Jeep Gun

[StG58]

I've been chasing a Jeep gun for a year or so now, and still haven't actually purchased one. (long story)

Was looking at a Rossi R92 lever gun to go with my revolver, and then Rossi stopped importing. Bummed me right out. Oh well.

Looked at a Marlin Guide Gun, and handled several. Meh. Not thrilled with the side eject or the fit, finish and balance.

Handled a Pedersoli 86/71. Wow! everything about that lever gun was just about perfect, except for the barrel length. At 24", it put it over the 40" max length I was looking for. Went out to the Pedersoli web site and they make Guide Master and Hog Buster versions with 19" barrels that was 38" length over all. Perfect! Started looking for one for sale and Cabelas had several Guide Masters in stock on line. Whoo-hoo! On sale too! Double Whoo-hoo! Ordered one up, and got an e-mail back that said the order was canceled. Say what!? Sorry, not carrying them any longer. OK, that's why they were 50% off. Bummed me right out. Went looking for another source and about died! $2,500!!! When they are available; most dealers are out of stock with no estimated future delivery date. In any event, that's a LOT of coin for a truck gun, right?

OK, maybe a different lever gun, not in stainless steel. Checked out a Winchester Model 94 in 38-55. Nice rifle. But, it's right on the lower end of what is going to work ethically for brush hunting Elk. Deer? No problemo, but shooting an Elk with one is pushing it. Doable, but...

Now I'm starting to think that a lever gun just may not work out. That bummed me out, as I had my heart set on a nice big bore lever gun to throw in the TJ when I head out.

Checked out the bolt guns and came across the Ruger Guide Gun. Stainless? Check. Carbine length? Check. Big bore? Nope, at least not in a caliber that any reasonable person would pack around in the Coast Range for general utility. They do come in 30-06 though, and that caliber is never wrong. There's a possibility, but not a thrilling one. There's other scout and guide style carbine length bolt rifles out there that run from the ridiculous to the sublime, but nothing thrilling.

If anyone has any ideas, here's what I'm looking for: Stainless construction. Big Bore (.375 Win to 45-70). Lever action preferable, but a 30-06 bolt gun may do the trick if I have to. No longer than 40" long, over all. Composite or laminate stock, but a more traditional wood stock will work as long as it isn't covered in synthetic junk. I need to be able to treat it with BLO to make it weather resistant.

Anyway, that's my rant for the month.

 

[Vallen]

Id look at a henry in 45-70 and just shorten up the barrel. take it to a gunsmith or do it yourself. just make sure you are at 29" long though.

 

[Vallen]

The barrel length is measured with the breach face closed. they stick a rod in till it hits the breach face, pull it out and measure that length.

 

[Vallen]

Ive been looking into a jeep gun and i like the keltec sub 2000 built for berretta 92 mags. id probably get a the 92 as well.

 

[StG58]

Id look at a henry in 45-70 and just shorten up the barrel. take it to a gunsmith or do it yourself. just make sure you are at 29" long though.

Henry's are nice, American made guns, but I'm having a hard time liking them. I'll take another look though. Do you know if you can run a 45-70 round in 405 grain, cast RNFP, up to about 1,600 to 1,800 fps in one? That gives me about the perfect velocity at impact for Elk hunting in the brush. It's hotter than factory, but nothing too overboard. Deer and just normal messing around would be a 350 grain RNFP at 1,300 - 1,400 fps and almost anything except an original trap door will handle that.

Ive been looking into a jeep gun and i like the keltec sub 2000 built for berretta 92 mags. id probably get a the 92 as well.

Keltecs are pretty cool, but wouldn't work for me. I'm looking for something that will pop everything from pine cones to Elk out to about 150 yards or so. A general purpose carbine, if you will.

 

[derekmac]

 

[StG58]

lol!!! That'll work @derekmac, but I'm pretty sure that ODF&W would have a screaming sh!t fit over hunting with that setup. Like the picture though, gotta save that off to the archive.

 

[Head Lice]

Shop around for a pre-64 Winchester Model 94 ..... of course it's a .30-.30 ......
Fool-proof, simple, available ammunition, versatile, and very sale-able when the time comes.

