Gun Range 2024

[FergusonTO35]

I suppose you could put some plug screws in it to fill the holes. Looks like somebody did some pretty good checkering on the wood too.

 

[Larry B]

Probably what I will do. I guess I shouldn't complain since it got thrown in for $100. If it was in good condition it would be worth a little more LOL

Picked this up a few weeks ago. I need to cut back on the 44 mag guns. Got 4 now.

 

[FergusonTO35]

I think the checkering on the 94 actually looks pretty good.

 

[Larry B]

It does have nice checkering for its age.

 

[FergusonTO35]

The lightning bolt on the stock looks kewl. I have a 1978 94 that is in excellent condition save for a crooked rear sight dovetail. Also have a junker 1985 model that shoots good and is my general woods stomping rifle.

 

[FergusonTO35]

So many guns, so little money. Stopped in a pawn shop today and they had a Marlin 336 Texan that rolled off the line the same year I did, 1978. Been wanting one to go with my 1978 Winchester 94.

 

[Loony661]

So many guns, so little money.

Truer words have never been spoken.

 

[Hoser]

I’ve always liked Texans, if I found a marauder I’d have to really hold the reins to not buy it. Regular 336’s feel fat in the hands to me

 

[FergusonTO35]

If I didn't have the Sig M11A1 in layaway jail I may have tried to see how serious he was about selling it. It was stickered at 1095.00, the guy said he could do 995.00, maybe better if the boss would let him. I think $800.00 would be reasonable since the Texan is uncommon around here and it is nicer looking than my rather worn looking '76 model is.

The 336 Texan is my definition of the perfect centerfire rifle, and what I took my biggest deer with. Hopefully the high price will cause the rifle to stay there for quite awhile. Mebbe I can sell some stuff and make it happen. Gotta make sure the boss doesn't get wind of it though! ;-)

 

[JimBear]

I was pondering a 350 Legend for deer season here & then they came out with the 400 Legend so I was eyeballing those. 400 has better ballistics.

I was at the fun plex today & I was chatting with him about them & he said alot of guys are buying 700 Rems in 30.06, using the bolts & re barreling them to 35 Whelen since the dnr has allowed them now.

45-70 are allowed as well but I don’t think I am interested in getting mule kicked on every shot but maybe the Whelen will be as bad

Thoughts on the Whelen vs Legends ?

 

[FergusonTO35]

Factory .35 Whelen loads are not easy on the shoulder and definitely not cheap. If you reload, the .45-70 is a very easy shooting and cheap round that will still flatten anything in North America no problem. I feed my Henry the 292 grain Lyman lead bullet over 13 grains Unique. Lotsa fun to shoot with basically .44 Magnum power level. Have you considered a pistol caliber carbine? .357, .41, and .44 Magnum from a rifle length barrel are fairly potent and ammo is reasonably priced and easy to find, at least for the .357 and .44.

 

[srb08]

Factory .35 Whelen loads are not easy on the shoulder and definitely not cheap. If you reload, the .45-70 is a very easy shooting and cheap round that will still flatten anything in North America no problem. I feed my Henry the 292 grain Lyman lead bullet over 13 grains Unique. Lotsa fun to shoot with basically .44 Magnum power level. Have you considered a pistol caliber carbine? .357, .41, and .44 Magnum from a rifle length barrel are fairly potent and ammo is reasonably priced and easy to find, at least for the .357 and .44.

Spot on.
I load 300gr flat point bullets over Unique and have had good results. You can also load the 45-70 with rifle powder and punish yourself.
The .35 Whelan is not easy on the shoulder. I load .35 Whelan rounds for a friend. He has a REM 760 chambered for them. It slaps the crap out of you.

 

[JimBear]

Thanks fellas, I appreciate the input. My son has a Savage 45-70 he is thinking about getting rid of.

I am a bit of a sucker for the oddball stuff that not alot of other folks around here use , that is why I was inquiring about the 35 Whelen.

I currently don’t reload, my son has the equipment to do it.

The 44 mag has peaked my interest though.


Here is a partial list of the approved calibers for Iowa.

