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Favorite Hunting Rifle and why

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For varmints, my Ruger 77V with a Leupold M8 16x scope FCH w/dot...

 

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For PA Whitetails, my Winchester 71 Deluxe with bolt-mounted peep (aperture screws out to become a ghost ring)...

 

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The Ruger was one of the first rifles I purchased and the Winchester was my fathers.

 

Haven't hunted in at least 15 - 20 years, but when I did, these were the guns that most often went afield with me.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

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Most people match the rifle, caliber and action-type to the game, terrain and style of hunting they do. Once you do it, you may find you'll want more than one rifle. One rifle is never enough. When you travel halfway across the continent to hunt, you bring more than one anyway.

A pellet gun would be perfect to start your son off with, and yourself as well. You can hunt small game with it in New Jersey too! Centerfire rifles are heavily used in other states, not so much in New Jersey. Their use is limited here, both on game and location. The appeal and use broadens in 2014 with the advent of a centerfire rifle fox & coyote season.

When it comes to other rifles, a primitive muzzleloader rifle season (now it's not so primitive anymore) has been available in New Jersey since the late 70's, and varmint hunting on private land with a rifle has been available as well for certain centerfires.
 

 

 

:sigh:   I know....there are a few other options for .54 cal, including patched round ball and a couple of other conicals. 

 

My point was the choice is nowhere near what's commercially available for .50 cal, and when you consider that, and the need for more lead, more powder, etc; it isn't worth the tiny performance difference between .50 and .54.  If I was going out today, I would buy a .50, not a .54.

 

And, my lefty New Englander shot the T/C maxi's SO nice...I could cover the group with my fist at 50 yards.

 

T/C Maxi-Ball's can be found here -
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/129/1

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I believe that you can use a muzzle loader instead of a shotgun for deer during the regular deer firearm season. Teach your kid to make one shot count and he will find a scoped muzzleloader is a whole lot more fun and accurate than a shotgun. I can't justify the cost of a NJ muzzleloader permit for an extra couple days of hunting for their muzzleloader season.

For deer in a rifle permitting state, I use either my scoped Winchester M77 in 270WSM or a Remington 721 in .270 Winchester with a William's FP rear peep and front firesight. I killed my first and many more deer with my Remington 870. You can't go wrong with one of those, but plinking at the range with one is not much fun.

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Bob.............that M71 is beautiful.

 

Thanks. It's 1935 vintage with a 3 digit serial number. My father bought it from a PA State Trooper in the mid to late 50's. It's a terrific legacy.

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:sigh:   I know....there are a few other options for .54 cal, including patched round ball and a couple of other conicals. 

 

My point was the choice is nowhere near what's commercially available for .50 cal, and when you consider that, and the need for more lead, more powder, etc; it isn't worth the tiny performance difference between .50 and .54.  If I was going out today, I would buy a .50, not a .54.

 

And, my lefty New Englander shot the T/C maxi's SO nice...I could cover the group with my fist at 50 yards.

More powder huh? So you think that every .54 uses more powder than every .50?

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Wow guys thanks! TONS of good information!!! 

 

First off all let me appologize for misuising the word Rifle.  I meant shotgun that was my rookie mistake.  I will be primarily hunting dear.  I would LOVE a bear BUT I did read that there are specific rule about hunting the two during the same hunt.  You have to be packing and prepared for a bear with slugs and can not switch to buck shot.  If you carry a bear permit you can not have buck shot on you even if your not hunting bear.  Basically ifyour not specifically hunting bear leave the permit at home or in the car from what I gathered. 

 

So My primary game will be dear with shotguns.  I like the H&R that was previously recomended.  I like the looks and reviews of it.  Seems like a great gun to start with.  I also agree that over time I will require several shotguns and I fully plan to indulge.  At some point I do want an 870 but that will take a little more bribing of my accountant/slave driver/wife. 

 

As for muzzleloaders, I haven't even began to look into those.  As I get further into this sport I am sure I will.   I have already planned a day of shooting skeet with my brother.  I don't know who is more excited about me learning to hunt.  He is going nuts!  I told him that just because he plays call of duty doesn't mean he is a better shot than me..... hahaha little brotherly competition! 

 

Again thank you for all the recomendations, offers to shoot your guns, and information.  I will be looking for that magazine tonight as well as browsing the NJ hunting website. 

 

One thing I have not asked and do not fully understand is where is it ok to hunt.  Do I just pull over on some wooded road, wander through the woods and hope bambi hops out in front of me?  I know that sounds dumb but I really don't know.  Most people I know that hunt do it on private land of friends.

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One thing I have not asked and do not fully understand is where is it ok to hunt.  Do I just pull over on some wooded road, wander through the woods and hope bambi hops out in front of me?  I know that sounds dumb but I really don't know.  Most people I know that hunt do it on private land of friends.

 

 

Thumper hops, compared to Bambi, who has burst speeds up to 35 mph, can clear fences higher than 8', and can bound off in 30' long jumps. They are tougher to hit on the run. There was a time in New Jersey 'way back when' where you could do this on parcels of land that weren't posted. Now you need to know where the state forest boundaries are, where the WMA's are and their safety zones, and when and what is in season. Private land is a luxury these days, and many pay a premium to lease the right to hunt for a season each year.

 

The wildlife management areas (WMA's) are large and extensive and many. You can find these in the Digest:

http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/wmas.htm

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Thumper hops, compared to Bambi, who has burst speeds up to 35 mph, can clear fences higher than 8', and can bound off in 30' long jumps. They are tougher to hit on the run. There was a time in New Jersey 'way back when' where you could do this on parcels of land that weren't posted. Now you need to know where the state forest boundaries are, where the WMA's are and their safety zones, and when and what is in season. Private land is a luxury these days, and many pay a premium to lease the right to hunt for a season each year.

 

The wildlife management areas (WMA's) are large and extensive and many. You can find these in the Digest:

http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/wmas.htm

Parker THANKS!!!

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Thumper hops, compared to Bambi, who has burst speeds up to 35 mph, can clear fences higher than 8', and can bound off in 30' long jumps. They are tougher to hit on the run. There was a time in New Jersey 'way back when' where you could do this on parcels of land that weren't posted. Now you need to know where the state forest boundaries are, where the WMA's are and their safety zones, and when and what is in season. Private land is a luxury these days, and many pay a premium to lease the right to hunt for a season each year.

 

The wildlife management areas (WMA's) are large and extensive and many. You can find these in the Digest:

http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/wmas.htm

You forgot that the little monsters can crawl thru the underbrush, too

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If he has any; YES!

 

Report on the .54 Maxi's:

 

Shop I thought had them is out.  They tried to order some for me to swap with you and can't find a distributor.  So it looks like unfortunately you were right in thinking that they're no longer made.  Seems Smith and Wesson sold T/C to Remlin, and certain decisions got made...  But Rob has plenty and will swap for stuff he uses....

 

Sorry I got your hopes up.  I do remember seeing them there along with .58's too......

 

Stay warm and well!

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Dave

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Report on the .54 Maxi's:

 

Shop I thought had them is out.  They tried to order some for me to swap with you and can't find a distributor.  So it looks like unfortunately you were right in thinking that they're no longer made.  Seems Smith and Wesson sold T/C to Remlin, and certain decisions got made...  But Rob has plenty and will swap for stuff he uses....

 

Sorry I got your hopes up.  I do remember seeing them there along with .58's too......

 

Stay warm and well!

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Dave

Thanks anyway....I appreciate it.

 

Your comment "Smith and Wesson sold T/C to Remlin" has me worried, tho....we've seen what that conglomerate has done to both Remington AND Marlin.

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It's a shame the .54 is falling out of favor these days. You can still find .54 MaxiBalls at Track of the Wolf and Dixie Gun Works.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_99_311_313&products_id=1364&osCsid=f4vmqg51jdk5ev8a9jmkluenf0

 

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I have a Remington 870 express with mossberg rifled barrel and adjustable Nikon scope. It's a great gun fairly inexpensive and I've shot a ton of deer with it. A couple people I know recently picked up Savage 20 gauge shot guns and used them during 6 day firearm. They all raved about the gun. I'm actually considering picking one up in 2014.

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