If you think you're gonna get a lightweight hunting rifle in any Sharps, you're not.
But a carbine in 45-70 sounds like what you're looking for.
You can load smokeless for black for just about any cartridge (use dacron to fill the case). YOu have to be careful with pressure and make sure...
If you look historically on the funding, drive and national determination to conserve, it was led by primarily hunters. Most states have their conservation efforts directly tied to hunter dollars, as does our federal funding for things like PR and DJ. It was hunters who have stopped every...
I put mine in a tote that has kitchen/cooking stuff along with things like hooks for tent poles, etc. Hasn't failed yet. If you want a dedicated tote, then get one that will carry the larger tank hose and a few spare 1 pound cylinders.
IDK about below Clio (That's where the bad things are), but in the NW Lower, it's not that bad for access or quality of hunting on public land. Sure there's people but if you get a mile off the road, you generally don't see anyone else. I do see a big change in private though. Tons of conversion...
I've got a 7mm Mauser AI that spits 140 grain TTSX's at 3000 FPS. Very little recoil. Drops critters pretty well. If you want a short action, then I'd look at AI'ing the 7mm-08.
I'd be looking at something like this, and old Cabela's Bighorn or a Spingbar type if I were in the market again. The center pole in a hot tent eats up real estate.