I like this gun a lot, as the .223 is just plain fun to shoot and this one is fairly accurate, considering what people tend to say about Mini's. I never shot a 100 yard group with it, but I was always happy with the way it shot out to 50. If I make it to the range anytime soon, I'll take it and shoot a group. It has been in the woods with me probably half a dozen times, including a couple rainy days. It had some mild surface rust after those days, but it wiped off with some RemOil and a rag...looks fine to me.
I put the ATI Strikeforce folding/collapsible stock on there, I think I paid $90 for it delivered. It is very easy to change the stocks out on these guns, as all you have to do is pop the trigger guard off and take a few screws out....5 minutes tops. I still have the original stock which has very minimal wear and only a few small dings. The scope on it is a Bushnell 3-9x, and it is mounted with Ruger rings.
I have no real problems holding onto this thing, but I would like to have a rifle more suitable for deer/hog hunting, while still having the quick follow-up shot opportunity. I don't want to lug my .300 wby around all the time, nor do I want to dismember everything I shoot, and while I love shotgun hunting, I want a new toy.
I'm more of a utility type, and while I love my little zombie slayer, my 870 will have to serve that purpose. I have and thoroughly enjoy a SBH .44 mag, and would like to be able to carry the same ammo...so, I am looking for either a .44 mag carbine or a lever gun.
Given the prices I'm seeing on Gunbroker and FloridaGunTrader....I feel that the gun is in the $550 ballpark (esp. with both stocks), which is about what I see carbines go for....lever guns can be had a bit cheaper it seems. I'm much more interested in trading for a deer rifle than selling....but who knows.
I know the pics aren't that great, as my camera has a broken LCD, so I have to "spray and pray" for a decent photo.
I have all of the rails and whatnot that came with the stock, though I left the 7" top rail and the left side off. It also comes with a tactical sling that makes it easy to carry at the ready.
just my opinion but the sbh ( when I was younger ) was good to 50 yd's easy so Imo carrying both a carbine and pistol in the same caliber is a little redundant , plus the sbh is not exactly small or light. if going the lever route why not get something with a little more range and stopping power. for a side arm I prefer a short bbl 357 revolver, ( first 1 or 2 chambers with snake shot ) or 45 acp ( for 25 feet or so only ), but only carry a sidearm when using a scoped gun or 22 mag, don't need it when using a shotgun or rifle with open/bead sights. my fav all around hunting rifle would be a ultralight bolt with a short bbl and low powered variable scope in an easy to find affordable caliber ,esp if you don't reload like a 308. examples rugers m77, rem mdl 7, browning a-bolt, all well under 7 lbs with scope and ammo and good from 0-300 yd's. I got nothing against the 44mag carbines, they work great to easily 50 yds ( or more ) but I prefer them with open sights. with young eyes you should be able to hit a tennis ball offhand with each shot at 50 yds and never have to worry about a scope fogging or getting dirty/damaged, plus make for a better truck gun. my 2 cents.
I'm not that good with my Blackhawk yet, especially after sprinting 2-300 yards through the swamp, just haven't been able to shoot it as much as I'd like, and where I hunt I have shots that range from pistol distances to 100 yards. I mainly use the Blackhawk for hogdogging during the day....don't really carry it when stand hunting. The only time I carry both a rifle and a handgun is while hogdogging on the ATV's, in which case, I don't have to carry the rifle, only use it when something gets chased in front of you....which is when a semiauto, a pump gun, or a lever gun comes in handy. If they get it bayed/caught, then ya run in with the pistol on your hip. I had a S&W 66 series .357 and I traded it for this .44 mag after seeing someone shoot a hog in the shoulder with a .357 and it ran off without a bloodtrail. IMO, a .357 is a round designed for killing people, and other thin skinned critters.
As far as stopping power, I don't believe there is a critter in the Florida swamps that won't succumb to a .44 magnum....see no need to go bigger....and if I want to lay them down, why not take my Weatherby and do this?:
i dont think that hog knew what hit him! :rockon :2guns
So how far did that hog run?
