Can you/do you hunt with your leverguns?

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 11:46 am

Do you or can you hunt with your leverguns? Are you one who has to use a shotgun or muzzleloader? Do you not hunt at all? Will you only use your leverguns in conditions where shorter shots are the norm?

I noticed over the years that some, don't, can't or won't hunt with their leverguns. Which are you?

victor · Post by **victor** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:25 pm

I can and do hunt with my levergun in the northern tier of New York.I find myself in heavily wooded areas and shots would be under 8o yds.100yd shots would be my limit with my eyes and open sights.

I live in the southern tier where rifle use is limited to certain areas but is starting to expand.I can't walk out my back door to the woods and hunt with my levergun yet but I do like the northern tier and its a short drive.

CraigC · Post by **CraigC** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:27 pm

Absolutely! It's about all I hunt with. I only own one centerfire bolt action that I reserve for treestands in open fields and I really only bought it for the wood. Haven't used it but a couple times. I usually hunt with one of two .44Mags, three .30-30's, the 1895 .405 or my Lyman Great Plains .54cal. Last year all I used was the Lyman. How I hunt is more important to me than B&C points and success is not measured by body count.

I do have a bunch of .22's but the 94/22's get the most use.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:40 pm

My 45-70s, .444 and 30WCF are good, with a supported position, to 200yds for me.......I've had an '06 and recently a Whelen that I'll carry for a backup or in case I want to sit on a clear cut or an open area.

deerwhacker444 · Post by **deerwhacker444** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:44 pm

CraigC wrote: How I hunt is more important to me than B&C points and success is not measured by body count.

+1

When I want to "Hunt", I usually take my bow and hunt out of a stand in the deep woods. When our short rifle season and even shorter muzzleloader season rolls around, I will use different rifles (bolt and lever) for different locations to "Harvest" a deer. I get much more enjoyment out of chasing the deer around with my bow, than shooting one with a rifle. IMO, shooting one with a rifle is alot like shooting a paper target. I just don't get that choked up anymore with a rifle like I do with a bow.

A5Mag12 · Post by **A5Mag12** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:55 pm

Most of my deer hunting is with one of my '94's in 30-30 if I feel I need a bit more range I'll take the 88 in .308.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 1:18 pm

I can't hunt with rifles in IL, shotguns and muzzle loaders only.

However when I was in AZ I did hunt with my lever actions. Those or my revolvers.

Joe

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:00 pm

Yes, don't like shooting paper much unless I gotta.
I use the only bolt gun for lamping on my own at night. I do M/L shotgun too.
It's illegal to use a bow on any critter over here but should an oppurtunity arise, well you know

yep that little trapper packs in the car a treat, much better than bolt gun.

Nath.

handirifle · Post by **handirifle** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:01 pm

I use whichever gun best suits my needs/desires at the time. My levergun (1895GS) gets used when hunting bear or pigs, cause I expect/hope to be close and I want stopping power.

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:11 pm

I get to use both.

The first three days of deer season I have to use
slugs or a muzzle loader.
This is do to the fact I get a permit almost every yr.
to hunt LetterKenney Army Depot.

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:38 pm

Actually, I fall between the first and second choice but I clicked the first choice. I do mostly take my .30-30 with me as my proimary gun but do take a .30-06 as a back-up. I'll take a shot as long as 150 yards with my .30-30 without hesitation but anything over that only with a good steady rest -- tree, fence post, etc..

I also take a 12ga pump shotgun on all hunting trips too along with a fully rifled barrel and smooth bored barrel.

Post by **Old Savage** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:41 pm

There is a choice missing - Hunt with them regardless of range.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:04 pm

I can't use one here in OH for deer so it's been my .44 S&W 29.

Out of state I'm usually packing a levergun or my Grandfather's '03 Springfield Sporter.

I have a bunch more to choose from this year so I have no Idea which one's going with me in Nov. My new 88 is deadly accurate and nice and lite. The new 94 in 444 is here and that's gonna be in the running for sure.

jb

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:20 pm

I only have three leveractions, all will be in the camp with me this year. I just wished I had more time to shoot them before going out.

Johnny

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:25 pm

Old Savage wrote:There is a choice missing - Hunt with them regardless of range.

I fixed that for you Fred!

flatfender · Post by **flatfender** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:27 pm

My bolt guns have not been out of the safe in about 4 years. I hunt in East Texas, the ranges are generally less than 150 yds. My buddy got me started with his model 71 375 alaskan. I was going to fire form some brass for him. Well I did, that was a model 71 and 5 model 94's ago. I think I am going to have to think of a way to return the favor.

jkbrea · Post by **jkbrea** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:33 pm

I hunted elk for 15 years with a bolt, 7mm mag.....until I got on this site. Now its a Marlin 45-70 and a Winchester 30-30.

