I went from a 1 rifle hunter to 2….

[harv3589]

While hunting whitetail this year from my stand, which gives me shots under 100yrds I was wondering why I was using a rifle with a scope. For these distances I just need open sights. I ended up shooting my whitetail at 50 yrds.

I’ve picked up a 1940 Winchester 94 30-30 and plan to use it this next year from my stand. Maybe a mistake I don’t know. Actually didn’t think I would buy another rifle after settling on what I currently use.

Anyone else use an old lever 30-30 for hunting?

[yoteblaster]

No but I would love to

[DirtShooter]

Originally Posted by harv3589

While hunting whitetail this year from my stand, which gives me shots under 100yrds I was wondering why I was using a rifle with a scope. For these distances I just need open sights. I ended up shooting my whitetail at 50 yrds.

I’ve picked up a 1940 Winchester 94 30-30 and plan to use it this next year from my stand. Maybe a mistake I don’t know. Actually didn’t think I would buy another rifle after settling on what I currently use.

Anyone else use an old lever 30-30 for hunting?

I don't know how old it is but I used a model 94 trapper from my stand this year, works well hahaha.

[Smoky buck]

Mine is not old but I have been using a Marlin 336 30-30 for the last two seasons. I find it an ideal tree stand/bush gun for whitetail

[MK2750]

I was thinking the same thing and picked up a Parker Hale Custom Supreme in 303 British. It is the exact same rifle that use to be the only one I carried for 20 years or so. I thought I needed a tack driver but have not shot an animal since that you could not kill with any rifle. My old one had a 2.5 fived B&L scope on it so I will probably chicken out and put a low power on this one before the season. It was like finding an old friend so hopefully it shoots like the last one.

[obsessed1]

These days I generally only use lever guns.
This year my 1985dark was carried 80% of the time and my 336 in 30-30 and Midland 30-06 ( open sight only) were the only other rifles i carried. Over the years I've shot cannons, smaller cartridges, high powered and low powered scopes...I definitely have a soft spot for a peep sighted lever though....under 150yds and I'm very confident the old girls will get the job done

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[Battle Rat]

I have, in the past, used my great grandfather's Marlin 1893 saddlering carbine.
Only big game I've shot with it was a bear.

[Moo Snukkle]

When we go up north for moose, we usually hunt in pairs. One hunter carries a high powered something, the other a 30/30 or muzzleloader. The theory is if the only shot presented is 300 yds down a cut line, we should have the appropriate firepower. Thankfully, the animals tend to come in to 50 yds or less, so every hunter has the option to go old school. Definitely increases the fun factor to have the ability to lever a bunch of lead into your quarry if needed. And make no mistake, 30/30 is bad medicine, especially with modern ammo like Leverevolution.

[mrcrossbow]

i also use a winchester 94 30-30 , im useing hard cast 170 grain pills , keeping my shots to 150 yrds or less have had zero problems with deer or moose. wish id started useing a 30-30 years ago. your 30-30 will fill the freezer no problems.

[Anthill]

I've hunted with tack drivers and they have their place. But, I too, have gone backwards in weaponry. I started hunting with a scoped 30-30. That thing took the majority of my trophies. Then went to 270WSM, .243. When some of my guns got stolen, I went to a 94 with open sights. Killed a whitetail with it. This year I hunted exclusively with a traditional Hawken 50 cal, simply for the added challenge. I'm not out to kill a bunch of animals, just take one every few years. The terrain I hunt in has a fair amount of cover, so close range shots are very doable. It makes me rely on hunting skills rather than on fancy arms. I took a bull moose at about 75 yrds with the ol smoke pole this year.

[JonC]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

Mine is not old but I have been using a Marlin 336 30-30 for the last two seasons. I find it an ideal tree stand/bush gun for whitetail

My buddy uses the same

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[huntinstuff]

You will be just fine

I dont need a scoped rifle to walk/quad down a cutline..so I have a 30-30 open sights and a 300win mag open sights for that.

My scoped rifle is for deer in the field, with a piece of foam pipe insulation taped to my stock so i dont scratch the side mirror of my truck.

And i have a bow for shooting near houses and vehicles.

Pretty much covers my hunting needs

[igorot]

Originally Posted by huntinstuff

You will be just fine

I dont need a scoped rifle to walk/quad down a cutline..so I have a 30-30 open sights and a 300win mag open sights for that.

