Appalachian Woods Rifle

[Pmringer]

I am going to be moving to the Blue Ridge Mountains in July for work and have been thinking about woods rifles for whitetail. I would also use it on hogs and maybe black bear if end up deciding to go after bears. Some counties are shotgun only in Virginia so I will use my 870. I have a 30-06 as well. I will also do blackpowder hunting with my flintlock long rifle and may give it a go with my 45 Colt after I put together a load up to the task.

I have been set on getting a Marlin lever action for years and think this may be a great opportunity. The brush and tree cover is dense. Shots will be close. I like the 45-70 but a 30-30 or 35 Remington (since I hand load) may be more versatile for 100-250 yard shots. Anyone in the Appalachians, specifically the Blue Ridge Mountains, have any advice? I would put some nice Skinner receiver peep rings on it. I go back and forth thinking it may not be worth getting a lever gun since I have the 30-06 with a 22" barrel.

Thanks,
Patrick

 

[mdunc8]

I used a Marlin 30-30 until a moved out here. I hunted the mountains around Roanoke and don't remember ever having an opportunity much past 100 yards.

 

[Gunner46]

I had a 336 in 35 Rem for a couple of years. Luved the 35 Rem, but the 336 had one flaw that ultimately got it traded away. If I had on some warm gloves I couldn't get but three fingers into the lever. Uncomfortable. Your '06 will be fine and you'll find tons of guys toting one. But, if you 'Need' a good mountain rifle I'd grab a Rem Mdl 7, 7mm/08 and run !

 

[brownbear932008]

Which county are you moving into in VA. I was born and raised there? Shotgun only east of Blueridge mountains. Either weapons west of Blueridges which is where I am from. A 30-30 lever action is a great choice very popular rifle if you are in the mountains. The area I have hunted is very open so I use a 7mm STW and have taken several deer with it out in the 350-400 yard range. But the mountains can be very thick with laurel if you are hunting high so the lever would be ideal there.

The hunting is very good though except for a few counties for deer,turkey, and bear.

 

[noharleyyet]

Cool sights.

http://www.skinnersights.com/2.html

 

[jryoung]

If cost and scarcity aren't too much of an issue hard to match the panache of a Savage 99 in 358 Winchester.

 

[Ben Lamb]

If cost and scarcity aren't too much of an issue hard to match the panache of a Savage 99 in 358 Winchester.

Drool.

Or Winchester M88 in .358 Win.

 

[nidahunter]

I dont live there but I have a Marlin .444 and I love that gun. By far the most accurate gun I own out to 200 yards with the Leverevolution ammo. Accurate, fun to shoot and looks cool too!

 

[WV Hunter]

Unless you are wanting to find a reason to buy a new rifle, stick with the 30-06. I'm not particularly found of tracking deer hit by a 30-30 in the thick, steep Appalachian Mountains. So far my .270 has dropped every deer I've shot within a couple of feet, then again my longest shot has been about 60 yards

 

[dustinf]

Unless you are wanting to find a reason to buy a new rifle, stick with the 30-06. I'm not particularly found of tracking deer hit by a 30-30 in the thick, steep Appalachian Mountains. So far my .270 has dropped every deer I've shot within a couple of feet, then again my longest shot has been about 60 yards

This.

I don't rifle hunt here anymore, but my 1940's vintage 30-06 with a 4x scope killed everything I shot at.

 

[TheShootist.41]

I dont live there but I have a Marlin .444 and I love that gun. By far the most accurate gun I own out to 200 yards with the Leverevolution ammo. Accurate, fun to shoot and looks cool too!

Totally agree. And since you reload and LR components are available, you can double your fun.:hump:

 

[mdunc8]

I'm not particularly found of tracking deer hit by a 30-30 in the thick, steep Appalachian Mountains

Never had issues with the 30-30 quickly dropping deer. I guess that just means you're a lousy shot I like the idea of carrying around a lighter rifle, but I wouldn't worry about buying a new gun especially if you're thinking about bear hunting too.