 

[full chizel]

Riton X3 Tactix MPRD 2 Micro Red Dot 3MOA - 3TMPRD2

Brand: RitonModel: X3 Tactix Micro Pistol Red DotMagnification: 1xParallax Adjustment: Parallax FreeLens Coating: Fully Multi-Coated, Low Light EnhancementDot Size: 3 MOAMaterial: 6061-T6Eye Relief: UnlimitedClick Value at 100 yds: 1 MOAAdjustment Range: 100 MOALength: 1.6"Width: 0.98"Weight...

palmettostatearmory.com

 

[FergusonTO35]

Thanks fellas, I appreciate the input. My son has a Savage 45-70 he is thinking about getting rid of.

I am a bit of a sucker for the oddball stuff that not alot of other folks around here use , that is why I was inquiring about the 35 Whelen.

I currently don’t reload, my son has the equipment to do it.

The 44 mag has peaked my interest though.


Here is a partial list of the approved calibers for Iowa.

View attachment 409945

Savage .45-70? Didn't know they ever made one!

 

[JimBear]

Savage .45-70? Didn't know they ever made one!

I thought thats what he said it was. I will ask him, it’s entirely possible I got my wires crossed.

 

[JimBear]

My son in laws father has a TC Contender pistol with a 44 mag barrel & 45colt/410 barrel, he offered to sell me. It also has a laser sight on it. The unit belonged to his late FIL.

It seems to me there is no middle ground on these, either love them or don’t see much use for them.

I already have a single shot 410 & the TC’s seem a bit overpriced.

He is wanting $850 for it.

My son pretty much has me talked out of it.

What do you gents think of the TC Contenders ?

I have yet to lay eyes on it, he was trying to sell it at a local to him shop & they gave him range of 975 - 1125. He said it was offered at 900 at the shop for couple months & didn’t sell. He called me before he takes it to Cabelas.

 

[Larry B]

Factory .35 Whelen loads are not easy on the shoulder and definitely not cheap. If you reload, the .45-70 is a very easy shooting and cheap round that will still flatten anything in North America no problem. I feed my Henry the 292 grain Lyman lead bullet over 13 grains Unique. Lotsa fun to shoot with basically .44 Magnum power level. Have you considered a pistol caliber carbine? .357, .41, and .44 Magnum from a rifle length barrel are fairly potent and ammo is reasonably priced and easy to find, at least for the .357 and .44.

When I want to mess with the 500 S&W guys I let them shoot my contender with 14" unported 45-70 barrel with a 405gr bullet over 55 grains of 3031. The load in a rifle will loosen your fillings. In the contender it is brutal.

"So, you got a 500 Smith? Meh."

 

[srb08]

My son in laws father has a TC Contender pistol with a 44 mag barrel & 45colt/410 barrel, he offered to sell me. It also has a laser sight on it. The unit belonged to his late FIL.

It seems to me there is no middle ground on these, either love them or don’t see much use for them.

I already have a single shot 410 & the TC’s seem a bit overpriced.

He is wanting $850 for it.

My son pretty much has me talked out of it.

What do you gents think of the TC Contenders ?

I have yet to lay eyes on it, he was trying to sell it at a local to him shop & they gave him range of 975 - 1125. He said it was offered at 900 at the shop for couple months & didn’t sell. He called me before he takes it to Cabelas.

I have a TC Encore handgun with 14” barrels in .223 and .308. It’s fun to play with. It shoots well but without a rest is pretty impossible to shoot accurately. I have optics on both barrels.
Years ago, I had a Contender with 10” barrels in .44, 45/410 and .22lr. Fun to shoot as well but not really practical, at least for me. The barrels had open sights and were fun to take to the range and shoot at distant targets off of the bench. Off hand, they were difficult to shoot accurately. The .410 was fun occasionally for clay birds.
They do have a niche market however. Like you said, people seem to either love them or hate them. I like owning one for the fun factor.

 

[srb08]

When I want to mess with the 500 S&W guys I let them shoot my contender with 14" unported 45-70 barrel with a 405gr bullet over 55 grains of 3031. The load in a rifle will loosen your fillings. In the contender it is brutal.

"So, you got a 500 Smith? Meh."

I wouldn’t shoot that!
I have a friend who had a 14” Encore barrel in .338 Win Mag. I watched him shoot it……..once.