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Son-in-law asked me by email what the best straight-wall cartridge for Iowa is, now that they are legal as opposed to shotgun and handgun only.. He doesn't handload - at least not yet. I suggested the .450 Bushmaster in the Ruger American, a Marlin (a real one, not a Remlin) in .444 Marlin or a .45-70 (again in a real Marlin or one of the newest ones but definitely not one of the early Remlins) or a 45-70 in a Ruger #1.
I also suggested my .375 Win would be a great option. Had it at the range yesterday and was blasting clay pigeons at 300 yards at will and pinging the steel at 500. Couple of problems with the .375, though. First, while bullets are available from Sierra and Les Volmer, the now discontinued Hornady 220g shot best in my rifle. The Speer 235g also work pretty well but as I recall from early experiments, they require special load considerations. Fortunately I have about 600 bullets on hand and hundreds of cases. Second, I paid $350 for my Marlin 375 and really like the rifle. With the Wild West Guns 'Happy Trigger', Warne WD rings, Leupold scope and Williams Firesights, I probably have $700 wrapped up in it. Saw a plain Marlin 375 on gunbroker yesterday, $1400 minimum bid, $1600 'Buy now'. Told my son-in-law he was SOL on the.375.
Curious what people here would recommend?
Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!
No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.
A good .30-06 is a 99% solution.
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If it were me I'd probably run a 45-70 with a 300 around 2200.. With a decent zero it'll shoot to 200 without much trouble. If you have a reticle that you can holdover with I'd take it to 300, with dialing it being my preferred way of getting it done.
My partner has a Ruger 45-90... I think that might be pretty cool too with pointed bullets.
Semper Fi
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It sounds like you covered it pretty well. -Jake
Small Game, Deer, Turkey, Bear, Elk....It's what's for dinner.
If you know how many guns you own... you don't own enough.
In God We Trust.
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I'd probably get a .38-55.
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I use .444 in Ohio. But most there seem to be leaning to 45-70.
Life can be rough on us dreamers.
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I have to admit - having the .375 just whetted my appetite for a .45-70. So now I have both, plus a .30-30. Damnn rabbits... The .45-70 did a nice job on a 6x6 bull elk at 213 lasered yards. The day before I took a mulie buck with it at 197. My hunting load is down 22" at 300 but prints softball-sized groups at that range. Talked to my son-in-law last night and think he is leaning .45-70. Would not be surprised (and more than a little jealous) if he chooses a Ruger #1 instead of a Marlin. A #1 is on my wish list.
Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!
No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.
A good .30-06 is a 99% solution.
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I thought the same thing about the 375 Win, wanting to buy a barrel for the Encore. WTB: 375 Winchester barrelFinding the only likely option was a custom barrel (for 375).....then checked into the 460 S&W for an Encore barrel. Around 2900 fps for a 200 grain Hornady bullet. 460 S&W Encore 20 inchThe guy was resting his barrel directly on the sandbag.....no-no for group, fine for chrono only. Anyway, after pricing the 460 S&W stainless barrels at over $300, settled on a $425 Ruger American Ranch in 450 Bushmaster. .450BM shoots .452 bullets......same diameter as the 460 S&W. Most factory loads for the 450BM are 225-260 grains (at around 2200-2300 fps). Would be interesting to see what a handloaded Hornady 200 grain FTX would do for muzzle velocity. I also suggested my .375 Win would be a great option. Had it at the range yesterday and was blasting clay pigeons at 300 yards at will and pinging the steel at 500.
"Those that think they know everything are annoying those of us that have Google." - Dr. D. Edward Wilkinson
Note to self: Never ask an old Fogey how he is doing today. Revised note to self: Keep it short when someone asks how I am doing.
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I've killed a good many with the 38-55 and it has never let me or other friends down. Wonderful round. I shoot Buffalo Bore ammo.
