Texas Hunting Forum

thoughts and advice

Posted By: 5pinhunter

thoughts and advice - 11/08/15 01:06 AM

i am going to buy a new gun and need some help on caliber. i mainly hunt thickets.20-80 yds max. i am gonna buy a lever action and dont know what caliber would be best. 30-30,357,44.any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. open sights only,no scope.thanks
Posted By: TAT

Re: thoughts and advice - 11/08/15 01:08 AM

30-30 sounds like the way to go. Just can't beat an ole lever action 30-30. Guess it really comes down to preference.
Posted By: Western

Re: thoughts and advice - 11/08/15 01:10 AM

I agree 30.30, can find ammo almost anywhere and has decent range for no scope.
Posted By: dkershen

Re: thoughts and advice - 11/08/15 04:19 AM

Those conditions are what the 30-30 was invented for.
Posted By: kmon11

Re: thoughts and advice - 11/08/15 07:40 AM

Have all 3 of those, inside 125 yards, flip a coin, cannot tell one is more effective than the other. These days will have the 357 more often than the others. Could be that little Marlin trapper is so handy and slick.
Posted By: Tatsun

Re: thoughts and advice - 11/08/15 02:20 PM

I myself hunt the same type of thick brushy area with a few openings out to 100 yards and I have my trusty Marlin 336 with me, now...only if I could get a chance to use it!

A word of advice, while I'd recommend a Marlin, you may be better off buying a used rifle, as after Remington bought out Marlin and moved the manufacturing to their factory from Connecticut the QC of new Marlins has been awful! Just Google "Remlins" and you will find horror stories of shattered stocks on brand new rifles after only 1 shot, poor craftsmanship, machine work etc.

I'd recommend looking at Gun Shows, and if you find one, look for the little "JM" stamp on the barrel and that it was made in Connecticut. Either that or you could try to find a Winchester 30-30.
Posted By: TravisP

Re: thoughts and advice - 11/08/15 02:36 PM

Why not a .35? Brush version of the 30-30. I'll take the .35 all day long.
Posted By: 5pinhunter

Re: thoughts and advice - 11/08/15 04:08 PM

thanks for all advice
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