Having way more centerfire rifles than I "need", each season I pick out between 6-10 or so rifles that I want to carry. Some are trusted old companions, some are recent additions. Some I've had for years and have just never killed anything with them. There are several in my safe that I don't consider "deer rifles" but still want to kill a deer with them. Two that come to mind are a Marlin .25-20 that I've had for years and a Marlin 62 .30 Carbine. I'd really like to bust a doe or two with them. I have a couple spots in mind for ground blinds where I wouldn't have to shoot past 50 yards and would only take sure lung shots. I'm thinking the 75 gr Speer loaded fast (around 2000 fps) would suffice in the .25-20, and the .30 shoots the Hornady 110 gr FTX very well. You got any "stunt shooting" planned this year?

Both of yours will work. Im sure I'll be doing some stunt shooting...but I will also be taking my "big" gun afield...a .243

Yup,gonna take a .270 Winchester for deer this year.

We'll pray for you...

Thanks,I need all the help I can get.

I always end up coming back to the guns that got me there. My beloved old 99, which I bought off one of the original members of our deer camp. My other go to gun is my dad's 98 Mauser. A little heavy, but scary accurate. This year, i'm looking to change things up a bit. I've never killed a deer with a 30-30, and am looking forward to picking up an older Marlin to play with. I also bought a Winchester Model 70 in .270 Win. that will see some time afield this fall. That 25-20 sounds interesting. I'm still kicking myself for selling the Marlin I'd bought. I'd pick up something in a 25-35 if the right gun ever came along too.

I haven't ever killed a deer with the 30-30, 243, or 223. I hope to remedy that this season. I also have a 9 twist 22-250 that really likes the 65gr SGK. I hope to try it out, too. I'm sure my Swift will make it out of the safe for a few hunts.

If you are going to pop a deer with the .25-20, I'd suggest you use the standard 86 gr. soft point. They don't expand as fast as the 75 gr. Speer. They can be pushed as much as 1800 fps. E

Absolutely not.

What you guys are discussing isn't ethical.

I would agree with this. Also, I have driven the 75 grain Speer fast out of my .25-20 and accuracy suck. The 86 grain Remington soft points at the usual velocities are more accurate and will penetrate better.

I wouldn't hesitate to take my .25-20 or .30 carbine deer hunting. I would probably be way more choosy about what shots I took than I would if I were using a regular deer caliber, say a .223 or something similar.

A fellow I worked with years ago used to hunt deer with a .30 carbine. He always wondered why everybody at the shop got so worked up over the idea.

Salute'


Jerry

Not this year. Plan on using my 375 H&H and 9.3x64.

But if I was, it would be with a 22-250 or 222 fast twist and 55-62gr GMX or T/TSX.

My two older sons killed their first deer with a Winchester 30 Carbine using the 110 gr Rem softpoint. I am thinking of giving my 32-20 a go on a hog.

I went the other way and used a 70grn Sierra when I took a deer with the 25-20. That was the most reliable bullet for expansion at those velocities, and it did exit. I filed off the plastic tips of the bullet even with the tip of the jacket so the COL would work cycling the action. I wasn't happy with the 75grn Speer, good accuracy but practically no expansion. The 86grn Rem bullet was tough to find, so I don't have much experience with it.

I'll tote a .223 and a .357 mag Smith & Wesson while hunting the home place this year. I've carried a 357 carbine while deer hunting, but never shot one with a pistol. I'm hoping I can make it happen this year.

Every Year, about this time (waiting for the draw results to come in for the fall hunts) I get that 'itch' for what old guns I have in the safe that need to be taken out and hunted with, in the past I have taken some vintage guns like- .25-35 WCF, .32-40 WCF, a rolling block in .45-70, and 30-40 Krag out, cast bullets, worked up/ loaded ammo, and done some target shooting.

It's always great to do some daydreaming and nostalgic reminicing of the days when these were the premier game rifles of the day, usually when the hunt comes I take one, but also take a 'serious' scoped rifle too- it is humbling at times when you pass a lot of 'easy' shots in deference to open sights, or just feel uncomfortable with the shot presented.

I just wish more opportunity was available to go and see more animals in a better circumstance than today's short seasons,and lottery tag draws, allow, some years for Utah you can come up totally empty handed for tags, and sometimes the season that you do draw is a crowed and busy one, hard to kick back on a sidehill and wait for the perfect opportunity with one of those old guns to walk by

This year I have been working up some loads for my Dad's Winchester model 70 in .270 win, so it won't be quite as challenging.

Good luck with the .25-20, I'm rooting for ya, Desert shooter

This fall gonna take out my M1 Garand for a AZ coyote hunt.

I've got some 87 grain Berger VLDs I might use in my big gun.

Mathman, those 87 gr VLD are devastating on deer out of my big gun!