 

[Pmringer]

I am thinking the 30-06 will serve me well. There definitely is not a need for another rifle, but we all "need" more hunting rifles! I will use my 30-06 and get a sense of the areas I will hunt regularly in GW Nation Forest and Monongahela Nation Forest. After a season I will consider the lever gun. I already reload for 45 Colt so maybe a nice 45 Colt lever action loaded a little burly would be a good route. The .444 is appealing. I like the 30-30 but also am fond of larger projectiles. The 35 Rem would be a good compromise. Someone on my current project site recommended .338 which seems to be a little overkill.

The Skinner sights are top notch. I love the fact that you can store an extra ring in the dovetail so you can carry a bigger ring for lower light or different environments. The craftsmanship is great as well.

Thanks for the replies! Certainly gave me some things to consider.

 

[Pmringer]

Which county are you moving into in VA. I was born and raised there? Shotgun only east of Blueridge mountains. Either weapons west of Blueridges which is where I am from. A 30-30 lever action is a great choice very popular rifle if you are in the mountains. The area I have hunted is very open so I use a 7mm STW and have taken several deer with it out in the 350-400 yard range. But the mountains can be very thick with laurel if you are hunting high so the lever would be ideal there.

The hunting is very good though except for a few counties for deer,turkey, and bear.

Our office is in Germantown, MD, but I am going to look for a place north of Winchester or in West Virginia. Is a rifled barrel for the 870 worth it for the shotgun only areas or can I get by with a field barrel and improved choke with rifled slugs? I like backpacking hunting so I am not sure if I will even hunt the shotgun only areas. Do these areas restrict blackpowder (flintlock) as well?

 

[brownbear932008]

Our office is in Germantown, MD, but I am going to look for a place north of Winchester or in West Virginia. Is a rifled barrel for the 870 worth it for the shotgun only areas or can I get by with a field barrel and improved choke with rifled slugs? I like backpacking hunting so I am not sure if I will even hunt the shotgun only areas. Do these areas restrict blackpowder (flintlock) as well?

No they don't restrict black powder rifles east of blueridge mts. I live 30 minutes east of the Mon NF now haven't made it over there yet but have seen some bruiser deer come out of there. Plenty of room to roam in there most people don't walk far from the truck in there I hear. I personally like rifled barrels on a slug gun to extend my range and accuracy with the new sabots on the market. Some great bear hunting over in VA. around the National Park area the highest bear producing counties in VA. near Winchester. Hunting isn't bad on the Eastern Shore of MD. either some big deer over there. You will have lots of options living within driving distance of 4 good deer states.

 

[sbhooper]

It sounds to me that you have all the guns you need for the area you plan on hunting. Personally, if you cannot fight the urge for a new gun, I would stay away from the new Marlins. The ones that I have handled just don't seem to be very well-made anymore.

 

[1_pointer]

Our office is in Germantown, MD, but I am going to look for a place north of Winchester or in West Virginia. Is a rifled barrel for the 870 worth it for the shotgun only areas or can I get by with a field barrel and improved choke with rifled slugs? I like backpacking hunting so I am not sure if I will even hunt the shotgun only areas. Do these areas restrict blackpowder (flintlock) as well?

The "field barrel" and rifled slugs may or may not work well enough. Just takes some testing to see if you can find a slug that works. That said, the weakest link will probably be trying to aim with a non adjustable bead sight. In my limited experience, clamp on rifle sights don't do too well with 12ga slug recoil. It wouldn't be too hard to fit one with a reflex sight if you find a slug that shoots well enough.

I'd highly suggest a rifled slug barrel. They are fairly inexpensive. If you don't mind spending a few more $$ and prefer to use a scope, get one with a cantilever scope mount. It keeps the scope sighted in when switching barrels as the scope is attached to the stock. I have two shotguns so equipped and am very happy with each set up. Either is accurate enough that I wouldn't hesitate to shoot to 150yds with either.

Either way it hurts to find out. Slugs are relatively expensive and they KICK!