Yep, you're much better off with too little than too much.For shots within 100 yards I'd get a 2.5 Leupold. It's plenty of magnification at that distance and more makes it hard to find the target at short distances, the "all I could see was fur" problem.
About 20 years ago I bought my dad a TCR in .30-06, with a ported barrel. I had not known that for a short time before the Encore, Thompson Center made single shot rifles. I thought the Contender was followed by the Encore with nothing else offered. My dad had a bad shoulder at the time so the porting was important for recoil, and he's left handed and so is the younger brother, but I'm not (and he's getting all the left-handed guns) so I got Dad the TCR as the stock works for him or for me. Dad got his shoulder fixed and then picked up a Savage 99 lever action in .308 Winchester. He wanted a take-down model, and found a used and "well loved" one in .303 Savage, but then found the .308 pretty much new and in it's original box.I love to hear about these pieces of Americana still making a living in the field!
We took a road trip through New England back in September, all the way to Maine. We were in the big L.L. Bean headquarters in Freeport and much to my surprise, they had a truckload of guns for sale, new and used. Perusing the aisles, I found several real nice ones and all the prices seemed reasonable. I happened upon a Winchester 94 Big Bore .375 that, while certainly not the oldest rifle that caught my eye, it had some of the heaviest wear. The wood was thoroughly banged up. The receiver was perfectly worn down right in that sweet spot for carrying in the hand. Same for the muzzle, probably from riding in the front sight of a truck. As I looked at the rifle, which is probably 30-40yrs old, and all the wear it had accumulated over those years, I wondered just how many Maine moose and black bear had succumbed to it. I wondered why it was in that used gun rack. Had the previous owner passed on or simply got too old to hunt any more? Had he just decided to get something newer and easier to feed? How many previous owners were there? All questions I'll never have the answer to but I can ponder them as I hunt with the rifle. As I felt compelled to bring it home. It may even return to Maine once again for moose or black bear.I love to hear about these pieces of Americana still making a living in the field!
Yeah. It was dumb. But it was also a time that quite possibly changed the direction of your life. I’ve done more dumb things in my life than I have time to write about. I mean really dumb. I just typed two of the things I’ve done out and then deleted them because they were so dumb I’d probably lose any credibility I have on this forum. There were a few times ole Darwin was knocking at my door. But for some reason, it didn’t open.I was about 13/14yo and my mom took me to WV to hunt the family land with my great uncles and cousins. I just graduated my hunter safety class and up until then only shot a 22lr and an old hand me down pump 12ga smooth bore maybe 2 times. I get there, get changed and head to the woods to find my cousin and stood with her and another for awhile but was pretty much told get lost. I go back to the house and they hand me a scoped 30-30win and I fell in love. I ran around those woods shooting at every deer I seen and never hit a one! I guess that's what happens when you send someone out on their own who had never done it before. I walked for miles and miles kicking up deer and slinging lead. Looking back it was pretty dumb but I always had a special place for the lever guns and tomorrow will be the first time I carry one in ohio. Marlin 1895 22'' barrel, leupold vx2 2-7-33 scope shooting 300gr jhp around 1800fps. I get to use this bad boy for the next 7 days. I hope to make it sing one of these days this week.
I’ve done more dumb things in my life than I have time to write about. I mean really dumb. I just typed two of the things I’ve done out and then deleted them because they were so dumb I’d probably lose any credibility I have on this forum.