Deer lever-guns.

[44magHunter]

This has probably been asked 100's of times, but what do you use for deer? I use an 1894 Marlin 44Mag or my bow. (mostly my bow) What about you?

[Old Time Hunter]

General Gun deer hunting I am now using either my .444 Timber Carbine or my .444 Black Shadow(weather depending), used to be my '94 Winchester Trapper chambered for .44 Mag (took 13 Whitetail, one Black Bear, and one Bull Elk up the Bitter Roots across the Clark Fork!). Still grab the Trapper for walk 'round hunting both up in Northern Wisconsin and also around my permanent abode a little further south. If I am hunting the CWD areas that allow rifle and alot of farm land, I use either my M96 Swedish Mauser 6.5X55 or....you're gonna love this, one of my original Trapdoors(took a Doe at a measured 396 yards last January, off of sticks and using the standard '77 ladder sight). Once and awhile I'll grab one of my other Winchester Big Bores, got 'em in .356 and .375 (also got one in .307 but it ain't never been shot) or I do have a '86 and an original .44-40 '73 that I walked down the path with last year, but they are mostly range guns as they are in pretty pristine shape. We also had a special hunt last December where we all picked out some Milsurps, I carrried a M91 Mosin-Nagant one day, a M38 Mosin another, a 1941 #1 Mark3 (or the other way around) Lithgow Enfield another day, and a 1937 Suhl K98 (pre-Nazi) 8mm. Carried all that stuff each day and ended up shooting a nubby with my .44 Mag Ruger Super BlackHawk as I was cleaning out a pail behind the cabin. Go figure. Oh yea, almost forgot, the stand by rifle in our camp, cause it is an unwritten rule( I believe it is national also) is that everyone has to have a .30-30 in camp....just in case all the fancy ones fail.

[Old Ironsights]

20" Rossi .357.

[iceman]

Last year was my 356 mod 94 BB end up getting my deer during black powder with a Traditions in-line. This year my new savage mod 99F in 300 sav, or my 356.or my 1942 mod 94 30wcf. Depends on the day, weather and where. Who knows maybe black powder again this year.

[Kansas Ed]

Let me see, in the last few years I've taken deer with....405, 38-40, 35WCF, 40-82, 25-06 (big mistake), 38-72. In the past I've also used .375 Win, 32-20 and probably a couple of others. Every year has me taking a different rifle into the field. When I hunt dad's place, I always take two rifles, and depending on my mood when I get up in the morning, decides on which rifle I uncase. Rifles I have loads developed for, and intend to use in the future are, 25-35, 38-40 (mod -73), 40-72, 303Brit, and a Colt SAA in 45LC.

I'm always looking to try something different.

Ed

[dr walker]

Last year I used a Marlin 1894 44 mag and a Ruger Super Blackhawk. I may be only using my 54 cal flintlock this year.

[AJMD429]

First 10 or 12 with .430 JSP's from 12 gauge saboted 265 gr, muzzleloader saboted 265 gr, Ruger handgun 240 gr, at probably 1800, 2000, and 1200 fps, respectively. Nearly always using a scope on the long guns, peep (replacement rear blade) on the handguns. Longest was 125 yards, closest was 3 feet (doe bolting straight under my stand from nearby gunshot by uninvited, trespassing, fellow 'hunter').

After Indiana legalized rifles, I switched to the Marlin 1894 and haven't looked back (except during muzzleloader season if I've not gotten my meat for the year).

Oh yeah - got one with a chevy truck once, too...

....but then the person who posted this question already KNOWS my answer, doesn't he......
(hint - think YK is to YKK as AJMD429 is to 44MagHunter)

[Kansas Ed]

Oh yeah - got one with a chevy truck once, too...

Me too!!

Ed

[marlinman93]

I don't use any one gun or caliber for deer. In recent yewars I've taken deer with an 1881 Marlin in .38-55, 1881 Marlin in .40-60M, 1889 Marlin in .38-40, Ballard in .45-70, Ballard in .38-55, and a 1893 Marlin in .30-30.
This fall I will break with tradition and use either my Rem. Hepburn in .45-70, or my Rem. #1 Rolling Block in .40-65.

[2ndovc]

Most of mine were taken with a .30-'06 sporterized Springfield or a Winchester 95 SRC also an '06.

Last one was 1895 Marlin 45-70.

Not sure what this year will be.

jb

[adirondakjack]

Last year I carried my 8MM Mauser with the original pencil barrel. My kid carried one of my Marlin 1894s in Cowboy .45 Special stoked with a hot load of power Pistol and a 230 XTP.

This year, since I had my other Marlin in C45S cut to 16", I'm gonna carry it. Much handier in the thick stuff than a long rifle. I'll reserve the Mauser for the event I ever set up in a big field instead of woods.

[rjohns94]

Leverguns: 20 inch rossi .357, 1886 in 45-70. Thompson Contender in 45-70.

