What gun for carrying on ranch/farm?

texas chase · February 4, 2013, 06:17 PM

I get to spend a weekend here and there on friends ranchs purely for fun/hunting/camping. I'm sure some of you like-minded folds do something similar either daily or on occasion like me. So what do you carry?

Rifle or pistol. I've got some ideas but I'd like to see what others do or ideas you might have. any input is appreciated.

dvdcrr · February 4, 2013, 06:23 PM

Light handy little 223 or 22-250

TIMC · February 4, 2013, 06:26 PM

usually a 1911 on my hip when I'm in the woods for a hadgun. As far as a rifle, that all depends on what I am going to be doing. For varmints it will usually be an AR in 6.5 Grendel or an AR in .308.

wrs840 · February 4, 2013, 06:31 PM

I live on a farm and carry always where legal if I have clothes on.

A S&W M64 3"bbl in a leather Desantis Pancake holster is on my hip during Copperhead season, loaded with 158gr LSWCHP with a couple .38 shotshells in my pocket for the Copperheads. During the winter, it's a S&W 5904 in a Crossbreed Supertuck whether I'm on a tractor or at church. My tractor-cab and pasture truck rifles are beat-up Marlin 336s in 30-30 with Williams peeps.

I'm not advocating any of this as "best" for anybody else, it's just the habit I've fallen into as "best" for me.

Armchair Bronco · February 4, 2013, 06:36 PM

I live in the suburbs, but if I had to spend some time on a ranch or farm, I'd probably retrofit a CZ-452 Scout with a full-sized stock to end up with a deadly accurate .22LR bolty with a 16" barrel. With the adult-sized stock, it would be a CZ-452 Carbine.

Put some 1" Uncle Mike's swivels on it, add a 1" braided leather sling, & top things off with a Weaver 2.5-7x28 scope fitted to 11mm risers/rings and you'll have the perfect little plinker weighing in a little over 5 pounds.

This receiver & barrel...

...paired up with this stock...

ApacheCoTodd · February 4, 2013, 06:42 PM

On our mountain dirt it depends upon what's about and are the dogs in heat.

At least my .357
Though sometimes: FR-8
Mossberg 590
9x23

When my SKS gets right, it'll be the one.

TexasPatriot.308 · February 4, 2013, 07:00 PM

depends what time of year, warm weather .44 mag or .45 colt revolvers with some rat shot for snakes, cast flat nose for hogs and a mini 14 tactical with iron sights. never thought of auto pistols for hunting. winter time at least a .357 mag. revolver and a carbine of any caliber cause we got some thick mesquite, huahilla, white brush etc. that will cut you like a knife here in this part of Texas. dont carry a nice rifle in brush.

Abel · February 4, 2013, 07:53 PM

A Marlin 30-30

WoodchuckAssassin · February 4, 2013, 08:02 PM

Tough to beat a lever gun on a ranch trip. Then again, when ISN'T a 1911 on your hip a good idea?

If you could, a nice revolver/rifle combo with matching ammo would be ideal. You could do this with 45 long colt, 44, 357, or if you're a handloader, 44/40.

Ragnar Danneskjold · February 4, 2013, 08:08 PM

I'm not a revolver guy by any means, but in this case I would say a revolver with at least a few shot shells on your person in case of snakes or other dangerous critters. As for a rifle, a good AR-15 really has become the "modern sporting rifle" and I would pick that just for ease of use and reliability. If you're focusing on hunting however, you might want to scale that up to some form of 7.62x51 rifle depending on what you're hunting. I would use my AR10, but YMMV.

That also might be a tad bit heavy. A good lever gun could be a good choice. In fact, getting a lever gun and a revolver in .45LC might be great for commonality of ammo. Maybe a Taurus Judge with 1 or 2 shot shells and the rest .45 plus the lever action .45LC rifle.

Revoliver · February 4, 2013, 08:12 PM

My 77/357 and GP 100.

Vlad357 · February 4, 2013, 08:25 PM

On my farm I am almost always carrying a .357 686 with a 6 inch barrel , but lately my High Point 9mm cabine had been comming along. It's fun to shoot, accurate, and I don't worry about scratches, mars etc.

