Thinking of going bolt action... Opinions?

mikeystew

mikeystew

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Beautiful BC
I've been hunting on Vancouver island recently, I've only hunted in nova scotia before now and this has been my first hunt out west and also my first hunt in many years. What surprises me is how different it is to what I was expecting. Most shot opportunities for me have been in clearcuts at ranges from 60-250 yds and not in thick bush like I had expected. In fact I have found that getting into the forest out here is very tough due to really thick understory and if you do get into it, there are no shooting lanes unless you slash one and then you are limited to that.
So my experience is leading me to reconsider my whole approach here. My hunting experience is limited to close range hunting in the small clearings back east and most shots were under 100m and always with a 30-30,and it seems I was wrong to assume that the same tequniques could apply out here.

So I'm thinking of selling my beloved .444! I really like the handling characteristics of it, but I have to admit I felt very limited to short range shots that just weren't presenting. I guess I could scope it but then I may as well have a bolt gun for all it's worth and get more range. If I could I'd just buy a new gun and keep the marlin, but I can't afford that and honestly have no desire to own a gun which has no practical use for me when it can be used to buy something that puts meat in the freezer with a greater degree of success.

That being said I could use some opinions... If anyone does hunt successfully out west with peeped leverguns I'd like to know what you do to make your hunts a success. I'm also open to suggestion for scoped boltgun packages, or affordable combinations of such($500)

Am I crazy for thinking of doing this? Is it really that much of a handicap to hunt with a gun with a 150m effective range? In my Former experiences and from what I've read most kills are under 100m, but I just ain't seeing that out here. or am I just a Shyte hunter :redface:
 
I have a quick release scope mount on my primary lever gun and I shoot out to 300 yards with it no problem. Pull the scope off and it's a good <100yd brush gun. I generally stalk with the scope off and if I need it, I pull it out of my vest pocket.
 
I think you are right about needing something to reach out a bit more. The Stevens 200 seems to be dependable, inexpensive bolt gun. They are actually no-frills Savages. New they usually list around $370. If you're only hunting Van Isle a 30-06/308 would be fine. I would go with a 300WM if you may hunt the mainland in the future. I prefer a detachable mag for ease of loading/unloading for legalities when in and out of a vehicle. You would have to go up a little bit in price for that. Research the Savage line. They seem to be high quality for their price.
 
mikeystew said:
Am I crazy for thinking of doing this? Is it really that much of a handicap to hunt with a gun with a 150m effective range? In my Former experiences and from what I've read most kills are under 100m, but I just ain't seeing that out here. or am I just a Shyte hunter :redface:
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IMHO yes you are crazy to sell a rifle you love and know well. :D

Now if you are wanting to try out another type of rifle/action then sure go for it, but I'd keep your old one on standby.

Also I know several hunters here on Vancouver Island that put deer meat in their freezer every year with their 30/30 lever rifles. Especially with the new Hornady Lever ammo and adding a peep site to ones rifle.

And the majority of the deer I have seen have personally seen over the years has been well within the 150yard range.

Just get used to the different terrain and deer behavours and you will do fine.
BTW welcome to the wet west coast. :)

Folks on hunting BC will probably have more info.
 
I choose to hunt terrain that has mixed conditions and is the kind of hunting i prefer, most shots are 150 max., which suits the rifles I like to use. I could hunt more "open" spaces, where there may be longer shoots but it is not the type of hunting I enjoy, or the type of gun required is not the type I want to use.
 
philthygeezer said:
Does Hornady make LeverEvolution for the .444?
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Yes, you can also buy .444 FTX gummy tips for reloading, and soon the leverevoloution powder will be available allowing folks to make 'em at home. Although the FTX bullets do pretty well with Re7 and a couple other powders as it is, i think the factory rounds have about a 200fps advantage which would be nice to duplicate at home for extending the effective range of the rifle.
 
As a few have mentioned, keep the 444 if you feel comfortable with it and start saving for purchase of another rifle in future. If you want to reach out a little further with the 444, sight in a little high. In mine I load the Hornady 265gr FP to about 2200 f/sec and print them about 4" high at 100 yds. With that, I'm bang on at about 250 yds. On both my Marlin 444S and Marlin 1895GS in 45-70 I use Weaver pivot mounts for quick access to the open sights if needed.

