[tyme]

What rifles do you use for hunting, and about how much of the time do you use each?

I'm trying to get an idea how much the THR microcosm of the hunting world would be affected by the new AWB (H.R. 2038), which bans center-fire rifles with a pistol grip and detachable magazine.

[nico]

I've only been hunting once, and only saw two deer. But I got a Ruger M77 Mark II and a Leupold VX-II for christmas that I plan on using for next hunting season. I haven't been able to shoot it yet, but I'm looking into joining a local gun club (the only way to get access to a rifle range around here). None of the iterations I've seen of the potential AWB replacements will affect that gun, but I have an old winchester .22lr rifle that would be affected (15 round fixed magazine). I also figure that if the AWB is allowed to be renewed or made more ridiculous, it won't be long before the people who want to ban all civilian gun ownership push to ban bolt-action "sniper style" rifles, or flip up scope caps like I have (after all, snipers use them :rolleyes: ). Hell, I wouldn't put it past the brady bunch to try to outlaw slings, since when wrapped around one's arm, they can be used to make a gun more accurate:barf:

[dakotasin]

for rifle hunting, i use sporter rifles. typically remington 700's of one sort or another, but this year i had a winchester out quite a bit.

the part of the ban you are speaking of (pistol grip, det. mag) does not affect me at all for hunting purposes. nor does it affect any members of my hunting party, as they all use modern bolt guns (ruger, savage, etc).

i do own a sar-1, but i rarely shoot it, and i would surely never hunt w/ it. same goes if i had an ar... would not hunt w/ it.

[tc300mag1]

Remington 700 adl lh 300 win mag and 742 30-06 last few years its been the 742 mostly but now im using 300mag all the time

[Geezer]

I have a .270 A-bolt that has been tuned and fine-tuned, that is my long-range rifle. I have a Savage Scout (.308) that is my brush gun. Love them both, see no reason to buy anything else. Both have killed everything I shot with them, and I expect them to kill a lot more before these old legs get too creaky to hunt.

God bless and y'all be careful out there.:cool:

[Bruz]

My newest baby is a Steyr Scout Jeff Cooper in .308, that is replacing a Winchester auto in .308. Also have a Savage muzzleloader, 50 cal.

[Ohen Cepel]

Have used an M1 Garand, 700 Classic in .35 Whelen, and an SKS.

Thinking about a #1 in .308 for the future.

All depends on where I get to hunt next.

[Dan Morris]

I use a 1952 M70 in 30-06. I have other cals in the M70 but use this one 90% of the time.
Dan

[birddog]

I've used these for deer and bear.

Browning Lever Action in .308 (BLR)

Winchester Model 94 in .30-.30.

Mauser Sporter in .308.

But my longtime, current, and alltime favorite is my Winchester Model 70 Black Shadow with a Bushnell 3-9X scope, chambered in .30-06 and shooting 180 grain Remington Core Lokt Pointed Softpoints. Killed countless deer and my best bear ever with this gun. All one shot kills with the exception of an extremely tough 5 point buck several years ago.

I am a bowhunter from way back, and know the value of a good "boiler room hit", but with the rifle? I prefer neck shots, baby. Neck shots. Down they go.

[Art Eatman]

I guess I could be halfway proud that I would have been just as well off with a single shot rifle, for probably 90% or 95% of the deer I've killed in the last 40 years. However, my rifle of choice has always been a bolt action repeater and probably always will be.

Art

[Tamara]

Hrmmm...

Been out twice this year. Carried a Ruger No.1 RSI in .243 the first time, and a Winchester 94AE Trapper in .45 Colt the second. Didn't actually get to, you know, "use" either one... :o

The only centerfire rifles with pistol grips and detachable mags I own were already scotched by the first ban, thanks to the folding/collapsing stocks, flash hiders, and bayonet lugs. :uhoh:

[meathammer]

I use a Remington M700 ADL in 7mm Rem Mag. Winchester Model 94 in .30-30 stays in the truck as a backup/walking rifle. Easier to get a quick/close up shot off with the .30-30 and iron sights.

[Smoke]

Prairie Dogs - Kimber 84M .22-250 (Also used for any small game where I can set up an extended stand)
Hogs - Savage Mod 99 .300 Savage or Win Mod 94 .30-30 or Marlin .45-70(great brush guns, have been know to shoot deer)
Varmints - Winchester Coyote .223 or AR-15

Have other Rifles that don't get shot much. Don't shoot many other critters.

