What to do???

[handirifle]

I have a Ruger 357 that I'm not too good with, and a Savage bolt 30-06, thinking of parting with one or both.  If I part with both, am considering getting Marlin 444 or 45-70.

If one (the Ruger) I might trade it for a Handi.  Is it wise to think of parting with a 30-06 to get a 444?  I'm not the most successful hunter around so it probably doesn't matter what I hunt with for range, but I don't like having the bolt stick me in the side when I carry it.

Let me hear some suggestions.

[Mac11700]

Handi:

The 444 is a great round...and depending on what you get it in...NEF....Marlin..Winchester..it will always be a fine round... ...BUT...I wouldn't trade my Marlin 1895GS 45-70 for 2 of the others...I like it that much...and I traded a Winchester Classic in 270 for my first one.and at the time I wanted a 444 Marlin in a Marlin...no one here in St.Louis had one in stock...heck...noone had one for 250 miles around here...I looked for over a month...so.I bought a Winchester Timber Carbine...and had all kinds of problems with it...so I took it back...and got the long barreled version...it too had problems...and it had to go back...I was fed up with the Winchester models and about that time..I had a new 1895GS 45-70 put in my hands..which was ported...and I loved that gun...it was a 1" shooter at 100yards and I took my 10 pointer with it...it was a great gun......but the Sporting Clays and Skeet bug hit me hard...and I needed a quality shotgun...and trading it was the only way I could get my Verona 505 Sporting Clays Over & Under...I swore I would get another 1895 GS...and did..just ..one small difference...this one isn't ported...it's just as accurate...and  it's just as aswome a rifle as I  could want in a big bore...do I still want a 444 Marlin...in a Marlin...yep...but not as bad as I once did...and I'm on my 3rd Marlin 45-70...in between...I picked up one of the Cowboy models...it was a good shooter too...but..it just wasn't as nice as my Stainless GS...and so I sold it off...


It isn't easy...trading a good rifle and pistol...but...I think you know what you want...so it won't be as bad as you think...444...or 45-70...in a Marlin...go handle as many as you can before you settle...if you hold a GS...in 45-70,and your anything like me......you won't think about the others as much...or as long...


If you are just going to get a Handi...what's your needs? Long range...good bullet selection...varmints and deer...or something heavier...elk?...moose perhaps?...carabou?...mule deer?...varmints...or a mixed bag...It's hard to beat a 30-06 Ultra for a all around gun...the 270 Ultra...another good choice...the 25-06...quickly moving into my favorite status...target shooting on the bill?...little harder to come-by...but still do-able with a 308 bull barrel...it's a shame NEF in their wierd sense of logic deceided to remove the 280 from the Ultra line... if you could find a new one in last years model somewhere...would be a logical choice as well...choosing a Handi is much harder than a Big Bore Lever gun...you have many more options...but...if your all set up to reload the 30-06...and none of the others I mentioned...then it shouldn't be that hard of choice...unless your just wanting something new...if that's the case...and you don't have a 25-06 Ultra...I'd lean that way...unless of cource you can find the 280 Ultra someone before there all sold out...


Hope that helps ya.. and not confuse you even more :wink:


Mac