1873 springfield trapdoor, 45-70

Pistol: .475 Linebaugh Freedom Arms

[BigSky56]

94 in 30-30 mostly, sometimes have used a vaquero 45. danny

[rjohns94]

Welcome to the fire, i hope you find it to your liking

[tman]

might wipe the dust off of the win 71 carbine and use it for this year.

[Dave]

I have used a Browning B92 in 44 Mag for deer along with a Remington Model 7 in 243, a Steyr 308, and Winchester 94. Over time though I have settled on a Marlin 336 in 30-30. It does everything I want it to do, is 3 feet long, and weighs about 6.5 pounds. It is hard to beat that.
My load is 32.0 grains of Varget under a Sierra ProHunter 170 grain bullet. The Sierras are hard to find now so I bought some Speer 170's. I am sure they will do fine. I have used Hornady in the past too.

[JReed]

....but then the person who posted this question already KNOWS my answer, doesn't he......
(hint - think YK is to YKK as AJMD429 is to 44MagHunter)

Ah well that's a good thing to know.

[Birdman]

44 revolver, slug gun, or mostly my good ol longbow

[JerryB]

.44maghunter welcome to the forum, I reckon that you were raised right by a fine dad so you are sure welcome here.
Last year I took two deer, one with my Kentucky rifle with a patched round ball, and one with a real slick 1939 Winchester 94 30wcf and a 170 grain Remington Corloct bullet.

[375hh1973]

This year its gonna be my new BLR in .308 Mossy Oak Brush/stainless with a Leupold 2.5-8x36. The gun shoots Hornady's 150 grain SST loads scary accurate. After rifle season it will be my T/C Omega ss/synthetic in .45. With 110 gr of loose 777 3f and a Hornady 200 gr SST it also is a 200 yard deer-getter.

[Griff]

or


or, even a:

[Old Time Hunter]

Griff, you can not tell you would use anything BUT a .30-30...that Trapper looks to be slightly larger than a .30-30

[BenT]

I've killed more deer with my 30-30 than any other. I carry my 94 trapper in 32 special alot when still hunting. BLR 308 was my main gun during the 90's But I am trying to shoot a deer with every rifle I have so it might take me a while.This year I will be using 338 MX and 38-55.

[Nobody]

[buckeyeshooter]

In ohio--- a sp-10 autoloader and slugs. In ky----- a 1895 winchester 30-06 or a marlin XLR in 308!!

[stew71]

Used to have a Marlin 336 30-30 but my Dad has it on long-term borrow for now. I also use a Browning 1895 in 30-40 Krag. I'm looking for a replacement for the Marlin so who knows come next season?

[20cows]

First deer was with a Winchester 94 rifle re-bored in .38-55. A few were then taken with a Type 99 Arisaka in 7.7-06.

Now, Puzzle One, a Winchester 94 trapper in .38-55 gets most of the opportunities.

I am building Puzzle Six, a Big Bore 94, in .356 and I hope to have a go with it soon.

[Griff]

Griff, you can not tell you would use anything BUT a .30-30...that Trapper looks to be slightly larger than a .30-30

No Sir. '67 Canadian Centennial rebarreled with a .30-30 Trapper barrel...

I must confess, in my earlier, younger, more macho days, I used a 7mm Rem Mag, and thought NOTHING of taking a 400+ yard shot. Now I'm older and wiser... I don't want my meat to spoil before I hike over to it... so a .30-30 it is... and keep myself below 250yards!

[Mokwaw]

Savage 24D 20 ga. shotgun slug, TCHawken .45 cal maxi ball, Jonathan Browning Moutain rifle .50 cal round ball, S&W M29 .44 mag 250 gr. Keith......................

[44magHunter]

"...or my Rem. #1 Rolling Block in .40-65.[/quote]

Are you sure you don't mean Ruger #1? Sounds like you have a few nice toys around there.

[Jason_W]

If I'm going to be hunting where a 100 yard shot is a real possibility, then I'll take my 336 in .35 rem. If I'm going to be in the thick stuff, it will be my 12 ga slug gun.

[slimster]

Ah doggoneit, don't be goin' and askin' questions like that! Now I've had to go and re-think my whole reason for buying new guns. ...for me, it seems like it's always been the Win. thutty-thutty Trapper that gets the venison, though the Rossi .357 did smack a coyote once. The 45-70 Guide gun and the Rossi .454 have yet to slay anything but stumps, clods, pop cans, and water filled plastic jugs of various sizes. (I haven't had a gallon jug charge me yet, but undoubtedly either one would be up to the task! )

[Streetstar]

For the last 8 or 9 years, i have almost exclusively been bow and black powder hunting. I am itching to use my guide gun for something this year though (or maybe my dad's ol 30-30 will get the nod) - who knows

I like the peace and quiet of bow season, plus i'm not in as much of a rush to kill something as there is 3 months of bow season vs a week of rifle season