My last custom rifle

[Tom Flanigan]

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

I’m not a 223 , 308 or 06 fan . And I own Mannlicher Schoenauer carbines in 308 and 06 . As to case life I’ve never had an issue with case life or reliability in any cartridge I’ve messed with . I like the 243 , 260 , 7mm-08 and 338 Federal all based on the 308 case . I like the 25-06 , 6.5-06 , 270 , 280 and 338-06 all based on the 06 .

Got it. I like most of the old calibers like the 257 Roberts and 7 x 57. My two favorites are the 270 and 243. I use the 243 with 85 grain handloads for deer much of the time. The 270 comes into play in Saskatchewan for moose and bear and also deer up there. I would have no problem using the 243 on bear at reasonable range but I’ve always used the 270 for them.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Tom Flanigan

Got it. I like most of the old calibers like the 257 Roberts and 7 x 57. My two favorites are the 270 and 243. I use the 243 with 85 grain handloads for deer much of the time. The 270 comes into play in Saskatchewan for moose and bear and also deer up there. I would have no problem using the 243 on bear at reasonable range but I’ve always used the 270 for them.

Back about 2002-2003 I was bear hunting in Wayne/Monroe counties in PA . We dropped by the bear check station one evening to see what they had gotten in 500 pound plus size . Seems a 13 year old boy was sitting there on a kind of cliff maybe 30-40 feet above the forest floor when this bear wandered by . The kid had a Remington shuckamatic (760) in 243 WIN shooting handloaded 90 grain bullets . So at about thirty yards he puts one behind the shoulder , said bear screams snarls whatever and proceeded to run around in a circle . Young man sat there and watched said he didn’t want to shoot again because he didn’t want to make the bear mad LOL’s . Anyway after a minute or less Mr Bear falls over and is dead when he gets to him . At the check station with innards out Mr Bear weighed 664 pounds .

[Tom Flanigan]

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

Back about 2002-2003 I was bear hunting in Wayne/Monroe counties in PA . We dropped by the bear check station one evening to see what they had gotten in 500 pound plus size . Seems a 13 year old boy was sitting there on a kind of cliff maybe 30-40 feet above the forest floor when this bear wandered by . The kid had a Remington shuckamatic (760) in 243 WIN shooting handloaded 90 grain bullets . So at about thirty yards he puts one behind the shoulder , said bear screams snarls whatever and proceeded to run around in a circle . Young man sat there and watched said he didn’t want to shoot again because he didn’t want to make the bear mad LOL’s . Anyway after a minute or less Mr Bear falls over and is dead when he gets to him . At the check station with innards out Mr Bear weighed 664 pounds .

Great story. I've never shot a bear with a 243 since I only take one rifle to Saskatchewan, the 270. Bears are now legal in Pawling, NY and so I might get a chance at one with the 243. But I’m not sure I would shoot it. After I got all three color phases, cinnamon, brown and black I decided to quit shooting them. But I didn’t stop like I thought I would since my Saskatchewan farmer friend Snuffy wanted them shot. They do a lot of damage to his oat fields in September. They roll on the oats for some reason while feeding and those areas can’t be combined. They don’t touch canola or any other grains but they raise havoc with the oats when they ripen. But I’d probably let a Pawling bear walk. I really don’t need any more skins and I like venison better than bear meat.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Tom Flanigan

Bears are now legal in Pawling, NY and so I might get a chance at one with the 243. But I’m not sure I would shoot it.

We used to go to a little tavern/lodge deal on the NY side of the Delaware River right before you get to Monticello . Doesn’t appear to be to far from you ! Had thoughts a couple years of getting a N.Y. license and hunt public land in that area until some friends informed me about the crowds .

[Tom Flanigan]

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

We used to go to a little tavern/lodge deal on the NY side of the Delaware River right before you get to Monticello . Doesn’t appear to be to far from you ! Had thoughts a couple years of getting a N.Y. license and hunt public land in that area until some friends informed me about the crowds .

Monticello is about 2 ½ hours from Pawling. I’ve never hunted public land in NY, never had a need to, but I hear that public land in NY is a zoo early in the deer season. I can’t imagine deer hunting on public land. I like to know who might be in the woods where I hunt. I don’t wear orange only camo and I sure wouldn’t feel comfortable doing that on state land. I also like hunting land where the deer are not spooked to the point that they change their daily habits. But a lot of folks aren’t as fortunate as I am so state land might be their only choice.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Tom Flanigan

Monticello is about 2 ½ hours from Pawling. I’ve never hunted public land in NY, never had a need to, but I hear that public land in NY is a zoo early in the deer season. I can’t imagine deer hunting on public land. I like to know who might be in the woods where I hunt. I don’t wear orange only camo and I sure wouldn’t feel comfortable doing that on state land. I also like hunting land where the deer are not spooked to the point that they change their daily habits. But a lot of folks aren’t as fortunate as I am so state land might be their only choice.

I usually wear orange going in and coming out but once up my tree it gets covered . When I googled Pawling I thought it showed close to the Catskills hmmmm . First time I deer hunted the Poconos we had private land to hunt , BUT some Jersey A-Holes got permission also and baited the heck out of the place so we got outta there before the bunny warden tried to get us in connection with them . So opening morning I walked in a public place in Monroe county , sat down by a tree took off my orange and sat on it . Think I heard 98 shots by 9AM needless to say after the first 20 or so shots I had the orange back on and was stretched out on the ground behind a log .

[Tom Flanigan]

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

I usually wear orange going in and coming out but once up my tree it gets covered . When I googled Pawling I thought it showed close to the Catskills hmmmm . First time I deer hunted the Poconos we had private land to hunt , BUT some Jersey A-Holes got permission also and baited the heck out of the place so we got outta there before the bunny warden tried to get us in connection with them . So opening morning I walked in a public place in Monroe county , sat down by a tree took off my orange and sat on it . Think I heard 98 shots by 9AM needless to say after the first 20 or so shots I had the orange back on and was stretched out on the ground behind a log .

Pawling is about two hours from the Catskill Mountains which are across the Hudson River. The area I hunt is the Quaker Hill area. It's a large area that is made up of estates with mansions. I hunt the old Dewey estate and surrounding areas. Quaker Hill is very tightly controlled with resident funded patrols. It's not an area where yahoo's would try to sneak in. It has happened, but rarely. So I feel safe not wearing orange. But your idea of wearing it in and then taking it off is a good one. But its not necessary for me.

My grandfather hunted the property back in the day. He was a good friend of the Governor. I have been hunting there since I was 13 years old and flying on the airstrip that Dewey put in when he thought he would win the 1948 Presidential election. Pawling was going to be his summer White House. We still maintain the airstrip and our headquarters and hangout is a building behind the hangers. My friends up there are the grandsons of my grandfather's friends on the Hill. It's kind of a unique situation and I realize I am very fortunate.


I understand the value of orange. It no doubt has saved numerous lives. But it's not for me where I hunt.