I don’t mean to offend but I lived to almost 40yrs of age before losing my last grandparent & you make me feel like I did when listening to my Grandfather’s telling me some good wisdom that I never missed a chance to listen to & learn from. So then, thank you so much for giving me a few moments of that special feeling of when my world included a grandparent. A world without Grandparents is a little more gray, a little more sad; so thank you Good Sir! Also, very much enjoy your show & your obvious vast library of knowledge. I am a semi-gunsmith that does minor fixes & upgrades and the such, but lack a machine shop w/proper shop tools to do more. I actually learn so much from you than so many of the “so called”, experts. Thank you!
Same for me! This feeling is also felt when I'm listening a Ron Spomer video 👍 these guys are really familiar for me! Good content everytime! Thanks for this quality content 😊
Sure miss my Granddad. I lost my dad at 6 and my mom's dad came to visit as often as possible. He started me fishing , bought my first rod and reel and passed a love for that and hunting to me I still carry. Sometimes headed offshore I'd think of him , wondering if he knew or saw what he started became.
I'm so glad Benny pulled through.he looks so content to be a part of your family. A very intelligent breed.i bet he loves the woods as much as you and we do
The 300 Savage is a great deer and hog cartridge. I use a Remington 722 and a Remington 700 Classic in the 300 Savage and the deer or hogs don't know the difference if they were shot with a 308 Winchester or the 300 Savage, and trust me, I have used both and I can't tell the difference between the two used on them. I just love it because it's a great classic cartridge and something different to talk about in hunting camp. 👍 Happy Hunting
Dear Sir, Thankful to see Benny doing so well. The power of Prayer is a gift from our Lord. Take care and God Bless you and your family. Rick Mansberger
Is Benny a "Kleiner Münsterländer" / like "Small Munsterlander" Had one of them here in Germany when I was young... very similar, just a little more brown patches...
It was nice to see Ben recover, positive energy, having faith , folks sending prayers, I was one who sent prayers for you , your wife and of course Ben. May you all be blessed with many more good times and adventures. I have to say that it is truly moving to see your pet enjoying a happy life, knowing the odds were against and to see the recovery........beautiful to see and thanks for sharing . Good content in your videos, keep 'em coming !!!!......God Bless everyone
I’m glad the dog recovered, but honestly do you think god is monitoring the comments and says ok we have the numbers, I’ll give the dog a couple more years? I’m ok with belief but this makes it sound transactional.
@@Verdigris. I don't place any restrictions on God, and I certainly don't assume to know how He works, or by what measure infinity can be measured. The moment that I figure out God, it's not God. I place my faith in my Lord, and leave everything to his loving mercy, which is infinite. FYI, Benny was condemned to die by two veterinary cancer specialists over 4 years ago, but a miracle defied their expertise. Thank you for giving Benny two more years, but I don't think you're in charge of that department.
Such a wealth of knowledge. Very refreshing to hear wisdom from a hunter who has hunted in the woods. He is dead on about still hunting with a non scoped rifle!
I see all the comments so far refer to Benny, but I wanted to add mine anyway. Great way to start (and end) your video. That dog is your own personal miracle. Regarding the firearm selection: No surprises there, and I'm not even a hunter. Just enjoy hearing your expert opinion.
Hi! In a word.....AMAZING!!!!!!!!I just found your videos, and they're wonderful. My dad used to raise Brits here in Louisiana, and I grew up with them. We never had less than 3 at one time, and they were fabulous dogs for the field as well as the family.. I can appreciate your all-around choice, because I love classic rifles too. With my cerebral palsy, I have to hunt from a blind, and that's OK. I don't need to take deer every year to enjoy a hunt. I use scoped, sporterized Mauser rifles in 6.5X55 and 7X57 from my blind for deer and hogs and I've not been disappointed. My favorite Winchester is the '92. Please keep up the good work!!!!!!!
I am a 25 year old deer (only) hunter who lives in Virginia and after watching your video on the 30-30 cartridge I sold the .270 that I had when I was stationed in Texas. I searched for months for a pre-64 Winchester Model 94 and on Sunday I'm going to meet a man who is selling me his 1956 mint condition rifle with an original Lyman 66A aperture sight. Thank you so much for passing along your wealth of knowledge on this platform. You are a figure that I have not had in my life; and I sincerely appreciate the time you take to make sure that the knowledge you have is passed on to my generation and beyond. I am so happy you are around to show me the way and I can tell you that you have probably saved my wife and I a good deal of money. Cheers from one veteran to another.
Congratulations! I stumbled across my mint condition1957 model 94 with Lyman 66A year ago while in the vault at a Cabellas outside of Harrisburg, PA. I brought home 2 whitetail with it last fall. Hands down my favorite deer rifle. GunBlue inspired my search as well.
he got me loving the old winchester 94 too. i havent bought a pre 64 yet but it will come someday. till then ill live with my 70s model 1894. no safety at least. he made me find a whole new love in lever actions. now i have 2 rossi 92s, knock of a win. 1892 and a henry all weather 45-70 and a couple henry 22lr and 22 mag plinking rifles. heck they all are my plinking and hunting rifles. i found my love for the lever gun here at this channel and learned all about the most brilliant man to ever live John browning from hickok45. great knowledge from these great teachers to us young guys.
I found your UA-cam channel last night and I think you make the best argument for common sense than any other gun channel out there. I was so impressed with the videos that you have made for your channel that I spent around 5 hours last night watching one after another. I think you are a breath of fresh air with knowledge that everyone should take in if they own any kind of firearm for hunting, range use or self protection. Thank you for your sharing your videos and I’ll keep watching. God Bless.
I was like most young bucks in that when I got out on my own I thought I had to have the flattest and fastest calibers to be a “serious” whitetail Hunter here in the Southeast. Nevermind the reality that most of our hunting areas consist of 75yds or less. Dad never owned any other deer rifle outside of Marlin 30-30. Dad’s been gone for about seven years now and if I wanted kill a deer on our land this fall I’d grab one of his old Marlins to do it with. They’re nothing fancy but they’re light, compact, mild recoiling, and inexpensive to shoot. They kill deer just as dead .
@Wild Man - Cost is only one reason to handload. That brass case that many people throw away represent half of the cost of each round of ammo. That's why the only autoloading rifles that I have are .22 RF because it doesn't matter that they throw the brass away.
Wayne - I have an old 336 SC in .219 Zipper, and it is a real tack driver. But I would NEVER buy a newer Marlin or Winchester because they bent over for the democrats and installed that useless cross bolt "safety." Henry uses a transfer bar safety that really works, and they also can be unloaded without having to work the rounds through the action.
Always love listening to your knowledge about hunting and diffrent cartridges. I have learned a lot just listening to you. So glad Benny is doing well! Thanks for the video!
God bless you and Benny! So wonderful your dog has responded with a full recovery after the recent surgery, and the 'jump start' you gave provided by keeping your dog mobile that day in the yard! Looking forward to this new presentation also!
I'm not really religios so I can't say that I prayed.. But I remember the clip where you gave the news regarding Benny. And I remember I thought "OMG.. let this poor fellow stay around for a little longer". I am really glad to hear he is doing well. Take good care of him and treat him with an extra biscuit once in a while. :-)
Great video. Another advantage of the 30-30 caliber is its ready availability most anywhere rifle ammunition is sold. I've been on more than one hunting trip where someone in the party forgot his ammunition at home. (Don't ask me how that's possible, I don't know. However, the older I get, the more likely forgetting such things seem to become.)
Dear Mr. GunBlue490, thank you for once again providing us with your experience and knowledge and doing so with great humanity, decency, humility and articulation. Your videos and wisdom are very much appreciated.
Every year, I take at least one deer with Trusty Rusty, my oft neglected 1970's Marlin 336 in 30/30. My eyes aren't what they used to be so she sports a low profile scope on her. She points well so I don't have much issue with losing moving deer in the scope. She's my preferred rifle for the stalk hunt in W. Texas. My sons also hunt with 30/30's. When they were just babies, I found a pair of Winchester pre-64 94's at a pawn shop back before pre-64's shot up in value. Picked them up for an embarrassingly low price even for then and I still consider them one of my best investments. Not just for the price they were acquired but also as a gift for my sons that introduced them to the sport of hunting and a classic example of the quality of US manufacturing from yesteryear for them to keep. These are rifles I fully expect to see my grandchildren use for deer.
@@Kmecha84 I'm really sorry to hear that but put it behind you and don't make the same mistakes. No father is perfect and I am certainly no exception. I just tell my boys to learn from my failings and be a better man than I am.
