looking to buy a lever action

any large animal , can certainly be handled by a 30-30. Has been this way for over 100 years. Bullet placement and distance are all important. I hunt with my son and we use 1906 30-30 Winchester rifles..the shorter lighter carbines are just as effective at short distances like 100-150 yards.
 
most shots will be 50 yards or so so the 30/30 i know is nice and light and can do the job
just wondering about tree branches and running into a grizzly was thinking about a 45/70
 
More deer have been taken with the .30-30 than with any other cartridge existing. Ditto black bear. There's a reason for that and it's not sophisticated advertising.

In addition to .30-30, Marlin sells their 336 in .35 Remington, which should do just about anything walking in N. America.

If that isn't adequate, Winchester is now making the 1886 in .45/70 and the 1895 in .30-40, .30-06 and .405 Winchester. All good rounds, although the .405 might be harder to find if you run short on a trip in Moose Nose, Manitoba.

You can also get older Winchesters in out-of-production but by no means inadequate rounds like .32 Special, .38-55, .303 British and such. Any of those will put Bambi in the pot without a problem. A used but solid one can be a real bargain and ammo is still around.
 
yes.but far away not when i was in the bush.
how is the 35 rem
as far as tree branches
my brother killed a deer after his 300 mag went through a 6 in tree
we call it the lumberjack buck
 
i dont want to get into anouther 30/30 vs the 300 mag debate both are great and have their place .disadvantages and advantages
but a 50 cal will kill a man through a brick wall at 800 m a 30 30 wont so how can you say all cals handle the bush the same
 
Cool if you can get a Winchester 30-30, there are still lots of them around. I have both a Mossburg and the Marlin in 30-30, but favor the Marlin. Its got much better irons than the Mossburg but both have fast action and are fun up to 150 yards for small to medium game.
 
There is a lotta nostalgia in hunting with a .30-30, but if you want the smoothest lever around, get a Browning BLR in just about any caliber you want. I have one in .243 and have had others and they are truly nice rifles.
 
Marlin 336! I got mine from Bass pro for $450 and tax. It is super easy to mount a scope, and strip down. I have had mine about a month and love it to no end. And she is amazingly accurate.

Stock sights at 50m, off of a wooden block with some cast handloads.
Marlin336-50m-handloads.jpg
 
ongaro said:
... how can you say all cals handle the bush the same....
Click to expand...


When I consider a bush gun, it has quick sights (iron) and has a slower or heavier bullet that has less deflection from leaves, twigs, and branches compared to higher velocity bullets than achieve longer distances in the open.
 
My dads got a '70s marlin 336 in .35 remington and it's a beauty. The ammo is kinda pricy and not all that common around here though. I'd get one of those but if you come across a really nice marlin or winchester 30-30 i wouldn't hesitate to pick it up if i were you.
 
dont think i would ever put a scope on a bush gun im thinking of taking it off my slug gun .always in a tree with the slug and only shoot 50 y with it so it might come off
 
I like a Savage model 99 in 300 Savage. You can still load a pointed projectile and shoot 150-200 yards with it. Slick action and fairly accurate.

Still hunting is pretty much my exclusive method of hunting deer.

I just picked up a marlin 1895 in 45-70 for the same purpose.

You are pretty much going to be a winner with either gun. A 30-30 in a Marlin or Winchester would be just as good, but the 45-70 definitely has some upside if you wanted to use it for Moose or Elk in calling season.
 
If grizzly is a likely encounter and deer shots that may go 200-300 yards, I'd opt for a Browning BLR in .308. Otherwise, if no big bears and closer shots, a Marlin or Winchester in .30-30.

Stick with rifles in commonly available calibers. Odd ball calibers are just plain grief every time you want to buy ammo (i.e. expensive and not readily available).
 
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