Greetings from North Texas

[dmills]

Greetings and Merry Christmas from North Texas!

I am checking in here because I am narrowing my choices down on a new centerfire rifle.  Long story short, I hunted deer some in the past with a Rem. BDL 7mag.  But then lost my "free" hunting property in central Texas and was limited to hunting National Grasslands, which allows only muzzleloaders or shot-guns.  So I went to MLs, first the inlines and most recently Traditionals in .54 caliber.  This past season, I got on a lease in East Texas and hunted with the ML.

However, most of the lease is open land and the other hunters on the lease (only 4 others) who had success, shot bucks crossing from a neighboring property to the river on our property.  I'll still want to hunt some with the ML there, even though I had no luck.  Also, this place is over-run with hogs and we are trying to clear them out.

So, I'm thinking I want to get a new centerfire to use some on this lease.  I have settled on getting a Handi Rifle in either 30-30, 45-70 or .308.  I have searched and read many post on this site and I thank you all for the information and tips.  I am leaning toward the Ultra with the .308 bull barrell, but that is subject to change hourly until I make the final decision. 

My question is "what's up with Wal-Mart?"

I went to the local Wal-Mart yesterday and talked to the guy in charge of the gun section.  He says to me that the Dallas area Wal-marts can no longer order guns and that all the guns in his store will be taken out in Jan. 2007.  He then said the only store in the "area" that can order guns will be one in Decatur, Texas, about 50 miles away out in the middle of nowhere. 

There is a Sportsmans Warehouse in the area, but I have not been by there yet.

Well, that's it for now.  Happy Holidays.

[10ga.]

My question is "what's up with Wal-Mart?"

I went to the local Wal-Mart yesterday and talked to the guy in charge of the gun section.  He says to me that the Dallas area Wal-marts can no longer order guns and that all the guns in his store will be taken out in Jan. 2007. 

Some others on here have reported the same thing in their state
Hasn't started here in south Louisiana yet.

[stimpylu32]

dmills

Anyone of the 3 will work for what you want , i have a 45/70 and just love the thing , but what ever one you chose will be a game getter . and marry christmas .

stimpy

[Brett]

Merry Christmas to you Dmills and welcome to the GBO forums!  

If you liked the performance of your old BDL in 7mm Mag. you may want to consider a Handi in .280 Rem. (aka; 7mm Remington Express). With it's 26" barrel  and hand loads the performance mirrors that of the 7mm Mag.   Nothing wrong with any of the calibers you mentioned either, however the 30-30, 45-70 and the .308 seem to be at opposites.  I tend to think of the first two as short range rounds, do to their trajectory, suited to hunting in heavy timber or brush.  Whereas the .308 is a good caliber for either short or long range scenarios. Though if you have to do a lot of walking a bull barrel can get a bit heavy, not a problem if most of your time hunting is spent in a stand or blind.  So consider the area you will hunt (average shot distance) and your style of hunting before making your final decision.

As to the Wallly-World gun situation, they are removing guns from the stores where sales volume was not sufficient to warrant the cost of staffing that department.  They say that the stores that are doing brisk volume in firearms will continue to sell them.

Hope this was helpful.

[quickdtoo]

Welcome aboard! Unfortunately, the .308 Ultra is not available with a bull barrel, only in the Hunter which is standard contour, the only BB 308 is on the Survivor.

Tim

http://hr1871.com/Firearms/Rifles/hunter.aspx

[Mac11700]

Welcome Aboard..and Merry Christmas..

Yup...it's a real shame that Wally World is changing where they sell guns...It removes a easy source..

Now..as to you question...Since you have a 7mm Mag...and that will cover your long range...either the 30-30 or 45-70 will certainly work for hogs & deer...200 yards and under...and that can be stretched a ways depending on the load & how good you can shoot it...Both of them are a couple of the best in a Handi...both can be loaded with good bullets and both can be loaded up for the best trajectory...also...both have a ton of different ammo available just about everywhere to choose from if you don't want to reload..Basically what I'm saying is get either one...or do what most of us already know...get both..The 308 is a great round Handi...but it can't compare in a Handi to either the 45-70 or 30-30 for reliability and accuracy..I honestly suggest you get both...I am quite sure you will enjoy them...and if you don't like one or both...let me know and I'll buy the barrels from ya...How's that...

