Parker

.30-30 is still relatively inexpensive to shoot compared to the other three you've mentioned, but all are readily available at any store and are still extremely popular. Save your pennies so that when you tire of the diminutive .223, you can look into the .24, .25 & .26 calibers in standard (non-magnum) cartridge configurations as the next step up as options. There are some excellent rounds like the .243 Win., .25-06 Rem., and .260 Rem. (If you squirrel up the brass, the .250 Savage and .257 Roberts are also good bets in .25 cal. but they are not chambered in many rifles anymore and are outweighed in performance by the .25-06.) If you reload, all of these won't use a lot of powder, bullets are relatively inexpensive, they are easy on your shoulder yet you can get respectable performance with them. The next step up would be the cartridges you mentioned and include in there all the 7mm offerings. As with anything, simplify things and distinguish between what you need versus what it is you want.

Ted's posts are legendary. From the 2011 hunt, Franklin check station. The Professor's arrest last year at Whittingham

Others are correct in their assertions. There is no loophole. Unless you are a resident, which allows you to apply for a pistol permit in the city/county you reside, where the city/county judge approves it, where you state on the form that you want to use it to purchase & possess and/or target shoot/hunt (Sportsman,) etc. The Sportsman permit authorizes carrying while hunting only. It's spelled out in N.Y. Pen. Law Section 400: http://codes.lp.find...UR/W/400/400.00

There are still 2,098 permits available out of the 10,000 offered.

New York moved their Opening Day from the traditional Monday to Saturday a few years ago to accommodate youth hunters and regular hunters who couldn't get out on the weekday. And I remember N.Y. high schools in the upstate regions being closed on the traditional Monday-opener some years go.

The old Pachmayr case was the standard for Bullseye use. This is very similar, although bulky: http://www.champchoi..._GUN_-2517.aspx Or try this link: http://www.bullseyegear.com/bullseyepistol/home.php?cat=6

And the arrests begin - http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/12/college_professor_is_arrested.html#incart_river_default

Great post. (I see Susan K. has been lobbing comments periodically.) Anti-hunting activists didn't exist back in the 50's and 60's when bear hunting was legal. Even bowhunters could partake in bear hunting. The black bear was officially given "game status" and therefore protected under game laws in 1953 and could be taken by licensed archers and firearm hunters during a designated hunting season. Prior to 1953, from the early days of the 1800's through the early 1900's, bears were regularly shot on sight as nuisances, and with that mentality became extinct in most counties in the state. (That is also why elk, wolf and beaver disappeared in New Jersey by 1894.) In a hunting survey tabulated of legal harvests between 1958 through 1970, there were only 46 bears taken in New Jersey. It was in 1971 that Fish & Wildlife closed the bear season. After that they began to tabulate black bear sightings/nuisances and black bear vehicle mortalities and they noticed numbers rose dramatically each year from 1977 to 1997. It was in 1997 that the Black Bear Management Plan was produced to document the issue and search for solutions and question the opening back up of a bear season. By 1999, black bear had been observed in 11 counties in N.J. As of today, F&W has documented sightings in all 21 counties of N.J. Times sure have changed, only there was no Facebook back then to post vitriol on.

The warm weather should bring out a hoard of Redcoats today. Be safe!

Granny has got class, she shoots an A5, in 12 ga.

I think Harry has S&W to thank for the red ramp insert front sight on his M29. DIY - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiO2-ekNnaU

In the back of my mind, that's really the part that bothers me the most.

Was it Massad Ayoob who said; "It's okay to have fun in the barn, as long as you don't scare the horses?" Horses in these parts are easily spooked.

The story is only too apropos for our times. That's probably what bothers me the most.

