Author Topic: What rifle would you keep?  (Read 935 times)

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Offline teddy12b

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What rifle would you keep?
« on: June 01, 2009, 10:18:16 AM »
I need to liquidate some rifles.  I hate to do it, but some of them just don't get used and there are bills to pay.

The three rifles are:

Marlin 336W 30-30.

Marlin 1895G 45/70.

Puma 44mag.

I plan on keeping one of these and I plan to sell the other two.  Currently I plan on keeping the puma 44 mag because I can hunt deer with it in my home state and the other two I can't. 

It seems to me that a 44 mag in a rifle will do anything the 30-30 or 45/70 will do inside 100 yards with the right bullet choice.  I already know the puma 44 will do a fine job on a deer, but I sure like the idea of the 45/70 for bear hunting.  I know the 44 loaded with cast will be just fine on bears too, but I can't scope the puma and a scope is nice for bear hunting.

Can anyone think of why I should keep either of the marlins and not the puma?  The 44mag is the most practical and usefull answer, but I'd really like to get talked out of selling my marlins.

Offline mcwoodduck

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Re: What rifle would you keep?
« Reply #1 on: June 01, 2009, 10:36:33 AM »
I would keep the 30-30.
the 44 and 45-70 will bring the most $ while the 30-30 will not as the market for them has kind of dried up.  But the 44 and 45-70 can be used for multiple shooting sports.  Cowboy action as well as hunting.  I think the last 30-30 I saw in a store was in great shape was a win 94 with out any of the Lawyer secondary safety devices and was $225.
OK I would keep the one I had the most ammo for.

Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: What rifle would you keep?
« Reply #2 on: June 01, 2009, 10:38:11 AM »
I would keep the one i hunted with . The others would be closet queens
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline teddy12b

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Re: What rifle would you keep?
« Reply #3 on: June 01, 2009, 10:52:00 AM »
I would keep the 30-30.
the 44 and 45-70 will bring the most $ while the 30-30 will not as the market for them has kind of dried up.  But the 44 and 45-70 can be used for multiple shooting sports.  Cowboy action as well as hunting.  I think the last 30-30 I saw in a store was in great shape was a win 94 with out any of the Lawyer secondary safety devices and was $225.
OK I would keep the one I had the most ammo for.

I definately have the most ammo for the 44mag.  There's not even a comparison I could make there.

Offline mcwoodduck

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Re: What rifle would you keep?
« Reply #4 on: June 01, 2009, 11:09:13 AM »
OK.
Then Keep the 44 and sell   :'( the others.
I am sure they will go to good homes that will take care of them.

Offline teamnelson

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Re: What rifle would you keep?
« Reply #5 on: June 01, 2009, 01:19:37 PM »
... and there are scout scope mounts for your Puma out there, or a nice peep sight to replace the safety button if yours has it.
held fast

Offline teddy12b

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Re: What rifle would you keep?
« Reply #6 on: June 01, 2009, 05:24:22 PM »
... and there are scout scope mounts for your Puma out there, or a nice peep sight to replace the safety button if yours has it.

Where are the scout scope setups?

I saw one scope mount on midway, but it had some pretty bad reviews.

Offline teamnelson

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Re: What rifle would you keep?
« Reply #7 on: June 01, 2009, 08:15:35 PM »
Legacy Sports is supposed to have one for $40 if you call them. They even sell a Puma Scout with rail and scope now, saw one on Able Ammo.
held fast

Offline teddy12b

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Re: What rifle would you keep?
« Reply #8 on: June 02, 2009, 02:12:02 AM »
I'll have to call them and check into it.  I'd love the utility of a scope, but I really like the way it looks without one too.  I'll have to see how easy it is to put the mount on and take off.  Thanks for the heads up about it.

Offline mannyrock

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Re: What rifle would you keep?
« Reply #9 on: June 05, 2009, 08:16:17 AM »

   Sorry, but you have all missed the best solution.  :-)

    Sell all three rifles, then buy a very good, used, Marlin 1894, in .44 mag.   You can scope it, deer hunt with it, and buy one box of really high powered ammo (such as Core-Bon or Garrett) which would do fine for black bear.

Offline Siskiyou

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Re: What rifle would you keep?
« Reply #10 on: June 05, 2009, 09:20:43 AM »

I plan on keeping one of these and I plan to sell the other two.  Currently I plan on keeping the puma 44 mag because I can hunt deer with it in my home state and the other two I can't. 


If you live and breath hunting the Puma 44 Mag. is your answer.  I do not know why one is legal and the other two are not, but that is law.

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Offline dpe.ahoy

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Re: What rifle would you keep?
« Reply #11 on: June 05, 2009, 03:50:36 PM »
Keep the one you can use the most.  There's always time to get another 30-30 or 45-70.  Being practical sucks most of the time. :P  DP
RIP Oct 27, 2017

Handi's:22Shot, 22LR, 2-22Mag, 22Hornet, 5-223, 2-357Max, 44 mag, 2-45LC, 7-30 Waters, 7mm-08, 280, 25-06, 30-30, 30-30AI, 444Marlin, 45-70, AND 2-38-55s, 158 Topper 22 Hornet/20ga. combo;  Levers-Marlins:Two 357's, 44 mag, 4-30-30s, RC-Glenfields 36G-30A & XLR, 3-35 Rem, M-375, 2-444P's, 444SS, 308 MX, 338Marlin MXLR, 38-55 CB, 45-70 GS, XS7 22-250 and 7mm08;  BLR's:7mm08, 358Win;  Rossi: 3-357mag, 44mag, 2-454 Casull; Winchesters: 7-30 Waters, 45Colt Trapper; Bolt actions, too many;  22's, way too many.  Who says it's an addiction?

Offline teddy12b

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Re: What rifle would you keep?
« Reply #12 on: June 06, 2009, 04:54:18 AM »
Being practical sucks most of the time. :P  DP

Being practical sure isn't fun.  The 336W is already sold.  The puma is the only one of the three that I can hunt with in my state so it's the keeper.

Offline KAYR1

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Re: What rifle would you keep?
« Reply #13 on: June 09, 2009, 01:37:11 PM »
I think that I'd keep the Marlin 45-70. More versatile than many give it crdit for. light loads for plinkin, all the way up to the thumpers for anything that walks. That's my humble opinion. I like the big bores!

Offline Alan4620

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Re: What rifle would you keep?
« Reply #14 on: June 09, 2009, 01:56:10 PM »
Sounds like a tough choice.
If you plan to hunt and only can use the 44 legaly,then I would keep that one.
I would prefer the 30/30 due to ammo/reload choices and availability.

I reload and cast for all three,and the 30/30 can feel like a 22 mag with lead bullets. Other two,not so much.

Good Luck!