What Style of Gun Do You Use?

[woodseye]

We're in a state where levers and autos are very popular with a good following for pumps also.What is your favorite style and why?I started with winchester and savage lever guns when I started in Maine,Shot my first buck with a savage 99 and my biggest buck with a winchester 94.After about 36 years I retired the 99 and started with two savage bolts,hunting like I do now from stands more all the time as I get older they seem to work the best for me.I like the accuracy and light weight of the short action bolts and the weather warrior design(stainless/synthetic)makes them less hassle to maintain during the foul weather.Whats everyone else use?

woods

[Quilly]

good topic !

depending on what kind of hunting i am doing. for sitting in stand i like my bolt action browning.for stalking i like a good BAR or a lever action. did like the pump but the forearm was too far out for my frame and was uncomfortable to hold.

[BKnight]

I like levers, then pumps then bolts. I like the quick handling of a lever.
Brock

[DLuke]

I've long been a big fan of pump 760 and 7600's and bolt actions for deer hunting, and still love them. This past November I carried a Winchester Timber Carbine in 444 Marlin....
http://www.oegmag.com/images/94timcar.jpg
...in Maine and fell in love with it. I will be putting a low power variable (Vari-XIII 1.5-5x) on it real soon. Ease of carry is a big thing for me and this little gun really fit the bill. Even with a little scope on it, it will be fine. I think I'll be happy with this little boooomer for a long while. DL

[Bill/NH]

I hunted with a Marlin 336 lever action for years, now I use a Rem 7600 pump. I switched mostly cause I use a Rem 870 pump, now I can hunt either rifle or shotgun territory and it's like having the same gun. Both have a red fiber optic front sight and factory rear sight. Not much difference except how many yards ther sighted in for. Love my pumps, however, hopefully I will wean my new grandson on the Marlin in 10-12 years. It's his gun, but he doesn't know it yet. Bill/NH

[Bill M]

I hunt with a Remington 7600 Carbine with a synthetic stock. I used to use a Rem. 742 but had some feeding problems so I went with the more reliable pump. It is a nice lightweight gun and a good shooter. I just recently went to a peepsight with fiber optic front sight and it is alot faster than the scope I use to have. The only downfall is you can't pick out antlers on deer if they are off a ways and in the brush.

[dogtagger]

Hey guys, great to see this Maine board. Seems like most folks have migrated here from the other site.

Guns? well lets see... I use bolts for most of my hunting, a Remington 700 (30-06 w/1-4 leupold) and a Remington 660 in 308 w/williams peep. I've been feelin' a little nostagic lately though and have had a hankerin for a lever-gun. Looking for an older pre cross-bolt Marlin 336 in 30-30 with 2/3 magazine. Got one you want to sell?

Next year I'll be spending the first two weekends of the NH muzzle-loader season with my TC Renegade. Dave

[woodseye]

Hey Dave,hope to see ya become a regular over here.I'll keep an eye out for a lever for you.Lot of familar faces over here and its steady growing.Can't wait to see you post up some pics of those big bucks you shoot to make the days go quicker till spring!

woods

[JDK]

I started my hunting career with a bolt. I use my Sako now about 90% of the time.

I inherited a 35 Remington lever from my grandfather that I used quite a bit more in the past. Killed my second biggest deer to date with it. However, due to the aging process I can't see the sights as well anymore. Looking for a decent scope to put on it.

I also have to say that I used a 7600 last year and really liked it. Really liked it a lot.

All that being said, I suspect that I will end my career with a bolt.

[dogtagger]

Hey Woods,

Let me know if you see one. I saw a decent 336 last fall at Van Raymonds, but passed on it for one reason or another (price I guess).

Very flattering remarks about the big buck thing. Only problem is that it's been a long time since I've killed a big buck. This past season I never layed eyes on horns, even though I saw more deer than I have ever seen in a season. That's the way it goes some times. I'm looking forward to next season already though. My brother was just here for a visit this weekend, and we were out doing some shooting and talking about our 2003 plans. Only 10 months to go...

[DLuke]

dogtagger...I'm in the same boat as you..never laid eyes on horns this year. The does were there, and I would have shot one after the first couple days, but later in the week I never got a chance. Luck of the draw I suppose. Some years I've seen as many as 3-4 antlered bucks in a season, some years bucks are the first deer that I've bumped into. Other years I can't buy one. I guess that's what makes it fun and puts the hunt in hunting. Oh well, I'll take another run at it next year.....probably in the third week though, we'll see. DL

[woodseye]

I'll keep an eye out Dave,you see a good many of them up here.

Thats how you know you got it bad,when you start planning right after season for next season! http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-ren.gif

Hey DLuke try D&R for your scope,their prices are real hard to beat!Plus they are pretty easy to deal with after the sale,as I just found out.

woods

[DLuke]

You&#39;re right...I can&#39;t find anybody that can touch them price-wise. I&#39;ll probably use them, or I&#39;ll go to KTP and throw one of these 17 guns at it in trade and save the cash. Most likely DnR though....

[woodseye]

Yeah,I just did that myself but the Leupold that was $459 there was $389 at D&R and KTP kicked in tax on top of their price.Same deal on a Zeiss,$420 on E-Bay and $510 at KTP so you really pay for the convience of trading and shopping.

woods

[JDK]

Several of the mail order places (D&R, Natchez, and Bear Basin) will also meet or beat any advertised prices plus won&#39;t charge shipping on orders over a certain $$ amount. And you don&#39;t have to put you cc number over the net. I&#39;m all for purchasing locally but not with those cost savings plus a 14 hour total drive to KTP.

[woodseye]

Agree with JDK! Mail Order is just too cheap in a lot of cases to ignore.On some scopes with tax the difference can be over $100 savings.If you buy good warranty scopes you will be dealing with the scope maker anyway if problems arise.KTP is a good place to see the different hunting items in stock and to hold them and check them out,I don&#39;t feel bad about giving my business elsewhere as have you been at KTP in the summer? http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-ren.gif They are so crowded that you can&#39;t get waited on for ever it seems.They are even busy this time of year also.

woods

[Quilly]

woodseye..

i myself was looking into buying a high high priced scope. if you want to spend the $$ i would go with that ziess. you ever look into one of those things? not the cheapy one to go along with the leupold. the real ones. talk about a clear pic. they are made that way casuse of most of there hunting is in the real low light condtions in the morn and they do get to hunt past sunset. almost every thing made in germany is stil better than alot of the stuff we have over here still.