My scoped rifle is for deer in the field, with a piece of foam pipe insulation taped to my stock so i dont scratch the side mirror of my truck.

And i have a bow for shooting near houses and vehicles.

Pretty much covers my hunting needs

Don't forget to specify your poll noodles. That is important

[fordtruckin]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

Mine is not old but I have been using a Marlin 336 30-30 for the last two seasons. I find it an ideal tree stand/bush gun for whitetail

Yep! Granted I prefer a 336 in 35 Remington but same concept!

[Bushleague]

I shot my first few deer with a 30-30 and it did a good job. While do I still own and occasionaly use a Winchester 94, I've come to preffer Lee Enfields when I feel like using open sights.

Not saying the .303 is better, I just like them a little more for no good reason.

[58thecat]

Not a mistake at all, very versatile rifle caliber combination for what you described your intentions are.

Got a few marlins one in 30/30 and the other 44mag and they take big game easily.

[oldgutpile]

The last bull moose I shot was with an old sxs hammer gun in 577/500 no.2
I knew my limitations were in the 100 yard range, and it did cost me a bigger bull at a much too long range, but there is definitely a lot of satisfaction in harvesting game with a truly vintage gun.
Hunts from a stand or blind offer other opportunities for vintage guns. This spring I took two bears from a blind with an old sxs hammer gun in 450 3 1/4"
Gets to be more about doing it with an gun in a classis caliber than the size of the skull.Very satisfying in putting these old war horses back into the field and using them for what they were intended for.

[1899b]

Originally Posted by harv3589

While hunting whitetail this year from my stand, which gives me shots under 100yrds I was wondering why I was using a rifle with a scope. For these distances I just need open sights. I ended up shooting my whitetail at 50 yrds.

I’ve picked up a 1940 Winchester 94 30-30 and plan to use it this next year from my stand. Maybe a mistake I don’t know. Actually didn’t think I would buy another rifle after settling on what I currently use.

Anyone else use an old lever 30-30 for hunting?

I have my Great Grandfathers’s Savage 1899b in .303 Savage
I use the tried and true .30-30 recipe of 30 grains of imr3031 pushing a flat nose 170 grain bullet. This unit has a 26” octagonal barrel and it’s from 1908. I very much want to use it one fall exclusively. I’m hoping to next season. Good luck to you!!

[1899b]

Originally Posted by huntinstuff

You will be just fine

I dont need a scoped rifle to walk/quad down a cutline..so I have a 30-30 open sights and a 300win mag open sights for that.

My scoped rifle is for deer in the field, with a piece of foam pipe insulation taped to my stock so i dont scratch the side mirror of my truck.

And i have a bow for shooting near houses and vehicles.

Pretty much covers my hunting needs

Lol!!

[brass410]

I hunt with what ever meets the feel of the day 45-70 30-06 but mostly 375H&H its fun to shoot not objectionable recoil and has almost the same ballistics of 30-06. But 1 day is always spent with my beat to death 94 winny it has put more meat on a hook than all the others its my lucky charm.

[jeprli]

All of november I carried a 35 remington with me, sticking it out in the bush, had 2 chances with it early on but decided to pass. Last day out i sat on a cuttline, brought 257 wby along only to end up calling a buck within 15 yards This season i'll give it another go.

I started off with a beat up marlin(1975) in 30-30, and my love for lever guns grew from there.

[JULIUS]

In the 70's shot a 50 inch bull moose with a saddle ring 32 special model 94 ( my son now has it ) Last moose I shot 3 years ago was with a 54 cal thompson centre muzzle loader.

Fun factor is high but distance is short. lol
Use scoped tack drivers as well just depends on what i am hunting and the area.

[catnthehat]

Not 30/30's, but I have been known to hunt with some pretty unusual cartridges, the .577 Snider being one.
I soent some time this Fall hunting with a 16x16/ 9.3x72R hammer drilling and have grown to really like that gun!
Shot Sharptails, Roosters and Ruffies with it. But I filled my antlered tag early in the season and it seemed that every time I saw a white tail it was either a doe that was too far away for the old cartridge and irons, or it was a buck! Next year for sure!
Cat

[32-40win]

The main reason I bought my SxS was that I seldom shoot animals at over 200yds, which they are quite capable of doing in the smaller cartridges, and a few of the bigger ones. Nice to carry, handles like a shotgun, different to setup from the shooting style and load development side of things as well, makes it a bit more interesting to play with.