Smoke

[ACP230]

For the last 15 years or so, I've used a Ruger 77 Lightweight in .250 Savage for deer. It is one of the earlier 77s with a tang safety and feels pretty much like my 20 gauge over and under when brought to the shoulder. Weight and length of the two are close and the safety is in almost the same postion. The .250 has made the most one shot kills of any rifle I've used, so I keep using it.

I have sometimes used a Mossberg 590 12 gauge as a backup deer gun. If the thieves in Congress ban anything with a bayonet lug my 590 would be on the list.

My former deer rifle is a Browning BAR in .30-06. My son used it this year. If the crooks in Congress ban anything in semiauto the BAR would be on the list.

I hunted deer with my M1 once. See semiauto rant above.

I've considered hunting with my M1A, but it isn't scoped and weighs 11 pounds, so I haven't done it yet. Maybe if I set up a blind somewhere.

I'd like all my options to remain open.

[Brian Williams]

1St choice Win Mod 70 Compact Classic in 7mm-08
2nd Marlin1894c in 357
3rd NEF Super Lite Handi rifle in 243

Also carry is 4" 586

[2/9 Manchu]

Last 3 hunting seasons(deer): Sig Arms SHR 970 in .300 Win Mag / Hornady Custom 150 gr SPBT Interlock (great round for deer)
Back up in truck: Marlin 94 .30-.30

I still have a .410 pump that I got for Christmas when I was 7 yrs old. Don't use it much now; saving it for my future childern.

There are 2 12 ga shotguns for duck, but I haven't been duck hunting in a couple of years. And a slug gun that I haven't used for hunting in a long time.

[critter]

I have taken one or more whitetail with the following:
Ruger 77 in 30-06
Model 17 Enfield in 30-06
'shade tree custom' M 98 Mauser with .35 Whelen barrel
'shade tree custom' M 98 Mauser with 25-06 barrel
Ruger #1 in 45-70 (Thumper!-on both ends)
Thompson Center Contender in 30-30 Win (Super 14")
Remington 742 carbine in 30-06
Remington ML .54 caliber
Thompson Center Renegade ML in .54 caliber
Ruger Redhawk in .44 mag
CVA muzzleloader kit-kentucky rifle in .45 caliber
BUT-my 'SERIOUS, GO-TO, MEAT GUN' is a Winchester Model 70 in 300 Win Mag

(As you see, I like to experiment!)

[Roadkill]

This is my first year deer hunting,I've taken two with a scoped Winchester 30-30, have shot a bunch of coyotes with a AR15 in .223.

rk

[Sisco]

Deer sized stuff; Savage 111 in 25.06
I also have a 270 built on a Mauser action that I've never taken to the field but plan to.
Upland game; Benelli Nova
Turkey; Rem. 870
Small critters; H&R 22 Hornet or Mossberg .22LR Bolt action.
I've also taken feral hogs with a S&W model 57 .41 mag.

[BenW]

Almost exclusively Bolt action. I used a Marlin Glenfield 60 on rabbits when I was a kid, but could have gotten along just as well with a bolt rifle there as well. I'm afraid most hunters wouldn't be affected by any semi-auto bans if you're looking at what you CAN do the job with versus what you may WANT to do the job with. :(

[zahc]

Fav groundhog-AR!

Fav squirrel-10/22, pistol grip stock

Deer-shotguns only

[griz]

Mostly I have used a Ruger 250 (tang safety ultralight just like ACP230's!) and a muzzleloader (a "modern" one without a bayonet lug:D ).

But I have used bolt actions and semi's with detachable magazines. I've never considered action type much of a factor. Generally faster shots = more misses.

[BenW]

Actually I didn't think about this in my first post, but my most used bolt action is a Remington 788 - with detatchable box magazine. When they're done banning semi-autos with detatchable mags, the bolt gun moves up the list.

[Henry]

Remington Model Seven in .243
Winchester Model 94 30-30
Both are good Southern deer guns.

[Smoke Rizen]

Have used .243, .25-06, 30-06,and my favorite,.270, for big game. All bolt action,magazine fed, Mod. 70 Win. of different vintages. Now small game,and varmints,is a wide open field! S.R.

