I admire the "one gun hunter" but I get seduced by many different rifles. "Here I am, use me." Okay... sure!

This spring I used one of my favorites to take a black bear on an Idaho backcountry bear hunt.






It's a Remington 700 CDL, 30-06, 6x Leupold. Handloaded 165 grain Hornady CX bullet. Excellent accuracy and performance. I hope to use that same combo again and again. The rifle has taken black bear, grizzly, elk, mule deer and pronghorn antelope for me.

Am going to hunt mule deer here in Washington this year with a 6.5 Creed, a Bergara with a carbon wrapped barrel and a Boyds laminated stock. The 3-15x Leupold with an illuminated reticle is superb. Will likely use handloaded 140 gr Berger Elite Hunter bullets. Soft recoil, excellent accuracy, and the other game I've taken with Berger bullets all died very quickly without running at all... So, I'm going for it.



If it looks like I've got a shorter range proposition for bear, deer or elk, I'd like to take the as yet un-blooded Henry 360 Buckhammer and handloaded 200 gr RNSP Hornady bullets at 2300 fps. It's got a 1.5-5x Leupold on quick detach mounts and a Skinner Sights scope base/aperture sight:



Come January... cold and snowy... I have a date with an Oregon cow elk and hopefully a wild Aoudad ram. For that the Winchester Model 70 Supergrade is coming out to play. It's topped by a 3.5-10x Leupold, and chambered in 7mm Rem Mag. My last elk out there was taken at 405 yards with my 30-06... The wide open country begs for a longish range rifle.



So... Lots of walnut and blued steel. One laminated stock. Some rifles I've never hunted with. We shall see how it goes!

Best of luck to all you hunters this coming season!

Regards, Guy

 

That looks like Whitecap creek in the Selway you are riding beside, if it is, I rode that same trail in May!

You have some beautiful riflesthere.

 

Well, ya got me thinking about the upcoming deer season, the only Big game here, and what might get the nod.
So, our muzzleloader season is first after archery season, I'm no stick & string hunter. I prefer handguns and rifles.
This year the 50 cal Hawken hasn't spilled blood so it gets a turn, and the trusty 1858 clone in 44 will tag along incase something ends up closer. And yes it will/has killed.

Reg. Gun season always starts here the Saturday before Thanksgiving. This year I want to try and bloody a couple that I've never spilled blood with .
The mx on the far right has proved it's self a couple times, but could go if I hunt some of our larger fields. The chopped 35R on the left has also made meat a couple times and is Always a good option, I dearly love walking around with it.
The Henry is a 41 mag with a 270gr wfn is deadly accurate out to the 100 yd that I've tested and will most likely get the opening weekend.
And the ole Cowboy there in the center is a 38-55 and would just be cool as heck to nail one with.
And last but not the least by any means the powerful t-4 P. Got a 325 gr cast worked up that should flatten anything that should walk out in front of it.

And one of these will tag along incase something happens to get close.
That shiny Vaquero in 44 and the 41 mag. BH in front have taken deer in the past.
The 45 colt hasn't but could be it's year, maybe.

And incase you are interested in the big baggie in the background. Well, it's deer jerky from one of last years deer.

RP

 

Well, ya got me thinking about the upcoming deer season
View attachment 978785

I can hear the door flapper on that stove now. Either someone got cold or it's time to make the coffee

 

Likely will be using my 6.5 CM with handloaded Barnes TTSX 120 grain. Prefer these over the 140. They shoot flater, do plenty of damage in soft tissue and will buzz through bone. Been using monolithic 120 gr on deer for some time now. Started out with Hornadys.

