Well, I had a beautiful m29-3, 8 3/8 nickel plated in my safe. I have had it since I bought it used in 96. I did shoot it a few times back then, but not since. I always wanted to use it for hunting around home as I live in the “shotgun only zone” of Michigan and pistols were legal. I don’t hunt often around home because I have a great camp in the upper peninsula and rifles are legal up there. Long story short, this beautiful revolver sat unused waiting for a scope for over 20 years. I decided I might trade it..... First time I have actually contemplated getting rid of any gun. Worst case, if I didn’t like the deal, I would get a nice red dot and try hunting with it.
I had been discussing a rifle with my brother for use in the ” shotgun only zone” as they have now started allowing straight wall cartridges with a length restriction. I looked at a 450 bushmaster, 350 legend and a couple other rifles that were essentially built for use in our Midwest shotgun zones. I was leaning towards the 350 legend as I wanted it to be usable by my 10 year old son. I was terribly unimpressed with the offerings. I just hate plastic stocks. I know, they are probably better and more all weather, but I just love wood stocks. Anyhow, I was complaining about the plastic stocks to the owner of the gun shop I was at and he recommended a Ruger 77/44 44 mag carbine with a walnut stock. He used one for decades in southern Michigan for years and loved it. Well, I picked it up and fell in love. 5 pounds and super short. A perfect carbine for multiple reasons. Plus, I just love the Mauser action on M77’s...and he knew that...
So I traded my beautiful revolver for a new rifle....
I put a really nice Redfield scope on it. I know it seems counterintuitive to put that scope on a carbine, but it’ll get used in a blind and we shoot most our bucks in the last or first minutes of daylight and a good scope makes the day a few minutes longer. I do very little stalking anymore and I have a great old 336 for those days.
Anyhow, I won’t even shoot this until spring, but I am already buying different ammo to try. I hear they are picky with ammo when it comes to accuracy. My buddy that has one uses the 225 grain leverevolution from Hornady and loves the performance. He shoots a lot of nice bucks so that ammo is on my list to try for sure. Do any of you guys shoot a 44 mag rifle? What ammo do you use?
I had been discussing a rifle with my brother for use in the ” shotgun only zone” as they have now started allowing straight wall cartridges with a length restriction. I looked at a 450 bushmaster, 350 legend and a couple other rifles that were essentially built for use in our Midwest shotgun zones. I was leaning towards the 350 legend as I wanted it to be usable by my 10 year old son. I was terribly unimpressed with the offerings. I just hate plastic stocks. I know, they are probably better and more all weather, but I just love wood stocks. Anyhow, I was complaining about the plastic stocks to the owner of the gun shop I was at and he recommended a Ruger 77/44 44 mag carbine with a walnut stock. He used one for decades in southern Michigan for years and loved it. Well, I picked it up and fell in love. 5 pounds and super short. A perfect carbine for multiple reasons. Plus, I just love the Mauser action on M77’s...and he knew that...
So I traded my beautiful revolver for a new rifle....
I put a really nice Redfield scope on it. I know it seems counterintuitive to put that scope on a carbine, but it’ll get used in a blind and we shoot most our bucks in the last or first minutes of daylight and a good scope makes the day a few minutes longer. I do very little stalking anymore and I have a great old 336 for those days.
Anyhow, I won’t even shoot this until spring, but I am already buying different ammo to try. I hear they are picky with ammo when it comes to accuracy. My buddy that has one uses the 225 grain leverevolution from Hornady and loves the performance. He shoots a lot of nice bucks so that ammo is on my list to try for sure. Do any of you guys shoot a 44 mag rifle? What ammo do you use?