[J Scott]

.257 Roy Magnum and a Remington Model Seven SS in 7mm-08.

Both get = time.

J Scott

[LifeNRA]

I killed my first deer, an 8 pointer :D , with a .35 Marlin lever action at 30 feet. I was still hunting at the time. Then I thought I had outgrown the gun and hunted with a Remington 700 30-06 for many years. I would do the usual every year and climb into a tree stand and wait. Then I grew tired of climbing trees and setting in a stand. Just didnt seem much of a challenge anymore. The .35 Marlin belongs to my brother now so I went and bought a Marlin 30-30 last year and put a set of ghost ring sights on it. This year I still hunted for the first time in many years. I killed a buck with the 30-30 walking straight to me at 25 feet. And yes I measured the distance I am a surveyor and distances are important to me :) . It was just a spike but I needed some meat in the freezer. Anyway it was the best rush I had gotten from deer hunting in a long time. I saw another buck a week later while standing in the same spot at about 80 feet but didnt shoot it. If I had known that I was going to get the flu the last week of deer season I would have pulled the trigger on him but oh well. I have rediscovered the excitement of deer hunting with a little Marlin 30-30 lever action :D .

Edit: Sorry for the long post. I know see that it has little to do with what the original question was about. It is late and I was getting ready to go to bed. Goodnight.

[smokemaker]

Until last year , I used my trusty Ithaca 87 deerslayer for bambi. Then I started muzzleloading heavily. But my T/C Omega has a black plastic stock, so it's evil just for that. Rem 572 pump .22 is fav walking/ bunny/ squirrel/plinker. Favorite varmint gun is an old (steel butt plate old) Rem 700 varmint special in .243, wearing equally old leupold 24X glass. Maybe the best shooting rifle I've ever seen in real life, at least when someone else shoots it. (Shooting heavy kickers has taken a toll on my marksmanship) I don't think I own anything affected by the ban, except my S&W Sigma (10 rds only BS)

[H&Hhunter]

A gun.. A big black gun that shoots black talon bullets. ;)

[txgolfer45]

That's easy! I only own one. Remington 700 ADL Synthetic in .270

Scott

[ojibweindian]

I am currently using a Winchester Model 70 and a Yugo M48A. I'll grab one or the other, depending on my mood as I walk out the door.

[pdh]

I have and use a Rem 700 Stainless in 30-06 with 3-9x Leupold VXII.It is bedded in a H-S Pression(sp)Stock.I also have a use a Ruger M77(tang safety)in 30-06 with 3-9x Redfield.

Use the Rem 700 more often.

[pdh]

Oh....for varmint hunting.....I use a Rem 700VS in 22-250 with a Leupold VXII 6-18x.

[Guyon]

Bolt action (Rem 700, Win 70) or Marlin lever action .30-30.

[scotjute]

Bolt-action Mauser in 6.5x55 sporterized and scoped. Actually carrying it hunting about 1-2 weeks out of year.

.22 lr semi-auto. Actually carrying it about 2 weeks out of year. Plan to replace w/.22 mag. bolt-action scoped.

12 gage semi-auto shotgun. Actually carry about 2-4 days a year.

[Dave R]

Rem 700 and an old Martini-Cadet custom job. Neither would be affected by the ban.

However, I know several people who hunt coyotes with AR's.

[MeekandMild]

I don't think that pistol grip is ideal for deer hunting unless a person were to hunt primarily from a stand with a rifle rest. I may get a 7.62x39 DPMS upper one day but at present I hunt primarily with my Savage .243, my Marlin .35 rem and my T/C black powder rifle. For those rainy miserable days running up deer in the swamps I carry a shotgun with buckshot, figuring I won't get a shot over 50 feet away.

For small game the only rifle I use is a Marlin .17 cal rimfire!

critter, with a .300 win magnum you won't have to field dress the deer. Just scrape up the pink spot on the ground with a spatula and put it in a plastic bag. :neener:

[T.F.H]

For deer I use my M 77 in 270 win

For squarl I use my 10-22

For wabbit my 94-22

My win. 94.30-30 stays in the truck for backup

[Legionnaire]

Deer: Remington Model 7 in .308
Varmints: CZ 527 American in .223
Squirrel: Remington 541T

[Byron Quick]

Several configurations of bolt guns and one semi-auto sans pistol grip and detachable magazine.

tyme, maybe you should ask a different question: How many of you hunters own rifles with pistol grips and detachable magazines.