Thinking strongly about using this old 722 in 300 Savage. Had it for a while and traded it to my BIL. Got it back when he died. Kind of regretted trading it in the first place. Shot deer with it. Now have some Hornady bullets marked for the 300 Savage. My daughter has piled up more deer with hers Tham many of the guys that post on this site.
May dig out my old 35R.
DEP

 

I live in Ohio and am not big game hunting out of state this year. Since Ohio is a straight-wall cartridge state (with no length restriction), I'll be using my Classic Model 1895 and my .357 1894. If I haven't killed my 3 by muzzleloading season in January, I'll use my .50 inline Knight. This year's load for the .45-70 will be the 300-grain Sierra HP with !MR 3031 (MZ of 2,004 FPS). This will be new for me as previous deer have been killed with either the 400-grain Speer JSP or the 405-grain Cast Performance. The 1894 will be shooting a 180-grain cast from Montana Bullets (Hodgdon Lil' Gun at 1,780 FPS). and the Knight will be stoked with Pyrodex and a 290-grain Barnes (have cronied it but can't remember the MV off the top of my head).

 

For deer hunting this fall I will Probably use my Ruger No1 RSI in 35 Rem.

Or if the weather is bad I may use my Ruger No. 1 K-1B in 35 Rem.

Or I could use my Remington 600 in 35 Rem.

Or for old times sake I may use my Remington Model 8 in 35 Rem.

Since this is the Marlin Forum, I may use my 336C in 35 Rem.

I think there is a theme here.

 

Wow -- a Remington 600 .35 Remington. I have a Model 600 in .308; it is a very handy woods rifle.

 

I'm hoping to take a deer with the Marlin XL-7S in 30-06 I bought a few months ago. Other regular backups include a Ruger Frontier in 308 Win and stainless Marlins in 44 magnum, 45 Colt and 45-70. Decisions, decisions.

 

I've been itching to take my Winchester 1892 in 44 Magnum. Not sure, probably take it opening day.

I'll also be using my Blackhawk 44 Special. Last year I passed on a spike hunting it, and it was my only chance.

My son, who's 5, is itching to go too, so I'll take him at least a couple of times. Not sure what I'll take when he goes. I always wear the Blackhawk, so I might just handgun hunt those days.

 

I'll be using my 1954 Marlin Texan in 35 Remington for deer season. The 35 is a great cartridge, especially if I run into a big Maine buck!

 

I will have either my 1894 CSBL or a 300 Black Out rifle on opening day.

 

Primary will be my ruger scout .308 suppressed, my ruger guide gun 30-06 suppressed, and ruger Blackhawk Hunter .44 mag. Honorable mentions are Henry model x 45 Colt suppressed, BAR 30-06, and my first deer rifle a Remington 710 in .270 win.

 

My trusty 06' amish machine gun will get the opening weekend nod. Then probably dad's 444 the next and finish out season with a 77/357 or 77/44.

 

I haven't decided for sure what I'll be taking back to Texas for this year's hunt.
It may very well be the "year of the single shots". Listed in order, but not necessarily the preferential order.

Ruger #1 in 6.5x55 Swede; utilizing 160 gr. Hornady RN bullet propelled by IMR-4350. This one has successfully dropped whitetails AND feral hogs.

Shiloh Sharps in 45-70 Government; utilizing 500 gr. RN Government bullet propelled by Holy Black (yet to be blooded).

Thompson Center Contender in 30-30 Winchester; utilizing 150 gr. Rem CoreLokt bullet propelled by IMR-3031 (yet to be blooded).

Regardless of which rifle I choose, my trusted '06 will stand ready to fill any void - as usual.

Decisions, decisions.

 

As a matter of discussion, I'd have thought that my "single shot" hunts would already be in effect, but only partially. I'll figure to use my dear, late bud Al's Ruger #1 on opening day, but if the weather is bad, nope. The rifle that I bought from his estate.

Two very good mutual friends of mine and Al, bought guns we'd both owned at some time. I cannot think of a better tribute hunting.

Al's rifle, now in my care

Al and me a year after successful Georgia hog hunt with our mounts

Fellas and Gals, hunt with whatever makes you feel good. But, try to hunt with folks that also make you feel good.

My Buddy Al has been gone for almost 5yrs now. I came close to not hunting that opening day back in '19 two days later. That was until a mutual friend said to me, is that what Al would want?

I did hunt and on opening morning this buck showed. Now known as "Al's" buck. Sorry again about going on way too much. I apologize.

