short range deer rifle.
Printed From: The BaitShop
Category: Hunting
Forum Name: Big Game
Forum Description: Deer, elk, antelope, and all other big game on all continents.
URL: http://www.baitshopboyz.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=26231
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 21:11
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Topic: short range deer rifle.
Posted By: BEAR
Subject: short range deer rifle.
Date Posted: 16 December 2018 at 15:35
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Been hunting NY state and at close thick stuff. My Kimber 6.5-08 with the Leupold 3-9x wasn't the best. Figuring 40 yards for shot; need to drop it right there. So for next year I need to come up with something better.
Well, I got the scope Leupold 1-4x 28. Rifle? ---Could go with a 44 mag Marlin ---Ruger #3 in 30-40. ---Rem bolt in 7 mag. Will be shooting smallest weight bullet I can get, at max velocity...disolve-a matic. |
Replies:
Posted By: d4570
Date Posted: 16 December 2018 at 16:31
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303 British or maybe a 7.62 x54. I think a 30/30 would serve well to. ------------- Remember: Four boxes keep us free ,the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, AND the cartridge box |
Posted By: 788Fan
Date Posted: 16 December 2018 at 17:12
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Of the rifles listed, for 40 yards or so, I'd go with the Marlin or #3 with a low power scope. Good luck. 788 ------------- "We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the universe. That makes us something very special." Stephen Hawking 1942-2018 |
Posted By: BEAR
Date Posted: 16 December 2018 at 17:53
| Problem with the 7.62 x54 is, on close shots the muzzle flash can blind you. |
Posted By: RobertMT
Date Posted: 16 December 2018 at 23:03
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It's not listed, but in lever, I'd go with 38-55, over 44mag. Mainly because my Grandpa Sam used one for everything, from deer to moose and it always worked. Neither him nor Grandma Roberts (30/30) ever used scope and mostly hunted by drives, so shots were often short range, on moving game. If you already have 44mag lever, I'd go with 240gr over 180gr, much better performance on deer. ------------- Want to stop Drunk Drivers, from Killing Sober Drivers? Ban Sober Drivers from Driving. That's how Gun Control Works. NRA Benefactor Life, GOA Patriot, SAF |
Posted By: jsgbearpaws1
Date Posted: 17 December 2018 at 01:39
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Nothing drops the hammer like a slug inside a hundred....nothin. An 870 with a short tube slug barrel will make it easily into a carbine length and still remain light enough to carry, and even the smooth bores out to a hundred will put them in at MOdeer. 2 3/4 for a 12 and 3" for a 20 should drop even the biggest of PA bears or deer. ------------- ...oh yeah! thats gonna hurt! |
Posted By: MtElkHunter
Date Posted: 17 December 2018 at 13:48
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It's hard to argue with a shotgun slug for less than 100 yards. My personnel short range gun is a marlin lever in 45-70 with a 1.5X5 Leopold scope. It is absolutely deadly at close range and can stretch to 200-250 in a pinch. Another round I really like in close that has less recoil is the 35 Remington, similar to a 30-30 just a bigger hole. ------------- SW Montana |
Posted By: Irish Bird Dog
Date Posted: 17 December 2018 at 14:06
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I think the Ruger #3 would be a neat way to go and very effective too at 40yds. ------------- Irish Bird Dog NRA Life/Endowment 2nd Amendment Supporter |
Posted By: TasunkaWitko
Date Posted: 26 December 2018 at 09:51
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My honest opinion is that a .30/30 would be ideal; although there are no flies on the .35 Remington. ------------- TasunkaWitko - Chinook, Montana  Helfen, Wehren, Heilen Die Wahrheit wird euch frei machen |
Posted By: TCLouis
Date Posted: 26 December 2018 at 20:59
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Off the list, but a lever 45-70. ------------- There is Family, Huntin, Fishin, Outdoors, . . . The rest is pretty much frittering ones life away |
Posted By: BEAR
Date Posted: 27 December 2018 at 10:14
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Boy, I think I'd really need to load the 45=70 DOWN to avoid blowing thru a whitetail like a laser. Certainly could use a cast slow moving bullet? |
Posted By: Irish Bird Dog
Date Posted: 27 December 2018 at 13:04
Gotta say the 45-70 is ok for deer the way I do it.........load BP under 405gr cast boolet and launch it from my Trapdoor. ------------- Irish Bird Dog NRA Life/Endowment 2nd Amendment Supporter |
Posted By: RaySendero
Date Posted: 28 December 2018 at 11:44
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d4570 Already mentioned it: I use a 303B with iron sights for close range deer or hogs. ------------- Ray |
Posted By: BEAR
Date Posted: 28 December 2018 at 12:09
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Eyes are well beyond using peep or open sights, would love to. Glad I have 50% in my good eye. Scopes are the only way I can hunt. Handgun shooting is getting to be instinct, not aim. BUT>>>the really good news is I can still hunt.