I'm thinking about them. What is holding me back is the large batch I already have loaded with 95 grain Classic Hunters, and the fact that my loading shop is on the mend.

My oldest will be using a 243 Win this year. First time for us, so I guess that could be considered a "stunt"... Not sure what I'm going to load for it. Shots can't/won't be past 200yds, so am thinking I may see if I can get the 95gr BT to shoot. Also considering springing for some Cutting Edge Raptors in 65gr. Vmax of same weight for practice and those for game time...

The 95 BT is a sure fire killer. Depending on you brass, somewhere between 40 to 42 grains of one of the 4350 powders will have it purring.

25-20 sounds fun....I plan on killing a deer with my 92 someday....got some 85 gr cast bullets loaded....

I have a bunch of projects (stunts) that I've got saved up. Some have been waiting for several years to pull off.

1) 223 REM -- Discussed in another recent thread.
2) 35 Whelen-- I'm reworking my Remington 7600 into a cast lead rifle. The load is a 200 grain RCBS mold over H4895. The velocity is more like a hot Rem 35.
3) 357 Mag -- I have a Marlin 1894 in 357 Mag. It shoots wonderfully with cast lead 158 grain powdercoats. I just have not had a chance to plug a deer with it.
4) 8mm Mauser -- It isn't really a stunt, but it's a project I've been working on for some time. If it shoots minute of deer this year, I'm going to buy the mold and start casting powdercoated lead in it.
5) 30-30 -- again, this is another lead-related stunt. I just haven't found the time or the tags to pull it off.

Any suggestions for faster burning powders to help keep charge weights and thus recoil minimized? I use R15 in my 338 Win Mag per suggestion from Mule Deer and can like the rationale. I may be too worried about the recoil. He handles a 30-30 fine and I can't imagine a 243 recoils any harder. Thanks in advance.

Also have a .222 Magnum and .351 WSL that I need to bloody...

This fall may be the 380acp.

Last fall it was 10mm.

32-20.. done that a few times to know it works on deer/pigs/javelina.

Civil war musket that was bored to smoothbore... done that, at 19 ga I believe, IF it goes off, which is doesn't always, I've done ducks, rabbits, squirrels, deer, pigs and javelina with it over some number of years...

I like playing with "different" guns and rounds at times.

The current go to guns if in a hurry, are 308 MTU contour that Mickey did. 300/221 suppressed more than often. 257 wtby if I want something flat. And 338-06 for Alaska fall hunts every fall.

I've killed numerous deer with .22 LR, .22 Mag. and 5mm Remington magnum rimfire. Killing them with a .223 is no "stunt" at all. Some of the youngsters/poachers hereabouts have been killing the hell out of them with .17 HMR's.

30-30, as in a 170 at 2200 fps? Here's a quick momentum balance check: (170x2200)/95 = 3936 +/-, and I don't think you'll have that 95 grain BT going 3900 fps.

Correct, Ringman is not working up the loads for this rifle!

Taking a Garand to the stand with me.

Considering my 71/84 Mauser "Police Carbine" in 43 Mauser with 370 gr cast for whitetail.

Plan on useing a 250-3000 99 Barrel Band Carbine! then hope to use a 1907 win. in 351 cal. and my savage 22HP

Sure as hell won't see many of those in deer camp! I like it...

Would like to get close enough to singe the hide on one with powder burns this year...should be quite a stunt.

1912 Savage 1899 in 22 HP with 3X Malcolm scope

1919 Savage 250-3000 Rifle in 250-3000 with open sights

1926 Savage Model 99 F T/D in 303 Savage with open sights

1952 Savage Model 99 R in 300 Savage with Leupold 3.5X10X50, So I can see em in the mornin, See em in the evenin, See em at shootin time, Joe.

I have a couple of custom Arisaka Type 38 carbines in 6.5X50MM that I bought a few years back and havnet even sighted them in yet.

I have a Winchester 1910 that I hope to take a deer with. It is my second choice behind a Savage 1899 in 38/55 for which I just found a decently accurate load. I would like to take another deer with my Winchester 1876 but I will need to load some more black powder loads first.

I have a number of other firearms I would like to use but those are the ones I have in mind for this year. It is 5 months til deer season so those options could and probably will change.

Have a Contender pistol (12") in .38/40 Win that needs to have its cherry popped too. A 200gr XTP in front of a healthy charge of 4227 ought to work.

Going be spending the next month finding a load for my new 223. Its a 1-8 Tikka superlite should be great in our little Bambi's.

I have 'Ol Betty Lou, she is da one. An Ak-57, uzi, radar, triple barreled, double scoped, heeeeeeat seeking shotgun. My fingers were so frozen I couldn't pull da trigger, so I fired it wit my big toe.