 

Yup, we need to rotate...

 

Yup, we need to rotate...

View attachment 979904

its a good start, but i still see some wall space for more guns. I'd recommend filling that space up

 

I plan on taking eight Marlins and two S&W's to Kentucky this year. Got half sighted in so far with handloads. I will start a thread with my 2024 arsenal when ready before season which starts in two months.

 

Primary deer gun, will be my 1895 SBL. For my fallback in case of trouble with ,1895, I will bring my single shot Pachmeyer 1911 conversion, .308.

Padraig

 

For Moose, I'll be using the ole workhorse, a BLR in .308, pretty much the only more powerful "Modern" rifle I have. I'll take the Marlin 1881 in 45-70 along for tight places but will likely get flak from the other guys for doing so. Come deer season, it's ganna be all Marlin. 1881's, 1895 in 38-56, 1893's,1894's, 336's 30-30, 32 sp, 35 Rem and later for Black powder season, my TC New Englander.
Half my bunk space at the hunt camp is taken up by guns and ammo, hardest thing is to decide which one to take out each morning. The other guys just laugh.

 

My 2 cents worth. For deer I always take a spare rifle in the same caliber sighted for the same round. If I take my Remington 721 in .270, I’ll take my Remington 760 in the same caliber, if I take my Remington 700 in .308, I’ll take my Remington 788 in.308, if I take my Remington 141 in 35 Remington, then I take my Marlin 336 in 35 Remington. I like to keep it simple … but that’s just me.

 

This half is ready to go. Hopefully, the other half and the two S&W's will be good to go next week. So, total will be eight Marlins, two S&W's, and a custom made Remington 700.

 

Got my third beaver last monday within this year. Waters has started to open and days are longer so the beavers are becoming more active. This one was allready eating on the snow when I spotted him. I had my Tikka T3 9,3x62 with me since it has VX-R scope with red dot. Now when there is more and more light I will switch to my Marlin 1895. Beaver season ends at the end of this month.

 

It's very likely going to be the .444 again for our modern firearms season, and carrying the .45colt Bisley along as well.
I'm kind of looking forward to taking my T/C Omega out for our late season alternate methods this year again.


First up though, since the archery season starts on the 15th, I need to make it a point to make sure the crossbow is still sighted in.

 

Gonna be my X Bolt HC Speed in .30-06 w/ VX5 Firedot, 165gr federal ammo. Hoping to cull some does at my grandpa’s land. On my property, far less populated and much more densely forested, I’m thinking my Rossi 92 in .45LC will do the trick. So much time though between now and rifle season for me that I could change many times.

For muzzleloader season, unless I get an Encore barrel I’ll be taking my trusty CVA Kodiak .45cal.

I just can’t quite get into archery yet. I have a crossbow that I take out and sit with, but I mostly just watch and enjoy the quiet.

 

I will continue my experiments with the 9mm carbine.

 

I will be using my CVA Optima V2 50 cal for the ML season in early November.

After that, I plan on using a 1966 Glenfield Mod 30 in 35 Rem and a 1972 Marlin Mod 1895S in 45-70 for the regular deer season.

 

@ 50 yards?
In my dreams l’m standing with Elmer Keith harvesting a trophy Buck with my S&W model 29 no dash. In reality, I’m using my trusted 336SC chambered in 35 Remington.

 

that's a nice looking 35 deluxe. I have the same , made in 1958 , mine looks like new

 

Ill flip flop between three. Start the season with my WInchester Model 70 FWT in 7mm-08. Ill also lump around with my 35XLR and spend time with my CZ 500FS in 6.5x55. Of those three my 35XLR is the only one that hasn't been bloodied yet. It just never seems to be around when the deer are.

 

Great choice. I love the 708 and the 6.5x55. I actually had a7mm/308 made in 1967. The 7/08 Remington came out with in 1980 had there neck turned down by 25 thousands. All my kids and grand kids use the 7mm-08. I think the 6.5x55 is a superior round to the CM they make today.