a gun for the woods

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Now that I've had time to think it over, I change my choice to my old 92 Winchester that little brother and I had converted to 357 magnum waaaaay back in the 60s.
 
If your just scouting why are you carrying a gun anyhow? I live in SW Washington and do a lot of scouting and never carry a gun. I do however carry my longbow for some impromptu stump shooting. I don't understand carrying any extra weight. FRJ
 
My Marlin 336 in 30-30 would be a good rifle for scouting. But I would have to take my CZ 527 carbine in 7.62x39mm. It's lighter, shorter and more accurate.
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scouting

when miles from nowhere, it's always sensible to have some sort of protection from predators(2 or 4 legged). I live in western WA, and always carry, when scoutin, river fishin, campin, whatever?
 
Is the OP asking for a purely defensive weapon to carry while woods loafing?

If so, M1 carbine. Because its the least obtrusive of the given choices. If it was me, I would leave the pistol at home and carry a ham-on-rye sammitch instead.

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BP Hunter said:
If you were to go in an area to scout for hunting deer and/or black bear, aside from carrying a sidearm, what of the following rifles would you bring - M1 carbine, Min1 14 in .223 or a MArlin 336 in 30-30? My area is SE Washington, lots of hills and maybe some woods. Deer, black bear, coyote and maybe an occasional cougar are seen.
There's on one rifle for this job....... .308win Ruger Gunsite Scout :D

http://www.ruger.com/products/gunsiteScoutRifle/models.html

Okay...The CZ527 Carbine would be awesome too.....but 5 rounds of 7.62x39 vs. 10 rounds of .308win :scrutiny:
 
I do not hunt, but I know that this is what you want:
Model 70 FWT in .270 Win.:

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I don't understand carrying any extra weight.
I can't understand NOT carrying a little extra weight. Then again, I've been in the woods way too many times and come across copperheads and rattlesnakes to wander around out there without something. Not to even mention potentially running into somebody's weed patch or crystal meth "facility". Lots and lots and lots of reasons to carry one. Zero not to. If you can't spend the day with two extra pounds on your hip, you should probably take up knitting.
 
I can't understand NOT carrying a little extra weight. Then again, I've been in the woods way too many times and come across copperheads and rattlesnakes to wander around out there without something. Not to even mention potentially running into somebody's weed patch or crystal meth "facility". Lots and lots and lots of reasons to carry one. Zero not to. If you can't spend the day with two extra pounds on your hip, you should probably take up knitting.
Exactly
 
I'll follow the herd and go with the 30-30.

But personally, I'd carry these two.

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Marlin 39 Century

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.45 colt Blackhawk.
 
Of the OP's listed options, without question the .30-30 lever.

However, in light of my own experience hunting the woods (Russian boar) at about 30 feet, I too would encourage considering either the Marlin chambered in .444 Marlin, or a Marlin chambered in .45-70 Gov't. I've used both of these cartridges in an Encore pistol (15" barrel). Never needed more than 1 shot. Those chamberings actually dropped both boar faster than my Sig-Sauer 202 Safari chambered in .375 H&H Mag dropped a boar at 100 yards. Given that bear might be on the agenda, bigger is better than not quite big enough.

JMHO,

Geno
 
Personally, I never hike nor hunt nor scout nor camp without a pistol on my belt. I usually use a .357, because of the balance of weight and capability of the cartridge. Perfect for where I live. 9mm is second string, but the closer I am to the border, the more it gets considered as a legitimate alternative to the .357 due to capacity.

The pistol goes with me regardless of whether I'm hunting with a shotgun, rifle, or .22 pistol - yes, sometimes I hunt small game with a .22 pistol. Even then, a serious pistol is still riding on my hip.

For just scouting, I almost always leave the heavier long guns at home. If I want to plink or possibly shoot a rabbit, I take along a .22 of some description. I have friends who routinely hike with an AR or .30-30 when not hunting for protection. I don't question their decision, but I don't follow suit. .357 or full-sized 9mm, depending on where I am, suffice for protection needs. I haven't gone stump shooting with a bow in far too long, though. Hmmm. Maybe next weekend, I'll have to think about doing some of that.
 
Take your Marlin. You and I will be the only ones in Washington with lever 30-30s! :confused:

For some reason, about 40 years ago, all western deer, elk, bear, coyotes, etc., etc. became too big and too far away for the lowly 30-30. :rolleyes:
 
For some reason, about 40 years ago, all western deer, elk, bear, coyotes, etc., etc. became too big and too far away for the lowly 30-30.

I knew it! They started taking steroids, didn't they?! Sneaky indeed. :D

Geno
 
While we have some black bear in my part of Georgia, they are so rare that I'm not concerned about having a "bear grade" firearm whenever I'm in the woods.

If I am scouting before deer season, I almost always only have a pistol, usually my G19, but .22 pistols and my 10mm get some carry time as well.

If I'm scouting for deer during small game season, I'll probably just carry a .22 or shotgun.

If I'm scouting for deer during deer season..... I'm not scouting at all, its go time, so I'll have the '06 or 270 with me, in addition to a pistol.
 
Although I occasionaly take an AR afield, I almost always take a .30-30 in preference to an AR when camping and traveling across the West.
 
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