Remington pumps
The first year I hunted deer, I carried a Rem 14 in .30 Rem. I was 12. I may have carried that rifle two seasons, it was a while ago ya'know. As we only hunted 4-5 days out of a 2 week season, it sort of runs together in my memory.
I did not kill a deer with the Model 14.
My Dad had acquired that rifle from one of his uncles, and it came to me. Dad later traded that rifle off. I was old enough at that point, that I was buying my own guns, and I promptly went out and found an early Model 14 in .30 Rem, and I still have it. Bought all the ammo I could find at the time,and have 200 rds or so laid back. I carry it now and then, but still have not killed a deer with a Model 14. Passed a doe up one morning when I had to be at work in an hour or so, no way I could have gotten the deer out, quartered, and on to work on time. I really need to take a whitetail with that old pump.
Pumps were THE rifle in our area.....my great uncle started with a model 14 in .35 and switched to a glossy wood Rem 760 in '06, my favorite uncle had an early vertically grooved Rem 760, in .270, his hunting pal had a newer, glossy one '06, and I believe another of that bunch, a guy they worked with who tagged along now and then, had one in .243. All those guns were full size rifles, but the pump carbine, typically in '06, was VERY common. I was just a kid, but it was apparent that a pump r was the thing to have, and I wanted one with more punch than the hand me down .30 Rem I was toting. I wanted a .308 carbine desperately, but never did get one.