Marlin 44mag for white tail??

[BUDMAN-BILL]

Guys I have a 14 and a 12 year old wanting to deer hunt with me this year. I picked up a Marlin lever in 44mag and wanting to know a couple things

1-This gun work for white tail.
2-This gun to much for the my girls.

My 14 year old has shot it and put maybe 3rds down rangs and didn't do that bad with it. Well the 12 year found out and know she wants to have a turn. I'm thinking it maybe a little much for them or on the other hand I'm thinking they are still my little girls and do not want to see them grow up. I'm more than willing to take them (one at a time) with me, kinda think its cool seeing how I do not have any boys. I maybe making to much of it, what do you think.

[liliysdad]

Perfect gun for deer in OK, and great for kids, IMO. If you use factory loads, the recoil wont be bad at al. If you want, you can even start them on .44spls until they get used to it. With the Spls there is nearly no recoil.

[Mack45]

+1 with Liliysdad. A great choice for the girls. I would hunt with the mags tho.
Recoil should be OK even for the 12 year old.

[jamesfpop]

+1
I would carry that myself. I use a bolt .30-06, but a levergun would have taken all the deer on my wall. I have shot at only a couple deer over 150 yards. I hunt open country and have yet to take the three hundred yard shot.

http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=2/5812241221.jpg&s=x402

This guy was a 40 yard shot during the rut. Could have had him with a bow.

I shoot .44 cal sabots in my muzzleloader, 180gr. with 80gr of cleanshot. This recipe is good to 130 yards.

To answer your question about if it will take deer, ruger put out a .44mag called the Deerfield Carbine. It is an auto loader similar to the mini-14.

Figure out the limits of the gun and the girls, then have at it.

Are you teaching them to shoot open sights or with a 2-7x32 scope???

If you wanted to know, (which is why you posted) you are doing it right for your girls. I am in the process of adopting a girl international and hope to have the opportunity to teach her to shoot.;)
James

[BUDMAN-BILL]

Perfect gun for deer in OK, and great for kids, IMO. If you use factory loads, the recoil wont be bad at al. If you want, you can even start them on .44spls until they get used to it. With the Spls there is nearly no recoil.

I think I'll get some .44spls ammo, didn't think about that.

[BUDMAN-BILL]

+1
I would carry that myself. I use a bolt .30-06, but a levergun would have taken all the deer on my wall. I have shot at only a couple deer over 150 yards. I hunt open country and have yet to take the three hundred yard shot.

http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=2/5812241221.jpg&s=x402

This guy was a 40 yard shot during the rut. Could have had him with a bow.

I shoot .44 cal sabots in my muzzleloader, 180gr. with 80gr of cleanshot. This recipe is good to 130 yards.

To answer your question about if it will take deer, ruger put out a .44mag called the Deerfield Carbine. It is an auto loader similar to the mini-14.

Figure out the limits of the gun and the girls, then have at it.

Are you teaching them to shoot open sights or with a 2-7x32 scope???

If you wanted to know, (which is why you posted) you are doing it right for your girls. I am in the process of adopting a girl international and hope to have the opportunity to teach her to shoot.;)
James

I was thinking, always start out open sights and then later maybe a scope. Same way my dad did me. They have both been shooting for about a year now. Both are really pretty good with a .22 rifle and even better when they are both together. The last time I shot it was me and my oldest and thats when she wanted to shoot the marlin. I'm thinking it was only a 40 45 yard shot but off hand she put three shots in a pie plate. I didn't think that was bad at all. As for the ammo, it was reloads 240gr. But at the time I wasn't thinking she was going to want to shoot it. I think its kinda cool.

[jamesfpop]

My current muzzleloader load is .45cal 240gr Hornady XTP with 80grains of powder. I am sorry, I was using the .44cal 180gr SPEER FNHP.

It is awesome to take the kids out and enjoy the sports we grew up with as kids. I started at 6 shooting a stevens favorite with my grandfather and dad. Then, shot through junior high in a smallbore club. Next, I learned how to skeet shoot. After high school and a little college I joined the ranks of infantry, Army National Guard. Now I only shoot a few times a year. I fish more than I shoot, but it is all quality outdoor time.

Do you reload? I am just finishing up my supplies, and will start loading soon.