I'm like Dirty Harry, John Wayne, and G.I. Joe

We'll miss you around here.

I'm seriously considering using my .22 K-hornet on Montana mule deer this year.

Used a .204 a few years ago and wouldn't go any smaller than that with the 45 grain hornady...but have heard enough good reports of the 35 VMax at K-horn speeds that I think I may give it a go...lord knows they're HELL on coyotes...

Most likely will give the vanilla .223 a whirl again this year for Wyoming mule deer and antelope.

yes with a rar in 223 and winchester 64gr power points, second time at this was with a mauser 98 chambered for the 220 swift with a 60 gr hornady spitzer

Proven deer killing combo right there.

My 7mm-08 for antelope 🤔

I'd use 22lr in a heartbeat if it was not illegal to do so.

.530 Patched RB from a 54 Hawken.

Barely enough gun for deer.

Most kids & poachers could give a hoot about a couple crippled deer☠️

Yep, not sure what it indicates about the poster there.....

OTOH a 22lr hp in the lungs or a solid in the head has killed so many pigs for me I don't have a clue as to actual numbers, probably not a lot more than a hundred but I bet at least that many. Can't say that I recall loosing a pig to a 22lr either. Can recall having a few walk away while waiting on the right shot though... which doesn't bother me in the least.

I knew a real poacher.. He shot a lot of deer w/ the 22lr.. But he said I loose one once in awhile.. he had just shot a nice 10 point he said, and it got away.. no remorse what so ever..

495, in your state much game is shot over bait.. A perfect shot can be made, if I remember correctly you also have your own place.. that does make a difference..

WTF is a "real poacher" ? I've known a bunch of poachers. They all seemed pretty damned real to me and yes, they lose one once in awhile just like "real hunters" do.

I do hear a lot of game is taken over bait around the country... YMMV.

I believe I've said before pick your round, pick your shot... if you have to take ANY shot presented I"m not picking a 22lr... that said you may not realize exactly how deadly a 22 is....

I am sure blackheart you know real poachers, this guy killed over 1000 deer in the years I knew him, but I am sure you know someone w/ more kills.. you always do..

495, I know how deadly a .22 is, but I also know how weak it can be.. I seldom use it on big game, since I have been an adult.. But I have shot thousands of varmints w/ .22's.. So I understand it's killing power & lack of the same.

GFY you rotten little prick. I know one who killed 14 in a weekend a couple years ago with a 17 HMR. Poaching is a family tradition passed down from generation to generation around here. I've lived here all my life so yeah, I've known a bunch. In fact, there's a whole family that's well known for their poaching just up the road from me here. My ex's father, grandfather and uncles were all pretty active in it too. Like it or not, it's a pretty accepted practice in some rural areas and this area has been well known for it for a long time.

14 in a weekend should be under the jail. I'd hate to catch someone like that, I ain't sure how I'd handle a situation like that.

I got to know him through work years ago. Always cheerful and willing and eager to help out a friend. Moreso than anyone else I've ever known. Hadn't known him long when I remarked that I had to go pick up a wishing well after work that I'd bought as a birthday present for my wife. The problem being, it was a big one and heavy and the guy I bought it from was in a wheelchair and couldn't help me load it. He instantly said he was free after work and would be glad to help. Absolutely refused to take any payment for it. Another time he quickly offered to come on a weekend and help me build a split rail fence along my driveway, again "you don't need to pay me for it, we're friends" came out as fast as the offer. He lives about 50 miles North of me and doesn't do any of his poaching near here so it frankly doesn't bother me a bit. Then again, I was born and raised and have lived with and around a bunch of poor, backwoods, hillbilly poachers all my life so it's nothing new or out of the ordinary to me.Most of them have been damn nice folks.

Folks can be nice, but when you are shooting that number of animlas, you are raping the environment. No one would shoot all their cows or goats etc... This is the kind of stuff that can really hurt a herd, especially if its questionable to start with.

A couple for the family is one thing... 14 in a weekend.... might be a nice guy, I've zero respect for that type nor would hang around that type of person even if I needed help.

I've got a number of friends here that have never poached. And they too come whenever you call, free help, thats the way it is in the country, we run when they call. Poaching need not be involved.

YMMV. Have a great weekend.

Yeah, that's why many states, including many areas of this one are populated above their natural carrying capacity to the point they're destroying their habitat. Many "locals" here {as opposed to the non resident hunting camp owners, of which there are many} don't think of deer as livestock or trophies to be managed but as a wild, natural resource to be harvested as needed. He shoots as many as he does because he is supplying several households of family members who can no longer hunt for themselves.

You sure paint with a broad brush there rost. I once helped cull whitetail does from a place that had 300 to kill, according to TP&W biologists under their MLD program. I actually killed 11 in one day, 17 in that 2 day weekend. The Hunters for the Hungry program took them all and was glad to get them, as they had willing and eager recipients for the meat. I don't see much wrong with that.