I own several. I just do little hunting with them.

[Northwest Cajun]

Thanks for asking,...
I use a sporterized 03 Springfield Mk1 in 30-06 with a 6X fixed scope, A Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70 with fixed 2.75X scout scope and I'm building a .338-06 on a 1917 Enfield action which will also have a 2.75X scout scope. If I were to varmit hunt I'd use my .223 Bushmaster target rifle with fixed 10X mil dot. If you havent figure it out I like the fixed scope:)
I also reload all my own ammo.

Cajun

[Pumpkinheaver]

I hunt with every type of action available including military style semi autos.

[WT]

Winchester Model 94 in .30-30 for deer.

[alfajim]

Model 88 winchester in 308 since I was 14 has served me well over the last 30 years.

[stevelyn]

For critters larger than wolves Ruger #1 RSI in .30-06. There are only two loads I shoot in it. Keeps sight adjustment simple.
Wolves and other larger predators my Daewoo K2.
Everthing else up to foxes I use a .22 or shotgun where appropriate.
Although I have a new .54 Lyman GPR that is going to get used eventually.

[Sunray]

Depends on where you are if it's even legal to hunt with a pistol gripped magazine rifle. No semi's at all in PA. However, the main reason a lot of shooters don't hunt with them is because they are heavy and don't take to telescopic sights easily. There's also the preception that they aren't accurate enough.

[cdbeaver]

For prairie dogs and varmints: Ruger No. 1 in .22-250, Savage 340C in .222 or NEF .22 Hornet.

For deer: My longtime (50 years) favorite Remington 721 in .30-06 or the current fad, NEF in .45-70.

Turkey, upland game: Beretta Silver Snipe 12-gauge.

[Greybeard]

Depends on which type of critter expected in crosshairs. Various actions of 22s for crows up to Model 700 in '06 for serious work.

The only semi-politically-incorrect long gun I have just now is Mini-14, which a student shot last weekend and said he wants to buy next paycheck.

Coincidently, I was just surfing this morning to see where I might want to reinvest the $600 or so I'd get for the Ruger and all its mags. ' Might just have to take the step up to full political incorrectness with a Russian VEPR as a "replacement" for the Mini-14. I'm leaning toward carbine model in 7.62 X 39.

[cratz2]

As I can't technically big game hunt with a centerfire rifle in Indiana, my Marlin 22 Magnum has taken the most game of any rifle I own. Racoons and crow have been it's two most popular adversary. :p

My CZ452 is catching up pretty quickly though... just birds and squirrels. I've drawn on several chipmunks, but they're just too darn cute to take the shot. In fact, I've never taken a chipmunk.

[Mannlicher]

Lets see.....
Recently, meaning the past 5 years, I have taken deer with my Marlin 1894S, in .44 Mag, Weaver 2.5 20mm scope. I like the CCI GDSP 270grain
Remington 742 in .30/06, Bushnell 3 X 9 scope, 150 grain Remington SP
FN Mauser, in 7x57 Ackley, 2 X 7 Pentax, 140gr Sierra Game King
M1A, with Federal Classic 150 grain SP, .308 with iron sights
Mannlicher-Schoenauer rifle in .270, Leupold 2 X 8 scope, 130 grain Federal


The M1A with iron sights seems as good as anything else for taking deer under 100 yards.

[submin]

I use M 700's for deer. Either .30-06 or .25-06 depending on where I’m hunting. When I take an honest look at the eastern Appalachian Mountains terrain and distances I hunt, both rifles are overkill. I’ve never taken a shot over 150 yards due to trees and underbrush. The beauty and accuracy were the selling points of both guns. I just had to have them and don't want to live without them..

By far the most used gun I own is an old 10/22 I use for squirrel hunting. Squirrel and rabbit season starts Oct. 15 and closes January 31 and I take advantage while I can. Deer is two weeks for rifle season so you can see why I choose the 22lr as my favorite hunting gun.

[Tactical]

Trusty Remington 7400 30-06. for big game.
:neener: