This Rem M-Seven in .260 Rem caliber is a near ideal wood walking rifle because it is light and fast handling with moderate recoil. The convenient lever release scope mount allows scope use for testing ammo and long shot hunting conditions, and scope removal for woods walking with open sights..View attachment 857851 View attachment 857852
This Rem M-Seven in .260 Rem caliber is a near ideal wood walking rifle because it is light and fast handling with moderate recoil. The convenient lever release scope mount allows scope use for testing ammo and long shot hunting conditions, and scope removal for woods walking with open sights..View attachment 857851 View attachment 857852
An SKS got my first deer also. Used one of those 124 grain hollow points that people say don't work.I would rather run a Chinese sks than the mini 30, a lot easier to drag thru the woods and more reliable. But that's what I shot my first deer with though, so I have a bias...
Those hp 's were.devastating on deer back them.An SKS got my first deer also. Used one of those 124 grain hollow points that people say don't work.
Had to drag that thing through 1/2 a mile if tag alder swamp before hiking another mile to a phone so my brother could come get me.
Almost wish I'd missed.
The .30-30 can beat it and some of the 7.62x39 bullets can be of questionable quality, but if a 150-gr .30-30 is acceptable then so is a 154-gr 7.62x39.
A 150-gr Core-Lokt at 2,290 fps is going 1,688 fps at 150 yards. And a 154-gr Tula softpoint at 2,100 fps is going 1,748 fps at 150 yards. The energy is already equal by 100 yards. And no one ever needed Leverevolution or 170-gr bullets to kill deer.
Great. There are no LVR 170 grs. And there are very very few good 150 grs 7.62x39 relIable hunting bullets. I’m trying to be reasonable. Don’t make me go off on the Soviet round.
I happened to get very good accuracy with PPU .312 150btsps in my sks. Got them to 2200 with no issue either.There aren't a lot of heavy bullets designed specifically for the 7.62x39, but there are bullets for the .303 and 7.62x54R which will work fine. Barnes makes a 123 gr which might end up heavier if you managed to recover and weigh them. But .308 bullets will even shoot fine in many rifles. Definitely an option for OP.
A lever 30-30 sounds perfect. Consider also how easily a slab sided lever gun carries in hand.
Two of my favorite hunting rifles for hunting thickly wooded areas in West Virginia were my Ruger 44 and my Marlin 444 as both were short handy rifles allowing me to easily and quickly bring either rifle up on target. The 44 Ruger gets eliminated since you don't want a pistol caliber but the lever gun is fine out to 200 yards. There are no shortage of suitable 200 yard easily cartridges in short easy handling rifles to be had.I am looking for a rifle for walking through fairly dense woods. I want it to be deer capable. I think all shots would be 150 yds or less.
Here is what I am looking for:
1. Lightweight, must be under 7 pounds.
2. Don't intend to put an optic on it, so must have iron sights.
3. Chambered in a rifle cartridge (not a pistol caliber carbine), something in power between 30-30 and 308.
4. Barrel under 20"
5. Repeater action, but don't care if its semi auto, bolt, or lever.
6. Not so fancy that I will mind if it gets a few dings going through the woods.
I am considering a Browning or Henry lever action in 30-30 or 243 Win. Also possibly a Ruger Mini 30 Ranch. What else should I consider that meet these criteria?