This winter in northern Wis has been cold with about 3 inchs of snow meaning everything is froze up.

It is a great winter for woods running getting into places one normally can not get to because they are to wet or the snows to deep.

So just before I went out this morning I was thinking what rifle would be the best for the job. The pistol was easy my 22rf buck mark.

I really wasn't planning on shooting anything but their are a fair number of yotes and fox around one never knows.

The area I been running around in has a good size wolf pack in I see there tracks all the time. Having my lab along I didn't want him to become dinner.

Dense woods a 100 yard shot would be far I wanted something fairly light weight but some that would put the hurt on a yote or fox even a 100lb wolf if it decided my dog looked like a meal.

Then the light bulb went on my Marlin model 94 in 357mag loaded with 158 sps at 1830fps. Ammo is lite can easly kill deer size critters mag holds 10 rounds. its a 2.5 ich rifle at 150 yards plenty good for fox or yote. Great for the pesky pockupine one might fine.

So out of the safe and into the woods spent about 3 hrs wandering. Found the remains of a hunting cabin from the 20s that my granpa and freinds use. Was to it once with my dad in the mid 60s it was in disrepair then.

Had a great time saw nothing worth while to shoot. Saw wolf,yote,fox.bobcat,deer,weasel tracks.

Over all a good time and it was fun carring the 357 carbine.

Hi. This might sound like a joke, but it isn't. Is "woods running" an excercise?

Thanks!

I'd assume he means going for a run in the woods.

Sounds like a great way to get out and get some exercise!

This sounds like a good day to me.

I would say you got the perfect rifle for your needs!

quote:

Originally posted by Sevastopol:
Hi. This might sound like a joke, but it isn't. Is "woods running" an excercise?

Thanks!

To me it getting out in the woods to see new country and getting exercise at the same time. Seeing new country and moving through it rather rapidly with purpose of exercise and exploreing.

I'd have not even blinked an eye over this and would have grabbed a carbine length AR or a mini14 and been out the door.

My Marlin is lighter then both my mini14 ranch or any of the ARs I own.

Then it was just fun getting the carbine out of the safe.

i don't even have a sling on any of my 20" carbines.

I use a sling on mine its a lot easier to get it out of the way to use both hands then sitting down some place.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:

quote:

Originally posted by Sevastopol:
Hi. This might sound like a joke, but it isn't. Is "woods running" an excercise?

Thanks!

To me it getting out in the woods to see new country and getting exercise at the same time. Seeing new country and moving through it rather rapidly with purpose of exercise and exploreing.

That sounds like a good idea and great fun.

Thanks.

I have a little rossi puma 357 I use for that same thing. Another favorite is a 94 I rebarreled to 25/35 with an 18" barrel and button mag, or a marlin 336 35 rem with a 16" barrel and 2/3 mag, or a .... Yeah I do lots of woods running!

http://www.canadiana.ca/hbc/stories/coureurs1_e.html

My carry rifle when away from the vehicle is an 1894 Marlin in .44 Rem Mag. Not all that heavy to carry and with the 245 grain Keith style bullets it will work for anything I will run into.

p dog shooter

I accept your concept for a "Woods Running Rifle".

For me it would be a Lever in 44 Mag, or 30/30, or maybe my Heym 26B O/U in 30/30, or my Wilson 458 SOCOM, or a Marlin 45/70 Guide gun, if you are "Woods Running" in big bear country.

I have an 8x57 Syrian Mauser that I "ruined" by chopping down to 20" back in the 1980's that is light, tough, and shoots great using handloaded 185's Rem CL or the last of the great 198 Ball NC ball ammo bought for a song back then. I have a williams Guide Peep on it and a cut down Mauser sight into a Square post. Weighs about 6 pounds and you throw a couple, or a dozen if wanted, of stripper clips in the pack and you are ready to go. I carried all over Colorado, some in Upstate NY, NH and now KS. Works great on anything and everything one wants to shoot. Rocks, vermin, deer and elk.

I would consider a 20" 8x57 a LOT of different things... But "ruined" would not be one of them.

I have used many a rifle for woods running. Another one I like is a 93 scout rifle in 7x57 with 139 gr hornadays at 2400fps.
Or the list goes on and on.

With wolves around, I'd grab my Ruger 96/44 lever with the Leupold 2.5X scope, and a few mags of 200 JHP handloads. Without wolves, maybe my Browning 22 Hornet With a 2.5-8X Leupold.

A M1 Carbine is light enough and could be loaded with 30 rd mags, enough firepower to kill all the wolfs if they were to appear.

Where in northern Wisconsin are you located?

North west

http://cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-527-carbine/
Use this mag or the flush one
I prefer it chambered in the 358 Gremlin achieving 35 Rem plus performance.
About 6lb loaded.
Also the compact light ruger would be a good option as well.

p dog shooter,

I'm trying to close on a place near Winter. Are you familiar with the Wolf population in that area?

Just a good old Marlin or Winchester 30-30 lever action would be my choice

Remington 760/7600 308,30-06,35 Whelen. Take your pick.

I been trying to say away from my normal hunting rifles.

They weigh more, ammo weighs more really don't need a full size rifle or cartrige for what I am doing.

Now if a big game season was on I pick something a little more powerful.