4) Rossi/Puma- Which I've heard actually shoot pretty good, but they're all open sight for the most part. Top eject and a PITA to put a scope mount on since it has to be offset.
I'm going to wait until after deer season before I start to "gear up" for next year.
So I'm open to suggestions of guns to consider, even used models.
Your thoughts?
Price range? Caliber? Indiana deer hunting, or other uses/states?
For .357 & .44 mag:I need IN legal caliber for deer... Less than $800, so that is why I mentioned used.
Thanks,
HP
Price range? Caliber? Indiana deer hunting, or other uses/states?
For .357 & .44 mag:I need IN legal caliber for deer... Less than $800, so that is why I mentioned used.
Thanks,
HP
In that case, I would suggest a Winchester if you can find one (again, most of the ones I have seen where $1000+ new or used) or a Henry. An older Marlin would also be a 1st rate choice, but they can be pretty hard to locate.
Price range? Caliber? Indiana deer hunting, or other uses/states?
For .357 & .44 mag:
In that case, I would suggest a Winchester if you can find one (again, most of the ones I have seen where $1000+) or a Henry. An older Marlin would also be a good gun, but they can be pretty hard to locate.
Rossi goes for around $400 to $500, Bud's Boat shop on I 224 Huntington has/had a lot of them. Different calibers.
Rossi goes for around $400 to $500, Bud's Boat shop on I 224 Huntington has/had a lot of them. Different calibers.
Yeah, but if I had the option I would definitely have gone with a Henry 1st (much smoother action and easier to use with a traditional 1-3x or 1-4x scope.)
The Henry BigBoy will normally run between $7-800 new, so it sits right towards the upper end of the $800 budget.
I really do not have any big problems with my Rossi, but it can crunch brass on ejection and the lever takes a FIRM hand to ensure proper feeding. That being said, I would still probably get a Rossi again over a new Marlin (at least until they get a 3-4yr track record of making decent lever actions again.)
Edit: You might want to see if there is anybody with a Henry, older Marlin, Rossi, etc that will let you try theirs out. Running the lever unloaded, they all felt OK to me. It was only when I got brass into the Rossi that I really noticed the force required.
If you want a good lever gun then Marlin. Period. Anyone that speaks otherwise is a joker
That said don't buy a new Marlin go to a gun show and get a used Pre 1990s if you can!
Henry makes a "pretty" gun!