Getting ready for PA deer

[Cold Spring]

Back when I was a kid, deer season was always heralded in our small town by men shooting their deer rifles over days before the season opener, after work and on weekends. Mostly 30/30, 32 Special, 35 Remington, 300 Savage, '06, 270 and 6.5, 7.7 and 8mm War bringbacks. Empty one gallon paint cans or cardboard boxes served as targets and set up against a coal culm dump. Shooting was done offhand, no bench rest. Scopes were then somewhat uncommon and the factory irons and peep sights were pretty stable but a few shots for practice was the norm. No one seemed to complain about the banging and the town police were supportive. Those simple times sure have changed.

I still like to hunt with the older rifles for a nostalgia kick and deer season will find me sitting along a run in the woods where a 100 yard shot is a very long one. Yep I have some modern rifles for long range work but nowadays I do most of my PA deer hunting with the old timers. I've killed plenty of deer and will just hunt for a "big un" or nothing. Today I had three rifles out for old time practice and wanted to share this with you.

Left to Right

1942 Japanese Type 99 (7.7mm) customized and with Lyman peep and ramp front sight

1965 Browning Safari Grade in 338 Win Mag with period Bushnell 2.5-8X Scopechief (loaded down for deer)

1953 Winchester Model 71 Deluxe in 348 WCF and with Lyman 56 peep sight