Best hunting rifle?

[Buckshot Ben SASS #44252]

I am hoping for some input on the best all around hunting rifle... While staying in the cowboy family of firearms.

Mostly for deer, but maybe moose or bear in the future.

Buckshot Ben

[Rufus Brady]

Restricting it to cowboy guns, I'd have to go with a 348. Only gun made is a model 71.

If that is too far out for you, go with a 45-70 in an '86 carbine or a Marlin.(or, if by "bear" you mean grizzly).

 

Honestly, the best all round rifle would likely be a mauser-based bolt action in 30-06 with a good variable

scope of 3-9x or 2-8x.

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

Well, .30-06 is a GREAT all around cartridge for all of those game animals, as you can find good hunting loads ranging from 125 grain to over 200 grain, and everything from varmint to elephant-tough bullet construction.

 

By "cowboy family" if you mean a Winchester lever gun, then it would be hard to beat the gun design favored by many Texas rangers, our great white hunter President (Teddy Roosevelt), and many other real cowboys - the Winchester 1895 lever rifle. The Japanese reproduction of the 1895 is commonly available for a modern built gun, but the originals are pretty easy to find, too. Just depends on your price range.

 

Maybe you ought to tell us more about what you are looking for, if you want a "fine tuned" answer. :^)

 

Good luck, GJ

 

 

Another consideration - Win 1886 in .33 WCF or even .45-70, if you can live with a 200 yard hunting gun.

 

GJ

[Captain Woodrow Cahill, SASS # 54363]

1895 Marlin in 45-70 would meet all your requirements.

The ammo can be loaded to handle anything on the continent, and you can use it in long range levergun side matches too.

 

I recommend the short rifle with 22" barrel ... http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/bigbore/1895.asp ... It'll work in all situations.

[Marlin Buckhorn,SASS 51727]

The best hunting rifle is the one you have in your hands that is loaded with ammo that is appropriate for the game you are hunting!

 

Marlin(who hunts with a .22, 17HMR,.223,7mm Mauser, 30-06,45-70 and 20&12 gauge slug guns)Buckhorn

[Haole]

I shot a black bear years ago with a Winchester Model 70 in 30-06. First shot hit a shoulder, went thru his body, broke a back leg on the opposite side and exited. It took 2 additional shots to stop that bear with the second shot passing thru his lungs.

 

Ten years ago I shot another black bear with a modern Winchester Model 86 in 45-70. Similar situation hitting the bear in his right shoulder with the bullet heading to the interior of his body. That bear took 3 steps before he augerred in. The bullet was recovered.

 

Not to be out done, a friend took an original Winchester 1886 in 45-90 on a Moose hunt. One shot thru the lungs with a 405 gr. lead bullet he had cast himself. The bullet was recovered just below the hide on the opposite side. It had retained most of its mass.

[Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L]

http://www.outdoorlife.com/photos/gallery/guns/2008/09/25-greatest-deer-rifles-ever

 

It's a good primer

 

GG ~

[Oklahoma Dee]

Winchester Model 1895 - take your pick of calibers - 30-40 Krag, 30-06, 35WCF, 405!

OkD

[Rufus Brady]

Winchester Model 1895 - take your pick of calibers - 30-40 Krag, 30-06, 35WCF, 405!

OkD

 

 

The above is pretty good advice. Might have to pass up a few poorly aligned shots with the 30-40 (moose and

I wouldn't use it on griz or brownies w/o a back-up) and the 405 is tough on the shoulder.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Ford vs. Chevy again.

I like Marlins(older ones, not the POS being made now).

What kind of range are you talk'n about?

LG

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I have a Browning '95 in.30-40. I wouldn't deliberately go looking for moose or the bigger bears with it, but I can't think of a backup big enough to matter much against the big three.

 

I'd be much more inclined to take my Browning '85 in .45-70 if I were going to pick on the bigger ones.

 

I have a number of other guns that are suitable for anything else: .45-60, .30-30, .35 Remington, .45 Colt, .44-40, .45 acp, etc all the way down to .22 rf short. Realistically, if I'm going out today I'll take the .30-40 or the .35 considering that there are no really big animals in our woods around here. Black bear and cougar about run it all.

[Smuteye John SASS#24774]

Depends on where you hunt and what you are after. In close cover (say, average shot of under 100 yards), a pistol caliber lever gun is more than enough for deer sized game. A modern smokeless load from a 357, 44 or 45 lever gun will drop Bambi easily if you put it in the right place at those ranges and even further out if you do your part. Heck, BP loads will do the same- again, if properly applied. If you need more reach, are going after bigger game like elk or moose or you have to worry about things with teeth, claws and are likely to fight back, then going up to rifle calibers seems reasonable.