Vern Humphrey · February 4, 2013, 08:28 PM

On horseback, back on the ranch, I always had a Winchester Model 94 in the saddle boot -- and shot many a deer, feral dog, etc., with it. Afoot, I'd usually carry either a .22 rifle or pistol. Nowadays, I either carry a .45 Colt revolver most times when I'm in the woods -- either a Ruger Blackhawk or a Colt New Service -- or a .22 pistol, usually my Colt Woodsman.

Liberty1776 · February 4, 2013, 09:39 PM

K-22 usually, or 4" Rossi stainless .357

gotigers · February 4, 2013, 10:08 PM

Win Mod 94 30-30. Light, accurate, fast shooting and hard hitting.

Edit: any good 30-30 lever.

RPRNY · February 4, 2013, 11:00 PM

Our place in VT is no longer a working farm but it's very rural and isolated. We have curious black bear and do not want curious two legged visitors. My 336 Texan in 30-30 is always in reach when we are out and about.

TexasPatriot.308 · February 4, 2013, 11:14 PM

wow a Texan in Vermont....as a Texan, I love Vermont. got couple of friends that have houses up there. probably with the immigration problem, we may have to retreat to Montana or Vermont. and by the way, I am looking to buy a 336 in .30-30 for hogs, that gun is hard to beat and the model 94s are outrageous now.

RPRNY · February 5, 2013, 12:50 AM

TexPat - the Green Mtn state has a little Texas in but unfortunately more and more of it is of the Austin variety ;-)

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=328247276

Found you '66 Texan 30-30. Lord knows what it'll go for in these crazy days. I love a straight grip but they do go at a premium. Keep your eyes out for a Gle.nfield 30. The wood won't be as nice, mainly birch stocks, but they are 336s in all but name. I was down in south central Texas in December hog hunting and I wish I had brought my 30-30. Bolt guns were fine at night over bait but for walking up in the day, 30-30 lever with a cast 190 gr would have been ideal!

Ignition Override · February 5, 2013, 12:57 AM

RPRNY: Quite true.

My brother in law and his wife live just north of Putney. Sadly, she always wore a button with her pres. candidate every time we met in a restaurant. I wanted a button that said "Just visiting this planet".
Last October, visiting a small arts & crafts festival at the nearby college, along with a visit to Brattleboro made me think that I was in either Madison WI or Berkeley CA.

Many people in nearby NH call the people in southern VT "granola bars".

blakec3686 · February 5, 2013, 01:18 AM

I spend a lot of time on grandmas ranch (good sized cattle operation)...if im just putting around the house area (stacking wood an what not) I just wear my 1911...if I need a rifle its really close .Any farther out an I bring my AR15 not really concerned about critters except the 2 legged kind and, after ma and my dad met 2 poachers with a sks I decided a 30-30 lever gun wasn't enough. so yup ar for me but dad prefers grandpas M1 garand

TexasPatriot.308 · February 5, 2013, 01:31 AM

RPRNY, know what you mean bout the Austin people, a world of their own. my 2 friends are small town oil field people and they love Vermont. I aint been there in 40 years, hope yall can keep it as nice as it was back then. looked at the 336 on Gunbroker...that is what a new one is going for now, I hunt South Texas and Central Texas and still love the old lever actions though mainly a bolt action guy with an occasiional AR or M1A.

MtnCreek · February 5, 2013, 08:27 AM

Some type of pistol and sometimes a rifle too. Yesterday I had a G17 on my side and a Rem 66 while checking traps. On weekends, I'll usually have a .357 or .45c on my side. If I'm in a truck, 4-wheeler or cart, I'll have a rifle; usually a Marlin 25n (.22lr), Marlin 25mn (.22mag) or an AR carbine. It really depends on time of year and what I'm doing. Like if I'm running a chainsaw, I'll have a Glock (not many places for sawdust to get in and easy to clean). If it's late winter/early spring and I have babies on the ground, I like to carry a K frame .357 (cause that joker shoots like a rifle... yotes beware...).

Picher · February 5, 2013, 11:10 AM

It's hard to beat an accurized Ruger 10-22, standard barrel weight, stainless, if possible. A semi-auto will often bring down lots of larger pests quicker than a bolt-action .22 mag. Actually, I love my CZ455, .22 mag and carry it instead of my bull-barrelled 10-22, just because it's lighter and adds at least 50 yards to the killing zone for most pests.

