Pygmy

My one and only ML is an early TC Hawken, a gun I received as a birthday gift in the early 1970s. I used the open sights until my eyes began to age and I could no longer focus with them. At that time I installed a tang mounted peep sight, which still works well with my old eyes. I actually think that I shoot offhand better with the peep sight than I do with a scope. I don't think that I have ever taken a shot over 75 yards with it. It came in handy when I had a chance to hunt elk in the Colorado ML season in 2004, because Colorado requires iron sights for its early ML big game hunts.

There are other calibers...But if you have a 30-06 you certainly don't NEED another caliber.... But then, the same could be said about 8 or 10 OTHER chamberings, but probably none would be as versatile or as user friendly as the 30 -06... I still suspect that you and WnyBuckhunter are sweet for each for each other due to that VORTEX thing...<<grin>>..

Culver..You forgot to say what cartridge your 700 is chambered for.. I see that you're a Vortex fan, like WnyBuckhunter... Are you guys SWEET on each other...?...<< wink >>....

I'm RETIRED.....Hehehehehehe.....

Yeah. a buddy of mine had an 88 in .284 back in the 60's.. He wishes he still had it !

Buy it...I didn't think any 100s or 88s were made after '64, but just checked my Blue Book and they were discontinued in 1973. Pre-64 would be a bonus, of course. If the scope is a Weaver El Paso K4, it's also a great scope.

In much of Alaska moose tags are over the counter. I have done 3 DIY moose hunts there. There is a lot of planning, preparation and WORK involved, but it is an awesome experience. When I first hunted there years ago you could do a DIY Alaska hunt for $3K door to door from NY, but with current prices you'd be lucky to do one for twice that amount. Also, there is not a legal bull moose behind every tree in Alaska..DIY success rates run less than 20%... Success rates are higher for guided hunts, but prices are much higher also.. I'd love to do another DIY moose hunt up there, but at my age it would scare hell out of me, and I can't afford a guided hunt.. As Harry Callahan said " A man's got to know his limitations." Good luck...Hope you draw a tag soon here in the lower 48.

Good luck drawing a tag in Maine...Odds get worse every year to draw. I applied for 20 years and finally gave up. I know LOTS of people who have applied for Maine moose tags but don't know a single person who has ever drawn one. However, you can't win if you don't play..Kinda like the lottery.. Good thing is if you DO get lucky and draw a tag, success rates are real good. If you really want to hunt moose, save your $$$$ and hunt in Newfoundland. Lots of moose and very high success rates. Not a lot of big trophy bulls, though...Mostly meat moose, and there is nothing wrong with that. Western Canada and Alaska also have lots of BIG moose, but he expense is going to be much higher, especially if you want to bring your meat home. A moose season in NY ?? Possibly in ten years or so..However, the odds of drawing a tag will be ASTRONOMICAL !

Petzal has been one of my favorite gun writers for years... I don't watch many of those hunting shows with the jerks whooping and high fiving, because it turns me off... Save that s**t for something else, like when and if the Giants ever win a game....<<smirk>>..

......Disagree......

I have not had it happen to me personally, but a few years ago one of my partners hit a doe in the late MZ season just before dark. He is an experienced deer hunter( bow and gun) and suspected that the deer may have been hit too far back. It was forecast be cold ( sub freezing) that night, so he decided to wait until the next morning to track it. I accompanied him at first light the next morning..The deer had gone perhaps 125 yards, and it was torn to bits by coyotes..They had it scattered over about a 20 square yard area.

Remington M700 Mountain Rifle ( walnut/blued) in 7MM08 with Burris 2x7, shooting my handloads with Barnes 120 grain TSX at a little over 3000 FPS MV.. Backup...Winchester M70 Lightweight ( laminate/blued) in .280 Rem with Leupold fixed 6X, shooting my handloads of 140 Barnes TTSX at a little over 3000 FPS MV .. Fun gun..To be carried when I feel like something different.. Garand M-1 30-06, 1943 vintage, shooting my handloads of 150 grain spitzers at about 2700 FPS, issue peep sights..

Thanks for the favorable analogy, Biz... Actually, there are three stages in a man's life... Stud.....Dud.......and THUD ! Unfortunately I am currently somewhere between DUD and THUD.....

A 250 grain at 2400 sure ain't no SISSY load.. That's approaching .35 Whelen stats, and the .35 Whelen ain't no pussycat...<<grin>>... My 9.3 x 62 pushes a 250 grain Barnes X at 2500 FPS, and the 9.3 is considered adequate for cape buffalo in much of Africa.

What DaveBoone said..... I have six relaoding manuals and none list 45-70 loads for bullets lighter than 300 grains. I'm sure the people from Hornaday can help you out... Although I have never owned a 45-70, that cartridge rates WAY up on my "cool" list.. A friend of mine has one in a Remington Rolling Block complete with a tang mounted peep sight. It's the only one I have ever shot... Nice rifle... Perhaps I watched too many Cavalry Westerns when the troops were armed with 1873 Springfield carbines.

" Trigger Slut "...I LIKE that handle...Too bad I have already established my user name..<< grin>> Come ON, Deer... Treat me like the SLUT that I AM !!

I'm glad the story had a happy ending... Good luck...Shoot some gooses tomorrow.... They make a VERY satisfying THUD when they hit the ground... Unless, of course, you shoot them over water, at which time they make a very satisfying SPLASH !..<<grin>>....

I don't have a wife.. I'd like to hunt with Blake Shelton's wife, though.....

He's a 1 1/2 year old buck. I can't think of any reason NOT to shoot him, unless you want to shoot a 2 1/2 year old buck or a buck with a big rack. Judging by the length of his snout and the width of his butt, I'm guessing he might weigh 100-110 pounds field dressed. Good groceries, but not what most people would consider a wallhanger.

EASY there , Hoss !! No need to break out the dueling pistols..LOL.. I don't believe I ever said it was OK to shoot steel through a choke tube that says lead shot only, or words to that effect. I guess I was making some assumptions regarding basic knowledge of shotgun chokes.. SO...I'll make a couple of broad statements concerning chokes.. All or nearly all turkey chokes are choked TIGHTER than a standard full choke. Do NOT shoot steel or slugs through them.. ALL IC or MOD chokes are safe to shoot with either lead or steel.. www.brownells.com is a good place to check for all firearm accessories. Good luck..If you lived closer I'd lend you one of my shotguns to hunt Saturday, until you find a tube for your 835.

Just keep whining...That should get you lots of ducks..

In general, only the extra full chokes are recommended for lead shot only, because steel shot does not compress as much as lead. Any modified or IC choke should work fine with steel. Even FULL ( as long as it is not Xtra full or SUPER full) would be safe, although you might end up with an xtra tight, ragged pattern. With modern steel shot loads, I have always had the best results with IC.

Nice rig...I like 700s also..The one I use for most of my deer hunting is a wood stock 700 Mountain Rifle in 7mm08. I couldn't STAND to go 17 years without buying a new gun...LOL...

I agree , and they are easier to carry back to the truck and the decoys are lighter.

Use buffered, copper plated 2 3/4" magnum loads such as Winchester XX or Federal Premium... With the reduced pellet count ,chances are #6 shot will give you the best coverage. Use the tightest choke you have..Pattern your gun to determine your maximum range..