starting out they used Ruger M77 308's with cut down stocks .... when they out grew them, they used Ruger M77 30-06's .... early on I used a Browning BLR 308 that is still one of my favorites .... when I joined a deer hunting club that had very large (square mile or larger) fields I bought a Remington 700 BDL 300 WBY Mag .... it is a tremendous long range rifle .... when we moved to another club whose land was mostly wooded, I bought a Remington 700 30-06 .... now that I have the Henry rifles, I'd most certainly use the 44 mag for hunting where shots of 100 yards or less are required ... should I ever get to hunt the big bears at ranges 200 or less yards, I would probably carry the 45-70 .... the 300 WBY is the most versatile and if I could only have one big game rife, its the one I'd carry .... our boys would use their 30-06's

sorry for the long winded reply .... in short, I'd make my choice based on the conditions and game being hunted

[Dennis H]

I elk hunt with a marlin guide gun 45-70. I deer and antelope hunt with a Smith & Wesson model 1500 in 300 win or 7mm rem mag. I coyote hunt with a Browning a-bolt 22-250. I plink prairie dogs and jack rabbits with a rem model 597 22 mag. Ive got plenty others that come out on occasion but those are the main battery.

[tx gunrunner]

I got my last deer with my flinter I built . This was not a kit gun .

[Henry88]

Kicked to the top for no reason what so ever ............................

[BigAl52]

Tx Gunrunner that is one nice flinter. I have been looking for one myself just havent found the one I want yet. I do own one its a Lyman GPR 54 cal flint that I had Jack Brooks in Denver work over for me and install an L&R lock and some Davis deerslayer triggers. Jack also case hardened the lock for me it turned out really nice.

Dennis H when you hunt with the guide gun are you using a scope and handloads or factory ammo? Al

[tx gunrunner]

[Dennis H]

Dennis H when you hunt with the guide gun are you using a scope and handloads or factory ammo? Al

Scope and factory ammo

[North Country Gal]

Back in the days when I did hunt, I actually used a handgun more than a rifle. Shot more deer with a 44 mag revolver or a Contender than a rifle and for small game, also mostly a handgun in 22 LR, again in a revolver or a Contender.

[BigAl52]

Thanks Dennis. Its just me but Im not much for scopes on leverguns. Not in anyway dishing those who make that choice as I get the aging and eyes issue. Im thinking in the future I may also need to make that choice.

NCG
I have shot several Deer with a TC contender but not ever used a wheelgun. I once had a TC with one of JD's 6.5 JDJ barrels and one of Mike Belliums barrels in a 308 caliber off of a 444 case. Shot deer with both of those barrels. Al

[JEBar]

Shot more deer with a 44 mag revolver or a Contender than a rifle

our sons have taken multiple deer with their Ruger GP100 357 Mags, every since the mid '60's I have been taking deer, black bear and boar with Ruger 44 Mags .... that said, we have taken far more with various rifles and shotguns

[Dennis H]

Thanks Dennis. Its just me but Im not much for scopes on leverguns. Not in anyway dishing those who make that choice as I get the aging and eyes issue. Im thinking in the future I may also need to make that choice.
Al

Completely agree BigAl. My eyes struggle lining up all 3 objects front, rear, critter.

[Yornoc3]

I am a dedicated bolt action with scope guy, who's been drifting towards single shots as I've calmed down a bit with age . I did have a Marlin '95 45-70 with peep sights for a while, and learned I'm not really a lever action man. It was mostly the unloading through the action, though, so maybe a Henry is in my future. I bought a Ruger 77 .270 in 1975, as a present for quitting smoking, and have mostly used that round, along with 30-06, .257 Roberts and 6.5 Swede since. There's a 9.3 x 62 CZ FS waiting it's turn, along with 3 single shots, a .270 Mossberg SSI, 7X57 Mauser Ruger #1 and .308 Brno Effect. Soon, there'll be a Henry 45-70 ss added to the roster. I hunt mostly with a Tikka T3 stainless .270, though, mostly because it's my bad weather rifle, and, in NW Wisconsin in late November, the weather's usually bad (and it weighs 7lbs 3 oz fitted with a Leupold 3X9, and shoots 3 shot groups into a nickel ).

[Catherine]

My MT husband hunts with a few different firearm calibers depending on the terrain and the animal. He hunts on this side of the Continental Divide closer to our home.

45-70 (Newly purchased HENRY and CT Marlin.)

30-06 (Remington.)

30-30 (CT Marlin.)

You can use a .22 rifle for grouse hunting out here (Montana) and he gets them with one clean head shot per grouse.

He helps his rancher friends in controlling the gopher populations when they ask him too.

He used to hunt with various other calibers, brand names and styles of firearms. Rifles, shotguns and handguns.

Disclaimer: I do not hunt and I have never hunted. I have gone on day trips with him when he has hunted for the scenery.

Cate