The other rifle I carry a lot is a .243 Win, Tikka T3 Lite. I really love that rifle, but if I want to shoot at various items along the way, it gets expensive, especially reloading-time wise. It's my go-to coyote rifle.

For handguns, I find myself carrying my .22LR, Beretta 87 (note that we don't have poisonous snakes in Maine). It's very light and shoots very well, with a good hand-filling grip. For longer shots, I carry a .22LR, Ruger MKII with Bushnell micro red-dot sight. Not as handy, but it fits under my belt fairly well. I've yet to try the old holster I just modified (butchered) to fit the rig.

allaroundhunter · February 5, 2013, 11:23 AM

I carry either an AR or a Mossberg 930 (usually the AR) along with an M&P9. All 3 have killed their share of feral dogs which are the reason that I carry them in the first place.

Sent from my HTC One X

Zeke/PA · February 5, 2013, 01:35 PM

Twas me, I'd take an iron sighted Model 94 in .30 -30 Winchester.
Of course, I'm one of those "old dudes".

February 4, 2013, 06:17 PM	#1
texas chase Member Join Date: September 19, 2006 Location: Central Texas Posts: 305	What gun for carrying on ranch/farm? I get to spend a weekend here and there on friends ranchs purely for fun/hunting/camping. I'm sure some of you like-minded folds do something similar either daily or on occasion like me. So what do you carry? Rifle or pistol. I've got some ideas but I'd like to see what others do or ideas you might have. any input is appreciated.

February 4, 2013, 06:31 PM	#4
wrs840 Member Join Date: October 18, 2008 Location: Brushy Mts, NC, growing feed-crops /BioFuel fodder. Posts: 1,885	I live on a farm and carry always where legal if I have clothes on. A S&W M64 3"bbl in a leather Desantis Pancake holster is on my hip during Copperhead season, loaded with 158gr LSWCHP with a couple .38 shotshells in my pocket for the Copperheads. During the winter, it's a S&W 5904 in a Crossbreed Supertuck whether I'm on a tractor or at church. My tractor-cab and pasture truck rifles are beat-up Marlin 336s in 30-30 with Williams peeps. I'm not advocating any of this as "best" for anybody else, it's just the habit I've fallen into as "best" for me. __________________ NRA Endowment Member. ...Public Service Bulletin: There's a reason they call it the "passing" lane, and not the "riding-right-next-to-somebody" lane.

February 4, 2013, 08:08 PM	#10
Ragnar Danneskjold Member Join Date: February 1, 2007 Location: San Frann Arbor, Michigan Posts: 3,678	I'm not a revolver guy by any means, but in this case I would say a revolver with at least a few shot shells on your person in case of snakes or other dangerous critters. As for a rifle, a good AR-15 really has become the "modern sporting rifle" and I would pick that just for ease of use and reliability. If you're focusing on hunting however, you might want to scale that up to some form of 7.62x51 rifle depending on what you're hunting. I would use my AR10, but YMMV. That also might be a tad bit heavy. A good lever gun could be a good choice. In fact, getting a lever gun and a revolver in .45LC might be great for commonality of ammo. Maybe a Taurus Judge with 1 or 2 shot shells and the rest .45 plus the lever action .45LC rifle. __________________ Don't like police? Move to Somalia. The Democrat party, The Media, and the GOP. Three heads of the same political Cerberus.

February 5, 2013, 12:57 AM	#19
Ignition Override Member Join Date: September 15, 2007 Location: The Mid-South. Posts: 3,486	RPRNY: Quite true. My brother in law and his wife live just north of Putney. Sadly, she always wore a button with her pres. candidate every time we met in a restaurant. I wanted a button that said "Just visiting this planet". Last October, visiting a small arts & crafts festival at the nearby college, along with a visit to Brattleboro made me think that I was in either Madison WI or Berkeley CA. Many people in nearby NH call the people in southern VT "granola bars". Last edited by Ignition Override; February 8, 2013 at 08:32 PM.

