Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Cheap Rifles and expensive scopes

I believe you have been safe. I recommend it and the 2-7x35.

Here all this time I thought it was the goal post.

It's pretty hilly country, it's located in the Knobs area that surrounds Greater Louisville. Louisville sits in a basin, and those hills block a lot of bad weather from ever getting there.

That bad weather splits around those hills, and hits here, and about 30 miles north of Louisville. We got 25 inches of snow a couple winters ago, and Louisville got about 5". Laconia got less, but enough to make it hard to get around. Harrison County doesn't have much of a tax base.

I'm not rich but I do buy the best glass I can afford. My scopes may seem cheap to some but they are what they are.

Ain't that (both) the truth!! (not a question)



Jerry

I have an open sighted 336 .30-30 myself. I much prefer a scoped bolt gun even in the woods.

Why is that ? I've shot a ton of deer with both and can't see a damn bit of advantage to the bolt guns for deer in the woods. Put a good trigger on a 336 or 94 AE { work the sear/hammer notch depth and angles if neccesary} and scope it if so desired. Theyre're plenty accurate, flat shooting and powerful enough for any range you'll encounter in the woods. They carry better in the hand than any fat bolt gun, regardless of the weight {my 94 carries better than my 5 lb Marlin single shot bolt action 22} and with a full mag tube they balance better for offhand shooting than most lightweight bolt actions. What's not to like ? I DEFINITELY prefer to carry mine in the woods for deer over my Ruger 77 Hawkeye .30-06, my Tikka 595 .243 or my Weatherby Vanguard .308.. Those all usually stay home while my 336 or 94's are out slaying bucks.

Because no matter where I hunt the opportunity always exists for a longer shot. Whether it's a field, a pipeline, a logging road, or hillside to hillside at a ravine, I'm never in a guaranteed sub 150 yard situation.

I can understand that to a degree. I don't have that problem here as there are no fields or pipelines where I hunt. Even if there were it wouldn't bother me much. Back when I hunted farmland I killed a bunch of deer between 200 and 300 yards with my .30-30's and it worked fine every time. I even killed one at 314 long paces with my 94 and it's iron sights. One shot, one kilL. They can do alot more than most people think if the shooter is up to it.

I used to win bets hitting a rock at 400 yards with my old 1894 Winchester rifle circa 1902 that I used to kill my first deer, it is faster than a bolt gun without question but not the right tool for me anymore. I'll stick tho a scoped rifle and would probably go semi-auto before lever these days.

My Marlin .30-30 has a 16" barrel so I don't think I'll effectively reach out beyond 150. It still sees plenty of use.

I dont mean to suggest that old 30-30 was a 400 yard hunting rifle although it was easily good to 200 with that full length barrel. The losing bettors didn't realize I had shot that same rock dozens of times and knew right where to hold.

I killed an 8 point buck at 200 yards in 2004 with an iron sighted 30-30 Marlin with 20" barrel. I know you can stretch the round at least that far.

I think the Marlin X7 was the finest of these budget guns and I'm dumbfounded as to why it was discontinued. I had one in .270 and carried it for a full season. No complaints. They were good looking too.

I'm sure it's discontinued because Remington has the 710/770/783 and they seem to have Marlin just making lever actions when it comes to centerfires.

Try shooting at an animal that's in the shade while you are in the light. I've seen the results with irons on paper, it ain't pretty. A shot like that with a scope is no problem.

I've been killing all kinds of game with irons for 45 years. If you think I havent shot anything that was in the shade while I was in the light, I've got a bridge I'd like to sell. Right now, with my ageing eyesight I can still shoot 2" groups at 100 yards with my 94 and it's iron sights. I'd be comfortable to 200 yards on a deer in the open with it and based on shooting a bunch of them with it as recently as this summer, woodchucks are no problem to at least 125 yards.

I've taken our small whitetails out almost to 300 wiht a 16 inch contender in 30-30... its fine power wise.