Does anyone else plan hunts around the gun instead of the game?

[snowshoes22]

Every year I find myself looking through my gun cabinet wondering which gun will be going with me to the field.  My winchester model 70 chambered in .270 has been my go to for years.  Its light, accurate, flat shooting, and reliable.  Boring! In all the years i've hunted i have only taken one shot over the 100 yard mark.  I killed a buck at 265 a few years ago. In recent years i have been leaning toward shorter range firearms with big heavy bullets.  Marlins make great short range deer weapons.  Last year it was a 444 Marlin with handloaded 265 grain Hornady softpoints.  I will shoot to 125 yards with this gun without hesitation.  Another favorite is a Marlin 1894 44 magnum.  It holds 10 rounds and still weighs less than 7 pounds.  Both guns have killed deer and the 444 has killed 2 black bears. 

I love my guns.  I don't give them names or anything but each one kinda has its own personality.  Each has its own challenges. This is where the fun starts.  The choice doesn't need to make sense for the area. I hunt open CRP with a 44 mag carbine. You are looking at a 240 grain bullet going 1600 f.p.s.  The challenge makes the hunt so much more intense. Its like bow hunting with a rifle.  My biggest buck was with this setup and the shot was 35 yards. 

This year is extra exciting because I drew a Harrington 2nd deer tag.  What shall I use?  I'm thinking maybe a handgun for the doe. 357 or 44 mag maybe? Too many choices. My buck tag will be a levergun most likely.  Or I could go the extreme other direction and use my brand new 6.5 creedmoor for long range.

I'm not sure if i'm a gun nut that loves to hunt or a hunter who loves guns? I can't wait for season!

   

[ing]

I've had the same dilemma for about the last five years or so.  I really want to shoot a deer and or an elk with my revolver but I've turned into a muzzy hunter here in Washington with great success.  I hunt out of state every year also, but for some reason or another I always end up shooting an animal with one of my rifles.  The only way I figure I'll ever make it happen is to leave my rifles at home.  Decisions decisions....

[snowshoes22]

I also went muzzy in 2009 and '10 to beat the crowds.  It was a lot of fun.  I tagged out in 09 but ate my tag in 2010 because i had to leave the state for work.  I bought my tag early in the year and then my schedule changed at the last minute.  On the hand gun note i killed a decent black bear up the Chiwawa in 08 with a ruger super blackhawk 44 mag it was intense.  Makes me want to hunt with revolvers more. 

[WildBear]

Revolver would be fun! I've always gone with my Marlin .30-.30 carbine. Been my go to rifle for years. Accurate and easy to handle and carry. This year with my Sinlahekin Buck tag I figure I'll use my Ruger .270, maybe my Winchester model 70 in .300 win mag.

[h20hunter]

I think the greatest part of your dilema is simply having the options. Hiking the hills with a handgun would lighten the load and make for a great hunt. Who doesn't like leverguns? C'mon...they have a cool factor that is time honored. I'd like to hear more as you work your way through your options and then execute the hunt.

[Kowsrule30]

I've have a tough time coosiing as well.... 7mm Weatherby.... 300 WSM.... 270 Win..... I usually ML for elk so that's a given.... Switched back to modern for deer this year..... So to tell you the truth I'll probabl be carrying around my little 243 Win that I've had since I was 11... Just an exstention of my arm and @ 6# who can complain....

[ing]

I also went muzzy in 2009 and '10 to beat the crowds.  It was a lot of fun.  I tagged out in 09 but ate my tag in 2010 because i had to leave the state for work.  I bought my tag early in the year and then my schedule changed at the last minute.  On the hand gun note i killed a decent black bear up the Chiwawa in 08 with a ruger super blackhawk 44 mag it was intense.  Makes me want to hunt with revolvers more.

What bullet did you use and how did it perform? Both of my Super Blackhawks shoot the 300gr Hornady XTP's really well and my muzzy likes them too.  I have some 320gr Cast Performance LBT style bullets loaded up that I hope to try out on a deer or an elk this year.