February 5, 2013, 08:27 AM	#22
MtnCreek Member Join Date: December 8, 2010 Location: West GA Posts: 2,805	Some type of pistol and sometimes a rifle too. Yesterday I had a G17 on my side and a Rem 66 while checking traps. On weekends, I'll usually have a .357 or .45c on my side. If I'm in a truck, 4-wheeler or cart, I'll have a rifle; usually a Marlin 25n (.22lr), Marlin 25mn (.22mag) or an AR carbine. It really depends on time of year and what I'm doing. Like if I'm running a chainsaw, I'll have a Glock (not many places for sawdust to get in and easy to clean). If it's late winter/early spring and I have babies on the ground, I like to carry a K frame .357 (cause that joker shoots like a rifle... yotes beware...). __________________ Please don’t mistake Free Stuff for Freedom. My dogs are provided everything they need; they are Not Free.

February 4, 2013, 06:23 PM	#2
dvdcrr Member Join Date: November 24, 2012 Posts: 214	Light handy little 223 or 22-250

February 4, 2013, 06:26 PM	#3
TIMC Member Join Date: February 16, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 2,187	usually a 1911 on my hip when I'm in the woods for a hadgun. As far as a rifle, that all depends on what I am going to be doing. For varmints it will usually be an AR in 6.5 Grendel or an AR in .308.

February 4, 2013, 06:36 PM	#5
Armchair Bronco Member Join Date: November 28, 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 227	I live in the suburbs, but if I had to spend some time on a ranch or farm, I'd probably retrofit a CZ-452 Scout with a full-sized stock to end up with a deadly accurate .22LR bolty with a 16" barrel. With the adult-sized stock, it would be a CZ-452 Carbine. Put some 1" Uncle Mike's swivels on it, add a 1" braided leather sling, & top things off with a Weaver 2.5-7x28 scope fitted to 11mm risers/rings and you'll have the perfect little plinker weighing in a little over 5 pounds. This receiver & barrel... ...paired up with this stock...

February 4, 2013, 06:42 PM	#6
ApacheCoTodd Member Join Date: June 30, 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 2,430	On our mountain dirt it depends upon what's about and are the dogs in heat. At least my .357 Though sometimes: FR-8 Mossberg 590 9x23 When my SKS gets right, it'll be the one.

February 4, 2013, 07:00 PM	#7
TexasPatriot.308 Member Join Date: July 9, 2009 Location: Luling Texas Posts: 1,673	depends what time of year, warm weather .44 mag or .45 colt revolvers with some rat shot for snakes, cast flat nose for hogs and a mini 14 tactical with iron sights. never thought of auto pistols for hunting. winter time at least a .357 mag. revolver and a carbine of any caliber cause we got some thick mesquite, huahilla, white brush etc. that will cut you like a knife here in this part of Texas. dont carry a nice rifle in brush.

February 4, 2013, 07:53 PM	#8
Abel Member Join Date: January 30, 2010 Location: Eastern CONUS Posts: 1,795	A Marlin 30-30

February 4, 2013, 08:02 PM	#9
WoodchuckAssassin Member Join Date: April 5, 2012 Location: Lynchburg, VA Posts: 387	Tough to beat a lever gun on a ranch trip. Then again, when ISN'T a 1911 on your hip a good idea? If you could, a nice revolver/rifle combo with matching ammo would be ideal. You could do this with 45 long colt, 44, 357, or if you're a handloader, 44/40.

February 4, 2013, 08:12 PM	#11
Revoliver Member Join Date: September 1, 2012 Location: USofA Posts: 162	My 77/357 and GP 100.

February 4, 2013, 08:25 PM	#12
Vlad357 Member Join Date: November 2, 2009 Posts: 60	On my farm I am almost always carrying a .357 686 with a 6 inch barrel , but lately my High Point 9mm cabine had been comming along. It's fun to shoot, accurate, and I don't worry about scratches, mars etc.

February 4, 2013, 08:28 PM	#13
Vern Humphrey Member Join Date: December 30, 2002 Location: Deep in the Ozarks Posts: 14,812	On horseback, back on the ranch, I always had a Winchester Model 94 in the saddle boot -- and shot many a deer, feral dog, etc., with it. Afoot, I'd usually carry either a .22 rifle or pistol. Nowadays, I either carry a .45 Colt revolver most times when I'm in the woods -- either a Ruger Blackhawk or a Colt New Service -- or a .22 pistol, usually my Colt Woodsman.