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:42 pm

depends on the country I am in. My 45 trapper gets used for under 100 yards but that is more because of the short sight radius. I have no doubt it will do the job out to 150 or so with stout loads but the groups open up and the drop is alot out that far. But it will be perfect for deer here in Indiana.

meanc · Post by **meanc** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:57 pm

I hunt with levers exclusively regardless of range. Got rid of the bolts and semis a few years ago.

44LVR · Post by **44LVR** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:59 pm

You bet I do! About 90% of the time for deer, bear and elk mostly. The other 10% of the time is with a single action thumbbuster

44

stinkycat · Post by **stinkycat** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:24 pm

a 39a or 336 marlin are all I use anymore.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:00 pm

JReed wrote:depends on the country I am in. My 45 trapper gets used for under 100 yards but that is more because of the short sight radius. I have no doubt it will do the job out to 150 or so with stout loads but the groups open up and the drop is alot out that far. But it will be perfect for deer here in Indiana.

Our family's .44 Mag Marlins have gotten us several hundred pounds of Hoosier deer meat!

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:04 pm

I used to hunt with bolt guns almost exclusively while living in Idaho due to the nature of the hunting there and likelihood of very long range shots. Since moving back home to the midwest, I have gone back to levers almost exclusively. I ain't even shot any of my bolt guns in several years. Maybe I should sell them and use the money towards more leverguns.

pharmseller · Post by **pharmseller** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:21 pm

Never.

Kind of a lever

lever-4-life · Post by **lever-4-life** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:34 pm

95% of my deer hunting is with a winchester 94 30-30. The other 5% is with a remington 30-06. The 06 is my main elk gun, but it dose see some action in the hydrolic diggings for deer here in california. I am going to try the 30-30 on elk one of these days...

HATCHETTJACK · Post by **HATCHETTJACK** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:42 pm

most definately hunt with mine

Shasta · Post by **Shasta** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:48 pm

I always put in for the muzzleloader hunts here in the far north of California, but haven't drawn one since 1988.

For regular deer season hunting I take 2 rifles, a left-hand Browning A-Bolt .270 for areas where shots may be over 200 yards, and one of my leverguns for everything else. I sometimes substitute a muzzleloader for the levergun, but not often.

Here's a nice little fork-horn blacktail taken with my '95 Browning .30-40 Krag:

RangerClay · Post by **RangerClay** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:52 pm

With the exceptions of my shotgun hunts, I have always used a levergun.

Right now I cannot find and pics of my BLR Lightning.

Lobo · Post by **Lobo** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:21 pm

Hi All,

The first rifle I ever bought was a Marlin 336 C, in .35 Rem....20 inch barrel....microgroove.....less than $100 NIB. After I put the heel of my right thumb into the bridge of my nose, I put a recoil pad on it about an inch thick. When my eyes started to get hazy on the sights, I installed a Pachmeyer Lo-Swing ($65 at the time) scope mount and a variable scope (now a Leupold Vari X-III in 1.5 x 5). For something approaching twenty years this was the only hunting rifle I owned....I shot everything from groundhogs to blackbear. I shoot a handload of a Speer 180 grain flatnose over IMR 3031 for about 2100 fps. Simplicity.....don't ya love it!!!

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:26 pm

I have always hunted with a lever gun and I guess I always will now that is all I own.

bsaride · Post by **bsaride** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:30 pm

Had to sell off all my guns seven years ago (kept one cheap pump shotgun).
I like vintage everything and decided levers were a great way to do that.

2 levers (1893 30-30 (1908), 39 22LR (1927)), 1 single shot (Stevens Fav 22LR
(1895-99)), 1 bolt gun (Win 52 22LR (1929), 1 revolver (IJ Super Sealed Eight,
22LR (1946). Pickin up a 44 Spcl S&W (new) for a sidearm (prefered camp gun)
and plan to hunt with them all.

bigbore442001 · Post by **bigbore442001** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:38 pm

I must be the black sheep of this board. I still don't own a lever action rifle.

If I did, I could hunt varmints, small game and black bear in my home state of Massachusetts. Deer are a bow, shotgun and muzzleloader only proposition.

bunklocoempire · Post by **bunklocoempire** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:39 pm

I get two choices right now, 336 30-30 or 410/22 single Savage.

Bunkloco (arsenally challenged) thanks for letting me hang around anyways!

p.s., Could someone remind me what a pig looks like?

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:51 pm

I hunt with everything...
bows, muzzle loaders, rifle, bolt 30-06 and lever....44 and 30-30 mostly
and of course shotguns....
and if there was a season for it....id chuck a spear or two also...
gotta try cross bow one day!

