Been thinking of stashing rifle in Florida.  I hunt a lot there and it would save taking a gun case and a great rifle.  Sort of thinking of some thing that could make a 50-60 yard shot on a hog or a bobcat.

Sort of thinking about a 'kitchen behind the door farm house rifle'.

thoughts.

Bear;

How about one of the Savage 99 lever guns?  With the rotary magazine you'd have a lot more choices in bullet shape, & the 99 will give you a much larger choice of caliber.  The .300 Savage wouldn't be a bad choice either.

900F

Actually, I've got one of those for the boat when going off-shore (high-jackers).  It even has a special waterproof case.   But it ain't no rifle.  It is great to fire at balloons tossed up in the when I'm air 10 miles out or floating on the surface to simulate an attack.  I think a Slugger will go right thru most pirate fiberglass boats, and the extended mag makes if something to deal with.

but it still isn't a rifle.  Maybe I need to just take the Mosin to Florida and leave it there!

BEAR;

Aren't there some Rossi/Puma/whatever leverguns running around in .454 Casull?

900F

I was thinking some kind of military surplus rifle. Not real cheap, but I was thinking a Sweedish Mauser would be about right. 6.5x55 would be a great caliber.

Wing master

There's at least half dozen "low end" bolt actions, that go for under $300/400 new.  Get one in .308 or /06, throw a low powered scope on it.  I prefer the "shotgun" type scopes, 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 power, with heavy reticle.

I don't see how stainless, would help with rust from storage, trigger and springs, are more of concern.  A good cleaning/oiling and storage in good gun sock, should solve any rust problems.

BEAR;

I'd think some pawnshop, LGS shopping should turn up some suitable specimen.  I can't imagine that a used Rossi/Puma would be a high-dollar item.  A Remmie pump in .35?  Or, dare I mention a Handi-rifle?

900F

Bear I would be looking at a Marlin in .35 Rem. I have had 2 of them very nice around the farm rifle.

BEAR;

Now yer jist denying the Handi-Rifle's a true dual purpose weapon!  Iff'n ya caint shoot it, ya kin alluz club it to death.  It's good for that ya knows.

 900F

My experience with the 35 in Marlin lever is the same.  My brother does have one that he claims shoots Leverlution very well???  Funny thing is the Marlin 336 shoots the 30-30 round very well.

Like Jsg the local deer hunters swear by them.  But when we have a pre-deer opener Sight-in day for the public, most of those guys can't shoot 6" at 100 yards off a bench....so the 2= groups of the 35 lever gun isn't noticable.  I also suspect those 125 yard deer kills with these folks are really 30 yards!

I've always wanted a 35 rem in a nice bolt gun, maybe an old winchester or remington.

I would think a 336 in 30-30 wouldn't be too bad. During the last ammo shortage the local Walmart almost always had 30-30 ammo on the shelf. That might come in handy at some time.

BEAR;

Don't you have a Savage .30-30 that would do?  A model 340?  If I remember correctly, it'd seem to be the perfect gun for what you're proposing.

900F

In Pennsylvania the Rem 760 (7600) reigns as THE DEER RIFLE.  Usually in 30-06. but the few 35 rem and take their share of many deer.  For the last 20 years there is a very very large distributor/dealer of Remington that commissions special runs of 35 rem model 7600s.  All 500 guns sell out in about 6 months.  some of those are bought by guns that want to rechamber for the 358 win cartridge.

The lever guns (aka indian killers) also are very popular. More so the Marlin 336 than the legendary 94.  My family group have 4 336 in 30-30, 2 336 marlins in 35 rem, and 3 pump M760s.  lots of deer die annually to those guns.   Now, don't get me wrong, they are no 260 rem!!

The Browning BLR comes in 300 win mag, and I've heard of guys changing the barrel to 338.  that might fit your bill.

Alos the Win model 71 in 348 gives 35 whelin/338 performance; and is a traditional Win lever gun.  Feels like a grown-up model94.

Both the M71 and the Marlin 336 can be converted to 450 alaskan, basically a ballistic equal to the 458 mag....   A little pricey, but go for it.

I like my m71...more than needed for deer though.

Fella's;

I'll freely admit that the Browning BLR offers some real advantages in the lever action world.  The rotary bolt locks up better & makes for a much stronger action than the model 94 Winchester for instance.  But, even though you can put a much more potent cartridge in it, and I'm left handed, I'll not see one in my safe.

The damn thing's just ugly!

900F