Dear Doug,
What's your thinking on deer rifles? Right now I have a Remington 6mm. It's a really nice gun; pump action, so I can chamber a follow-up shot without taking it off my shoulder, and even with a 100-grain Nosler Partition bullet, it's extremely flat - even out to 250 or 300 yards. I've been using it for groundhogs for the past three summers, so I'm very comfortable with it. Problem is, this is Pennsylvania, so how often am I going to make a 300 yard shot at a deer? Come December, when I put my scope on the 8-point that's been hanging around, I'll probably be looking at him through 75 yards of laurel bushes. I've been considering a lever action .30-30 or .35 Remington, which are total opposites of the 6mm - heavier bullets, lots of knock-down energy and a real ability to buck brush. The problem is their trajectory, which I'm sure I don't have to tell you about. What do you think? Is bigger always better?
Thanks - Booger, Blue Ball, PA

Dear Booger,
Absolutely not. You need to tailor the gun you carry to fit the terrain you'll be hunting. Going on about 6 years now, I had a buddy show up at camp with this brand-new 300 mag synthetic, stainless barrel, the works. I thought to myself, "now why in the heck's he got that when knows well enough we'll be gang drivin through some pretty heavy stuff." Of course I didn't say nothing, cause he was right proud of his new toy. Sure as shit (I wasn't beside him and he didn't talk much so I have to guess on the details), he showed back at camp with his cheek split on the scope and no deer. If you'll be hunting terrain like that, you just can't get some guns up, snug in, and pick out your target quick enough. Now, if you have yourself a nice lever action 30-30 (greatest gun ever made) with open sights, then you can be hunting brush in the early morning fog and still have a decent chance and getting off a good shot. Out in Pennsylvania it can get a bit tricky because one minute you'll be trudgin through Nam jungle, and the next you'll be scopin out a cornfield 400 yards long, and then later on you'll be looking down into an orchard hoping one of them critters'll come out for a nibble of apple so you can blow a hole in him before he gets it swallowed. Obviously, you can't carry three different guns, so get yourself a 30.06. It's an incredibly versatile gun that can bring down anything you come across, and at the same time, most models are light enough to pack around with you. Just remember to keep the scope on the lowest power if you're in the thick stuff.
- Doug

Note: In case you were wondering about the 6mm, our friend Matthew "Roy" Cordes sent in the following short history ... "This was a wildcat cartridge back in the 50s (.257 Roberts necked down to accept a .244 caliber projectile). The .243 Winchester and .244 Remington came out at around the same time, and even though they're based on different cartridges (.243 is a .308 derivative), people got them confused, and when the .243 became more popluar, Remington dropped production. They picked it up again as a "new" cartridge in the 60s (I think) and started calling it the 6mm Remington. It usually comes in 75-, 80- or 100 grain projectiles. It's primarily a varmint caliber, but I imagine you could use it for antelope-sized game. It has a great ballistic coefficient, and extremely high velocity, so it shoots super flat - I think my 75-grain loads are clocked at around 3400 fps at the muzzle, and drop less than 2.5" over 300 yards."

Dear Doug,
The day I can't walk into Wally world, choose me out a little piece of mind, and take it home and shoot some holes in something from off my deck, will be a sad sad day. With all this talk of gun control on the media and what not, I'm beginning to think I better start stock-piling. What's your take on this?
- P.C., Utah

Dear P.C.,
I'm glad you asked me this. You see, we're under siege here. Your and my Daddy never once had to trouble their peace of mind with thoughts of losing their God-given right to the pure enjoyment and personal protection afforded by fire arms. It's easy for someone who never experienced the thrill of a BlackHawk .44 barking fire and spitting fury to say make guns illegal. And don't kid yourself, these 'restrictions' on gun purchase aren't intended to make the streets safer, they're intended to crack the sanctity of the second amendment. Once it's cracked, its a short stone's throw to crumbling. So, use the NRA link at the bottom of any of our pages and get your ass signed up. Otherwise, start stockpiling and try not to get your house burned down by the ATF.
- Doug