Interesting event in my area. Airsoft guns have also been deemed diabolical. http://www.northjers....html?scpromo=1 Thursday, November 29, 2012 BY KAREN KLEIMANN MANAGING EDITOR After Upper Saddle River police responded to a report of a man dressed in black carrying what appeared to be a gun near a school earlier this month, they were relieved to inform residents that the person was a juvenile in possession of a foam air gun and there was no cause for alarm. However, officials said while the situation could have been bad and turned out not to be, it’s a lesson for residents to be cognizant of situations such as these in which the consequences could be "devastating" as these air soft guns can be mistaken for real firearms. Det. Sgt. Ed Kane said that on Nov. 9 just before 3 p.m., police responded to a suspicious person report in the area of Weiss Road and Deerfield Lane in which the individual was "wearing dark clothing and looked to be carrying a rifle" near Upper Saddle River Children’s Academy. The school, as a precaution, was put on lockdown, he said. Kane said the department received numerous calls from concerned residents who reportedly saw the individual walking around with the gun. A short time later, with assistance from the Montvale Police Department, "the individual was located and was found to be a juvenile in possession of a black, air soft rifle," he said. While an identification card is not required to purchase these types of guns in the state, police warn that though these guns appear to be toys, in fact, they can cause injury to others and property, and residents should be advised of the risks of owning one. In Upper Saddle River, there is an ordinance that prohibits anyone from discharging, setting off or firing any gun, pistol or firearm in the municipality. Being in possession of an air soft gun still carries the possibility of criminal charges, such as possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, disorderly conduct, possession of an imitation firearm and causing false public alarm. If a person is found guilty, regardless of age, penalties can include community service, fines and jail time. Officials said they "strongly discourage" purchasing air soft guns or any imitation for individuals younger than 18, but those who choose to have one are asked to ensure it’s secure and is only used in a "controlled environment, with adult supervision and proper safety equipment."

It's the only handgun you'll ever own where if you dropped it on the concrete floor of the stankiest gun range it wouldn't bother you much. But they do work very well. I like them for their simplicity (stupid-simple to field strip completely, tune, upgrade) and there's tons of aftermarket parts. I find that they are often more accurate than they should be.

I think you made the better choice if you intend to hunt with it someday. A 3x9 variable is just about ideal for the varying terrain found on the East coast (if that's your intention) and that power range can handle a variety of situations. The 6.5x20 Leupold would come in handy at longer distances, or if you wanted to pluck the eyelashes off a gnat. The Leupold's field of view @ 100 yds. at 20X (5.6 ft.) would hinder you in the woods, and even the low end power at the 6.5X's field of view (14.3 ft.) might even hinder you on very close shots, like those measured in feet. Zeiss makes some nice stuff.

Upgrades to the 700 SA/LA are not necessarily caliber-specific. What Shane noted to include stocks, barrels & triggers, can be expounded upon to include aluminum bolt shrouds, M70-style 3-position safety bolt shrouds, speedlock firing pins and springs, Sako-style extractor, cocking piece, reduced-power ejector springs, bottom metal, magazine box upgrades and different configuration bolt handles. I'm sure I missed something but there is a lot you can do to a 700 that you can't with some others.

No story surprises me anymore....................I wonder if this will be added to the tag-line; "Is the 9mm enough gun?" http://au.news.yahoo...ed-womans-life/ A woman who was shot by her ex-boyfriend claims she is only still alive because of her breast implants. Eileen Likness, of Calgary in Canada, was testifying during her ex-boyfriend’s trial and told the court: “My implants took the brunt of the force.” Ms Likness says a bullet fired from defendant Frank Chora’s 9mm handgun entered her right breast, grazed her chest plate and then exited her left breast before going through her left forearm, reports the Toronto Sun. "They were gone," Ms Likness told defence lawyer Adriano Lovinell. However, after recovering, she did confirm she got the implants replaced, adding: “I had to wait some time, but yes, I had some put back in.” Mr Chora is facing charges of attempted murder and assault, as well as two firearm offences. Ms Likeness told court said she had been driving Mr Chora around before deciding to drop him off. When they pulled into a side-street at Mr Chora’s request, he got out and then shot her. The case continues. It is not the first time breast implants are claimed to have saved somebody’s life. Back in January it was widely reported that a woman in Houston claimed her 16-KKK (US size 38KKK) implants protected her as they acted like an airbag when she crashed into a tree. “My breasts stopped my face and my head being hit. I am so thankful for them,” Sheyla Hershey said. "I think my breasts saved my life”. The Daily Mail reported that in the same month a Florida woman survived a stabbing when an ex-fiance’s new partner stabbed her, but the implants ensured she avoided major damage. And three years ago a woman was working in a dentist’s surgery in Beverly Hills in America when a man burst in with a shotgun and opened fire, but her implants prevented her heart being pierced with bullets.