[Grizzly Adams 3674]

Restricting it to cowboy guns, I'd have to go with a 348. Only gun made is a model 71.

 

+1 The Winchester Model 71, and the fine copy from Browning, are hard to beat - although the 348 would be a little over kill on whitetail deer!

[Chili Ron]

Howdy,

Smuteye John has a real good point.

While sass shooters usually dont go for hard hitting shots

the 357 or 44 mag carbines squeeze a bunch more performance

from a loaded to the max round.

Many marlins are already drilled and tapped to fit

a mount(picatinny???) and rings and a good scope.

IIRC a carbine will have the same energy at 150 yards as

a pistol has at muzzle.

Feel free to check the charts on exterior ballistics

dont just take my word on it.

If you decide to use your faithful ol match guns remember

to clean out the firing chamber as there could be a ring

o crud hiding in there.

Remember if one shot isnt enuf you have more..........

Best

CR

[Tom Bullweed]

Looks like you are in Maine.

Woods/swamp gun is Marlin 1895 and Winchester 1886 in .45-70

Open field gun is Winchester 1895 in .30-06 or .30 Govt (.30-40).

[Slowhand Bob, 24229]

The '76 in 45-75 would be a class act for those others to follow.

[Griff]

Winchester mdl 94 in either .30-30, .32-40, 32 Winchester Special or .38-55. The .30-30 still has a commanding lead as the all-time leading deer caliber in the US. And has certainly proved itself on bear and even elk. The best weapon is between your ears. Stay within the capabilities of your cartridge and be sure of your shot placement, and you won't need "more" gun.

[Elfego, SASS #50493]

A Ruger Super Blackhawk revolver. The 44 magnum works great on deer, elk, and black bear.

[CarbineCasey #4469]

Single Action Ruger 44 mag w/10.5 inch barrel, A muzzleloader, a BLR 308 and a original 95 Winchester 30/06 (I get style points for the 95)

 

Carbinecasey

[ShadowCatcher]

I am hoping for some input on the best all around hunting rifle... While staying in the cowboy family of firearms.

Mostly for deer, but maybe moose or bear in the future.

Buckshot Ben

Winchester 1885 High wall . . in .45-70. 1885

 

You can load it down to handle puny little whitetails, or load it up to handle anything that walks the earth.

 

If I can have only one rifle - I'll take this one.

 

SC

[Hashknife Cowboy]

I am hoping for some input on the best all around hunting rifle... While staying in the cowboy family of firearms.

Mostly for deer, but maybe moose or bear in the future.

Buckshot Ben

 

 

My all time favorite...is my fathers pre 64 Winchester Model 70 in 30-06, its topped with a Leupold 2.5 to 8 VX-III. 2nd is my Marlin 336T in 30-30. Lastly is my Shiloh Sharps in 45-70. Its like Chevy or Ford, buy what works for you and most importantly get a caliber that you can afford to shoot and get ammo for in Iddy Biddy Town, Rural USA. I have others but these are the rifles I always migrate back to in the fall. Remember its all about bullet placement...

[Big Sarge]

Alot of good suggestions so far, but I have to agree the Winchester 94 is the way to go. I agree it has probably killed more deer than all other rounds combined

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

If you could still hunt deer like the old timers did when the 30-30 was considered a great deer round, yep, a 94 would be a good rifle for Maine or most other parts.

 

But, anymore, with restricted habitat, restricted hunts, restricted land that is open to hunt, and lots of folks settling for hunts you have to pay big bucks for, it's worth it to have a gun that is good on all the animals you listed, at ranges out to 300-400 yards, so you can take most shots that present themselves. The old 30-30 can't do that, never could.

 

I'll bet over the last 20 years, the 30-06, the 7mm rem mag or the 300 win mag are the leaders on deer anymore (If not a 12 gauge slug gun).

 

Good luck, GJ

[Noz]

I'd look for a Savage 99 lever gun in 300 Savage.

[Griff]

If you could still hunt deer like the old timers did when the 30-30 was considered a great deer round, yep, a 94 would be a good rifle for Maine or most other parts.

But, anymore, with restricted habitat, restricted hunts, restricted land that is open to hunt, and lots of folks settling for hunts you have to pay big bucks for, it's worth it to have a gun that is good on all the animals you listed, at ranges out to 300-400 yards, so you can take most shots that present themselves. The old 30-30 can't do that, never could.

I'll bet over the last 20 years, the 30-06, the 7mm rem mag or the 300 win mag are the leaders on deer anymore (If not a 12 gauge slug gun).

Good luck, GJ

Yep, I've had several folks tell me that. Deer are still dead... even on open land west Texas hunts... when done properly they seem to just fall down, don't get up after being hit with the "old .30-30". Hunting is an activity that is best defined by the person doing it, inclusive of the methods and skills they bring to the endeavor. Not just the particular rifle or cartridge. Otherwise, we'd simply call it shooting. Other'n that I don't disagree with anything you said. I've been laughed at when I showed up in camp with a couple of my favorite .30-30s. But... I left with deer in the cooler when all those laughing didn't.