I remember the video about Benny.....broke my heart. Thats the power of prayer. I really enjoyed this video. Last year my buddy took a deer with a 44mag revolver.....beautiful shot. Stay safe GBY
Just happened to see this topic and decided to check it out. You're very knowledgeable on deer rifles; I agree with your selections. But the most important part for me was your story of Benny. It brought tears to my eyes; so glad he made it and is still with you. I'm sure, you would give up all your rifles combined for Benny. Lost my precious little Bailey to a brain tumor in 2012 and still miss her terribly. Look forward to seeing her in that better place someday. Hope you and Benny have many more good years together! God Bless both of you!
Agree 100% .. the Marlin 30-30 is also a great home defense weapon for all the same reasons .. I live in a rural area though and wouldn’t use it in a suburban neighborhood or apartment complex
Great video sir! What an absolute gem of an American you are. I could listen to you speak for hours on a multitude of topics. Thank you for your service, and for your time in making these videos. May God bless you and all of our fellow Americans. 🇺🇸
Brittany's are one of the most versatile smart hunters there are. He is an exceptional specimen that really loves you and I hope he is in good health still.
I really appreciate videos like this. It's always interesting to revisit the basics in the choices of rifles and ammunition we have these days. My first deer rifle was a Marlin 336 in 30-30. To this day, it has never let me down. I agree, the nostalgia makes it so fun to carry. Thank you for the good information.
I’m with Benny, give me that cool fall weather. Your videos are so great, such sensible advice and a wealth of information. Thank you for devoting your time to educating others.
@@GunBlue490 I watch all your postings. I like the dog the most, but I'm am old curmudgeon according to my son. There are those who know better. Keep 'em coming!
Glad to hear that Bennie is still going well. I agree with your choice of a lever gun for deer hunting, I usually just hunt paper and steel, but for deer you dont need anything more.
Mr. GunBlue490 , the beginning of this video genuinely brought a tear to my eye. Benny is such a good boy! That story was so happy and sad about Benny's spleen, but I am so glad he powered through it.! Thank you for sharing it. I really love your channel. I have learned so much from you and I want to Thank you from the bottom of my heart Mr. GUNBLUE490. You are such an asset to the firearm community. I just wish I discovered you sooner. I found your channel a few months ago but have been watching many many of your videos since then. I have been missing out. I would love to meet you some day. GOD BLESS and Shoot Straight!
My dad set me up with his 30/30 when I was 12. He said this is my brush/driving gun. And he said I will never put a scope on it. And he had is 30.6 that he had over and unders on. And I just always took it for what it was and didn’t mind it. I learned to love iron sights. I killed deer and coyotes with that 30/30. Farthest shot probably 100 yards. Coyote I hit on the run I never would have got him with a scope. But I will say when I was younger I babied that gun and half cocked it. And that lever action jammed and it jammed good. My dad was mad and told me you have to slam that lever do not baby it. And I never did after that and killed many more deer. I eventually got my own gun a .270 with a scope. And honestly I miss using that 30/30. It is everything you just explained and it’s just perfect it’s fast and efficient ! Great video
Always a pleasure to see a new video. Wow, one year; I remember and remember praying for him. Remember the video when he was improving rapidly and playing again. Benny is a beautiful boy and thankful he was selected by the man above.
God bless you and your fur child , I love your videos and I’m learning a lot from you that I’ve never knew . Thank you so much for all of the wonderful information .
That story genuinely brought a tear to my eye when he told the story. I love Dogs and pretty much all animals soo much! To hear MrGunBlue490's story about what Benny went thru really got to me. Benny is such a good boy and he deserves a very long life! Mr.GunBlue490 is an AMAZING PERSON and BENNY is an AMAZING DOG! I love them both!
My father (God rest his soul) hunted with a 32 Special for years. Deer and even elk in the mountains of Oregon and Idaho. I really wish people would stop discounting lever action rifles. For the purpose for which they were designed, they’re superb.
You can also get lever guns with over 6000 ft lbs of muzzle energy (50-110 Winchester) or over 4000 ft lbs in the 500 S&W Magnum. (makes a great brush gun)
My 1960 issued Winchester Model 1894,.30-30 has taken several large white \tail deer and two bull elks with hand loaded ammunition over the year and I will not ever sell this old friend. Thanks for all your excellent videos. God bless!
I have an old Remington Gamemaster 760 pump rifle in a 35 caliber. Great brush gun (short, light, fast). No recoil, easy to carry, so my boys learned on it, and now the grandkids. Thanks for your thoughtful insights. I love this rifle!
Sir....I've said it before and I'll say it again, your videos and info are 1st class, grade A, no B.S. THANK YOU, for your wisdom and time to produce these videos.
Great to see Benny's smiling face! 90% of my deer hunting is with a bow, but in 2016 I purchased a Marlin 1894 in.44 Mag, and that's my go-to rifle for gun hunting. I installed a Skinner rear peep sight recently and haven't sighted it in yet, but I hope to correct the low shooting tendency I was getting from the buckhorn sight. Perfect for relatively close quarters Georgia woodlands hunting.
Glad to see you still have your dog with you. God loves our dogs, too. I am, by no means an expert on trajectory tables but like you, I prefer the old style tables that use the mid-point as a prime reference. If I were making such tables, I would make my aim point at wherever I want it to zero, then, rather than go out a given distance, I would look for the point on the chart at which I get a known amount of drop (or rise as the case may be) then move out to where the rise would be an easy multiple of my first point. For example (and note that this is using numbers for ease of calculation), make rise or fall distances at 1/4" increments. EG: 1/4" drop at 31 yds., 1/2" drop at 58 yds., 3/4" at 80 yds., then 1" at 100 yds. Then, all you would have to do is laser check or estimate your distance and you would KNOW how much drop at almost any distance. Since your not using optics other than the Mark 1 Mod A eyeball, it would seem to be quicker to get on target. These 3030s don't seem to have much drop close in, so a good estimate should be good enough, but when you start getting out to greater distances (with different rifle/cartridge combos) it would seem to be a lot faster than trying to do a lot of math in your head while that buck is looking at you and getting ready to bolt. I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of the lever action rifle in 3030 with 170 g projectiles. I would probably use the 32 special, but my rifle has lasted me almost 50 years and I have no reason to spend the $$$ just for the sake of the change. I've killed a lot of white tail deer with a 3030 and it works just fine. Also, you are SO correct about shots being taken at 30 paces or less. If I don't have that perfect shot, I just don't take it. 170s are THE bullet to use. We seem to agree on a lot of things. Old school, I guess.
Your video just popped up in my feed and I love "best hunting cartridges" type videos so I clicked on it, your love for your pup and speaking on his recovery is excellent. I lost my 12 year old guy (pitbull) this time last year, had to carry him outside to the bathroom during his last days before he went. So hard, wife was devastated but I told her love is costly and the 12 good years we got from him and gave to him was worth it, I think for all of us so it's balanced. I miss my buddy. Cheers to you for your pup and his recovery.....
@@joemoment-o1275 I suppose it all depends on the deer and shot placement. I once confronted a band of poachers who were all subsequently arrested and charged with possession of hundreds of illegally harvested big Maine northern whitetails, that were all taken with .22 mags in the dark and loaded onto small boats off the shore of coastal islands. They quietly killed a whole bunch with a caliber that would not have the the choice of your average sportsman. I'd disagree with the people saying 300BLK wont get the job done. With modern powders its got the approximate stopping power of vintage 30-30's, which were considered adequate. Seems to be a trend toward obliterating as much meat as possible while hunting squirrel with my .338lapua...that I would reason is a by-product of the Call-of-Duty trained hunting crowd. Just a guess.
That what my Dad and Grandfather always used. As I came of age, I thought I knew better with choices of .308 or 7 Rem Mag. But now learning that maybe Dad and Granddad maybe knew what they were talking about.
My dad swore by his. Dropped an elk with it. Some guy did him a favor and loaded up about 150 rounds for it-all spritzer bullets. I have no idea what that guy was thinking! Tubular magazine-DUH!
Michael Honeycutt A reloader loaded 150 grain pointed soft points in 30-30 for hunters that needed to shoot deer in open fields. The rifle was loaded with one round in the chamber and one round in the tube. He claimed deer dropped faster from the higher velocity. It turned the Leveraction in to a good 250-300 yard deer hunting rifle with his special hand loads.
I have a 454 Cassul/45LC I love. Less cost efficient to shoot than the 30-30 but it takes down deer and bore just fine. Plus I have one caliber between my rifle and sidearm for weight reduction. Great video I'm very happy to see the trusty lever is still a loved riffle in the age of semi automatics.