February 4, 2013, 09:39 PM	#14
Liberty1776 Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 849	K-22 usually, or 4" Rossi stainless .357

February 4, 2013, 10:08 PM	#15
gotigers Member Join Date: September 1, 2009 Posts: 939	Win Mod 94 30-30. Light, accurate, fast shooting and hard hitting. Edit: any good 30-30 lever.

February 4, 2013, 11:00 PM	#16
RPRNY Member Join Date: March 8, 2012 Location: Westchester Co NY Posts: 665	Our place in VT is no longer a working farm but it's very rural and isolated. We have curious black bear and do not want curious two legged visitors. My 336 Texan in 30-30 is always in reach when we are out and about.

February 4, 2013, 11:14 PM	#17
TexasPatriot.308 Member Join Date: July 9, 2009 Location: Luling Texas Posts: 1,673	wow a Texan in Vermont....as a Texan, I love Vermont. got couple of friends that have houses up there. probably with the immigration problem, we may have to retreat to Montana or Vermont. and by the way, I am looking to buy a 336 in .30-30 for hogs, that gun is hard to beat and the model 94s are outrageous now.

February 5, 2013, 12:50 AM	#18
RPRNY Member Join Date: March 8, 2012 Location: Westchester Co NY Posts: 665	TexPat - the Green Mtn state has a little Texas in but unfortunately more and more of it is of the Austin variety ;-) http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=328247276 Found you '66 Texan 30-30. Lord knows what it'll go for in these crazy days. I love a straight grip but they do go at a premium. Keep your eyes out for a Gle.nfield 30. The wood won't be as nice, mainly birch stocks, but they are 336s in all but name. I was down in south central Texas in December hog hunting and I wish I had brought my 30-30. Bolt guns were fine at night over bait but for walking up in the day, 30-30 lever with a cast 190 gr would have been ideal!

February 5, 2013, 01:18 AM	#20
blakec3686 Member Join Date: April 17, 2004 Location: magic valley, Idaho Posts: 51	I spend a lot of time on grandmas ranch (good sized cattle operation)...if im just putting around the house area (stacking wood an what not) I just wear my 1911...if I need a rifle its really close .Any farther out an I bring my AR15 not really concerned about critters except the 2 legged kind and, after ma and my dad met 2 poachers with a sks I decided a 30-30 lever gun wasn't enough. so yup ar for me but dad prefers grandpas M1 garand

February 5, 2013, 01:31 AM	#21
TexasPatriot.308 Member Join Date: July 9, 2009 Location: Luling Texas Posts: 1,673	RPRNY, know what you mean bout the Austin people, a world of their own. my 2 friends are small town oil field people and they love Vermont. I aint been there in 40 years, hope yall can keep it as nice as it was back then. looked at the 336 on Gunbroker...that is what a new one is going for now, I hunt South Texas and Central Texas and still love the old lever actions though mainly a bolt action guy with an occasiional AR or M1A.

February 5, 2013, 11:10 AM	#23
Picher Member Join Date: November 27, 2003 Location: Maine Posts: 406	It's hard to beat an accurized Ruger 10-22, standard barrel weight, stainless, if possible. A semi-auto will often bring down lots of larger pests quicker than a bolt-action .22 mag. Actually, I love my CZ455, .22 mag and carry it instead of my bull-barrelled 10-22, just because it's lighter and adds at least 50 yards to the killing zone for most pests. The other rifle I carry a lot is a .243 Win, Tikka T3 Lite. I really love that rifle, but if I want to shoot at various items along the way, it gets expensive, especially reloading-time wise. It's my go-to coyote rifle. For handguns, I find myself carrying my .22LR, Beretta 87 (note that we don't have poisonous snakes in Maine). It's very light and shoots very well, with a good hand-filling grip. For longer shots, I carry a .22LR, Ruger MKII with Bushnell micro red-dot sight. Not as handy, but it fits under my belt fairly well. I've yet to try the old holster I just modified (butchered) to fit the rig.

February 5, 2013, 01:35 PM	#25
Zeke/PA Member Join Date: February 24, 2005 Location: Southeastern Pa. Posts: 1,527	Twas me, I'd take an iron sighted Model 94 in .30 -30 Winchester. Of course, I'm one of those "old dudes".