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Posted By: BEAR
Date Posted: 28 December 2018 at 12:20
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Ok, thanks for all the good input. Decisions: The 30-40 Krag Ruger #3, 22 inch barrel, not super light weight but good balance; very, very accurate. The scope: leupold VX-2 1-4x-20mm. Not the besst low light scope, but a true 1x and super clear. Mounts Weaver Quad, 1" double extended (reversed) fo perfect eyerelief. The ammo P++ loaded with RL-7 and Hornady 125 gr SST at 3025 fps. Got all the parts, just need to mount scope, sight in, and load develope. Got 10 months of fun ahead.
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Posted By: Irish Bird Dog
Date Posted: 28 December 2018 at 17:53
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A good choice all the way around bear.....no more new #3's since a long time ago now either. ------------- Irish Bird Dog NRA Life/Endowment 2nd Amendment Supporter |
Posted By: BEAR
Date Posted: 28 December 2018 at 23:25
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Bought my #3 for $85 in 1977 ay LGS. had him toss in a box of ammo! should have bought a dozen. Interesting thing was I bought it on a friday and the local gun club had a 100 yards shoot on satruday, off hand, standing, open sights. I got to the finals on that box of ammo; never even got to sight it in! In the final round, IWas shooting against two Marnies with AR from Quantico. Won the $100 pot. So the gun was basically free. 2 pi$$ed jarheads.
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Posted By: Wing master
Date Posted: 29 December 2018 at 22:54
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Good choice Bear. I think it will serve you well. Wing master ------------- I have always considered myself to be quite the bullshitter, But ocasionally it is nice to sit back and listen to a true professional......So, Carry on. |
Posted By: BEAR
Date Posted: 30 December 2018 at 00:32
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Interesting, I've had the rifle a long time and killed 30+ deer with it. But haven't shot it in20 years or so. since mounting the new scope, I've pulled it up a dozen or so times, feels really good. This is a rifle specificlly for my short, under 50 yard, hunting areas; so I'll probably never shoot it except at the range. But it will be a good friend to take for short walks into the big woods.
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Posted By: Wing master
Date Posted: 30 December 2018 at 14:16
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It's good to take an old friend out into the woods. Wing master ------------- I have always considered myself to be quite the bullshitter, But ocasionally it is nice to sit back and listen to a true professional......So, Carry on. |
Posted By: Goatlocker
Date Posted: 03 March 2019 at 20:44
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Well, late to the party as usual. Will add another option I’m fond of for future reference. If you can even find one now in good condition, the Ruger 44mag carbine is a real dandy in the thick stuff. Light weight and easy to carry, very very quick to shoulder. The 44 mag is a solid performer out 100 yrds and can carry the mail reasonably to 150 when shot through that 18” bbl. Congratulations Bear on your 30-40 kraig set up, bet it’s a real pleasure to use. ------------- Goatlocker Give me a fast boat for I intend to go in harm's way. |
Posted By: BEAR
Date Posted: 04 March 2019 at 06:22
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Ruger carbines, early were semi-auto, Autos are not legal inPennsylvania. but they just became legal for deer in NY state. Later Ruger made the carbine in a lever gun. I've killed deer with a 44, works good. longest 44 whitetaail kill was 93 yards, I'm sure it would do out to 150+. Nice to see your post Goat, been a while. You post got me thinking.......I have a new never fired in the boc Marlin 44 mag lever 1894. that would be perfect! Had fogotten it.