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$250-275 or so and an old beat up Marlin 30-30 will get you a freshly rebored 38-55 from JES Reboring in Oregon. Sure can't complain about mine, seems to shoot great with about anything I feed it. 2 week or less turn around doesn't suck either. Handloading just about required though. Cases available from Starrline, plenty of places offer cast bullets if you don't cast your own, RCBS Cowboy dies.
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With these changes in the regs, I wouldn't be surprised to see bullet makers bring back a few of the old favorites.
Okie John
If Montana had a standing army, a 270 Win with Federal Blue Box 130's would be the standard issue.
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The 38-55 is not an option. The regulations specify a list of cartridges that does not include the 38-55. There is a catch all category: "Center-fired straight-walled rimmed cartridges chambered for handgun use with bullets from 0.357” to 0.500” diameter with a case length from 1.285” to 1.800." It doesn't appear the 38-55 will fit this criteria. No logic to this as the 375 Winchester is allowed but it is what it is.
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444 or the 45-70, both are hard hitting rounds and ammo is no problem with either.
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So far the likely candidates are:
450 Bushmaster / Ruger American Ranch, Gunsite Scout or #1; or an AR15 444 Marlin / Marlin 45-70 /Marlin or Ruger #1 or #3
Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!
No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.
A good .30-06 is a 99% solution.
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Get several. lol I was set on using a pair I picked up here, an 1886 Winchester in 45/70 or an older 1894 in 45 colt but thought that a bolt gun might be the ticket for open fields so just ordered the 450 ruger American from buds. Variety my friends
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We're trying a Ruger 'American' with a Leupold 'American' Marksman scope. Get several. lol I was set on using a pair I picked up here, an 1886 Winchester in 45/70 or an older 1894 in 45 colt but thought that a bolt gun might be the ticket for open fields so just ordered the 450 ruger American from buds. Variety my friends
"Those that think they know everything are annoying those of us that have Google." - Dr. D. Edward Wilkinson
Note to self: Never ask an old Fogey how he is doing today. Revised note to self: Keep it short when someone asks how I am doing.
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I'd probably get a .38-55. ? ? ? Aside from being 'disqualified' by Iowa game laws-- as listed on P 1 of this thread. This snipit from Deer Hunting Forum --- Pumps & Deer Hunting -- Whelen Nut used a 38-55 in either 2015 or 2016 for deer in Kansas, the following is Cut/Copied/Pasted for reference. Originally Posted by BobinNH Yeah Paul the 38-55 kills them.....sort of. grin It's better than a spear. smile Yup better than a spear grin But as a famous gunwriter once said, 'it's the bullet, not the headstamp' that kills the critter. I should have used a soft lead bullet instead of hard cast. Made for a long tracking job. mad Live and learn! So have you decided which thunder stick you are going to bring this year? end quote Jerry
jwall- *** 3100 guy***
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I'd probably get a .38-55. ? ? ? Aside from being 'disqualified' by Iowa game laws-- as listed on P 1 of this thread. This snipit from Deer Hunting Forum --- Pumps & Deer Hunting -- Whelen Nut used a 38-55 in either 2015 or 2016 for deer in Kansas, the following is Cut/Copied/Pasted for reference. Originally Posted by BobinNH Yeah Paul the 38-55 kills them.....sort of. grin It's better than a spear. smile Yup better than a spear grin But as a famous gunwriter once said, 'it's the bullet, not the headstamp' that kills the critter. I should have used a soft lead bullet instead of hard cast. Made for a long tracking job. mad Live and learn! So have you decided which thunder stick you are going to bring this year? end quote Jerry So the .375 Win is OK but the .38-55 is not legal? They're the same thing. And the .38-55 enjoyed a great reputation among hunters. Read some of the old books and articles. I can't help that one guy used the wrong bullet.
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... So the .375 Win is OK but the .38-55 is not legal? They're the same thing. And the .38-55 enjoyed a great reputation among hunters. Read some of the old books and articles. I can't help that one guy used the wrong bullet.
Yup, that's the way the regs read. Not the same thing, but close.
Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!
No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.
A good .30-06 is a 99% solution.
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