 

Oh yeah, most magazine writers don't believe it's possible to kill deer with a .30-30 either, so you're in good company.

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

Oh yeah, most magazine writers don't believe it's possible to kill deer with a .30-30 either, so you're in good company.

 

Oh, but that's not my company. The deer I've killed have all been with a 50 caliber muzzleloader. I believe in getting close. Even a 30-30 would do it at the ranges I shoot.

 

GJ

 

 

 

[Buckshot Ben SASS #44252]

David, I wonder what your impressions of the sharps 45/70 are.

what are it's strengths and limitations?

That is the gun I am really leaning towards... though probably not a Shiloh, probably have to go a little less expensive.

Ben

 

quote name='David Ramos' timestamp='1344442149' post='2482118']

My all time favorite...is my fathers pre 64 Winchester Model 70 in 30-06, its topped with a Leupold 2.5 to 8 VX-III. 2nd is my Marlin 336T in 30-30. Lastly is my Shiloh Sharps in 45-70. Its like Chevy or Ford, buy what works for you and most importantly get a caliber that you can afford to shoot and get ammo for in Iddy Biddy Town, Rural USA. I have others but these are the rifles I always migrate back to in the fall. Remember its all about bullet placement...

[Bart Solo]

The best hunter I know floats back and forth between his dad's old 94 in 30-30 and a beat up Remington 700 in 270 depending on where he is hunting. He tags his limit every year. Of course, he is a real hunter. I suspect that if he had to he could take deer with a slingshot. For him a rifle is just a tool.

 

For an all around hunting rifle you can't really beat the pre 64 Winchester Model 70 in 30-06.

[Assassin]

30-30 lever is a dang good all around rifle and will take down any animal in North America, depends on shot placement and skill of the hunter. Now, if I just want to go out killing, I use my .308 with handloads. Too much rifle really takes the fun out of hunting. If you want to be a good hunter start with a bow, when youu get good with that then grab a rifle and use the skills learned from archery.

 

LL'

[Fox Tail Bob]

If you could still hunt deer like the old timers did when the 30-30 was considered a great deer round, yep, a 94 would be a good rifle for Maine or most other parts.

 

But, anymore, with restricted habitat, restricted hunts, restricted land that is open to hunt, and lots of folks settling for hunts you have to pay big bucks for, it's worth it to have a gun that is good on all the animals you listed, at ranges out to 300-400 yards, so you can take most shots that present themselves. The old 30-30 can't do that, never could.

 

 

Depends on where you hunt. Around here, I NEVER have a shot over 60 or 70 yards, can't see farther than that in the woods. In fact 60 or 70 yards would be a long shot for me. Can't imagine taking a shot at a deer 150 or 200 yards away! A 30-30 with iron sights will be perfectly fine for everything I need.

 

The Winchester model 94 in 30-30 (made before they started with the crossbar safety) is the most perfect firearm ever made! (Obviously my personal opinion! )

 

As a side note, a 30-30 will make a REAL mess out of a skunk at 10 feet! Long, smelly, story.

[slate mike sass#29204]

I think that the most deer ever killed by one calibre would see the 22LR take first place. Legally the 30-30 might out rank it. And for a really serious rifle, I'd want a modern built 45-70. That rifle can be loaded for any game on Earth at reasonable ranges. Unreasonable ranges require a more modern cartridge like a 45-120.

[Oklahomabound]

...the Winchester '94 in .38-55 loaded with smokeless, can vary the loading and bullet to match the game... ...note that the .38-55 round morphed into today's .30-30 round...

...and the recoil is more easily handled than from the .45-70 (altho the .45-70 can easily be loaded to match the game as noted in other posts).

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

I am hoping for some input on the best all around hunting rifle... While staying in the cowboy family of firearms.

Mostly for deer, but maybe moose or bear in the future.

Buckshot Ben

For me I hunt with a Ruger Super Black Hawk 44 mag .

 

But to answer your question ,Hear in Michigan I would say the most used rifle is the 30/30.

Winchester and or Marlin is the main choice.

 

I My self am going to use my Rossi 92 (Winchester copy) in 44 mag.

This year I am going for Black bear and white tail and wild boar all with the 44 mag.

God Bless

[Jimmy Reb, SASS #54804]

I quit hunting here in southern Maine quite a while ago. But when I was I also wanted a lever gun. I found the Browning BLR. Mine was in 308, but I believe the made them in 30-06 also. It is a lever gun but locks up like a bolt gun. also has a rmovable box magizine