Outdoor Survival Info

I have finally made my decision about a hunting rifle. Now, I know that in the past I said I was going to get a surplus Mosin-Nagant to hunt with, but I don’t think I will now. I think I would rather have something a little more modern. Modern…ha.

I’ve chosen the lever action .30-30. New or used is fine, as long as it works, and is in good condition. I would, of course, prefer a new one. I chose this particular rifle (looking for a Marlin 336W, but I’ll take a Winchester 94) because it has a strong reputation for being an effective rifle for hunting Arkansas deer. The weight of the bullet and the muzzle energy is great for these hardwoods, where you rarely get a shot past 200 yards.

Like I could hit something 200 yards away…

Whatever particular rifle I end up with, I’m going with iron sights. No scope for me. My reasoning is based purely in practicality. I want to be a good marksman. And I’m going to become a good marksman by learning to manage stock iron sights. Only after I can regularly bullseye a target at 100 yards (and get really close to a regular bullseye at 150 – 200 yards) will I progress to a scoped rifle.

Not only will I have a reputed and proven rifle platform, I’ll have something with class. The lever action .30-30 has long been an American favorite. And though I embrace change, I also embrace and preserve tradition.

When I get my rifle — which could be months from now — I’ll post pictures of it here. I’ll also critique it, write an article about breaking down and cleaning it, and give a range report. I’m going to try out that LEVERevolution ammunition from Hornady, too. I’ll let you know how that goes in my reports.

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