Always glad to hear Benny's doing well. As you worked your way across the selection, I had a feeling that you'd wind up holding a Model '94. While I agree with your comments about the scoped rifle catching vines and other stuff, my observation is that most rifle manufacturers, unfortunately, don't even install irons. And because of that, most younger shooters have far less experience with iron sights these days because their rifles are factory drilled and tapped. The gun makers save a little time and money by omitting irons and the scope folks make their money when you have to select a scope. Sadly, hunting with irons is a slowly fading art form compared to when I was a kid decades ago. I've written letters to many gun companies about irons but they are dealing with economies of scale and my single letter isn't going to make a difference in the grand scheme of things. Enjoyed your video and, as always, I appreciate your experience. Again, so glad to hear that Benny's doing so well. He's become a second dog to many of your viewers. Be Blessed, Sir!
Great video as usual. Great choice in rifle. When I had a young Family we lived in the mountains along a river in an old log two story house built in the 1860's. While digging in a propane line I found fired cases from 32/20 and 44/40 that had been Laying there since Who knows when. Sometimes I would go hunt whitetail in the thickets along the river and take my Winchester 30/30. It's no wonder it's a Classic beloved rifle. That Winchester helped me keep my Family fed for quit a few years. The cartridge/ rifle combination never left me wanting another rifle for that type of hunting. And with all the history of that particular location I never felt as if I were hunting alone. I wish that your brand of Critical thinking would be used more today in all things political. Our world would be a much happier place by far. Best Wishes to you and your Family from Montana.
I loved this video. Thanks for sharing your testimony about Benny. My favorite deer rifle is also a 30/30 levergun- Marlin 336y. Very handy, compact little rifle and about a 2 moa shooter!
I wish I would have watched this video 15 years ago before I started learning all this stuff through experience. I started with a 25-06, moved to a 308 then a 30-30 with a scope to end up with the 30-30 without the scope. Can't agree more on the issues of walking in the woods with a scoped rifle! Nice to see Benny.
Thats exactly what I have now I aas considering adding a scope to my marlin 336 30-30 and decided just to use iron sights because I like the sight setup and like how accurate I can place a shot with them
@PaskKingFisher001 I'm lucky I guess because I'm watching this before buying:) I've been looking at all kinds of stuff, too much information. I was leaning heavily on a Ruger American Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor with a Vortex Crossfire II scope, vs the same rifle in .270 WIN with no scope vs Remington 700 in 7MAG with no scope. Another scope I'm looking at is a Leupold VX 3i 3.5-10x40mm, but also Primary Arms FFP SLx 4-14x44mm, etc. After watching this I still can't decide:)
@@geico1975 they all sound like long range hunting rifles. Too many people talking about 1000 yard shots on you tube . Just listen to this bloke for advice. He has great videos on rifle selection
Fantastic to see Benny is doing great. Our Welsh Springer Spaniel Browny passed away last Monday. 15 and 1/2 year old. Lived last 2 years with cancer. The cancer manifested it self in the last few weeks. Now he is in doggy heaven. Was a great companion. We miss him dearly.
For me, 300 savage model 99 works for anything I hunt ! From Deer to Elk plus antelope ! I wish I had some 125 grain units for antelope, but 150’s will do the trick ! Someday, I’ll take up reloading, then I’ll have a great antelope rifle ! For me ! I reworked the fore end to almost free float the barrel and it really shoots now !
I wish I knew how to post images, because what I did to the forend was easy and really made a huge difference in group size ! It was shooting really odd flinging bullets all over ! I had a scope put on it but the gun smith screwed the mount pretty badly ?? The scope was not in alignement with the barrel of the gun so I could sight in at 100 yards but 50 and 150 were off by a lot ??? Where I hunt most shots are less than 40 yards but at my lease they could be 350 yds, so a scope made sense to me. Anyway the forend rubbed the bluing off the barrel in several places, so I cleaned up the barrel channel and cut off an aluminium hunting arrow at 3/4 inch and embedded that into the forend so that when screwed in, that bolt hits the flat end of the barrel screw !! Had to visualize without pics ?? ;-( However, after fixing the scope mounts that rifle shoots amazing !! I have shot 1/2 MOA GROUPS AT 100 yds, but have only put about 10 rounds threw it after the changes I made, so I’m not saying irs a 1/2 MOA rifle just saying it now is very consistent and I have full confidence that at 50 to 350 yds, If I shoot it right, gonna have some back strap back at the camp site !! ;-) From father, to son , to grandson, then hopefully to great grandson ! A family rifle with a great history !
My grandmother bought one for Grandpa in 1951. My dad hunted with it, I hunt with it and my son hunted with it. It is deadly accurate and came with a hawk scope. I think 150-grain is ideal for that gun. My friend's grandfather had a Model 99 in 30 30 and it is a beautiful gun. Love the model 99!
This guy is the bomb-diggity bang up real deal. I just stumbled across his lesson about accuracy yesterday 02/21/21. Downloading all his lessons before they are canceled.
My Britt Max pulled his ears up on the beginning of your video, almost asking who is this dog that looks just like me. Love your work Sir, love your passion and your ways. Thank you for being who you are.
You remind me of a ex-Game Warren who use to do a T.V. show on hunting and fishing called The Harley Burg Show. He would come on and tell experiences he had, and show videos of hunting, or fishing and I loved it. So keep going and teach us, because I am 68 and still learning, and the younger people need someone who knows what they are talking about, and is willing to share it..
Great to hear that Benny is beating all the odds. I have to agree with your choice of rifle in this situation. Plus, I totally agree with the choice of the bolt action or lever action rifle and the non-necessity for an optic. A lot of newer hunters are caught up in the media hype of high-powered scopes and large calibre semi-auto rifles which end up spoiling a lot of meat in an animal, especially if a major bone is hit and splinters throughout the meat. In my case, my all around rifle is my Browning .30-06 A-Bolt hunter that I have used for the past 30 years for caribou, black bear, and moose. It is a nice light rifle for carrying in the bush, has a vast amount of bullet sizes available from very light rounds to heavier rounds and powder charges for a variety of game. Yes, I do have a 2-7 x 32 optic, but it is mounted to allow me to still use the factory Williams sites in cases whereby I need to take a shot when the view of the optic is obscured with snow or rain. IMO, todays hunters need to get back to the KISS principle, and keep things simple and less complicated and become more proficient with the basic firearm and avoid all the technical hype. Once again, keep up the very informative videos.
Soldier, Cop, gun guru……and all around badasss, wrapped in a wise, gentle, fatherly human being. I listen to your videos when I’m bored just to hear your sage advice. Imagine having the cajones in this day and age to recommend a 30-30 as a deer rifle, when every young, wanna be, “deer slayer” is saying: “if you don’t have a rifle that shoots 3” groups at 1000 yards, it’s no good”. You know your stuff more than just about anyone I’ve found on YT. I recommend your videos to anyone I can. We need more “old time men” dispensing time tested advice than ever before. I think Thomas Sowell said something about heeding the advice of people from past generations having the knowledge because they’ve lived through tough times and know what works. You epitomize that wisdom. Cheers from Canada!!!
Still hunting never heard it called that before learn something new everyday , we call it deer stalking different names same meaning, many thanks steve
There is to types of deer hunting here in Mississippi still hunting where you sit in a stand and wait and then theirs running dogs which there’s not sitting around in that
I love how thoroughly you explain things! I live in Michigan and deer hunting is a big deal here, so many "experts" make a lot of noise around October 1st. Since the season starts November 15th I can see where many people are confused by opening day. So, I'll just share my experience, I go into the woods these days as an elder (59 years old) and I carry my Marlin 1894 .44 magnum Lever gun.On my hip I have either my S&W Model 29 .44 Mag or my Ruger Redhawk .44 mag, sometimes both and 2 boxes of 50 SJHP 240 grain magnum rounds. Since they are all chambered in .44 magnum it is streamlined and efficient. I Usually come upon a deer way below the 100 yard range so bullet density and ballistic charts don't really mean much to me. 2 reasons for me to carry .44 mag,first those guns all 3 are way cool and just too much fun to shoot and even if I don't get a big Buck I have a BLAST, or should I say a Hundred Blasts! Second and most important is even if I come upon a bear The .44 magnum is plenty of firepower to insure that I will go back home, but the bear won't. I think back to the old saying, a bad day of hunting Beats a Good day of Work! Keep up the great work on the videos. Robin P.S. There are many hunters in Michigan using a .12 gauge 1 oz. slug to bring their deer home! Also I was a butcher for 40 years so I think I got the processing covered. LOL It's amazing how many friends call me in November "Just to see how I am doing." LOL
Curt, Yup,my old model '94 lever Winchester is an awesome gun for drives, standing I like my '.06 Remington SA, with 3X9 on over under mounts. For the really hairy drives through brush that's insanely thick I take my old single shot 12ga. With a slug...
Watching this again. Since this presentation streamed, I was able to pry my Dad's Winchester Model 94 in 30/30 from him. I have to say that it's the finest woods rifle, I have personally held. At 63, I can still use the semi buckhorn sights and have it zeroed at 100 yards, but to date, my shots are well within 40 yards. I absolutely love this woods gun.
