I have an ich for a new Bang stick

Both the 30-30 and the 45-70 are fantastic moose guns. Ive shot moose with both. I don't believe I have ever shot a moose at over 75 yards. If you reload you can load the 45-70 down to black powder velocities and they are actually quite pleasant to shoot but still plenty powerful enough for moose at reasonable distances. Just my 2 cents.
 
Both the 30-30 and the 45-70 are fantastic moose guns. Ive shot moose with both. I don't believe I have ever shot a moose at over 75 yards. If you reload you can load the 45-70 down to black powder velocities and they are actually quite pleasant to shoot but still plenty powerful enough for moose at reasonable distances. Just my 2 cents.

I agree.
If you are thinking about a 45-70 lever go for it. I have one of the first marlin guide guns and I will never sell it. You can load them up or down, whatever power level you want. Short, handy, great in bush, truck, quad, or horseback. Don't let anyone tell you they are only good to 100 yards either, if they say that they have never used one. 200 yard shot on moose...easy. Not that you can't get closer anyway, but the 45-70 will not let you down.
 
Yup,...I hear ya,....but what my point was, is the BLR is unlike any other lever gun out there, its action is as strong as a bolt action and gives you most all the benefits of a bolt action,...such as pointy bullets in a box mag,.. all the common short, long, magnum, and short magnum caliber options,.. the barrel on the pistol grip BLR is almost completely free floated,.. and yes a rotating bolt that is actuated by a lever,....I don't know,..but that sounds an awful lot like a bolt gun to me,...especially when you compare it to the 94s, 336s, 86s, etc,....I agree that it isn't a 100% bolt action with a lever,..but it's pretty darn close.

Savage model 99 was also offered in chamberings such as the 308 and 358 win. Also used a box mag, so spitzer bullets were usable. These are not features unique to the BLR, especially when you consider the Savage 99 was in production for like 60 years before the BLR ever existed.

Is it a more modern lever-action design then the Winchesters and Marlins? Sure. Does that have ANYTHING to do with being a bolt action in any way shape or form? Nope.

Wanna know what sounds an awful lot like a bolt action to me? Something that has a bolt handle to grab onto for cycling the action. That is your one and only determining factor, and trying to call it a "lever actuated bolt action" not only doesn't make sense, but it perpetuates the idea that such a thing even exists...

Both the 30-30 and the 45-70 are fantastic moose guns. Ive shot moose with both. I don't believe I have ever shot a moose at over 75 yards. If you reload you can load the 45-70 down to black powder velocities and they are actually quite pleasant to shoot but still plenty powerful enough for moose at reasonable distances. Just my 2 cents.

100 years ago, the 30-30 was a fantastic moose gun. Today, it is far outclassed by other more capable rounds. Hell, it was back then, but availability of alternatives wasn't what it is now.

Can it do the job? Sure it can. Will it kill as humanely as something with more power? I dont think so. Moose have been killed with 22s, but just because it has worked before doesn't mean its the right tool for the job. We as hunters are supposed to ethical in our choices, and I strongly believe that includes picking a caliber that is well-suited to the task at hand.
 
Last edited:
Yup,...I hear ya,....but what my point was, is the BLR is unlike any other lever gun out there, its action is as strong as a bolt action and gives you most all the benefits of a bolt action,...such as pointy bullets in a box mag,.. all the common short, long, magnum, and short magnum caliber options,.. the barrel on the pistol grip BLR is almost completely free floated,.. and yes a rotating bolt that is actuated by a lever,....I don't know,..but that sounds an awful lot like a bolt gun to me,...especially when you compare it to the 94s, 336s, 86s, etc,....I agree that it isn't a 100% bolt action with a lever,..but it's pretty darn close.

It's also about 2/3 heavier than an M94..... Terrible bush gun IMOP.... But to each their own....
 
Last edited:
100 years ago, the 30-30 was a fantastic moose gun. Today, it is far outclassed by other more capable rounds. Hell, it was back then, but availability of alternatives wasn't what it is now.

Can it do the job? Sure it can. Will it kill as humanely as something with more power? I dont think so. Moose have been killed with 22s, but just because it has worked before doesn't mean its the right tool for the job. We as hunters are supposed to ethical in our choices, and I strongly believe that includes picking a caliber that is well-suited to the task at hand.

I completely agree and am now ducking for cover...... You can hide with me if you like..... I have beer and jerkey....
 
100 years ago, the 30-30 was a fantastic moose gun. Today, it is far outclassed by other more capable rounds. Hell, it was back then, but availability of alternatives wasn't what it is now.

Can it do the job? Sure it can. Will it kill as humanely as something with more power? I dont think so. Moose have been killed with 22s, but just because it has worked before doesn't mean its the right tool for the job. We as hunters are supposed to ethical in our choices, and I strongly believe that includes picking a caliber that is well-suited to the task at hand.[/QUOTE]

So based on that, which makes a lot of sense, what caliber would you recommend(min and Max), if we cant agree on a rifle type, ill shoulder them till i find a respectable fit. Most shots i will assume for bush will be less than 100, max at the tree line maybe 200. I could stick with what i have for sure, but Iching for a new bang stick is the idea.
 
