For hardwoods hunting around here, a .50 cal muzzleloader is all that's really needed. That said, in the unlikely event that a second shot is needed then make mine a .35 Remington in a fast handling lever action. I don't know why, as I have used a bolt action .243 for many deer, but for what ever reason, the traditional and nostalgic lever action and deer hunting seem to be just like peas and carrots........For me, it just seems the natural choice.
When I was a kid with a lever gun, I couldn't wait to get me a whizbanger........seems like I've made it full circle, and get a lot of pleasure out of the more traditional muzzle loader or lever gun hunting.......and the 100 year old cartridges such as the 45.70, 30.30, 32 winchester special, 300 savage, among others, that my granddad might have used bring a sort of inner peace just by holding one of the old timers in my lap while waiting on a deer.......don't really know, but I guess it has a lot to do with a simpler time when everything was slower, when the town closed at noon on saturday, and everyone had time to do what they needed to do.
The 30.30 in a winchester or marlin is the gun that most kids found under the tree on christmas, just like dads.......