Listening to this video explains a lot to me. Unfortunately, my father died at age 53 when I was 15. I never got to ask him a lot of questions about rifles, and hunting. He was from North Monmouth Maine and did a lot of shooting when he was a boy. I inherited all of his rifles and this video fully explains everything. He started off with a Winchester 1894, made in 1898, and in the family since 1899. It’s a 32-40. I have been running 30-30 brass through a 32-40 die to reshape it. I also cast my own bullets as .32 in rifle weights is fairly hard to find. I located an antique Winchester 32-165 grain bullet mold which works very well. The next rifle of his is the Winchester Model 70 in 270. No scope. Just iron sights. And lastly, his sporterized Springfield 03-A3 in 30-06. That has an old Bushnell 4x scope on it, but also flips off to the side to use the iron sights. The last time he got to hunt I was able to join him a few days into his hunt. By the time I got to the camp in western Colorado, he had taken two deer and an elk. That was in the winter of 63-74. I’m 69 years old now. Been reloading since 1980 or so, mostly for the fun of shooting. My father would buy maybe one box or possibly two prior to the season. He never reloaded. Around 1962 he bought my mom a Winchester Featherweight model 70 in 257 Roberts. Clearly, he thought like a New Englander in his rifle choices! He carried those rifles all over the world. He used the 32-40 tiger hunting with the emperor of Indo China in 1950, and again bear hunting in Hokkaido, Japan in the late 1950s. I gifted the 257 Roberts to my older sister who wound up with a husband who loves to hunt! She got her first deer with that rifle on our father’s November birthday. Thank you for clarifying many things for me that I was unable to get answers to! And by the way, I have your baked bean recipe in the oven right now.
Benny's looking good! Never let anyone say that prayers don't work. But I'm sure you know that. Good talk about the deer rifles. Out West, what you call still hunting, we call stalking. And nobody can get away with knocking the 30-30 cartridge for deer. I've seen my Grandfather and my uncle bring down Elk with a 30-30. I recently inherited my Uncle's Glenfield (Marlin) 30A (336), and I'm working on getting it sighted in. It was shooting about 6" low/right, but I've drifted the sight, and raised it. Now I can get about a 3" group, but my eyesight isn't as good as it used to be, so I'm considering a low power scope for it. Thanks again for your knowledge
I always feel like I'm talking to a trusted friend when I listen to these teaching moments each night. Cannot thank you enough for taking the time and sharing your knowledge with the world, very much appreciated. On a side note amazing to see Benny doing well, God is great. I am a true believer in the power of prayer and this is a clear testament of faith. If you all do not mind saying a prayer for our family companion Khole (Cole) that would be truly appreciated as he is in a bad spot and facing a health crisis. God bless you as well as your subscribers/followers. Stay safe this season and best of luck out there.
Amen!!!! I give it 5 stars as well. The 30-30 lever action to me is the perfect deer rifle. It is a joy to carry and shoot. It is easy to maneuver in the thick brush and if you add to that the "nostalgic" factor - you have one great rifle!!! Excellent video sir. God bless and take care.
Been missin Gunblue and the Toadster lately!!! Finally another fine video and a handsome shot of that beautiful puppy Benny!!! Love the 92 in 45 colt and the marlin 1894 in 44 mag, lite and mobile and well balanced!! Love my model 14 and 141 pump action Remingtons in 30 Remington and 35 respectfully. My 99 savage is another great handling rifle that is excellent.
Thanks for sharing your views on deer rifles. I have used shot guns to many different calibers for hunting deer. From 223 to 308. All of which have did well for me. Glad Bennie is still doing great. Nothing like a good dog for companionship. May he be with you a long time to come.
Glad to see you and Benny back-I enjoy your videos, probably the most imformative,accurate information you can get on many subjects concerning firearms! Glad too see Benny is doing well!
Nice to see someone mention a .257 Roberts. I killed my first two whitetail deer with one (Ruger mkii ultralight). It doesn't get a whole lot of use lately but it is a great caliber especially for younger shooters or recoil sensitive shooters.
Good to see your dog made it! We had a close call with our dog on the 4th of July, he was stung by a bee and had a severe allergic reaction and almost died! But thank God there was a vet open in Ohio! In my state we have to go with .243 Winchester and higher. The last couple of years my choice of rifle has been my M1A Loaded. While it is not the lightest rifle, I have made use of it and have killed several deer with it.
Still hunting in Illinois involves finding a place and sitting down, making no noise at all, until a deer wanders by. Difficult! Range for most shots is about 50 yards; Shotgun slugs only allowed. Different procedures for different places. God bless you, and Benny!
I use two different Marlin 336's chambered in 30-30 for deer. My longest shot over 50 years of hunting deer has been around 125 yards, but averages 35 yards or so. Perfect for the 30-30. The 1950 has been left traditional, waffle top with the half buck horn rear sight. The newer one which came from the factory pre-tapped for scope mounts, has a Williams peep sight mounted on it with a post front sight. Both serve specific purposes. The former for still hunting and the latter for hunting from a ladder stand. I use a Hornady 170 grain Interlock FP with both rifles for the exact reasons mentioned by GunBlue...very effective at these distances in the northeastern hardwoods and have a great sectional density (although I didn't understand that 50 years ago, I just knew it dropped deer). You are a great teacher GunBlue. Thank you for helping me to understand what my father and uncles told me but were never able to explain the rationales behind their directives.
Thanks for the vid, enjoyed it ... I'm a little surprised you didn't bring out your Savage 99 in 300 Savage as the favorite ... I like the Marlin 336 in 30-30, and when I hunted with one I had it set up with a Williams Foolproof peep with the large aperture, and installed a white bead front sight. That rifle would shoot 2moa all day. ... These days, with my old eyes, I prefer a bolt action carbine such as my Ruger 77RSI in 7x57. It wears a Leupold 1.5-5x scope. I tend to sit & watch more, too. Use the Remington 140gr core-lokt. Good hunting to ya', and glad to see Benny looking good as well.
I don’t mean to offend but I lived to almost 40yrs of age before losing my last grandparent & you make me feel like I did when listening to my Grandfather’s telling me some good wisdom that I never missed a chance to listen to & learn from. So then, thank you so much for giving me a few moments of that special feeling of when my world included a grandparent. A world without Grandparents is a little more gray, a little more sad; so thank you Good Sir! Also, very much enjoy your show & your obvious vast library of knowledge. I am a semi-gunsmith that does minor fixes & upgrades and the such, but lack a machine shop w/proper shop tools to do more. I actually learn so much from you than so many of the “so called”, experts. Thank you!
Same for me! This feeling is also felt when I'm listening a Ron Spomer video 👍 these guys are really familiar for me! Good content everytime! Thanks for this quality content 😊
Thanks for down to earth old time wisdom without the unnecessary chatter I am old school also at 74
Sure miss my Granddad. I lost my dad at 6 and my mom's dad came to visit as often as possible. He started me fishing , bought my first rod and reel and passed a love for that and hunting to me I still carry. Sometimes headed offshore I'd think of him , wondering if he knew or saw what he started became.
He definitely provides that feeling to some of us
I'm so glad Benny pulled through.he looks so content to be a part of your family. A very intelligent breed.i bet he loves the woods as much as you and we do
The .30-30 and .35 Rem are both great Whitetail rounds. I have used both. I currently hunt with a Savage Model 99 in .300 Savage. Great deer round.
The 300 Savage is a great deer and hog cartridge. I use a Remington 722 and a Remington 700 Classic in the 300 Savage and the deer or hogs don't know the difference if they were shot with a 308 Winchester or the 300 Savage, and trust me, I have used both and I can't tell the difference between the two used on them. I just love it because it's a great classic cartridge and something different to talk about in hunting camp. 👍
Happy Hunting
Agreed, most of the deer I harvested in my youth was with a Savage 99 in .308win. Excellent combo, still have it but mix it up a little more now,
The 35 rem is a great choice.
You can see a man's soul through his dog. Bless you both 🙂
Dear Sir,
Thankful to see Benny doing so well.
The power of Prayer is a gift from our Lord.
Take care and God Bless you and your family.
Rick Mansberger
Is Benny a "Kleiner Münsterländer" / like "Small Munsterlander" Had one of them here in Germany when I was young... very similar, just a little more brown patches...
I'm so glad Benny is still with you two. Benny is the proof that the power of prayer does work. God bless you all!
It was nice to see Ben recover, positive energy, having faith , folks sending prayers, I was one who sent prayers for you , your wife and of course Ben. May you all be blessed with many more good times and adventures. I have to say that it is truly moving to see your pet enjoying a happy life, knowing the odds were against and to see the recovery........beautiful to see and thanks for sharing . Good content in your videos, keep 'em coming !!!!......God Bless everyone
I’m glad the dog recovered, but honestly do you think god is monitoring the comments and says ok we have the numbers, I’ll give the dog a couple more years? I’m ok with belief but this makes it sound transactional.
