climbing tree stand rifle

[kawie]

hi all, if i could get some help figuring out which rifle to buy.i would like a light and shorter gun to use out of a climber.i would prefer to have open sights an a low power scope.scope i will use is the swift 1.5 -4.5.i like it to be able to take game at 150 yards maybe 200 at most.i was thinking the 30/30 44 mag.i just want something that not going to recoil alot something light.i like to have the barrel cut to 18.5 inches an the stock cut a inch to inch an a half shorter.just want something light an quick handing out of a tree stand. thanks

[burntmuch]

If you reload.  Id say the 357 & max it . Get you a youth synthetic stock & a peep sight. & Youre set.

[LaOtto222]

I have a 357 Max and a 44 mag and a 30-30. Number one, you can cut it down as short as you want down to 16" any way. They come from the factory only 22" to start with and on a short frame to boot. If you really want to shoot out to 200 yards, I would leave the barrel at 22" and make it a 30-30. If you were going to keep your shots under 125 yards a 357 max or the 44 would do it. Beware that the new 357 and 44 mags come on a special SB 1 frame and can not take higher than normal pressures. It has been advised by others and by me that you do not bore out a 357 to Maximum or the 44 mag to 445 super mag. Cutting the barrels down to 18.5" for either the 44 mag or the 357 would not hurt their velocity/performance too much. The 30-30 is another matter. IMHO - It is a OK performer at 200 yards but you need every fps you can get out of it to do it. Just a thought - If you really want iron sights a longer sight radius will make it more accurate. My 30-30 came with iron sights as did the 357 and 44 Mag. If you really really want a 18.5" barrel I would make it a 44 mag and limit my shots to 125 yards and put a low powered scope on it. If you can get by with 22" make it a 30-30 and if you are going to shoot at 200 yards, even 150 put a low powered scope on it. Out to 100 yards - I think iron sights are OK if you do not have sight issues like I do. Deer get to be looking awfully small at 200 yards looking down a barrel across iron sights. That is my 2 cents worth. You might consider a 243 or a 7mm 08 in the compact model. They both have 22" barrels, but come with a youth stock. I would not cut either of them down, they come with 22" barrels. I think they (Remington - H&R) are missing the boat. I think a 22" semi-Super Lite  in 30-30 would make a very good light weight gun.

BTW I really like my 30-30. To me it kicks less than my 44 mag, both set up the same, neither one kicks hard. Good Luck and Good Shooting.

[SHOOTALL]

Mod 7 in 708

[LaOtto222]

The Remington model 7 is a fine rifle. I thought he was talking about Handi rifles.

A model 7 with a 18.5" barrel is not going to much shorter if any than a Handi with a 22" barrel.

[STUMPJMPR]

For a true 200 yard rifle I would go with something more than an 30-30.... The 30-30 is capable but not the best... For that kind of range you definitely want more than 4.5x scope.... A deer at 200 yards looks kinda small in a 10x scope... Thats just my opinion...

[kawie]

thanks for the answers,open sights is just a back up if the scope breaks,in no way would i ever try to shoot a deer at 150 -200 yards with open sights,100 yards is pushing it with open sights.yes im looking at handi rifles.like i said 90% of my shots would be under 150.the rifle doesnt have to be new either just looking for effective calibers for my situation.need a light and compact gun with minimal recoil.my idea would be a barrel cut to 18.5 stock shorten along with forarm with a hope of the gun tom weigt around 6 pounds ready to hunt.thought about the 45-70 500s&w but to much recoil.need light and handi to shoot an carry with climbing tree stand.thanks

[quickdtoo]

It sounds to me like the 243 Superlight would work great, mine weighs 6lbs-8oz with scope, barrel is 20", add a youth stock and it's even lighter. 

Tim

[LaOtto222]

Tim - I thought about that option too. I just thought that with some people having trouble getting the 243 SL to shoot well, maybe I would not steer him that way. I suggested the 243 compact as an option, but it will not be as light as yours for sure.

kawie - I understand the shortness of the barrel being in a tree stand, but the light weight part, I am not so sure about. At least around here, most guys only have to walk a few hundred yards. Once you get up in your stand, the weight is not going to make a lot of difference. A lot of guys use a gun rest on their stands. I know of several that actually add weight to their guns to tame recoil, making them in the 9-10 pound range. If you were a stalker I would certainly understand your concern for a light weight gun. But that is just my thoughts, every one has some thing different in mind, so if you really want s light weight, you probably could not beat Tim's set up and it only has a 20" barrel to boot.

[Graybeard]

I was about to suggest a Rem Model 7 youth in .260 Remington until I checked which forum I was in. I use the "what's new since last visit" option so really have to check which forum I'm in as I never actually go to individual forums.

I still think it would be an excellent choice but for an NEF which I think isn't offered in .260 I think the 7-08 might come closest and the original 7-08 the Model 7 started life as an 18.5" barrel so that's not to short to cut it.

[petemi]

hi all, if i could get some help figuring out which rifle to buy.i would like a light and shorter gun to use out of a climber.i would prefer to have open sights an a low power scope.scope i will use is the swift 1.5 -4.5.i like it to be able to take game at 150 yards maybe 200 at most.i was thinking the 30/30 44 mag.i just want something that not going to recoil alot something light.i like to have the barrel cut to 18.5 inches an the stock cut a inch to inch an a half shorter.just want something light an quick handing out of a tree stand. thanks

The 18 1/2 inch barrel tells me you might be from Canada?  I believe that's their mininmun length.  I'd just go with any 22 inch Handi which is pretty close to an 18.5 inch bolt gun and not worry about it.  We shoot Handis from tree stands all the time with no problem.  I would go with the 7mm-08. if you want low recoil.  But, my favorite is the .45-70.

[jacksrbtr46]

Recoil??  I shoot my 45-70 SS Ultra Hunter from my API climber, the same very minmal lock on stands that I bow hunt from, ladder stands, and my shooting houses/tower Deer stands in other words, anywhere I hunt with no problems.  As for recoil??  I don't understand what all the fear of 45-70 recoil is about, I use the Hornady LEVERevolution 325 gr ammo and I don't notice the recoil and I have the little thin pad that comes on the Cinnamon Thumbhole stock.  It's no worse than any of my shotguns (all 12 & 16 guage pumps and a 20 guage over an under).  My 60 year old hunting pardner has the 32" BC 45-70, and a 22" 45-70 Handi (he wanted an Ultra Hunter but he is left handed) and I've shot them too with no notice of the "Recoil"  or "Felt Recoil".  I am 62 years young, what's up with all the fear.  Get a good, quality scope and you won't have to worry about it breaking (unless you drop it out of your stand).  Go hunting and have some fun, every 45-70 that I have come into contact with has had a good trigger and very accurate right out of the box.  It's a great, fun gun to hunt with.

Jack

[Spanky]

What about a 30-30 Handi cut to 18 1/2 and reamed to 30-40 Krag??



Spanky

[kawie]

i like that idea spanky.what does everyone else think.what kind of ballistics can i get with this round.how availible is ammo for this round.what the cost to convert to it. any promblems with doing this.any info on this round would be great.thanks

[Spanky]

http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/choose_specific_loads.aspx?c1=27&c2=28&c3=

Kawie,

I compared the 30-30 and 30-40 on Remington's site.
The 30-40 has quite a bit more zing.

A couple guys on here have done the conversion.
I think it would be a pretty simple job.

Might be worth looking into.




Spanky

[quickdtoo]

A gunsmith will charge $50-$125 for the rechamber.

Tim