Recommend a handy woods rifle.

deer gun choice

I must say that my T/C Contender G2 with a custom laminated stock in
7-30 Waters is perhaps the most accurate gun/caliber combination I have.
100 yd. MIA is consistently 1/2-inch.
Reforming 30-30 brass into the Waters is only a single pass thru the Waters' die. No firing forming required.

My Contender has a 20-inch barrel and is a pleasure to carry.

If you're interested, my boar gun is a 14-inch Contender in .357 Maximum that is also a handy little number to walk around with.
 
As Wildernesshunter said above, the Howa 1500 is an excellent rifle. I just picked up a MINI like his, but in 223. Its out of the box accuracy with factory ammo is superb. Buds has the 1500 in 243 for mid-high $400s. That's an excellent rifle for a great price. The Weatherby Vanguard is a few dollars more, and weighs a bit more, but is another great choice.
 
Handy Woods Rifles

I hated the way the point of the trigger guard would dig into my back. I'd sling my Encore across my back diagnolly when I'd have to ride my atv and it would hurt like all get out. So I'm not crazy about that part
Click to expand...

The fix for this is a soft scabbard (homemade would be fine) with a sling. Sling the scabbarded rifle over your back, while you ride, keeps the sharp edges from "digging in".

Here are the handy woods rifles I have, or have had, see if something on the list does it for you...

Remington Model 600 .308 Win
Remington Model 600 6mm Rem
Remington Model 660 .350 Rem Mag
Remington Mohawk 600 .243 Win
Ruger No. 3 .30-40 Krag
Ruger No. 3 .45-70
Winchester model 94 .30-30, .32 Special
Marlin model 336 .30-30, .35 Rem
Marlin 1894 .357 Mag & .44 Mag
Marlin 1895 .45-70
Swedish Mauser carbine 6.5x55 Swede
Browning BLR .308 Win

Some of these are more "handy" than others, some are pleasant to shoot, and a couple of them will kick the snot out of you.

Since you are already into the .243, the Mohawk .243 would seem to suit you well. They can still be had, but there are drawbacks, to any out of production gun, and the 600 series has the "bad" Remington trigger. There have been recalls. I've never sent any of mine in, nor had any problems, but for some people its a deal breaker today...

For a current production bolt gun that comes close to the 600s series in "handiness" check out the Remington Model 7, which can be had in .243 if you want.
 
Last gun before the election? .... Well, you're a little late on the, ah, 'trigger,' so to speak. :rolleyes:

You should probably be looking for an autoloader that can play a secondary role, when needed, ... if you catch my drift.

I'm not a Ruger Mini-anything fan, but the Mini-30 comes to kind. Low profile and accurate "enough" for hunting use - i.e., minute-of-fur.

For down-n-dirty woods hunting use, I had a deer/hog slayer built in .308. It's called a Mini-G. Formally an M1, invented by some dudenal named 'Garand,' it was chopped and re-barrelled and is now a handy 16" carbine that's ideal for brush-busting and banging around the boonies. Good too for night security at the campfire and in the tent or cabin.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XlYJacucucQ

:cool:
 
Last edited:
In doing a little research on some of the other guns that have been suggested, I found the Remington Model 7 CDL to be an interesting gun. I've never owned a Remington and have read online that they went through some quality control issues around the time they were bought by Freedom Group. The Model 7 CDL looks to be a little longer than the Ruger Compact, but still shorter than the normal 42" OAL of most bolt guns.
 
I really want a CZ 527 in 7.62x39 for the same reason of being a fairly lightweight and handy center-fire rifle, powerful enough to hunt deer or hog or coyote with, it's cheap to shoot and apparently pretty accurate with less than amazing ammunition. I like the adjustability of the trigger cz puts in their rifles. Reputation for making a quality rifle, and it's not so expensive you'll never want to use it.
 
Again guys, a lot of caliber recommendations for the 260 and 7mm-08, but if you look at my first post you'll see maximum range of 150 yards. Since I already own a 270, I see no benefit of a 7mm-08 or 260 within 150 yards. I download my 270 using H4895 reduced loads and I can match the recoil and ballistics of both of those rounds. Yet I don't care for the actual rifle and I'm not a long action fan. The gun isn't short and handy to carry in the woods. So unless someone can give me some advatages of the 260 or 7mm-08 within 150 yards that I can't replicate with a gun I already have, I see no reason to add another gun in another caliber.

That is why I'm looking at staying with a caliber I already load for or going with a new caliber that is far enough apart from what I already have, like the 7.62x39. That's a caliber that I can't replicate with something I already have, except maybe the 300 Blackout.
 
7.62x39...... End of story, baby!

Handload
AA2200 Powder 29.0gr, 150gr SP .311 Bullet, 48.698 CUP...... 200yds - 1,909fps - 1,214ftlbs --- THIS IS A DEER KILLER!


Crazy accurate in my 1500Mini...... I found mine in a local gun store, priced at $449. Owner gave me a 3% cash discount.....so, $436. I slapped a Bushnell Banner 3-9x40....and the package is still less than $550.

Three round group at 100 yards with Winchester ammo (123gr FMJ) from WallyWorld. Ignore the yellow edges and that is 0.5 MOA with a gun out of the box and ammo off the shelf. If there weren't 5mph cross winds.....I might have had a single hole.

 
Last edited:
I know you want a bolt, but a browning short-trac in .243 would be a light, soft shooting woods rifle.

Otherwise the Winchester featherweight.
 
Well I just bit the bullet and placed my order. I went with the Remington Model 7 CDL in 243. I ordered Leupold two-piece base and rings, and a Nikon 4-12×40 scope. Whole package cost of $870! At least this way I can get the gun up and shooting immediately with the ammo I already have loaded. Then over the winter I can start tailoring my loads to the gun with the bullets, brass, powder, and dies I already have. Thanks to everyone for all their input and thoughts. It's been a great diacussion!
 
Fine rifle choice. I'm curious why you chose a 4-12 scope when you stated in your first(?) post the maximum range from your ladder stand would be 150 yards. I would think a 2-7 or 2.5-8 would be better for a maximum range of 150 yards and they are great for shots over 400 yards.
 
lefteye said:
Fine rifle choice. I'm curious why you chose a 4-12 scope when you stated in your first(?) post the maximum range from your ladder stand would be 150 yards. I would think a 2-7 or 2.5-8 would be better for a maximum range of 150 yards and they are great for shots over 400 yards.
Click to expand...
My thought was that I typically tend to set my scopes on 4-6× when I'm stand hunting, but with a rifle like this that is light and handy, I might find myself grabbing it for coyote hunting in the future where I might want more magnification. And if this rifle proves to be a good fit, then I can relegate my other 243, the No.1, to the safe as it'sa bit heavy, especially for offhand shooting. Which would mean I would be able to use this Model 7 for more than just a "woods" rifle.

Wrong or right, I always tend to lean towards more magnification than less. I've never hunted with an optic less than 3-9×, so I felt safe having a minimum of 4x, but the option to crank up if needed. I'd rather have the magnification and not need it rather than the reverse.
 
Good choice on the model 7. My father has one in .308. It is a great little rifle. It should fit the bill for you. I have a Savage 11 trophy in .308 that I use as a beater 200 yards and under ladder stand rifle. I don't feel bad about dragging it through the eastern NC pine rows and swamp bottoms.
 
If you're in a stand, maybe you could just clip a few inches off the barrel of the .243 that you have.
or, since you reload:
Pickup a .25 wssm.
Short action. Short barrel, you already have 25 cal bullets for your .257 Roberts....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top