If you don't like guns - this would be the time to go to another thread.
I've owned an awful lot of deer rifles. Two of them really stand out - not because they were high tech, or even powerful, but mostly because they were very good at getting deer.
The first was a 30/40 Krag, the gun used by the US military during the Spanish American War.
When I was 12, I felt the need to have my own deer rifle. I took my trapline money, and my paper route money, and went down to Finnila's Hardware. I was frequently in the place. It was where I sold my furs, bought my traps, and where I'd bought several .22 rifles. Most of the deer rifles were out of my price range, but there was one old rifle hanging on the wall with a tag that said $15.00. Finnila said it had been his rifle for many years, but it no longer shot straight. He said he'd had new sights put on, but it didn't help. Why I wanted a rifle that didn't shoot straight - I have no idea. I guess it was the one I could afford.
I bought the rifle, and shot it several times. I noticed it shot way to the right of where I was aiming, but that it always hit in the same place. I took it to the gunsmith in town and he said the sights were put on wrong. He put on new sights and charged me ten dollars. I said that was too much, and he charged me seven dollars. The rifle shot straight on.
I hunted with this rifle until I was in my 20s and got many deer. Then I traded it in on a new rifle that was the unluckiest gun I've ever owned. I have it yet, and I think I've shot maybe one deer with it. I've wished many times for that old 30/40 Krag.
My other good deer rifle I inherited from my grandfather. It is a 1904 30/30 Winchester with a long octogon barrel. The rifle is better at hunting than I am. I've never failed to put down a deer with it, once I had the deer in my sights. My grandfather shot 14 moose and one caribou with this rifle - and countless deer. I've started the morning with newer, more powerful, guns - missed a deer - gone home and got the 30/30 and ended up getting a deer.
It is kind of a family heirloom. It was my great grandfather's gun originally. He gave it to my grandfather. When grandfather was courting grandmother, he didn't have money for a ring, so he carved her name (in large letters) in the stock. My grandmother died many years ago, but the gun is still named "Esther." It is the only item specifically mentioned in my will, and will go to my eldest son - who is named for his grandfather.
PG
I've owned an awful lot of deer rifles. Two of them really stand out - not because they were high tech, or even powerful, but mostly because they were very good at getting deer.
The first was a 30/40 Krag, the gun used by the US military during the Spanish American War.
When I was 12, I felt the need to have my own deer rifle. I took my trapline money, and my paper route money, and went down to Finnila's Hardware. I was frequently in the place. It was where I sold my furs, bought my traps, and where I'd bought several .22 rifles. Most of the deer rifles were out of my price range, but there was one old rifle hanging on the wall with a tag that said $15.00. Finnila said it had been his rifle for many years, but it no longer shot straight. He said he'd had new sights put on, but it didn't help. Why I wanted a rifle that didn't shoot straight - I have no idea. I guess it was the one I could afford.
I bought the rifle, and shot it several times. I noticed it shot way to the right of where I was aiming, but that it always hit in the same place. I took it to the gunsmith in town and he said the sights were put on wrong. He put on new sights and charged me ten dollars. I said that was too much, and he charged me seven dollars. The rifle shot straight on.
I hunted with this rifle until I was in my 20s and got many deer. Then I traded it in on a new rifle that was the unluckiest gun I've ever owned. I have it yet, and I think I've shot maybe one deer with it. I've wished many times for that old 30/40 Krag.
My other good deer rifle I inherited from my grandfather. It is a 1904 30/30 Winchester with a long octogon barrel. The rifle is better at hunting than I am. I've never failed to put down a deer with it, once I had the deer in my sights. My grandfather shot 14 moose and one caribou with this rifle - and countless deer. I've started the morning with newer, more powerful, guns - missed a deer - gone home and got the 30/30 and ended up getting a deer.
It is kind of a family heirloom. It was my great grandfather's gun originally. He gave it to my grandfather. When grandfather was courting grandmother, he didn't have money for a ring, so he carved her name (in large letters) in the stock. My grandmother died many years ago, but the gun is still named "Esther." It is the only item specifically mentioned in my will, and will go to my eldest son - who is named for his grandfather.
PG