My 2011 Deer Rifle

[Adam Helmer]

On November 28, 2011 the PA Rifle Deer Season opened. I went afield at 0545 to my stand with a Winchester Model 70 ".30 Gov't 06" made in 1939 with a 4X Koll-Morgan scope. At 0700 a 4-point buck walked past my stand about 80 yards away. At 0715 a big doe walked past my stand 70 yards out in front. Happily, both deer still call this old farm "Home."

I got out my First .30/30 Rifle acquired 5 years ago. She is a Rifle with a 26-inch Octogan barrel Made in 1919. Stoked with accuracy handloads of 150 grain bullets and IMR 3031 powder, I "rang" the 100-yard gongs with 7 test shots this afternoon. Tomorrow, I will wear my vintage Woolrich coat afield with the M94 rifle for PA deer and bear here in WMU 3A.

Adam

[buckhunter]

Adam your a man after my own heart. I love old guns and old "get-ups" only because they work. I like to hunt with my Dad's model 11 - 16ga or my my old savage pump that stopped production in 1941. I do hunt with modern firearms and someday my kids will be calling them old guns.

[Adam Helmer]

buckhunter,

I like the old stuff. I have two Woolrich coats and three pairs of heavy wool pants and all are pre-WWII. In 1973 I was way up in Maine and went into a general store to look around. On a high shelf were a pair of boots about my size. They were the OLD lumberjack type without the studs and laced up to just below the knee. They fit and for $20 they came home with me. My neighbor told me to "grease 'em up and use them for waders." Instead, I put 2 cans of KIWI Black polish-one can per boot on them and they look old. They went afield today in the sunny 48 degree PA woods. I saw 3 does in my lower field and they still call this old farm home.

Adam

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I guess most of my firearms could be considered 'classics": Winchester 94, Marlin 336, Mossberg 500, Ithaca M37, Remington 870, 1100, and model 11, S&W M29, 1911, ect. Most of my firearms purchases in the last few years have been used firearms, and they were usually guns that I wanted to own when I was a kid back in the 70's (that's 1970s).
Having said that, I guess the next time I go hunting I will take out the old Winchester 94 and some ammo loaded with the old Winchester "silvertip" bullet that is no longer available (apparently, some "new" thing that is much better has come along).

Nostalgia is a great thing!

[buckhunter]

Adam, old and traditional as I am I would not even think about buying a pair of gloves or boots without goretex. I do use modern raingear as the old black rubber slicker will not cut it anymore.

[T.R.]

I agree with your tastes in rifles and clothing. This was Dad's hunting coat; Mom gave it to me after his death in 2004 and its been a keeper for me! My 30-30 cabine is a modern Winchester Legacy with angle eject feature. Dad gave it to me in 1995 and I've toppled many animals with it - no problems at all. 30-30 kills animals larger than deer, too.

THE B & W photo shows me on a South Dakota mule deer hunt with Savage 99 in .308 rifle.

Our home is in Lancaster County, PA. Most of my "local" hunting is within northern Maryland with crossbow or modern muzzle-loader. All my favorite farms within PA have turned bust for me: new owners or leased to clubs. I've had bad luck on public game lands. Sad but true.

TR