@@Verdigris. I don't place any restrictions on God, and I certainly don't assume to know how He works, or by what measure infinity can be measured. The moment that I figure out God, it's not God. I place my faith in my Lord, and leave everything to his loving mercy, which is infinite. FYI, Benny was condemned to die by two veterinary cancer specialists over 4 years ago, but a miracle defied their expertise. Thank you for giving Benny two more years, but I don't think you're in charge of that department.
Such a wealth of knowledge. Very refreshing to hear wisdom from a hunter who has hunted in the woods. He is dead on about still hunting with a non scoped rifle!
I see all the comments so far refer to Benny, but I wanted to add mine anyway. Great way to start (and end) your video. That dog is your own personal miracle.
Regarding the firearm selection: No surprises there, and I'm not even a hunter. Just enjoy hearing your expert opinion.
Hi! In a word.....AMAZING!!!!!!!!I just found your videos, and they're wonderful. My dad used to raise Brits here in Louisiana, and I grew up with them. We never had less than 3 at one time, and they were fabulous dogs for the field as well as the family.. I can appreciate your all-around choice, because I love classic rifles too. With my cerebral palsy, I have to hunt from a blind, and that's OK. I don't need to take deer every year to enjoy a hunt. I use scoped, sporterized Mauser rifles in 6.5X55 and 7X57 from my blind for deer and hogs and I've not been disappointed. My favorite Winchester is the '92. Please keep up the good work!!!!!!!
My late father had no greater ambition at one time than to hunt Louisiana timberdoodles with one of his Brittanies.
Wish I lived next door to this gentleman. Simply the best thank you Sir
You'd prolly be bugging the hell out of him all the time.
I am a 25 year old deer (only) hunter who lives in Virginia and after watching your video on the 30-30 cartridge I sold the .270 that I had when I was stationed in Texas. I searched for months for a pre-64 Winchester Model 94 and on Sunday I'm going to meet a man who is selling me his 1956 mint condition rifle with an original Lyman 66A aperture sight. Thank you so much for passing along your wealth of knowledge on this platform. You are a figure that I have not had in my life;
and I sincerely appreciate the time you take to make sure that the knowledge you have is passed on to my generation and beyond. I am so happy you are around to show me the way and I can tell you that you have probably saved my wife and I a good deal of money. Cheers from one veteran to another.
👍
Congratulations! I stumbled across my mint condition1957 model 94 with Lyman 66A year ago while in the vault at a Cabellas outside of Harrisburg, PA. I brought home 2 whitetail with it last fall. Hands down my favorite deer rifle. GunBlue inspired my search as well.
he got me loving the old winchester 94 too. i havent bought a pre 64 yet but it will come someday. till then ill live with my 70s model 1894. no safety at least. he made me find a whole new love in lever actions. now i have 2 rossi 92s, knock of a win. 1892 and a henry all weather 45-70 and a couple henry 22lr and 22 mag plinking rifles. heck they all are my plinking and hunting rifles. i found my love for the lever gun here at this channel and learned all about the most brilliant man to ever live John browning from hickok45. great knowledge from these great teachers to us young guys.
also he has great reloading videos
I am both happy and amazed Benny is still with us. I was so happy to see him. Keep on truckin' Benny.
I found your UA-cam channel last night and I think you make the best argument for common sense than any other gun channel out there. I was so impressed with the videos that you have made for your channel that I spent around 5 hours last night watching one after another. I think you are a breath of fresh air with knowledge that everyone should take in if they own any kind of firearm for hunting, range use or self protection. Thank you for your sharing your videos and I’ll keep watching. God Bless.
My word. I don't want to be responsible for ending a marriage. Thanks.
My wife is a gun is a gun person too . Lol
I was like most young bucks in that when I got out on my own I thought I had to have the flattest and fastest calibers to be a “serious” whitetail Hunter here in the Southeast. Nevermind the reality that most of our hunting areas consist of 75yds or less. Dad never owned any other deer rifle outside of Marlin 30-30.
Dad’s been gone for about seven years now and if I wanted kill a deer on our land this fall I’d grab one of his old Marlins to do it with. They’re nothing fancy but they’re light, compact, mild recoiling, and inexpensive to shoot. They kill deer just as dead .
@Wild Man - Cost is only one reason to handload. That brass case that many people throw away represent half of the cost of each round of ammo. That's why the only autoloading rifles that I have are .22 RF because it doesn't matter that they throw the brass away.
Wayne - I have an old 336 SC in .219 Zipper, and it is a real tack driver. But I would NEVER buy a newer Marlin or Winchester because they bent over for the democrats and installed that useless cross bolt "safety." Henry uses a transfer bar safety that really works, and they also can be unloaded without having to work the rounds through the action.
I use my dad's old military surplus guns lol got few choices from 7 and 8 Mauser 303 British Enfield 7.62x54 mosin 30-40 lol
Always love listening to your knowledge about hunting and diffrent cartridges. I have learned a lot just listening to you. So glad Benny is doing well! Thanks for the video!
God bless you and Benny! So wonderful your dog has responded with a full recovery after the recent surgery, and the 'jump start' you gave provided by keeping your dog mobile that day in the yard! Looking forward to this new presentation also!
Sir, you are spot on. There is something very special about the rifle. Everything you need, and nothing you don't.
Blessings to you and Benny. He’s a beautiful companion
I'm not really religios so I can't say that I prayed.. But I remember the clip where you gave the news regarding Benny. And I remember I thought "OMG.. let this poor fellow stay around for a little longer".
I am really glad to hear he is doing well. Take good care of him and treat him with an extra biscuit once in a while. :-)
Great video. Another advantage of the 30-30 caliber is its ready availability most anywhere rifle ammunition is sold. I've been on more than one hunting trip where someone in the party forgot his ammunition at home. (Don't ask me how that's possible, I don't know. However, the older I get, the more likely forgetting such things seem to become.)
Dear Mr. GunBlue490, thank you for once again providing us with your experience and knowledge and doing so with great humanity, decency, humility and articulation. Your videos and wisdom are very much appreciated.
Every year, I take at least one deer with Trusty Rusty, my oft neglected 1970's Marlin 336 in 30/30. My eyes aren't what they used to be so she sports a low profile scope on her. She points well so I don't have much issue with losing moving deer in the scope. She's my preferred rifle for the stalk hunt in W. Texas. My sons also hunt with 30/30's. When they were just babies, I found a pair of Winchester pre-64 94's at a pawn shop back before pre-64's shot up in value. Picked them up for an embarrassingly low price even for then and I still consider them one of my best investments. Not just for the price they were acquired but also as a gift for my sons that introduced them to the sport of hunting and a classic example of the quality of US manufacturing from yesteryear for them to keep. These are rifles I fully expect to see my grandchildren use for deer.
Thats cool man! My dad would never give it a thought to pass something of sentimental value down to me
@@Kmecha84 I'm really sorry to hear that but put it behind you and don't make the same mistakes. No father is perfect and I am certainly no exception. I just tell my boys to learn from my failings and be a better man than I am.
I remember the video about Benny.....broke my heart. Thats the power of prayer. I really enjoyed this video. Last year my buddy took a deer with a 44mag revolver.....beautiful shot. Stay safe GBY
Glad your pup is doing well. Dogs are a true blessing.
Just happened to see this topic and decided to check it out.
You're very knowledgeable on deer rifles; I agree with your selections.
But the most important part for me was your story of Benny.
It brought tears to my eyes; so glad he made it and is still with you.
I'm sure, you would give up all your rifles combined for Benny.
Lost my precious little Bailey to a brain tumor in 2012 and still miss her terribly.
Look forward to seeing her in that better place someday.
Hope you and Benny have many more good years together!
God Bless both of you!
Benny is an amazing boy.
I think he's got the Angels on his side!
Blessings GunBlue490
Christ Bless!
I love the 32 Win special. Especially in a pre 64 1894 Winchester
Agree 100% .. the Marlin 30-30 is also a great home defense weapon for all the same reasons .. I live in a rural area though and wouldn’t use it in a suburban neighborhood or apartment complex
@@cathompson58 I can't imagine living in anything but a rural area. Been 40 years for me now, since leaving the urban jungle.
what breed is benny?
joe johnson I believe Benny is a Springer or Brittney Spaniel.
great video My Roxie and I are happy to know Benny is doing well ...thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Great video sir! What an absolute gem of an American you are. I could listen to you speak for hours on a multitude of topics. Thank you for your service, and for your time in making these videos. May God bless you and all of our fellow Americans. 🇺🇸
Brittany's are one of the most versatile smart hunters there are. He is an exceptional specimen that really loves you and I hope he is in good health still.
