nostalgia rifles and hunting

[armory414]

We can't use centerfire cartridges here in Ohio for deer, which is too bad--I'd use my Win 64 otherwise.  But I am using a Stevens Ideal falling-block lever action in .22LR for squirrel.

[willysjeep134]

My dad bought me one of those new fangled cross block safety Winchester 94's from K-mart about 5 years ago. That was my first deer rifle. Even if it has tha thorrible safety and a plain stock it is still very dear to me.  Before that I had hunted with a single barrel shotgun that belonged to my grandpa, and a 1913 Mk 3 enfield with a shot out bore for one year. For two years I hunted the 94 with a scope. I decided to take the scope off and hunt open sights for the past few years. The gun may not be all that old but it feels like a classic when I am using the iron sights.


Wish I would have started hunting with my dad's rifle first though. He has a 1920 vintage full octagon 25-35 model 94 in dark walnut with a Marbles tang peep sight. What a beauty! If I go out for coyotes this winter I might just have to borrow that one from him. Talk about a smooth sweet shooter.

I actually think the true golden age of hunting stems from the mid 1870's to somewhere past 1955. That is why I still hunt in a wool mackinaw coat and leather boots, why I don't like modern super magnums, and why I now hunt the trails and swamp instead of a bait pile.  Most of the big sporting magazines treat hunting as Tropht Harvesting now. Only just recently have I noticed how many of us are trying to be more traditional in our hunting. After all, it makes me feel really good inside to hunt like my dad, grand dad, and great grand dad did before me.

[Buckeye]

I've always leaned toward Leverguns,my first Deer Rifle was a Old Marlin 30/30,I don't really know how old that was 32 yr.s ago and the fellow I traded with told me it was older than dirt,The gun had little blueing left,but it was "tight" and liked 170gr. Cor-lokts,It had a 16in. barrel,the wood was sratched and dented.I used that ole Marlin,and took several Deer and my 1st. Black Bear with it.I bought me a Win. Model 70 30/06 and gave the ole Marlin to my nephew,who used it for years,The 30/06 kicked harder ,was heavier,and I missed more often (foggy mornings in thickets is not the best condition for a scoped bolt gun.)
After years of bolt guns ,I went back to Levers,with the introduction of the Marlin GG 45/70 since then I've purchased and traded for several other levers.  Along the way I picked up a little Marlin 30/30 Spikehorn which remined me of my long gone Marlin of the past. When Rifle season opens I'm not sure which Lever will be going with me,,     But that Little  Marlin (Spikehorn) 30/30 likes 170gr. Cor-lokts,just like its Grandpa did.

Buckeye

[DWARREN123]

My newest favorite rifle is a new Marlin in .44 Rem Mag, not old but there is something about a lever gun and it is accurate for the stock open sights. Never have owned a lever gun before so it surprised me how happy I am with this rifle.