 

[Rob5589]

If a single shot would work for you, a Thompson Center Encore would work.
https://www.tcarms.com/firearms/int.../encore-pro-hunter/encore-pro-hunter-katahdin

 

[Vallen]

Henry's are nice, American made guns, but I'm having a hard time liking them. I'll take another look though. Do you know if you can run a 45-70 round in 405 grain, cast RNFP, up to about 1,600 to 1,800 fps in one? That gives me about the perfect velocity at impact for Elk hunting in the brush. It's hotter than factory, but nothing too overboard. Deer and just normal messing around would be a 350 grain RNFP at 1,300 - 1,400 fps and almost anything except an original trap door will handle that.

Keltecs are pretty cool, but wouldn't work for me. I'm looking for something that will pop everything from pine cones to Elk out to about 150 yards or so. A general purpose carbine, if you will.

Let me do someresearch. Ill be back as soon as i know.

 

[JMT]

I've been chasing a Jeep gun for a year or so now, and still haven't actually purchased one. (long story)

Was looking at a Rossi R92 lever gun to go with my revolver, and then Rossi stopped importing. Bummed me right out. Oh well.

Looked at a Marlin Guide Gun, and handled several. Meh. Not thrilled with the side eject or the fit, finish and balance.

Handled a Pedersoli 86/71. Wow! everything about that lever gun was just about perfect, except for the barrel length. At 24", it put it over the 40" max length I was looking for. Went out to the Pedersoli web site and they make Guide Master and Hog Buster versions with 19" barrels that was 38" length over all. Perfect! Started looking for one for sale and Cabelas had several Guide Masters in stock on line. Whoo-hoo! On sale too! Double Whoo-hoo! Ordered one up, and got an e-mail back that said the order was canceled. Say what!? Sorry, not carrying them any longer. OK, that's why they were 50% off. Bummed me right out. Went looking for another source and about died! $2,500!!! When they are available; most dealers are out of stock with no estimated future delivery date. In any event, that's a LOT of coin for a truck gun, right?

OK, maybe a different lever gun, not in stainless steel. Checked out a Winchester Model 94 in 38-55. Nice rifle. But, it's right on the lower end of what is going to work ethically for brush hunting Elk. Deer? No problemo, but shooting an Elk with one is pushing it. Doable, but...

Now I'm starting to think that a lever gun just may not work out. That bummed me out, as I had my heart set on a nice big bore lever gun to throw in the TJ when I head out.

Checked out the bolt guns and came across the Ruger Guide Gun. Stainless? Check. Carbine length? Check. Big bore? Nope, at least not in a caliber that any reasonable person would pack around in the Coast Range for general utility. They do come in 30-06 though, and that caliber is never wrong. There's a possibility, but not a thrilling one. There's other scout and guide style carbine length bolt rifles out there that run from the ridiculous to the sublime, but nothing thrilling.

If anyone has any ideas, here's what I'm looking for: Stainless construction. Big Bore (.375 Win to 45-70). Lever action preferable, but a 30-06 bolt gun may do the trick if I have to. No longer than 40" long, over all. Composite or laminate stock, but a more traditional wood stock will work as long as it isn't covered in synthetic junk. I need to be able to treat it with BLO to make it weather resistant.

Anyway, that's my rant for the month.

You could have the Pedersoli 86/71 barrel cut down to <40”. That’s what I would do.

Next consideration would be a Tikka T3Lite in stainless with synthetic stock in caliber of your choice. A do it all rifle IMHO, and out the door under $700.

 

[StG58]

Shop around for a pre-64 Winchester Model 94 ..... of course it's a .30-.30 ......
Fool-proof, simple, available ammunition, versatile, and very sale-able when the time comes.

No lie there, the Model 94 is a stone cold reliable rifle. They show up in the hock shops around here from time to time for good prices as well. 30-30, and especially the 32 Winchester Specials aren't all that popular these days, unless, of course, you've actually hunted with one. Good idea there, thanks! There's also a guy across the valley that specializes in boring and chambering those to 38-55. He does good work. Depending on what I can pick up a 94 for, that actually pretty viable. Gotta look into how to get a 38-55 up to about 1,700 fps without blowing a Win 94 up.