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Sounds like a perfect excuse to buy another rifle to me.
But also keep your tried and true .444, it will work too when you adjust your tactics. (It's called hunting, not shooting BTW! ;-) )
Just a guess, but I'd bet bowhunters and muzzleloading hunters kill a few in your neck of the woods.
 
Johnn, those are really nice guns and im going to look into those weaver pivot mounts, but what really caught my eye is that carpet! man i love that stuff, i havent seen a lush carpet like that in years and if it was up to me and not my wife i'd have filled my house with them when i built it.
 
Hi Mike been a while since we chatted. I to have taken the plunge, i sold my 444 and now i have a Mossberg 4x4 in .270 Win. I could not be happier. My Marlin 444 as you know was a bit much for my old shoulder so i tried a friends .270 and it was what i wanted. As i am a member of Ducks Unlimited i decided that the "Mossberg 4x4 c/w Laminated stock and 3x9x40 scope" was coming up at auction at one of the DU fundraisers, so i thought i would take the leap and bought it at auction, so i get the shooter i wanted as well did my part of the fundrasing for DU works. It maybe not the most expensive gun out there but for what i need this will work just fine, and this is the first non lever gun i have owned.

My Mossberg 4x4 .270 bolt is a tack driver as long as i do my part, our range at the local club is 206 yards long and this bolt is deadly all the way to the end of the range. It is real nice gun to shoot and also should be excellent for all the game i will be shooting at. If you want my opinion the .270 would probably serve you well also.

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Best Regards

Gord
100 Mile House, BC
 
mikeystew said:
Johnn, those are really nice guns and im going to look into those weaver pivot mounts, but what really caught my eye is that carpet! man i love that stuff, i havent seen a lush carpet like that in years and if it was up to me and not my wife i'd have filled my house with them when i built it.
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The carpet is what I had put down in my den and it's stood up well over the years. Hard to see the hair shed by the;) 'Blond Coyote', my Yellow Lab Tikka. Here's a few of my den and reloading room.

TheBlondCoyoteintheden.jpg


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There are a number of people that aren't too fond of the pivot mounts but I have that set up on three rifles and will likely put it on a couple more. If I check to see that the pivot screws are snug, and that no contaminants are between the rings and bases when I pivot the scope back into place, I've had no problems.

On the Marlin 1895GS in 45-70, a little more eye relief would make things a little more comfortable, especially with the hotter loads using heavuer bullets.
 
I think that guys that stick with iron sights in thick cover handicap themselves. If that is your hting, then great.

I use a moderately scoped bolt action in thick timber all the time.

A scoped rifle gives you the ability to shoot out to 350 or so and works great in thick timber, too.

It's not impossible to do this wiht iron sights, either, just less precise and less fast.

I don't see the attraction of removing the scope. A scope is better to "thread" a bullet through the thick stuff anyway.
 
Hia Mikey
In my opinion;
Keep the 444 as it has tones of uses it is more than "good" for in this province. A scoped Bolt action in some flat shooting round is always good. I have never really needed it considering I only needed to shoot past 200m once in 15 or so years in this bush.
Thats only meslef anyhoo.

Dwayner
 
mikeystew said:
Johnn, those are really nice guns and im going to look into those weaver pivot mounts, but what really caught my eye is that carpet! man i love that stuff, i havent seen a lush carpet like that in years and if it was up to me and not my wife i'd have filled my house with them when i built it.
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I also have Weaver pivot mounts on the 30-06 Husqvarna light weight I inherited from my Dad. Actually that was the first rifle and the one that got me going on them. I also have a set on my model 70 in 458 WM..

The scopes on the 458 WM and the 45-70 are Leupold 1x4 VARI-X II. The one on the 444 is a Bushnell Scopechief VI, 1.5 x 4.5.
 
Keep the 444, and get something that is easy to shoot and carry. I would look at a Remington Model 7 in 308. Its light, easy to carry, and would work well in both BC and NS hunting conditions.
 
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