Hunting and rifle questions

Take the 30-30. The others are too damn heavy to lug around.

Depends.

What kind of deer hunting? Stand? Brush?

I reject the weight comment favoring a 30-30 until we know that.

I'd hate to try to count how many deer I have taken with a Remington 700 in 30-06. I have used one for 20 years and I never considered it heavy.

Now I hunt with a LR-308 which is similar in weight (or more) than an M1A. For stand hunting, I don't worry about the weight, and it doesn't bother me.

I've nothing against a 30-30, but I am not going to recommend that unless that is your preference. Somehow I've managed to hunt thirty years without ever using a 30-30 or feeling disadvantaged for it.


By the way... I am only 5'7" and weigh 165 lbs. I work behind a desk. The 700 isn't too heavy.


-- John

Since it's a one day affair use the Remington you already have. If you find that you like hunting then look to get a rifle that would suit you better if the Remington doesn't fill the bill for you.

Use the Remington.

Personal choice for you since we don't know your age, physical conditioning, shooting ability, hunting style or the terrain in your particular hunting area. All are outstanding guns and you don't need an excuse to buy a 30-30, its a good buy regardless of your hunting style.

Just personal preference in my old age I like carrying a lever action in deep woods but when I was younger I carried a Mauser, or a M1, also hunted with 12 gauge, 348, 308 and 300 WBY Magnum. Mostly I use a single shot 308 because it fits my area and style. Earlier choices for me were dictated by my hunting areas of desert, mountains, plains, corn fields and heavily wooded ridges. Now I hunt dry oak savanna from a stand.

My recommendation for you would be to use the one that tickles your giggle the most when you have it in your hands. Experience in the woods and success or lack of it will dictate your choice next time around. As you have noticed there is no single right choice. The one that feels right and the one you want to shoot is going to be the right one. My only caveat is use enough bullet and personal prejudice on my part rules out the varmint rounds.

Stick with the Remington you already have. The 700 in .308 is a fine deer-getter. I certainly wouldn't buy a 336 for one day of hunting ... unless that's just an excuse to buy another firearm. So, if someone else in your life is asking for justification, you can quote me:

"By all means buy the Marlin. It is an absolute must for deer hunting. More deer have been taken by the .30-30 than any other single cartridge in the history of hunting with firearms. To fully enjoy your limited time in the field, you really need a "traditional" woods gun."

There you go; that should do it!

I'd hate to try to count how many deer I have taken with a Remington 700 in 30-06. I have used one for 20 years and I never considered it heavy.

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Exactly. When it comes to getting more bang-for-the-buck, the Rem 700 is the State-Of-the-Art

And when it comes to caliber, 30-06 is the most utilitarian caliber.

A 150 Grain bullet will take down deer, and a 180 grain bullet will take Elk etc.

30-30 has distance limits that are not an issue with the Rem 700. I've got a 30-06 Ruger M77 Mark II, and I shoot real good with a scope out to 200 meters. I'd take a Rem 700 anyday, even though the Ruger does a good job.

/

STOP! Check your laws, I thought Michigan only allowed slugs.

Also check when the firearms season is. Now might be bow or muzzle-loader season.

I'm 5' 7" and 140 lbs and I have no problem luggin' a Browning A-bolt .30-06 all over the mountains. I'm a still hunter and tracker. I do love my .30 WCF M94 though...

STOP! Check your laws, I thought Michigan only allowed slugs.

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Depends on where you are:
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10363_10913-31537--,00.html
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10366_37141_37706-31578--,00.html

I'd say go with what ever you are most accurate with.

Never Pass Up The Opurtunity To Buy A New Rifle

well, if you get a 30-30, buy the Hornady levereveloution cartridges for it! they will drasticly improve the balistics of this rifle! makes it an honest 300 yard gun instead of the old "brush gun" catagory. but, the 308 will have considerably more power than the 30-30 ever will, or could. if you are hunting north of the middle of mid michigan (roughly) it is rifle country. only the lower 1/2 of the lower peninsula in michigan is shotgun only. and if you are going to buy a new marlin rifle, why buy the 30-30 xlr when you could buy the xlr in 308 marlin express. almost the same balistics of the 308 in a lever gun. with that said, (being a marlin lever gun x 2 and a remington 700 owner), there is abosloutly NOTHING wrong with the remington! they are great rifles, and to be honest, the remingtons trigger is much better than the marlins. just forget the M1a!

If it was me, I would go with a Rem model 7 CDL or XCR in a .308 Win with a 2x7 or 2x8 scope. Why? Well a rigged out Model 7 will weigh in 2 to 3 pounds less than the M1A or Model 700 VSF. Model 7 has 20” barrel and much easier to maneuver with in the deep woods, shooting house or tree stand.
Why a Model 7 .308 Win over a Marlin 336 XLR .30-30? The .308 Win is more versatile than the .30-30 and has shorter barrel the XLR.

You might want to look at a Browning BLR in a .308 Win. I would also stay away from a Marlin .308 Express cartridge because I don’t think it will be around long.

But get what ever suits you.


The Ol’ Man said, “Son, don’t brag to me about the long shot you made! Brag to me about how close you got!”

Cole K: Is that a fake sig that you type in every time you post? If so, save yourself the trouble and set it up in your profile.

For just a one day hunt?

Use the Remington 700 VSF in 308 this year. Then later on if you feel it isn't exactly what you want, you can get something else and have the time to get used to it.

I'm going White tail hunting for the first time in Michigan. It's only going to be for one day. What rifle do you guys think would be the most enjoyable to hopefully take a deer with.

M1A
Remington 700 VSF in 308
or should I buy a Marlin 336 XLR in 30-30

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This is a no-brainer...you have a legitimate excuse to go out and buy another rifle! Do it!!
'Sides, it'll be lighter than the others!
35W

If you want another inexpensive option...


http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=113869818

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=113869817

I would use the .308 Remington. The 30-30 is a great round, but it does have range limitations.

Another option would be to get a muzzleloader, which you can use anywhere in the state during gun season, and also gives you the option of hunting the black powder season.