I really appreciate videos like this. It's always interesting to revisit the basics in the choices of rifles and ammunition we have these days. My first deer rifle was a Marlin 336 in 30-30. To this day, it has never let me down. I agree, the nostalgia makes it so fun to carry. Thank you for the good information.
I’m with Benny, give me that cool fall weather.
Your videos are so great, such sensible advice and a wealth of information. Thank you for devoting your time to educating others.
You definitely know what you're talking about. I'll recommend your channel to all my gun friends.
Thank you. God bless.
@@GunBlue490 I watch all your postings. I like the dog the most, but I'm am old curmudgeon according to my son. There are those who know better.
Keep 'em coming!
Glad to hear that Bennie is still going well. I agree with your choice of a lever gun for deer hunting, I usually just hunt paper and steel, but for deer you dont need anything more.
Mr. GunBlue490 , the beginning of this video genuinely brought a tear to my eye. Benny is such a good boy! That story was so happy and sad about Benny's spleen, but I am so glad he powered through it.! Thank you for sharing it.
I really love your channel. I have learned so much from you and I want to Thank you from the bottom of my heart Mr. GUNBLUE490.
You are such an asset to the firearm community. I just wish I discovered you sooner. I found your channel a few months ago but have been watching many many of your videos since then. I have been missing out. I would love to meet you some day.
GOD BLESS and Shoot Straight!
My dad set me up with his 30/30 when I was 12. He said this is my brush/driving gun. And he said I will never put a scope on it. And he had is 30.6 that he had over and unders on. And I just always took it for what it was and didn’t mind it. I learned to love iron sights. I killed deer and coyotes with that 30/30. Farthest shot probably 100 yards. Coyote I hit on the run I never would have got him with a scope. But I will say when I was younger I babied that gun and half cocked it. And that lever action jammed and it jammed good. My dad was mad and told me you have to slam that lever do not baby it. And I never did after that and killed many more deer. I eventually got my own gun a .270 with a scope. And honestly I miss using that 30/30. It is everything you just explained and it’s just perfect it’s fast and efficient ! Great video
He's a great looking hunting buddy. I'm glad he rebounded so well.
7.5 low at 200 yds thanks,GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS
Today I'm home sick from work. Thank you. You're very calming person. I aspire to be that way
Always a pleasure to see a new video.
Wow, one year; I remember and remember praying for him. Remember the video when he was improving rapidly and playing again.
Benny is a beautiful boy and thankful he was selected by the man above.
God bless you and your fur child , I love your videos and I’m learning a lot from you that I’ve never knew . Thank you so much for all of the wonderful information .
Glad your dog pulled through amazing. He works in mysterious ways.
That story genuinely brought a tear to my eye when he told the story. I love Dogs and pretty much all animals soo much! To hear MrGunBlue490's story about what Benny went thru really got to me. Benny is such a good boy and he deserves a very long life! Mr.GunBlue490 is an AMAZING PERSON and BENNY is an AMAZING DOG! I love them both!
Power of prayer try it.
@@jmccracken491 I have never seen any results of prayer. I believe in a good Vet.
@@Chiefs500 I know good Vets that believe in The Power of Prayer😁😎👍🙏🏻🎯
Nothing like a hunter and the relationship with his dog . Love your channel
My father (God rest his soul) hunted with a 32 Special for years. Deer and even elk in the mountains of Oregon and Idaho. I really wish people would stop discounting lever action rifles. For the purpose for which they were designed, they’re superb.
You can also get lever guns with over 6000 ft lbs of muzzle energy (50-110 Winchester) or over 4000 ft lbs in the 500 S&W Magnum. (makes a great brush gun)
My dad used to take trophy white tail with a sling shot and cane bolt while naked so yeah one up
My 1960 issued Winchester Model 1894,.30-30 has taken several large white \tail deer and two bull elks with hand loaded ammunition over the year and I will not ever sell this old friend. Thanks for all your excellent videos. God bless!
Thanks for the excellent video and it is always pure happiness to see Benny. The two of you are a treasure and always enjoy seeing you both.🇺🇸👍😎😍🐶
I have an old Remington Gamemaster 760 pump rifle in a 35 caliber. Great brush gun (short, light, fast). No recoil, easy to carry, so my boys learned on it, and now the grandkids. Thanks for your thoughtful insights. I love this rifle!
What a fitting way to start and to end another one of your wonderful videos, (a man with his best friend and a man with a great deer rifle). God Bless
Sir....I've said it before and I'll say it again, your videos and info are 1st class, grade A, no B.S. THANK YOU, for your wisdom and time to produce these videos.
Great to see Benny's smiling face! 90% of my deer hunting is with a bow, but in 2016 I purchased a Marlin 1894 in.44 Mag, and that's my go-to rifle for gun hunting. I installed a Skinner rear peep sight recently and haven't sighted it in yet, but I hope to correct the low shooting tendency I was getting from the buckhorn sight. Perfect for relatively close quarters Georgia woodlands hunting.
Glad to see you still have your dog with you. God loves our dogs, too.
I am, by no means an expert on trajectory tables but like you, I prefer the old style tables that use the mid-point as a prime reference. If I were making such tables, I would make my aim point at wherever I want it to zero, then, rather than go out a given distance, I would look for the point on the chart at which I get a known amount of drop (or rise as the case may be) then move out to where the rise would be an easy multiple of my first point. For example (and note that this is using numbers for ease of calculation), make rise or fall distances at 1/4" increments. EG: 1/4" drop at 31 yds., 1/2" drop at 58 yds., 3/4" at 80 yds., then 1" at 100 yds. Then, all you would have to do is laser check or estimate your distance and you would KNOW how much drop at almost any distance. Since your not using optics other than the Mark 1 Mod A eyeball, it would seem to be quicker to get on target. These 3030s don't seem to have much drop close in, so a good estimate should be good enough, but when you start getting out to greater distances (with different rifle/cartridge combos) it would seem to be a lot faster than trying to do a lot of math in your head while that buck is looking at you and getting ready to bolt.
I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of the lever action rifle in 3030 with 170 g projectiles. I would probably use the 32 special, but my rifle has lasted me almost 50 years and I have no reason to spend the $$$ just for the sake of the change. I've killed a lot of white tail deer with a 3030 and it works just fine. Also, you are SO correct about shots being taken at 30 paces or less. If I don't have that perfect shot, I just don't take it. 170s are THE bullet to use. We seem to agree on a lot of things. Old school, I guess.
Nice to see both of you, Sir again great 👍 video and a very nice 👍 setting, background
Your video just popped up in my feed and I love "best hunting cartridges" type videos so I clicked on it, your love for your pup and speaking on his recovery is excellent. I lost my 12 year old guy (pitbull) this time last year, had to carry him outside to the bathroom during his last days before he went. So hard, wife was devastated but I told her love is costly and the 12 good years we got from him and gave to him was worth it, I think for all of us so it's balanced. I miss my buddy. Cheers to you for your pup and his recovery.....
Thank you for this great video! Seeing both of you are doing well, puts a smile on my face every time! Greeting from 🇦🇹.
32 Spec for me, killed my first deer with my pops 32. A truly great cartridge, didnt know you could convert the brass. Thats good news, thanks Blue!
My son harvested an adult Moose cow with an identical .32 Spec Winchester 94 lever action. Its a very capable game cartridge.
@@joemoment-o1275 I suppose it all depends on the deer and shot placement. I once confronted a band of poachers who were all subsequently arrested and charged with possession of hundreds of illegally harvested big Maine northern whitetails, that were all taken with .22 mags in the dark and loaded onto small boats off the shore of coastal islands. They quietly killed a whole bunch with a caliber that would not have the the choice of your average sportsman. I'd disagree with the people saying 300BLK wont get the job done. With modern powders its got the approximate stopping power of vintage 30-30's, which were considered adequate. Seems to be a trend toward obliterating as much meat as possible while hunting squirrel with my .338lapua...that I would reason is a by-product of the Call-of-Duty trained hunting crowd. Just a guess.
@@joemoment-o1275
.300 hammer has almost same ballistics as the
.30.30
Bennie is a good looking Brittany! I use a old 336a 35 rem, thanks for sharing 👍
That what my Dad and Grandfather always used. As I came of age, I thought I knew better with choices of .308 or 7 Rem Mag. But now learning that maybe Dad and Granddad maybe knew what they were talking about.
👍
Thats what I used. Every deer I shot dropped or went maybe 2 yards.
My dad swore by his. Dropped an elk with it. Some guy did him a favor and loaded up about 150 rounds for it-all spritzer bullets. I have no idea what that guy was thinking! Tubular magazine-DUH!
