Always wanted a lever action, just something about them. Not to mention they are typically shorter, could be used very well in a defensive role, and chambered in 357 which I already have. Love keeping same caliber in the family! But dang they are $$.
I bought this JM stamped .45-70 Marlin Guide Gun and a Marlin 39A, also JM stamped, both in excellent condition. I paid $600 for the pair because the guy was going through a divorce. I made the following customizations to the Guide gun: Beartooth Mercantile oversized lever Beartooth Mercantile safety delete Wild West Guns lever happy trigger WWG bearproof ejector WWG aluminum magazine follower XS ghost ring front and rear sights Diamond D butt cuff with cartridge loops Diamond D sling Dovetail filler plug for rear sight opening I also have Savage Model 99 in .300 Savage that my father in law left me.
That was a great deal on the two Marlins! Got it set up very well, too! The JM stamp shows it to be a genuine original Marlin, built before Remington took them over in approximately 2007 or so. They were nicer guns with better quality, fit and finish, etc.
I recently picked up these two, LE trade ins to SIG, SIG then refurbishes them and sells them so basically new guns. Both are P229's in 40. They come in red boxes with original sales date and refurbished date
I acquired my new deer hunting rifle for Iowas asinine hunting rules. I guess they are progressing to rifles so that is an improvement but I digress. Ruger American Gen 2 Predator in 400 Legend. I am unsure if it will be ready to go by by next weekend but it was a last moment purchase then became an obsession with their unobtainabilty around here. It came with a pic rail that has been removed & some Talley one piece rings will be added with either a Leopould or Vortex eye piece. The ridiculously long magazine will be replaced with a shorter flush mount. Eventually the brake will be replaced with a muffler or at least that’s the plan. I haven’t deer hunted with anything other than my old pickup for years ( mow ‘‘em down when you see them ) but my grandsons interest in deer hunting got the hamsters to spinning the wheel in my head & that wheel lacks brakes. So 2 pop up blinds, 2 hard sided blinds on running gears, a metric chit ton of lumber for the running gear floors & sides, , hunting chairs, portable heater, a gun, scope, ammo & I guess I am back into deer hunting.
400 is on my short list. I'm hoping to get a look at a shot deer by one sometime before I jump. Buddy's boy used his new 450 bush and it is too much in my opinion (bruised meat, internals basically blended). Perhaps a hard cast loading would transfer a bit less energy. Don't get me wrong, if you are looking to kill they will do it for sure. If you want a pleasant experience dressing and less bruised meat it's too much.
Lots of Savages out there & Mossberg Patriot but the Ruger Gen 2 seem to be the cats meow at the moment. There are lots of Gen 2 Ranch’s with a 16” barrel but I wasn’t interspersed in those. The standards have gray cerakote & 20” barrel, I did find one of those but was wanting the 22” barrel. They claim 25% less recoil with the 400 vs the 450 & better ballistics.
In my experience hunting thick brush and cornfields in the midwest, you will always have a better time finding deer if you can get 2 holes in it. Blood trail is everything. I know some guys are putting their kids on .223, .243, and 7.62x39 (since they were legalized) and loosing deer because there is NO blood trail. Around here, deer will vanish with no blood trail. You usually can't see them for more than 30 yards after the shot because there is some much thick cover.
The 400 seems to be the sweet spot. Les recoil and noise than the 450 BM and better punch than the 350 Legend. I have never shot a 400 but have experience with the others. I have settled on the 350 at this point. Killed deer for several years now and it works effectively for me.
I condone use of 243 on deer but would never suggest .223. That's wild. There are drone tracking services here with flir cameras on them. Some folks offer dog tracking as well. I've only ever had one get away and it was my bad shot that caused it to happen. I did learn though. I won't shoot without a sure kill. A completely different strategy from me in the 90s. LOL So many adventures from that era of hunting in my life. Edit: Just recalled a deer gun mantra from a former coworker years ago: Can't kill if you don't shoot. When you shoot, shoot again then shoot some more and keep shootin. Vietnam style tactics. It was said mostly in jest.
I have been using 357 for a while now as primary. I came from .20 guage sabots to straight wall. I do not know why I sometimes doubt the cartridge as I have literally seen what it can do in real life to a deer. I guess maybe I subconsciously think that the extra ballistics from the 400 might overcome a less than perfect shot from me, which with the 357 you need to be on target to get a clean kill. On target to me in this reference means a 3-4" circle. A 12 guage gets a whole paper plate as 'on target' and explains some of my adventures mentioned previously.
I think .223 for deer is borderline immoral. The most devastating thing I've ever used on a deer is my bow. Usually they get a bee sting, trot 20 or 30 yards, then fall over dead. The path between the shot and where they falls looks like a crime scene.
