Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Hunting out west with a levergun

Hoping to draw an antelope tag in WY this fall. Plan to take my 94 30-30 and possibly my sharps. I know Im limiting myself pretty good, especially being my first trip out there but it will mean more if I do connect. Just thought Id start a thread for ya'll to post up some pics of mulies and elk and antelopes killed with leverguns since Im bored at work today.

2018



2016

When I was a kid my first 2 deer were with a leveraction 30-30. That was in the wide open breaks. They were young deer however and went to longer range guns after that. I have used them after at times, but mostly in timbered areas. Several of my antelope could have been taken with a 30-30 including this years buck. The doe was 250 yards though. The buck was at 90 yards. So it can be done and with the new powders and bullets for the 30-30 the range can be increased. I loaded up some 160g Hornady Flex Tips to try in my 30-30, but have also loaded 170g bullets with Leverevolution powder getting 2330 fps from it. Where I hunt there is the possibility of a cow elk too so want to hedge my bets a bit.

I would not depend on the 30/30. I use a levergun that reaches like a turn bolt. The choices are pretty widespread. That m95 will do in a 30/06, or a Browning BLR, Savage m99. I've this life but bring the 30/30 but us the 30/06, imo.Good Luck

No scope needed if you get close enough:

Scoped 264 Win mag = one at 45 yards
Peep sighted Win 1886 45- 90= ( one at 110 yards and one at 60 yards)
Peep sighted Win 1895 .405 WCF= (ONE AT 20 YARDS, AND ONE AT 50 YARDS)

30-30 IS PLENTY GUN OUT TO 200 YARDS.

You may not be limiting yourself as much as you think. I filled my doe/fawn tag last season with a Winchester 30-30. I've taken a few with iron sighted revolvers. If the terrain where you hunt is broken, and you have the skill, I bet you'll be eating pronghorn;)

Id rather not shoot one than have to shoot one at 400 yds. Went to NM last year for my first western hunt chasing a muzzleloader cow elk. I was comfortable to 200 but closest we got was 290 with fading light. Lit that fire to head west again and chase something I cant find in SC. Doing it the old way appeals to me I guess.

Id love to find me a nice 95 in 30-06 before I go. With a peep id feel pretty confident out to 250 with one if there was good light. The main highlight is I hope to make it to the Cody museum while Im there. I could probably spend two days there.

[spoiler][/spoiler]I hunt antelope with sixguns, no scopes. Makes it fun. Ive killed lots of antelope a 30/30. The 130 Speer is my favorite and they seem to always exit even on mule deer

I have one of the newer tang safety Miroku 95 Winchesters in 30/06 that I would part with. Good solid rifle that someone stripped all the polyurethane finish off of and made it a using rifle.

Where’s Shrapnel?

You guys know this is fake, you cannot kill an animal with a levergun out west and most especially a 30-30

Shoot me some info. Might we interested

I’ll PM you later tonight.

I guess a Sharps is still a lever gun...

I know, some of us live around this and we can experiment a tad. For example, we hunt mountain goats every year and I would like to kill a billy with an iron sighted levergun this year...if it doesn't work out there is always next week- nothing lost
If I were to travel long way to hunt unfamiliar Game , it is different...but that m95/ 30.06 would be the ticket for bull elk, imo.
Y'know, leverguns put a smile on a guys face.

Greetings Comerade,

This bull succumbed to an 180grn RN corelokt out of my Browning 1895 copy in 30/06

2015





It and my original 95 in .35 WCF are two serious go to rifles. The 06 now sports a Providence tool co. Lyman #21 receiver sight copy.

Good morning...I like it!

I can pop a deer at home with a scoped bolt gun for meat. A western trip is about the experience for me and just seeing them and getting somewhat close is good to me. A kill is a bonus and doing it with a levergun, sharps or a hawken would mean that much more.

The OP did say possibly his Sharps too. Looks like you got 'em all rounded up.

Id love to spend a day in Shrapnels gun room.

Rio7 told me his granddad wore out a 95 Winchester! 🤣

Thats a lot of huntin’ and shootin’!

I have my grandfathers 95 in 30-06 made in 1922. He managed a sheep ranch near Lander and Tensleep Wy. Way back in the 20s and 30s I believe. It was carried many miles and according to my mother, was his main hunting rifle for most of his life. He carried it mostly in a saddle scabbard and it really shows the wear but it still shoots, and according to my uncle who passed it on to me, “it shoots a little high and right”. I shot it and verified that.
As an aside, I also have a photograph of my grandpa with a nice muledeer and the rifle taken in Wyoming in 1928. My cousin still has that deer mount on his wall about 30 miles from me.
Take care, Les

I've done 99% of my hunting with a traditional lever gun and have taken antelope with a .25-20, 25-35, .30-30, .45-70 and probably several other calibers if I counted the BLRs. Depending on the terrain, long shots at antelope are not usually necessary. Antelope, in my opinion, are the most fun of all North American big game animals to stalk. I have shot them as close as 30 feet, but 100 yard shots are not uncommon.

Sure! Normally I do hunt with my bolt action, scoped rifles. But... I've hunted successfully with a lever action Marlin, a traditional 50 cal muzzle loader and my 44 mag revolver.

Have only succeeded on small game with my bow, but I'm hoping for elk this coming year.

Yes, even "out west" a fellow can slip up close to game and take them at more modest ranges.

Regards, Guy

Fireball2, that's a mighty purty Savage.

Thanks for sharing the photos!

Guy

Good stories here! Thanks for sharing them!!!

Fun stuff huh Guy? Hey you bear hunting yet? Went out this evening and checked trail cameras, got two cougars but no bears. Too early here by a couple weeks I'd guess. I think you hunt a little lower where you're at.

Beautiful Savage!

I'll have to wait for our fall bear season. The spring season is draw only.

But "fall" bear starts August 1st.

Guy