Michael Honeycutt A reloader loaded 150 grain pointed soft points in 30-30 for hunters that needed to shoot deer in open fields. The rifle was loaded with one round in the chamber and one round in the tube. He claimed deer dropped faster from the higher velocity. It turned the Leveraction in to a good 250-300 yard deer hunting rifle with his special hand loads.
What a well-done video!! Back to basics, nothing beats a classic lever action. John Browning was the Man!!
You do a fantastic job! Thanks for your work and I'm glad to see Bennie running around happy!
I have a 454 Cassul/45LC I love. Less cost efficient to shoot than the 30-30 but it takes down deer and bore just fine. Plus I have one caliber between my rifle and sidearm for weight reduction. Great video I'm very happy to see the trusty lever is still a loved riffle in the age of semi automatics.
I'll keep my pre 64 32 sp to. Been using it since i was chap. Its a beauty.
Absolutely love your videos. I’ve learned a lot from you and am very grateful for your videos. Thanks once again.
Always glad to hear Benny's doing well.
As you worked your way across the selection, I had a feeling that you'd wind up holding a Model '94. While I agree with your comments about the scoped rifle catching vines and other stuff, my observation is that most rifle manufacturers, unfortunately, don't even install irons. And because of that, most younger shooters have far less experience with iron sights these days because their rifles are factory drilled and tapped.
The gun makers save a little time and money by omitting irons and the scope folks make their money when you have to select a scope. Sadly, hunting with irons is a slowly fading art form compared to when I was a kid decades ago. I've written letters to many gun companies about irons but they are dealing with economies of scale and my single letter isn't going to make a difference in the grand scheme of things.
Enjoyed your video and, as always, I appreciate your experience.
Again, so glad to hear that Benny's doing so well. He's become a second dog to many of your viewers. Be Blessed, Sir!
and scope allows easier target acquisition, and better, more accurate hits on game!
Great video as usual. Great choice in rifle. When I had a young Family we lived in the mountains along a river in an old log two story house built in the 1860's. While digging in a propane line I found fired cases from 32/20 and 44/40 that had been Laying there since Who knows when. Sometimes I would go hunt whitetail in the thickets along the river and take my Winchester 30/30. It's no wonder it's a Classic beloved rifle. That Winchester helped me keep my Family fed for quit a few years. The cartridge/ rifle combination never left me wanting another rifle for that type of hunting. And with all the history of that particular location I never felt as if I were hunting alone. I wish that your brand of Critical thinking would be used more today in all things political. Our world would be a much happier place by far. Best Wishes to you and your Family from Montana.
Thank you and God Bless.
I loved this video. Thanks for sharing your testimony about Benny.
My favorite deer rifle is also a 30/30 levergun- Marlin 336y. Very handy, compact little rifle and about a 2 moa shooter!
Mine too
I love your channel. The dog story is just the best!!!!
I wish I would have watched this video 15 years ago before I started learning all this stuff through experience. I started with a 25-06, moved to a 308 then a 30-30 with a scope to end up with the 30-30 without the scope. Can't agree more on the issues of walking in the woods with a scoped rifle! Nice to see Benny.
Thats exactly what I have now I aas considering adding a scope to my marlin 336 30-30 and decided just to use iron sights because I like the sight setup and like how accurate I can place a shot with them
Haha i have done the same
@PaskKingFisher001
I'm lucky I guess because I'm watching this before buying:) I've been looking at all kinds of stuff, too much information. I was leaning heavily on a Ruger American Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor with a Vortex Crossfire II scope, vs the same rifle in .270 WIN with no scope vs Remington 700 in 7MAG with no scope. Another scope I'm looking at is a Leupold VX 3i 3.5-10x40mm, but also Primary Arms FFP SLx 4-14x44mm, etc.
After watching this I still can't decide:)
@@geico1975 they all sound like long range hunting rifles. Too many people talking about 1000 yard shots on you tube . Just listen to this bloke for advice. He has great videos on rifle selection
Fantastic to see Benny is doing great. Our Welsh Springer Spaniel Browny passed away last Monday. 15 and 1/2 year old. Lived last 2 years with cancer. The cancer manifested it self in the last few weeks. Now he is in doggy heaven. Was a great companion. We miss him dearly.
I'm so very sorry 💔 for your loss. God bless.
@@GunBlue490 thank you
For me, 300 savage model 99 works for anything I hunt ! From Deer to Elk plus antelope ! I wish I had some 125 grain units for antelope, but 150’s will do the trick ! Someday, I’ll take up reloading, then I’ll have a great antelope rifle ! For me ! I reworked the fore end to almost free float the barrel and it really shoots now !
I wish I knew how to post images, because what I did to the forend was easy and really made a huge difference in group size ! It was shooting really odd flinging bullets all over ! I had a scope put on it but the gun smith screwed the mount pretty badly ?? The scope was not in alignement with the barrel of the gun so I could sight in at 100 yards but 50 and 150 were off by a lot ??? Where I hunt most shots are less than 40 yards but at my lease they could be 350 yds, so a scope made sense to me. Anyway the forend rubbed the bluing off the barrel in several places, so I cleaned up the barrel channel and cut off an aluminium hunting arrow at 3/4 inch and embedded that into the forend so that when screwed in, that bolt hits the flat end of the barrel screw !! Had to visualize without pics ?? ;-( However, after fixing the scope mounts that rifle shoots amazing !! I have shot 1/2 MOA GROUPS AT 100 yds, but have only put about 10 rounds threw it after the changes I made, so I’m not saying irs a 1/2 MOA rifle just saying it now is very consistent and I have full confidence that at 50 to 350 yds, If I shoot it right, gonna have some back strap back at the camp site !! ;-) From father, to son , to grandson, then hopefully to great grandson ! A family rifle with a great history !
My grandmother bought one for Grandpa in 1951. My dad hunted with it, I hunt with it and my son hunted with it. It is deadly accurate and came with a hawk scope. I think 150-grain is ideal for that gun. My friend's grandfather had a Model 99 in 30 30 and it is a beautiful gun. Love the model 99!
Glad that your best buddy is doing well.long live Benny😊
This guy is the bomb-diggity bang up real deal. I just stumbled across his lesson about accuracy yesterday 02/21/21. Downloading all his lessons before they are canceled.
Same here. Just found his accuracy vid today and now this. I love this guy.
Me too.... UA-cam suggested!
My Britt Max pulled his ears up on the beginning of your video, almost asking who is this dog that looks just like me.
Love your work Sir, love your passion and your ways.
Thank you for being who you are.
Thank you!
So glad to see Benny recover. My late father liked Brittanies. Love to hear he still hunts.
You remind me of a ex-Game Warren who use to do a T.V. show on hunting and fishing called The Harley Burg Show. He would come on and tell experiences he had, and show videos of hunting, or fishing and I loved it. So keep going and teach us, because I am 68 and still learning, and the younger people need someone who knows what they are talking about, and is willing to share it..
So happy to see Bennie doing so well.God bless
Another excellent video Cap, am so happy your dog has passed the one year mark. God loves dogs as much as we do......Benny shows it's so.
Great to hear that Benny is beating all the odds.
I have to agree with your choice of rifle in this situation. Plus, I totally agree with the choice of the bolt action or lever action rifle and the non-necessity for an optic. A lot of newer hunters are caught up in the media hype of high-powered scopes and large calibre semi-auto rifles which end up spoiling a lot of meat in an animal, especially if a major bone is hit and splinters throughout the meat.
In my case, my all around rifle is my Browning .30-06 A-Bolt hunter that I have used for the past 30 years for caribou, black bear, and moose. It is a nice light rifle for carrying in the bush, has a vast amount of bullet sizes available from very light rounds to heavier rounds and powder charges for a variety of game. Yes, I do have a 2-7 x 32 optic, but it is mounted to allow me to still use the factory Williams sites in cases whereby I need to take a shot when the view of the optic is obscured with snow or rain.
IMO, todays hunters need to get back to the KISS principle, and keep things simple and less complicated and become more proficient with the basic firearm and avoid all the technical hype.
Once again, keep up the very informative videos.
Soldier, Cop, gun guru……and all around badasss, wrapped in a wise, gentle, fatherly human being. I listen to your videos when I’m bored just to hear your sage advice. Imagine having the cajones in this day and age to recommend a 30-30 as a deer rifle, when every young, wanna be, “deer slayer” is saying: “if you don’t have a rifle that shoots 3” groups at 1000 yards, it’s no good”. You know your stuff more than just about anyone I’ve found on YT. I recommend your videos to anyone I can. We need more “old time men” dispensing time tested advice than ever before. I think Thomas Sowell said something about heeding the advice of people from past generations having the knowledge because they’ve lived through tough times and know what works. You epitomize that wisdom. Cheers from Canada!!!
