Author Topic: Which Iron Sighted Barrel?? (Read 759 times)

Nova · « **on:** January 18, 2005, 09:43:50 AM »

I am thinking about purchasing a barrel in the future and would really like one of the calibers thats NEF offers with open sights. This would pretty much be what I like to call a "shootin' stuff gun" so cheap ammo is a plus. I do not reload. For a more practical purpose, this would be my brush gun for deer with ranges no more than 75-100 yards MAX....so which would be best--.357 (i think i heard they are making these again), 30-30, 44 Mag? Not really considering the 45-70 due to recoil and ammunition prices.

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2005, 10:51:15 AM »

All decent choices. Considering ammo costs and the fact that you don't sound in any hurry, you might hold off and see if the 7.63x39 barrel comes with iron sights.

Chainsaw · « **Reply #2 on:** January 18, 2005, 11:42:48 AM »

I would opt for the 44 mag as you indicated your range to 100yds max and cheap ammo a concern. 30-30 is a somewhat better deer round past 100 yds, but ammo is more expensive. 357 IMO is marginal for a deer round though others may disagree. The 762x39mm would also be good if the barrel came supplied with iron sight installed. But back to your question, I think you describe the 44 mag perfectly when you posted your preferences.........Chainsaw

quickdtoo · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2005, 11:53:30 AM »

When you order the barrel, I'd just get what you want and ask em to put sights on it. When I ordered my 45-70, I didn't want sights and asked for a scope rail instead. All you gotta do is ask em, they'll tell you up front if they can or can't do it. I find that emailing them works about as good as talking to em for general questions, they always respond the following business morning at the latest, sometimes right away...

hr1871@hr1871.com

(978) 630-8220

Nova · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2005, 02:17:17 PM »

I never really thought about whether the 7.62x39 would come with iron sights....But as it was stated, maybe I could just see if I could get iron sights instead of the scope rail. That would be great for inexpensive target ammo. Does anyone know what this round can do in terms of hunting? I don't reload, so how do you think the factory bullets would do shooting through brush?

MSP Ret · « **Reply #5 on:** January 18, 2005, 03:00:07 PM »

Shooting through brush? I don't think there is any caliber that does good shooting through brush....<><.... :eek:

Nova · « **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2005, 03:22:05 PM »

As a competent hunter, I am aware of the fact that no bullet is going to go through brush and still make a clean kill. Thank you for pointing this out anyway. Having said that, I believe you would agree that some bullets will not be as affected by deflections as others. Any thoughts?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2005, 03:45:39 PM »

Heavy bullet deflect less, as in a 180gr compared to a 130gr, but no bullet is immune to deflection and ethical hunters choose not to shoot thru brush that is seen.....then there's always the stuff that's not seen which everyone has encountered that's hunted very long. A few years back a major gun rag did as much of a scientific test that could be done to test the brush gun theory. Bullet deflection was most affected by brush that was farther away from the target than the near stuff and size of the brush made a difference too...in the end, there was no such thing as a bullet that bucked brush to any reliable degree.

My hunting partner had a first hand experience shooting 500gr bullets in a custom made .45 cal hawken muzzleloader. Bull elk at ~50yd, standing broadside shot, no dead elk...........upon checking, we found a small fir sapling approx 10yds from where the bull was standing with the top blown off....we can only figure that the bullet deflected over the bull without even touching it.....no hair, no blood, we tracked it for the rest of the day and the next, never found any sign of a hit.

Moral of the story is buy a caliber for it's other attributes, there's no such thing as a brush busting caliber.....

Nova · « **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2005, 04:19:25 PM »

I agree, there is no bullet that will bust through brush...but some may deflect a little less. So what are your feelings on the 7.62x39 for a close range deer cartridge?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #9 on:** January 18, 2005, 04:43:29 PM »

I have never shot one, but from what I've read, it is close to but below a .30-30 winchester in ballistics, so I would expect it to be a good 100yrd deer cartridge with proper bullet selection and placement.

Mac11700 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 18, 2005, 07:45:01 PM »

Nova:

Go for the 30-30 barrel...you won't be disappointed...if you want something close to a 30-30...get a 30-30...sure ammo cheaper for some of the others...but ..30-30 ammo is really some of the cheapest for such a high quality round...you want plinking ammo...shoot cast bullets in it...or those 1/2 jacketed Speers...you want something to take deer out further...in the 30-30 you have some really great bullets available to do just that...sure..you might not reload yet and only have 100 yards max now...but will it always be that way...? Don't handicap yourself...and if you watch the forums here...you'll see good 30-30 barrels don't stay for sale very long ( Thanks Shaner :wink: ) so you'll always have a market to put it up for sale if you want something a little bigger...the pistol rounds are just that...pistol rounds...they may be adequate for up close shooting...and they may be a little easier on the pocket book to shoot...but they don't give you what a true rifle caliber will in the deer woods...

Mac

3006bluffhunter · « **Reply #11 on:** January 19, 2005, 05:12:51 AM »

I vote 30-30 just got one 2 weeks ago groups real well with remington ammo.....ammo is about $7 to $9 a box....It is a real good deer cartrige....You will like it!

handirifle · « **Reply #12 on:** January 19, 2005, 05:36:48 AM »

First off, Nova Welcome!

Second, you never once stated you'd shoot through brush, simply that is was to be a "brush gun" which to me, means you're hunting in thick stuff which is not condusive to long shots. Doesn't imply you'd try to plow through the bushes with your bullets.

That said, I think I'd go with the 30-30 as well. The 44 would be excellent if your shots never went over 150yds (from what others have said, since I've never hunted with one), but, if you step into a clearing, and there is the buck of your dreams standing 175-200yds away, the 30-30 will still put him down.

Loaded with 170gr factory stuff and sighted about 2.5-3"high at 100, you just point and shoot. no need to worry about the yardage since most of us are not comfy beyond 200yds with open sights anyway.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #13 on:** January 19, 2005, 06:20:20 AM »

Nova, I agree with handirifle, although I disagree a bit on the optimistically long yardages he mentions. He is correct in suggesting the 30-30. It will be a fine deer hunting caliber for you. I also agree with the others that shooting through brush you can see it to be avoided at all costs ("how do you think the factory bullets would do shooting through brush?"). I just was lucky enough to finally get a fine used 30-30 barrel, thank's foxcaller!! and open sights for it also, thank's Marv! and pieces parts of sights including a screw I needed for the sights, thanks Mitchell (How about those Pats!!). The 30-30 is a great shooter and a wonderful and competent classic deer caliber. Easily and universally available reasonable priced(cheap) effective factory ammo and many great bullets available for the reloader....<><.... :grin: