Marlin 336 in .30-30 has taken many, many deer over the years. Many of them wear a scope. Good JM-stamped units are available under $400, though some do go up toward $600.
Nothing wrong with a scope on a Marlin.
Not.....legal....public.....ground....
This suggested that the discussion of the newly legalized calibers are also permitted on both public and private land.
Given that the .30-30 is legal, I again assert that one of the best options for deer in Indiana is the Marlin 336 in .30-30.
No offence meant but you are incorrect. CF rifles with a minimum caliber of .358" who's case length DOESN'T exceed 1.8" are also public land legal. Cartridges like the .358 Hoosier and if you trim it down from 1.9" to 1.790" the 35 Remington CF rifle would also be public land legal. The 450 Bushmaster at 1.7" case length is also a public land legal CF rifle round. There are other .358" wildcats that are also public land legal.For those of you who are not aware, NO centerfire rifles, including ones that were previously legal, are to be used on public property. Shotgun will really be the only firearm that can be used. Hopefully this gets changed next year.
No offence meant but you are incorrect. CF rifles with a minimum caliber of .358" who's case length DOESN'T exceed 1.8" are also public land legal. Cartridges like the .358 Hoosier and if you trim it down from 1.9" to 1.790" the 35 Remington CF rifle would also be public land legal. The 450 Bushmaster at 1.7" case length is also a public land legal CF rifle round. There are other .358" wildcats that are also public land legal.
A single shot CVA in 450 Bushmaster fits your requirements pretty well. Solid 150-175 yard deer cartridge ammo available OTC, and the rifle is reasonably priced and is about your least expensive option for a public land legal CF rifle.
OOPS my bad, I STAND CORRECTED! I just read and re-read the new rules about a dozen times and indeed once legal public land rifle calibers if I read correctly are now illegal? What was the sense in that? I can squirrel hunt on public land with ANY rifle caliber I wish but not deer? Government at it's best.
Yeah. I argued for a long time yesterday. Even the DNR website was still wrong yesterday. I actually called and spoke to a DNR officer.
It's messed up. Hopefully they get it all fixed by next year, so don't sell any rifles.