Still hunting never heard it called that before learn something new everyday , we call it deer stalking different names same meaning, many thanks steve
There is to types of deer hunting here in Mississippi still hunting where you sit in a stand and wait and then theirs running dogs which there’s not sitting around in that
I love how thoroughly you explain things! I live in Michigan and deer hunting is a big deal here, so many "experts" make a lot of noise around October 1st. Since the season starts November 15th I can see where many people are confused by opening day. So, I'll just share my experience, I go into the woods these days as an elder (59 years old) and I carry my Marlin 1894 .44 magnum Lever gun.On my hip I have either my S&W Model 29 .44 Mag or my Ruger Redhawk .44 mag, sometimes both and 2 boxes of 50 SJHP 240 grain magnum rounds. Since they are all chambered in .44 magnum it is streamlined and efficient. I Usually come upon a deer way below the 100 yard range so bullet density and ballistic charts don't really mean much to me. 2 reasons for me to carry .44 mag,first those guns all 3 are way cool and just too much fun to shoot and even if I don't get a big Buck I have a BLAST, or should I say a Hundred Blasts! Second and most important is even if I come upon a bear The .44 magnum is plenty of firepower to insure that I will go back home, but the bear won't. I think back to the old saying, a bad day of hunting Beats a Good day of Work!
Keep up the great work on the videos. Robin
P.S. There are many hunters in Michigan using a .12 gauge 1 oz. slug to bring their deer home! Also I was a butcher for 40 years so I think I got the processing covered. LOL It's amazing how many friends call me in November "Just to see how I am doing." LOL
The 30-30 is a good round but I prefer the 30-06 every time and love my scope over iron sights!!!!!!!!!!
Curt,
Yup,my old model '94 lever Winchester is an awesome gun for drives, standing I like my '.06 Remington SA, with 3X9 on over under mounts. For the really hairy drives through brush that's insanely thick I take my old single shot 12ga. With a slug...
30/06 iron sights for me.
I use a 30 06 and it gets the job done on deer and very good on hogs
Yeah what he said 👆...
Watching this again. Since this presentation streamed, I was able to pry my Dad's Winchester Model 94 in 30/30 from him. I have to say that it's the finest woods rifle, I have personally held. At 63, I can still use the semi buckhorn sights and have it zeroed at 100 yards, but to date, my shots are well within 40 yards. I absolutely love this woods gun.
I love the 30/30 ! it is the best gun to put meat on the table !! Well said Gunblue !
Listening to this video explains a lot to me. Unfortunately, my father died at age 53 when I was 15. I never got to ask him a lot of questions about rifles, and hunting. He was from North Monmouth Maine and did a lot of shooting when he was a boy. I inherited all of his rifles and this video fully explains everything. He started off with a Winchester 1894, made in 1898, and in the family since 1899. It’s a 32-40. I have been running 30-30 brass through a 32-40 die to reshape it. I also cast my own bullets as .32 in rifle weights is fairly hard to find. I located an antique Winchester 32-165 grain bullet mold which works very well. The next rifle of his is the Winchester Model 70 in 270. No scope. Just iron sights. And lastly, his sporterized Springfield 03-A3 in 30-06. That has an old Bushnell 4x scope on it, but also flips off to the side to use the iron sights. The last time he got to hunt I was able to join him a few days into his hunt. By the time I got to the camp in western Colorado, he had taken two deer and an elk. That was in the winter of 63-74. I’m 69 years old now. Been reloading since 1980 or so, mostly for the fun of shooting. My father would buy maybe one box or possibly two prior to the season. He never reloaded. Around 1962 he bought my mom a Winchester Featherweight model 70 in 257 Roberts. Clearly, he thought like a New Englander in his rifle choices! He carried those rifles all over the world. He used the 32-40 tiger hunting with the emperor of Indo China in 1950, and again bear hunting in Hokkaido, Japan in the late 1950s. I gifted the 257 Roberts to my older sister who wound up with a husband who loves to hunt! She got her first deer with that rifle on our father’s November birthday. Thank you for clarifying many things for me that I was unable to get answers to! And by the way, I have your baked bean recipe in the oven right now.
Benny's looking good! Never let anyone say that prayers don't work. But I'm sure you know that.
Good talk about the deer rifles. Out West, what you call still hunting, we call stalking. And nobody can get away with knocking the 30-30 cartridge for deer. I've seen my Grandfather and my uncle bring down Elk with a 30-30. I recently inherited my Uncle's Glenfield (Marlin) 30A (336), and I'm working on getting it sighted in. It was shooting about 6" low/right, but I've drifted the sight, and raised it. Now I can get about a 3" group, but my eyesight isn't as good as it used to be, so I'm considering a low power scope for it.
Thanks again for your knowledge
So happy to hear that your dog survived. He's a beautiful dog.
Benny🐶 is the first dog🐕 I prayed🙏 from New Zealand. It works👍God bless GunBlue409 and the family
I always feel like I'm talking to a trusted friend when I listen to these teaching moments each night. Cannot thank you enough for taking the time and sharing your knowledge with the world, very much appreciated.
On a side note amazing to see Benny doing well, God is great. I am a true believer in the power of prayer and this is a clear testament of faith. If you all do not mind saying a prayer for our family companion Khole (Cole) that would be truly appreciated as he is in a bad spot and facing a health crisis.
God bless you as well as your subscribers/followers. Stay safe this season and best of luck out there.
Always a pleasure to hear your voice !
Amen!!!! I give it 5 stars as well. The 30-30 lever action to me is the perfect deer rifle. It is a joy to carry and shoot. It is easy to maneuver in the thick brush and if you add to that the "nostalgic" factor - you have one great rifle!!! Excellent video sir. God bless and take care.
Been missin Gunblue and the Toadster lately!!! Finally another fine video and a handsome shot of that beautiful puppy Benny!!! Love the 92 in 45 colt and the marlin 1894 in 44 mag, lite and mobile and well balanced!! Love my model 14 and 141 pump action Remingtons in 30 Remington and 35 respectfully. My 99 savage is another great handling rifle that is excellent.
Thanks for sharing your views on deer rifles. I have used shot guns to many different calibers for hunting deer. From 223 to 308. All of which have did well for me. Glad Bennie is still doing great. Nothing like a good dog for companionship. May he be with you a long time to come.
I inherited my dad's Marlin 336 that I plan on using this upcoming deer season.
How did it go? Did you get a deer?
Glad to see you and Benny back-I enjoy your videos, probably the most imformative,accurate information you can get on many subjects concerning firearms! Glad too see Benny is doing well!
Nice to see someone mention a .257 Roberts. I killed my first two whitetail deer with one (Ruger mkii ultralight). It doesn't get a whole lot of use lately but it is a great caliber especially for younger shooters or recoil sensitive shooters.
Good to see your dog made it! We had a close call with our dog on the 4th of July, he was stung by a bee and had a severe allergic reaction and almost died! But thank God there was a vet open in Ohio! In my state we have to go with .243 Winchester and higher. The last couple of years my choice of rifle has been my M1A Loaded. While it is not the lightest rifle, I have made use of it and have killed several deer with it.
Glad to hear your dog pulled through
I'm a fair weather dog, too. So glad that you're getting more quality time with your friend. God has truly smiled upon both of you.
Still hunting in Illinois involves finding a place and sitting down, making no noise at all, until a deer wanders by. Difficult! Range for most shots is about 50 yards; Shotgun slugs only allowed. Different procedures for different places. God bless you, and Benny!
I use two different Marlin 336's chambered in 30-30 for deer. My longest shot over 50 years of hunting deer has been around 125 yards, but averages 35 yards or so. Perfect for the 30-30. The 1950 has been left traditional, waffle top with the half buck horn rear sight. The newer one which came from the factory pre-tapped for scope mounts, has a Williams peep sight mounted on it with a post front sight. Both serve specific purposes. The former for still hunting and the latter for hunting from a ladder stand. I use a Hornady 170 grain Interlock FP with both rifles for the exact reasons mentioned by GunBlue...very effective at these distances in the northeastern hardwoods and have a great sectional density (although I didn't understand that 50 years ago, I just knew it dropped deer). You are a great teacher GunBlue. Thank you for helping me to understand what my father and uncles told me but were never able to explain the rationales behind their directives.
Thanks for the vid, enjoyed it ... I'm a little surprised you didn't bring out your Savage 99 in 300 Savage as the favorite ... I like the Marlin 336 in 30-30, and when I hunted with one I had it set up with a Williams Foolproof peep with the large aperture, and installed a white bead front sight. That rifle would shoot 2moa all day. ... These days, with my old eyes, I prefer a bolt action carbine such as my Ruger 77RSI in 7x57. It wears a Leupold 1.5-5x scope. I tend to sit & watch more, too. Use the Remington 140gr core-lokt. Good hunting to ya', and glad to see Benny looking good as well.
One of several I prefer to watch multiple times. Like this evening, an ideal bedtime story.