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Posted By: Goatlocker
Date Posted: 04 March 2019 at 11:25
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I think you’re right bear. That Marlin should be just the ticket! How many rounds will it hold in the magazine? I’ve found the 240 grn soft points to perform well on deer I shot. Last buck I took with mine was from a tree at 35 yrds. In through base of neck, out behind off side shoulder. He went straight down, and didn’t even kick much. There wasn’t much meat loss either. ------------- Goatlocker Give me a fast boat for I intend to go in harm's way. |
Posted By: MtElkHunter
Date Posted: 04 March 2019 at 13:35
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I load my 45-70 all over the map, from heavy holy shit loads too did I actually shoot that. One of my favorite loads is a 405 cast bullet over a dose of TrailBoss powder. This load is just barely subsonic so it is very quite you do not even need hearing protection because it barely louder than a 22 mag but it will still punch through a deer broadside at 50 yards. This is my did I just shoot that load because everyone who shoots it wonders what went wrong because there is almost no recoil and very little noise. ------------- SW Montana |
Posted By: Irish Bird Dog
Date Posted: 04 March 2019 at 14:16
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Nothing fancy here for a "short" range deer rifle.....either a M94 Winny either 30-30 or .32Spl. or M1893 Marlin or 1936 Marlin both in "thurty-thurty" caliber any one of which makes for a good deer rifle....all still iron sights.....we're talking short range right?...in reference to the sighting eyes anyway...this is where a good receiver sight ie peep sight shines. ------------- Irish Bird Dog NRA Life/Endowment 2nd Amendment Supporter |
Posted By: BEAR
Date Posted: 04 March 2019 at 14:50
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The idea is to drop the deer instantly. Age has limited me to a 150yd max drag. Lots of scouting, but I've found 2 good spots within 150 yards of parking my truck. But I need to drop it right there. a 50 yard run could put it 75 foot down a steep rivine; or over on to private lands and a heavy thicket. MUST be DRT. So i'm looking for devestation loads with no bullet leaving. Goat, you got me laughing. Except for hunting on the treeless great plains, I single shot all my rifles. If the first shot isn't perfect........I head to cocktail hour and rethink my whole life. And that seldom ever happens.
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Posted By: MapleHill
Date Posted: 05 March 2019 at 16:34
| I am kinda partial to the 44 with a 240gr slug. I have a Ruger Carbine, Ruger 96/44 lever and Marlin lever. I really like the 44 Mag!! |
Posted By: jsgbearpaws1
Date Posted: 07 March 2019 at 02:46
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The .44 mag is fine up close but runs out of gas quicker then the 30-30. It's much heavier and still packs a punch but reliability goes downhill fast for expansion and DRT response. If the 12 ga. is a bit too stiff they do make a sweet 20 ga. round for those DRT god smacked hits that you so desire. https://www.ballisticproducts.com/DGS-Gualbo-Steel-Slug-12ga-10_pak/productinfo/0721614/#reviews" rel="nofollow - https://www.ballisticproducts.com/DGS-Gualbo-Steel-Slug-12ga-10_pak/productinfo/0721614/#reviews YouTube has a bunch of videos on it for accuracy and performance on gel....keep the heart medicine close when you watch the videos though. They are serious. ------------- ...oh yeah! thats gonna hurt! |
Posted By: MtElkHunter
Date Posted: 07 March 2019 at 13:25
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I have a place that is very small that I hunt for whitetails. the dragging is not the issue the issue is if the deer goes more than 50 yards it crosses a property line that I do not have permission to hunt or retrieve game, so at this place I have the same DRT requirement. Over the years what I have found it does not matter what you are shooting, if you shoot a deer in the boiler room they occasionally run a ways before dropping. This may offend some people but the best way I have overcome this problem is with a heavy barreled 22-250 loaded to the max behind a 55 grain soft point. This is not a normal deer load or gun this is a varmint load. This gun and load is a absolute tack driver. All my shots on this property are short 50-75 yards and with a good rest in the blind I can put the bullet exactly where I want to so I only take head shots. Every deer I have shot this way has not even taken 1 step. You can actually see the deer's legs fold up under the body before the body its the ground. Would I take this gun and load other places to hunt deer.... Probably not but if the range is short and you have a good rest, I have not found anything that kills quicker. ------------- SW Montana |
Posted By: BEAR
Date Posted: 08 March 2019 at 14:21
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Good point MtElk. Shot placement. I'm certainly a heart/lung guy. But a neck/spine or head is fine. 2 years ago I shot my elk with a head shot (9.3x62) 1" behind the eye. off side was missing, and it dropped in ist tracks.
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Posted By: d4570
Date Posted: 08 March 2019 at 14:32
I'm not a head shot fan but when you have to you gat to... ------------- Remember: Four boxes keep us free ,the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, AND the cartridge box |
Posted By: Goatlocker
Date Posted: 22 March 2019 at 18:03
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Agree, shot placement is key with adequate termanal energy. As far as shot placement, they can’t go far if their shoulder is destroyed. Same reason it’s a good spot to shoot dangerous game. I always choose the shoulder. Especially when it’s critical that they stay put. ------------- Goatlocker Give me a fast boat for I intend to go in harm's way. |