It was 1983 and I was 15 years old. I had taken by first buck the season before with a 12ga and 00buckshot and was severly bitten by the deer hunting bug. At this time there were vast tracks of land belonging to timber companies that anyone could hunt and nearly everyone I knew deer hunted with the use of deer dogs. Shotguns were still pretty popular yet rifles were gaining ground as more and more people were finding that they killed more deer during the (no dogs) still hunting season. I knew that I wanted more reach than the twelve guage and at that time never even considered a lever action. Most people I knew that used rifles had Remington automatics, mostly 742s. I was a frugal teen and saved up the money for a Remington 7600 in 30/06 simply because it was $40-$50 cheaper than the auto7400.
I managed to kill a spike buck the very first day that I ever hunted with that rifle. I couldn't afford a scope that first year and hunted with the factory sights. If I remember correctly I paid $265 for it because we had a family friend who worked for a wholesale distributor. The next summer I mowed more yards and saved up for a Leupold Vari X-III 2.5-8x scope ($165) which I mounted in Redfield see-thru rings so I could still use the irons for those up close running deer. I hunted for several more years with that rifle with little luck. The scope got moved down to regular rings and the that gun and scope combo became a natural quick pointing rig for me.
A few years later I loaned the rifle to a buddy who lost it to the Mississippi Game Wardens. I hated the loss but he paided me the price of a new gun, scope, mounts, rings and sling. I needed the money more than I need another 7600 at the time and have been without one except for a brief time when I bought a Grice Limited Run in 35 Remington. It had the j-lock safety and the plastic triggerguard. That plastic triggerguard ruined the whole thing for me and I never fired it. I kept it on consignment at a local shop for many months with lots of interest but no buyers. I finally sold it at a gunshow for a loss.
From time to time I think about getting another because it was my first deer rifle. If I do I think I will have to find an older gun with the metal triggerguard. I am torn between my original caliber, 30/06, and the 35 Whelen. Should I ever own another 7600 I don't think I'll be so quick to loan it out.
Goat