If a single shot would work for you, a Thompson Center Encore would work.
https://www.tcarms.com/firearms/int.../encore-pro-hunter/encore-pro-hunter-katahdin

I'll check that out. The wife has a Ruger #3 in 45-70. Maybe if I just start packing it around in the TJ she'll let it kinda become "mine". That thing is surprisingly fast as well for a second shot if you set the extractor to eject instead of extract. Kicks the case clear with some alacrity. Hold a second cartridge in your left hand, kick the lever down and stuff it in. Pull the lever up. Ready to go. The rifle doesn't even have to come off your shoulder. It's a little awkward until you get the hang of it, but it works. Hmmm...

You could have the Pedersoli 86/71 barrel cut down to <40”. That’s what I would do.

Next consideration would be a Tikka T3Lite in stainless with synthetic stock in caliber of your choice. A do it all rifle IMHO, and out the door under $700.

That's an idea. Cut that sucker down to an 18-1/2" barrel, and presto change-o, instant carbine length truck gun. And you can still get the 86/71 in a 24 inch barrel pretty easily. Another good idea.

Youngest daughter has a Tikka T3 in .270 that she hunts with. Nice rifle. That's another good option. I'll look into it.

Good options! Thanks guys!

 

[Rob5589]

I have two T3's, one in 7mm-08 and one in 7mm Rem mag. They are definitely light, even with full length barrels. 308 handles short barrels just fine and would be a great choice if looking to go short.

The cool part about the TC is stainless with a 20" barreled 45-70, and recoil absorption, in a 34.5" total package. Plus the TC is strong enough to handle any 45-70 load you can dream up.

 

[StG58]

I have two T3's, one in 7mm-08 and one in 7mm Rem mag. They are definitely light, even with full length barrels. 308 handles short barrels just fine and would be a great choice if looking to go short.

The cool part about the TC is stainless with a 20" barreled 45-70, and recoil absorption, in a 34.5" total package. Plus the TC is strong enough to handle any 45-70 load you can dream up.

Just went out and looked at the TC Katahdin, that's pretty sweet. Plus all those barrels that are available from, it seems, everyone.

I don't hotrod my big bores, no need to. But I do have specific ballistic requirements to get my cast bullets to function correctly both in flight and terminally. There's a pretty narrow window where cast lead works better than almost anything else. Faster or slower and jacketed is much better.

I've got a 458 Win Mag for hotrodding, and stories to go along with it. Oh, and some eyebrow scars. lol

 

[bobthetj03]

Jeeps, guns, pizza-n-beer! I love this country!!!

 

[StG58]

Jeeps, guns, pizza-n-beer! I love this country!!!

Jeeps, Guns, Bourbon and chunks o' dead stuff on the grill. Big, juicy chunks. It just doesn't get any better than that. One of the reasons that I signed over a blank check to Uncle Sammy for six years. Long ago and far away. Because it just doesn't get any better.

 

[bobthetj03]

What I wanted to say was Jeeps, guns, and bewbies, but wanted to keep it PG. Whoops!

 

[StG58]

What I wanted to say was Jeeps, guns, and bewbies, but wanted to keep it PG. Whoops!

:meparto:Redheads, definitely redheads...in Jeeps. Strapped with a nice old well worn 1911 or big bore revolver. And a big ol' bag o' roast beef sammich's. With cheese and horse radish.

Yes, well, very good then... This thread went south quickly.

Back on topic. Anyone messed about with a Winchester Model 71 any?

 

[Head Lice]

The '94 Winchester and the other 'western' type levers are flat sided. They lay flat (un-scoped) and can be packed in your gear easier.
What's your .458 Winchester in ........ Model 70 ?

 

[StG58]

The '94 Winchester and the other 'western' type levers are flat sided. They lay flat (un-scoped) and can be packed in your gear easier.
What's your .458 Winchester in ........ Model 70 ?

That's why I like the 94, 92's and Model 71's. They pack great and are easy to carry.

My 458 is a CZ 550 American Safari. Outstanding Mauser based rifle that is big, tough and well put together. It's heavy though, and not an all weather rifle. I got it to play with 45 caliber rifle loads and cast bullets. It's a wonderful piece of machinery, but doesn't hunt well here on the wet side. Especially in the TJ. Hunted with it for years and finally decided that it was time to get a dedicated truck gun.