[snowshoes22]

ing,

I used the speer 300 grain plated soft point in the 44 mag.  I had great success using it in the 444 with instant drops with well placed shots on bear.  The 44 mag howerver with less velocity did not leave much of a blood trail it was a hair raising recovery.  I will use the xtp in the future since it has more expansion.  Anything lighter boned than a bear i use 240's and 265's.  The speer 270 grain gold dot is also a great bullet.  That bullet is in my profile pick. 

[ing]

ing,

I used the speer 300 grain plated soft point in the 44 mag.  I had great success using it in the 444 with instant drops with well placed shots on bear.  The 44 mag howerver with less velocity did not leave much of a blood trail it was a hair raising recovery.  I will use the xtp in the future since it has more expansion.  Anything lighter boned than a bear i use 240's and 265's.  The speer 270 grain gold dot is also a great bullet.  That bullet is in my profile pick.

I'll have to load some up and give em a try. How do you like the 444?  Ive always wondered about it.  Ever since I bought my first Super blackhawk I've been hooked on the 44 caliber.

[snowshoes22]

the 444 is one of my favorites.  it is best with the 265's and 270 grainers for most hunting.  Its like all the other 44's very accurate and hits hard.  I haven't had to follow a blood trail with it yet.  Do you seat your 300 xtp's to the first or second cannelure in your blackhawk?  I seat them deep so they work in my 1894 but think i might get better accuracy with them loaded out for my revolver.

[snowshoes22]

Good luck on the sinlehekin tag Wildbear that should be a good one.  if i drew a quality tag i would most likely go with a more conventional round also.  it would suck to not have the range if a big one presented itself. I hunt 50/50 public private ground so i get a chance to be little picky on what i shoot for a gun and the animals i harvest.  the 270 i a great choice but so is a 300 win.  i shoot a 7 mag on occation and sometimes take a 300 weatherby but not often.  Hope you get a big one

[Holg3107]

When I was going to school in Idaho I hunted around a gun (due to having 3 months of hunting for deer). After the first 3 years of easy deer hunting I began hunting with my .44 mag contender pistol and hunted with it until after thanksgiving when the freezer needed filling and the 6mm came out of the safe. I killed 2 deer with my .44 and I am glad I did it. In washington however I dont have that luxury and now I hunt strictly archery so my guns are gathering dust. I will say if you are interested in harvesting big game with a hand gun the rifle MUST stay home. You see that deer at 150yds and have a rifle in hand you will forget you even have your sidearm with you.

[ing]

the 444 is one of my favorites.  it is best with the 265's and 270 grainers for most hunting.  Its like all the other 44's very accurate and hits hard.  I haven't had to follow a blood trail with it yet.  Do you seat your 300 xtp's to the first or second cannelure in your blackhawk?  I seat them deep so they work in my 1894 but think i might get better accuracy with them loaded out for my revolver.

I seat them to the first cannelure with 19grs of H110 and Winchester WLP primers. I know you can fit another grain or so of powder but 19grs is most accurate out of both of my Blackhawks. They fill up the whole cylinder when you seat them out. Now that I think about it I never have seated them deep.

[ing]

When I was going to school in Idaho I hunted around a gun (due to having 3 months of hunting for deer). After the first 3 years of easy deer hunting I began hunting with my .44 mag contender pistol and hunted with it until after thanksgiving when the freezer needed filling and the 6mm came out of the safe. I killed 2 deer with my .44 and I am glad I did it. In washington however I dont have that luxury and now I hunt strictly archery so my guns are gathering dust. I will say if you are interested in harvesting big game with a hand gun the rifle MUST stay home. You see that deer at 150yds and have a rifle in hand you will forget you even have your sidearm with you.

It'll be tough leaving my rifle at home on an out of state hunt and I hate leaving guns at camp or in my rig for fear of them getting stolen.

[snowshoes22]

Washingtons seasons are so short it is hard to get creative not to mention all the public ground in Eastern Wa. looks like a pumpkin patch during the regular season. CRP fields are a great place to get bucks bedded down.  If you keep the wind in your face you can get amazingly close.  I have shot deer at under 20 yards with muzzleloaders and marlin carbines doing this.  Makes me think I can do it with a pistol.