Blackheart GFY you are the biggest cock sucker on the fire☠️

You're a condescending little has been KKkunt and rost would drown in a rainstorm with his nose in the air all the time like it is.

Big talk for a [bleep] from New York😜 You voted for Hillary now doubt🤣 As Deflave would say to [bleep] like u. GFY.. The best fun you have had in your sick little world👏😁😎😕😡👹

Oh I forgot, you're stupid too. Been taking lessons from stick by the looks of that incomprehensible, inbred hillbilly pig latin.

Stay the hell out of my woods you worthless dickhead.

Poachers are criminals, plain and simple. If he's killing that many deer, he ain't eating that meat, he's selling it. Criminals need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

I do believe most anyone would understand my meaning in this post was 14 deer illegally without tags.... and likely out of season and at night...

I guided for years on a place where we had to shoot over 300 whitetail a season... I know exactly what you mean and my intent was not discussing legal harvest, that was not what we were discussing.

Ahh yes another sanctimonious clueless azzhole with reading comprehension disabilities. I know the guy very well and he isn't selling them. Now go fu^ck yourself silly today sport.

Gosh who ya talkin to there gopher KKKkunt ? Me or that Wyoming azzhole who knows a guy that poached over 1000 deer in the years he knew him ? You must really hate the Amish. Those folks just plain don't believe in game laws. As for me, I just don't worry much about poachers. They've been around here all my life yet there've still always been some deer left for me come season.

I should take a deer with my 22 Hornet this year.

Sorry, I obviously misunderstood. I agree with you completely under that premise, and that BH is a miserable person.

Gosh who ya talkin to there gopher KKKkunt ? Me or that Wyoming azzhole who knows a guy that poached over 1000 deer in the years he knew him ? You must really hate the Amish. Those folks just plain don't believe in game laws. As for me, I just don't worry much about poachers. They've been around here all my life yet there've still always been some deer left for me come season.
[/quoteLaffin'. Yet another worthles POS computer commando.

its always interesting to read the first and last posts of a thread first. sunshine to schit storm.

I've seen pics of your fat, goofy lookin old azz. Who do you think you're kiddin' with your "worthless POS computer commando" schpeel ? You dumb sons of bitches start this shyt and then whine about it like a bunch of little girls when you get it back. All I did was say I know some folks who poach and kill deer with a .17HMR. Big deal. that mouthy little douchebag from Wyoming said he's known one for years that poached over 1000 and you hypocritical azzholes jump on me ? Some of the dumbest mother f^ckers I've ever run across anywhere on here. If I ever did run across a mouthy little fat bastard like you giving me shyt in the woods I'd bitch slap him so hard he'd be the only guy in heaven scooting around in a wheelchair.

Easy solution azzhole-don't let the door hit you in the azz.

No sh*t. Sorry I started it. This place amazes me sometimes. It kind of confirms on a miniscule level that the human race is doomed. Sad....

Always the same common denominator.

Nothing fancy just a 243 100 grain core-lok through the heart.

That's one of my planned "stunt shooting" things...... Just substitute a 150 gr. Accubond on my usual 150 gr. FMJ load ... One of my late uncles carried an M-1 in WWII in the latter stages of the Pacific theater as a young marine. I brought mine over to show it to him a couple years before he passed. He hadn't seen one in person since his discharge after the war and he spoke highly of them. Then we discussed the .30-06 it chambered and he thought it would be neat for me to get a deer with it. So this coming season I'm gonna give it a go in his memory.

I may try to kill a deer with my 18" barreled AR this season, as I've never killed with one. Probably will look at 62gr Hog Hammer TSX factory loads or handload some 65gr Gamekings I already have. Bet it will work. My other stunt will be a reduced 185TTSX load in a 22" .338WinMag. Looking for 2,700FPS and mild recoil with 57-58gr H4895. The rifle weighs about 9lbs, loaded, so I'm betting it will be below 30-06 sporter 180gr recoil levels.

Primitive rifle season in La allows a single shot rifle. I'll hunt a bit with my .38-55 Target Classic. It really is fun to shoot. I've never lost a deer with it.

My .375 H & H for whitetails😳

Wyo
Doing the same this year. Got the Whitworth scoped and load ready this year. A 235 gr Speer should be plenty for a SC whitetail.
GreggH

Not unless you count accidentally peeing on one from the dining room window after a twelver of PBR and DAMN if that walk to the bathroom isn't just a little too far.

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EVAR!!!

I like to keep it mixed up and try something new every few years. When I really need a deer I grab my .30-06. This year I'll be "trying" out a .45-70 and a .338 WIN Mag. I'm sure I won't have any issues with either. Just new toys to play with.
-Jake