Mac

[Ditchdigger]

My vote would go for the 280 handi,because that 26" barrel makes it think its a 7 mag almost. Nearly all the 280's shoot the Rem. corlock 140's and 150's about 1" to 1 1/4".  Digger

[dmills]

Unfortunately, the .308 Ultra is not available with a bull barrel, only in the Hunter which is standard contour, the only BB 308 is on the Survivor.  Timhttp://hr1871.com/Firearms/Rifles/hunter.aspx

Yes I see that now.  But the 308 BB is offered as an Accessory Barrel.  I just assumed it would be available as a complete rifle.  Weight is not a big factor since I would mostly be using this one from a stand.  But then I have been carrying a .54 cal. Lyman GPR in the woods extensively without problem.

Since you have a 7mm Mag...

Mac, I shoulda made it clearer.  I no longer have the 7mag.  I only have MLs.  So I am needing to cover the long ranges, but I was thinking maybe only out to the 200 yds or maybe 250.  I have read hear about some problems with the 7mag in the Handi but had seen mostly good things about the 308.

Reliability and accuracy are critical.  I don't know much about the Rem. 280 and haven't seen much written about it on this forum.  I will run a more specific search after I post this.  Thanks for the replies. 

[quickdtoo]

Yes, it's available as an accessory barrel, but ya need an SB2 frame to get it fitted to, that I understand you don't have, so I didn't mention it.

Tim

[coop2564]

Welcome dmills,

I also hunt in East Texas  near Lufkin.  I have a 308 standard and a 243 ultralight and huntsman ML  the 243 ultralight  just is a pain will not shoot good groups with big game bullets and this is my 2nd barrel, but the 308 shoots OK, The huntsman is my favorite gun by far.  I killed two 8pts with the Huntsman on my East Texas lease this year and a boar hog.  The thick area's I hunt I do not feel handicapped at all using my ML.  Stick with something with a 150gr bullet or better for those big hogs. The 308 or 30-06 is perfect for E. Tex woods. I'm shooting 285gr barnes spitfire with 95grs of T7 3F in the Huntsman. I've shot through every animal I've killed with this load including the hogs. An exit wound is very important in the E Tex thickets. Here's one of the bucks from the E Tex lease this year. Goodluck and enjoy the versatility of these fun guns.

[backstrap]

i vote 308 thats going to be my next handi

[Sourdough]

Of the guns you mentioned, I would opt for the .308. 

Now for my true openion:  I would go one notch higher and get the 30-06. 

[boommer]

what ever happen the do all - 06 its stood the test of time over 100 years !!!!

[Old English]

well 06 or 308 in a Handi?? Well 06 has lots of history, so does Latvia and Estonia!! 308 is more accurate and won't kick you our of your tree stand. Well sorry, but these are the facts 308 is more accurate and 30-06 kicks harder. I have both and 308 is without doubt hte caliber to choose.

[quickdtoo]

Yup, that's why the military replaced the '06 with the .308. But ta tell ya the truth, there isn't a game animal dead that would know the difference! They're both great calibers. I've hunted since 1983 with a .308, killed many deer and elk, there isn't one of em that would have known the if I had an '06 or a .308, dead is dead!! For the 20yrs before that, I hunted with an '06, both will do whatcha want!

Tim

[Dillohide]

I don't mind the 30-06 kick but have some 170 grain flat points loaded for it to a muzzle velocity a little over 2500 ft per second that are killers on East Texas brush bucks ... through and through with a big exit hole at 100 yards. That's the beauty of the 30-06.

As far as accuracy and reliability in a Handi rifle it's hard to beat the 30-30. Just got my 45-70 so can't speak for it.

The Wal-Mart at Eastchase near me in Arlington, Tx was selling guns but my one experience with them was so bad that Wal-Mart did itself a favor taking guns from them.

[quickdtoo]

The WM experience is another story all unto itself!! I've got 3 stores here, have dealt with 2 of them, one was exceptional and went like clock work, the managers both were very knowledgeable, the other store was a big let down with past transactions, but recently they put a new female manager in place that is very good. So things can and do change. FWIW, all three stores sell firearms, one of em is a new store, I was surprised they carried them.

Tim