I just read another poster's search for the perfect knife and it made me remember a similar event. First off I have more than I could ever need (if that is possible) in the hunting gun department. With all these expensive toys at my disposal I still take the simple is better approach. For me, where I hunt, the modest Marlin 30-30 gets almost all of my whitetail and hog field time. I now after years of experimenting know that it is the perfect gun for the area and style I hunt. After being beat to death with the newest wizbang ultra super duper magnums I realized that this a$$ wuppin was taking the fun out of hunting. Every time I was about to pull the trigger on one of my expensive smokers I cringed at the thought of the wuppin' commin'. I shot them well and have never had a problem with flinching but I don't like the idea of my rifle kicking my brains loose. It is just simply not necessary. Through my experiments with the big kickers I still used my 30-30 intermitantly and enjoyed those hunts much more. Nowadays a 30-06 is as big as I go only when I hunt my cousins property which is open fields with patches of woods throughout. Even in this open area most of my shots are 150 yrds and less but the 30-06 comes with me on that particular property just in case one of those 250-300 yrd shots come about. Long live the 30-30 and 30-06. There is VERY little they can't do. On my hunting property my old friend the 30-30 will be there on opening day to admirably serve with little fuss. Thanks for listening to my rambles. Happy huntin' ya'll.