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:09 pm

Lobo wrote:Hi All,

The first rifle I ever bought was a Marlin 336 C, in .35 Rem....20 inch barrel....microgroove.....less than $100 NIB. After I put the heel of my right thumb into the bridge of my nose, I put a recoil pad on it about an inch thick. When my eyes started to get hazy on the sights, I installed a Pachmeyer Lo-Swing ($65 at the time) scope mount and a variable scope (now a Leupold Vari X-III in 1.5 x 5). For something approaching twenty years this was the only hunting rifle I owned....I shot everything from groundhogs to blackbear. I shoot a handload of a Speer 180 grain flatnose over IMR 3031 for about 2100 fps. Simplicity.....don't ya love it!!!

Good on you Lobo.
I have much respect for a guy like you.
You found a rifle that you like, and have stuck with it.
You and that rifle are adapting and aging together.
You will have a very special rifle to pass on to a special
family member someday.

black tail · Post by **black tail** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:03 pm

I do hunt with my 44 but not exclusively. Depends on what and where I am hunting. If up close or in the brush I'll use the 44 for deer. If I'm at longer ranges for deer I'll either use the 7x57 Mauser or my 30-06. For Bear I'm using a 350 Remington pushing a 225 Barnes TSX @ 2750FPS.
Here is a pic of the last buck I shot with the ol'44

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:41 pm

during the regular firearms season, I will be using the Sharps 45-70 Hartford heavy rifle, the Wild West Guns .457 mag/45-70 co-pilot, and perhaps the NKJ 92 in .357. On my trip to the levergun safari in Texas, I will be taking the sharps, the WWG and perhaps my Remington sxs double rifle in 30-06. Always hunting I carry a pistol, probably a freedom arms in .45lc or .22lr. The other lever gun I will use in my Marlin 39 TDS for small game. I use a longbow for archery season and a flintlock for early and late muzzleloader but my levers are in the field through the small game and big game seasons.

azzhandler · Post by **azzhandler** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:19 pm

for serious out of state hunts I use my browning 1885 in 7 mag, last yr I used my blr in 284 win,

and for ohio deer I built a kessler levermatic, with a rifled choke tune and williams peep sights

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 11:15 pm

bigbore442001 wrote:I must be the black sheep of this board. I still don't own a lever action rifle.

If I did, I could hunt varmints, small game and black bear in my home state of Massachusetts. Deer are a bow, shotgun and muzzleloader only proposition.

You and J Miller need to get 1887s.

The new ones will handle 3" slugs just fine.

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:01 am

I have stopped using my work guns and sniper rifles for deer and now only use them for varmint hunting. I have started using lever guns and hand guns (revolvers mostly) for most of the harvest now with my favorite being a 45-70. I can’t wait to get the Co-Pilot into the game as I want to carry it on trips in my pack. I carried a Winchester Take Down 1897 for a while in my pack and still like it a lot.

geobru · Post by **geobru** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 1:26 am

The last time I hunted with a bolt was in 1977. I bought a BLR in 308 and never looked back.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 3:27 am

Yes 'cause that's all I've got!

Poohgyrr · Post by **Poohgyrr** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:22 am

Absolutely. My first rifle was a lever .22 and I was hooked.

marlin shooter · Post by **marlin shooter** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:58 am

I start the season with muzzleloader, then move to rifle. In year's past as the season wore on I would change to a bolt because it become's buck's only and my lever's did not wear a scope. I remedied that by scoping my Marlin 375 (weaver1-3). This worked perfect on my deer last year and I'll do the same this year.
Karl

H_Talon · Post by **H_Talon** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:09 am

Absolutely ... I owned bolts for years but levers are the wave of the future for me ..

even though my Honey just bought me this new addition for my family..

when I was in Wyoming awhile back my 99 in 7-08 added to the freezer

yep leverguns make life fun

Talon

Post by **Hobie** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:53 am

You should tell us more about that 7mm-08 in another topic. Where were you hunting, etc? Neat!

Bigahh · Post by **Bigahh** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 1:34 pm

I use my levers for 90% of my hunting. My bolts are still used when the Ranges can be "Out there"

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 2:20 pm

90%+ of the time....what'cha think???

Then again, I'm tak'n these Elk hunt'n this coming year:

And I use a Lyman Great Plains Hunter as a muzzle stuffer.

But over all...it has been my '94 Trapper chambered for .44 Mag that has taken 13 Whitetail, one Black Bear, and on Bull Elk cross the Clark Fork up in the Bitter Roots. Don't worry much about the distance, a good hunter can overcome that!

Even loaned it out to my youngest boy last year, kept missing with his super dupper, mr.gadget magnum what'cha call it black rifle and he got this (yea, I know he hung it wrong but he is learn'n):

Post by **Old Savage** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 2:29 pm

The hunting I have done has been with bolts and levers. I like all my rifles and have tried to use them all.

BenT · Post by **BenT** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 4:54 pm

Every deer I ever shot was with a lever. Except one with an SKS about 15 years agp when my buddies and I all bought some for plinking and decided to have a SKS hunt.

Do you get to hunt with your levergun(s)?