100 years ago, the 30-30 was a fantastic moose gun. Today, it is far outclassed by other more capable rounds. Hell, it was back then, but availability of alternatives wasn't what it is now.

Can it do the job? Sure it can. Will it kill as humanely as something with more power? I dont think so. Moose have been killed with 22s, but just because it has worked before doesn't mean its the right tool for the job. We as hunters are supposed to ethical in our choices, and I strongly believe that includes picking a caliber that is well-suited to the task at hand.

So based on that, which makes a lot of sense, what caliber would you recommend(min and Max), if we cant agree on a rifle type, ill shoulder them till i find a respectable fit. Most shots i will assume for bush will be less than 100, max at the tree line maybe 200. I could stick with what i have for sure, but Iching for a new bang stick is the idea.[/QUOTE]

I have learned a lot since I joined CGN....... There are many disciplined Hunters and shooters here that would, and do fine with a 30-30...... That being said, my real world hunting experience tells me they we are far too many hunters that would "try a poke" if the opportunity presented itself.... Using hand me down rifles.....

IMOP, there are limits.... Obviously, Rimfire is out ..... But ask yourself one question.... "If I get out of the bush and there is a moose, deer, whatever in a clearing 300 yards away, can i resist taking a shot with a sub par calibre I haven't practiced with at that range?"......

If your answer is no, then IMOP, calls for something bigger and more practice....
 
Last edited:
Savage model 99 was also offered in chamberings such as the 308 and 358 win. Also used a box mag, so spitzer bullets were usable. These are not features unique to the BLR, especially when you consider the Savage 99 was in production for like 60 years before the BLR ever existed.

Is it a more modern lever-action design then the Winchesters and Marlins? Sure. Does that have ANYTHING to do with being a bolt action in any way shape or form? Nope.

Wanna know what sounds an awful lot like a bolt action to me? Something that has a bolt handle to grab onto for cycling the action. That is your one and only determining factor, and trying to call it a "lever actuated bolt action" not only doesn't make sense, but it perpetuates the idea that such a thing even exists...

Suther,..I'm not sure what your problem is,..but I think you know exactly what my point is about the BLR,....yes the 99 has a box mag and can use pointed bullets, and so does the 95 and 88, and they are great lever guns, but they still don't offer the similarities to a bolt action as the BLR,...and whether you think so or not, the BLR is as close to a bolt action as it gets.
The OP was looking for others thoughts and suggestions,...he was talking lever actions,...and was talking moose hunting,..so my suggestion was a BLR because the BLR brings alot to the table and can be had in a variety of calibers that are suitable from varmints to grizzly bear,....I suggested the 358win because it is a short action, and a BLR in short action would offer a OAL of 40" and a weight of only 6.8lbs, which would be suitable as a bush gun, and the 358win is a nice older caliber that hasn't enjoyed the popularity that it deserves, and would be very capable of taking a moose at a considerable distance,...and also the 358win can be a good conversation piece and not as boringly common as the regular 30 cals. (Only con of the 358 is ammo availability)
When I suggested the BLR it was exactly that..a "suggestion" to give the OP another option to think about that might fit his needs/wants,...in no way was I saying that other lever guns were a bad choice.......when I said it was a lever actuated bolt action, it was to make a point of what it has to offer...(I know a bolt action is a bolt action and a lever action is a lever action.)
Again,..when I made the "suggestion"...that's all it was..a "suggestion", and a brief explanation,...I never dreamt that someone would construe my words and start a "hair splitting" pissing match;............... and just for the record?...there are lots of people besides myself that refer to the BLR as a lever actuated bolt action,...you are the first I have encountered that has picked that interpretation apart,...in my books you are just being argumentative.
 
I hope you go buy a new rifle, mostly because you should buy a new rifle.

Realistically though, your 30-06 is undoubtly enough gun and a cheap and durable, decently accurate savage (and I don't like them, but I do respect them) will be a great bush gun that you can afford to whoop and ding, scratch and paddle your canoe with until you can't stand the sight of it anymore... Sounds like a good choice to me.
 
Hmmm...

browning.png
 
I had a Pre-81 BLR and it is not what I would call a Bush Gun. I had mine freeze up on a few occasions when hunting in the winter. Melting snow, needles and twigs get into the action and bind it up. I even had the hammer freeze solid in the cocked position, while it was still loaded, I had to sit in the truck with my thumb on the hammer while we drove back to camp and sat by the fireplace with it until it thawed.

The mechanics of the BLR are very fine tuned, unlike my Winchester lever action, which means any debris tends to bind them up. Don't get me wrong, I liked my BLR and it shot tons of moose and deer but the freezing up thing was an issue for me so I eventually quit using it and sold it.
 
Like it was said earlier the axis that you have in 30-06 is plenty adequate and it is very light weight for pushing moose. You did not mention what optic that you have on the rifle but if it is the package scope then maybe upgrading the glass to a nice low magnification 2-7 X 33 VX2 / redfield revolution / Zeiss Terra etc. might be a better choice...

I had the same rifle and used it to push alot of bush when I first started getting into hunting. What I did last year is that I sold it and upgraded to a better rifle in the same calibre.

You could always sell the axis and look into something like a CZ, Win model 70, Tikka/sako, Weatherby...
 
Back
Top Bottom