a gun for the woods

The .30-30, can't believe you asked. I know the .223 fans will start raving about the 75 gr bullet but no thanks, I'll take the .30-30.

Kind of seems the exact, perfect, precise scenario for which a lever-action .30-30 was designed.

Marlin in 30-30. If you shoot a black bear with a 30carbine round, you will just tick it off. A 223 will also tick it off, but be bloodier. You might want to consider an SKS, which uses a round similar to the 30-30, but it is semiautomatic.

.30-30 without question. Have three of them but typically opt for a .44Mag instead. Hard to even find a place around here where you can see much more than 100yds in the woods. The .44 is more pleasant to shoot and one load takes care of rifle and sixgun.

Like others, I would not hesitate to bring that 336 along.

Edit: The 30-30 for sure.

30-30

joed said:

The .30-30, can't believe you asked. I know the .223 fans will start raving about the 75 gr bullet but no thanks, I'll take the .30-30.

Click to expand...

You took the works right out of my mouth! lol

DM

I'd feel quite well armed with my 336 30-30. My 94 Win from the sixties in 44 mag would be a little handier and lighter.

When I hear "woods" and "gun" in the same sentence, I think a lever gun.

From the ones you indicated, .30-30 without a doubt.



The .44 would be good as well as mentioned by another poster.

30-30 for all.. except the cougar.. A bottle of white wine, perhaps some smokes...

.444 should do it

I'd carry the lightest one possible. Just saying.

Just to be different...... Ruger Mini-30, 7.62x39, but US built, or a .30-30

45-90 sharps

Take the 30-30 and pick up two boxes of Hornady Leverevolution ammo. Sight it in at 100yds, shoot out to 200, yds easy.

blindhari

.30-30 ! Washington law requires .24 caliber or larger for big game, with cougar being the exception, .22 centerfire or bigger!( .22 hornet, .223, 22-250, .222 mag etc..)
Carbine would be a little light IMO

except the cougar.. A bottle of white wine, perhaps some smokes...

Click to expand...

......I get it, lol
oh and ditto on the .30-30, unless you have a carbine to match your sidearm.

What decides the issue is whether a season is in effect, and a license involved.

To scout in MO, it's likely bow season, which starts Sept. 15. Hence the issue - a handgun and no license is not going to be what you should have "scouting." No weapon and a pair of binoculars would fly if - and it's not likely - but if you stumble into a Conservation Agent. We have our share, and they get around.

We have most of the same game, bear isn't uncommon, neither is cougar now, most are very shy. If you did see one, you'd be in some unmolested terrain for sure. They are there year round.

What is also a problem is out of season hunting - simply labeled "poaching" in court. Having the appropriate firearm and license for the game allowed on the calendar will likely be the better answer. Often, that's a shotgun for birds, or a .22 for small game.

Lever? Why not an AR15 or AK? I don't think it's going to make much difference, we see them recommended as medium game rifles all the time. The cartridges perform under similar conditions.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/76635-1.html 30-30 no one will pay attention to.

...a handgun and no license is not going to be what you should have "scouting."

Click to expand...

Sorry but I don't venture into the woods without a sidearm and simply being in the woods with a firearm does not constitute hunting. I'm in the woods year round, always with a firearm but only hunting when something is in season.

Why not an AR15 or AK?

Click to expand...

Not everybody wants to hunt with an automatic.

dprice3844444 said:

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/76635-1.html 30-30 no one will pay attention to.

Click to expand...

Oh that's kinda hot. Just saying

I bought my R92 in .454 as a multi purpose bush gun. Lighter + higher capacity than your average 30-30. The caliber is potent enough for most game in North America and i can revert to .45 long for anything that doesn't need a sledgehammer to kill or plinking. Just an alternative for you; albeit a harder to obtain alternative. The ammo will be a tad more expensive as well for both .45 long and casull.