Newbie Needs Help With Deer Rifle

[Robusto]

Hi all,
I am once again turning to the minds of THR for help. I have decided to start deer hunting again. I have not been deer hunting since my grand pa died when I was 14. I still have my Win 94 in 30-30 and will be hunting in the same type of woods (max shot 100ish yd) but I have fallen in love with a friend's Win model 70 Featherweight that I shot. My other option is to buy a 6.5 Grendel upper for my AR (Semi's are OK here). All of the buying options will cost me about the same, and I do like the excuse to buy a new rifle/ upper.

So if you were me, what would you do? Use my 30-30, buy the Win model 70 featherweight in 30-06 or 7mm-08, or get the 6.5 Grendel upper? I fell that using the 30-30 would be like a connection with Grand pa because that is what we hunted with. But I do really love the lines of the Winny, and having another caliber would be nice. The other thing is that I know that the Grendel upper will get the most use after deer season.

So, what would you do and why?

thanks,

FTS

 

[KiltedClaymore]

use the .30-30

leave the "big guns" to us out in the open west. we have to take 200 yard+ shots regularly.

 

[Frog48]

I'd stick with the Winchester 94, its a great gun.

 

[PotatoJudge]

Buy whatever you want- which sounds like the Win 70, and hunt with both. Find a kid (yours, a nephew, neighbor kid, whoever is interested) to take with you and let them use the 30-30. Don't forget to include some decent optics in the price of a new rifle.

 

[nambu1]

The 94 is agreat gun in a brushy area, not too long. But I understand the "want" issue.

 

[Rifleman 173]

Use the 94 for deer hunting but get the 6.5 Grendel for emergencies when a good semi-automatic rifle is needed.

 

[sarduy]

Greeat guns for under 100 yards hunting

and I do like the excuse to buy a new rifle/ upper.

if you want a excuse to buy a new rifle/upper, here's an idea.

get yourself

1. a Mosin Nagant (ammo is very cheap and wolf make soft point for hunting) and they are very cheap.




2. SKS (ammo is very cheap and is about the same as a 30-30) and you can get an AR upper in 7.62x39 or an AK and they use the same ammo



3. Saiga 7.62x39 or a Saiga .308 (this is my saiga .223 but they are the same)

 

[shevrock]

You have to use soft point to hunt?


EDIT: Is that the original stock for your mosin?

 

[sarduy]

not really, but they work better, with more stopping power than FMJ

 

[KiltedClaymore]

You have to use soft point to hunt?

here you do. i think you do most places. best to call local game and fish

 

[shevrock]

I still need to do a hunters safety course.

 

[critter]

You just really need to hunt with that old 30-30 till you take a deer with it to keep family tradition alive.

Then you can go out and buy yourself a gun like you really want.

 

[tinygnat219]

If you feel like you need some long range stuff, grab some Hornady LeverEvolution 30-30. It's some good stuff.

 

[Omaney]

Use the 30-30. Invest the money saved in some warm socks, good boots, and a really good set of Under Armor cold gear.

 

[Jason M]

not really, but they work better, with more stopping power than FMJ

"Stopping power" Bah. Sorry to bust your chops, but I hate that term.

But he is right you do not have to hunt with soft points, but they expand some in flight and them expand enormously upon impact. Since they expand to about twice the original diameter and they hit the animal at supersonic speeds (usually) they have better wound potential than an FMJ. An FMJ and a SP bullet that weigh 180 grains flying at 2500 fps both have the same energy ("stopping power"), but the SP is far more devistating to flesh.

And I thin an M44 Mosin Nagant carbine may be right up your alley if you like a shorter gun like a lever action. Also, it is a little heavier and longer, but a K31 would make a sweeeeeeeeet mil surp deer rifle.

-Jason

 

[jimmyraythomason]

When in Doubt....

Broaden your hunting potential,do all three! You never know when an opportunity to hunt a different locale, requiring something more than the .30-30,may present itself.

 

[woof]

It cracks me up how people on THR spend lots of time musing over what would be the best all around rifle and which you would have if you could only have one. Then they want a variety of rifles and chamberings way beyond anything they could ever "need." LOL I do the same thing. The point is, you don't have to justify buying a rifle with needing it or because it is better at a certain job.

Sometimes I also fall in love with a certain rifle but after having it awhile I'm sort of done with it. I'm glad I had it though. If I made a good buy having had it won't cost me too much and was well worth it. So I move on to something else. Along the way some stick and become permanent residents. The older you get the larger that number becomes so it's a good thing you had that revolving door.

 

[Drgong]

your 30-30 will suffice, and is a nice rifle.

Of course, if you want something new, there is a world of nice firearms out there. When I bought my hunting rifle I decided on 6.5 x 55 and then bought the rifle to match. However there are many good hunting rifles out there that will take a lot of game. I would recommend to use non-FMJ as it is generally thought to be better for quick kills of game.

 

[Robusto]

Thanks Guys

Thanks for all the thoughts. Another concern is that I can't put a scope on the '94... well I guess that I could, but I really don't want to.

 

[ctgmi]

I can’t believe this should even be contemplated. That .30-30 is perfect for Deer let alone is was your grand pa’s.
But go ahead a buy what you want just make sure that you take that Winchester in the woods this fall.

I personally have several options beside my grand pa’s Marlin 336 or my father in-law’s Ruger .44 carbine. But these are the only two I even think about hunting deer with.

 

[ctgmi]

FYI, about you scope comment. I would recommend a receiver mounted peep site.

 

[Art Eatman]

I"m a bolt-action guy and a handloader. So, as long as a fella has the "I wants" for something different, in this case I'd go with the Model 70 in 7mm08. In my 700 Ti, factory loads shoot just as tight as my handloads, and to the same point of impact.

 

[woof]

I have my grandfather's Savage 99 and the Marlin 336 I grew up with. I need another deer rifle like another hole in the head. But that doesn't stop me from buying a cz carbine in x39 just because I love it. I look at it this way - if I'm ever attacked by whitetail deer, you know - a home invasion kind of thing, I'll be ready. I'm even thinking of adding a Ruger Ranch in 6.8 - more firepower for the whitetail zombies from hell!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

But he is right you do not have to hunt with soft points, but they expand some in flight and them expand enormously upon impact.

In most states, he is wrong. FMJ ammunitoion is usually illegal for hunting.

And soft point ammunition does not expand in flight -- only on impact.

 

[jasonguerard]

I wish I still had my grandfathers guns.
Don't ever sell it, once it's gone it can never be replaced.