Good post Bob. I didn't know this. I was surprised to find that the WWP was listed as the #1 non-profit charity to work for in the U.S. last year - http://www.prnewswir...-119267714.html A lot of reading on the other front. http://www.newjersey...ticle137583.htm http://www.northjers...ded_heroes.html http://www.pica.army...ICE10192012.pdf http://huntershelpin.../Donations.html

Both Lunker and Shane make great, compelling points. Browning has never put their name on a lemon and they market quality products. The X-bolt has some new features like being individually bedded to the stock to get the most out of the components. Browning's standard 60-degree bolt lift and a new adjustable trigger mechanism make it noteworthy when compared to the Remington. Remington's 700 has been around since the 60's. It's a proven design and add-on alternatives and parts are plentiful these days that allow you to really customize the rifle. I like older Remington's, the new ones don't impress me, or maybe they are just not to my liking. I don't think one brand is more accurate than the other. True, but some early production mass-produced rifles had some great triggers too. Early Remington's could be adjusted to a crisp break slightly below 3 lbs. that was still safe to carry/use. Pre-64 Winchester M70's had the simplest of triggers with few parts yet were rugged and could be tuned to a light crisp pull. FN Mauser rifles imported under the Browning name back in the 50's & 60's had a Model 70-style trigger. It was simple, rugged and a joy to use. What could be more simpler than a pre-64 Winchester M70 trigger system? https://workspaces.a...3otfhEvUZSVAuwg

I run into them every now and then on the used racks upstate and they command good prices, especially in the oddball calibers. They have a cult following.

Humans enjoy convenience with gadgets they perceive make things easy. And in today's age where "I gotta have it now" is the theme, it's no surprise to me. Ridiculousness is "in." And yes, companies like firearms and ammunition makers want to make money too, that's one reason why they are always changing their offerings or stepping up their game. (Q: Is there really a need for fifteen different cartridge chamberings just for the .284 bullet?) Off topic: The Barnes Tipped TSX is more like the Hornady GMX, both are 100% copper with a polymer tip. Both the TSX and GMX rely on lighter weight by caliber (I.E. using an 80 gr. in a .243 instead of the 100 gr. for hunting.) The trade-off is a poorer BC. The SST's are merely polymer-tipped, but retain a conventional lead core using Hornady's InterLock design. I've used the regular Interlock's on game and they've held together, but I've never tried them in calibers below .243. I picked up some SST's I want to try out as well. I tried Barnes many years ago in a caliber they no longer make but have heard good things from my friends using the TSX bullets on deer-sized game.

I agree. But man has been perfecting his hunting craft since the day he discovered that sinew and yew flinging a stick tipped with chipped flint was a better alternative than spears, clubs or rocks. Gadgetry is good sometimes, but often dumbs us down in many ways. I think some iPhone apps are already available to track deer movement, map terrain, link with weather, establish patterns based on moon phase, etc. You can buy an ozone device that floods the air around you to mask your scent. Hunters don't expose themselves to the elements anymore, they sit in portable blinds. When it comes to field-dressing game, there's the Butt-Out tool, the Deer-Zipper, the Dreader, the Koomer P.T.S. ...........what happened to the good ol' knife and small hand axe? Um, you get my drift. But I do want to try some Barnes TTSX bullets in a couple calibers for next year. Is that cheating?

Imagine the looks you'd get dragging this into deer camp? ks