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Thread: Your retirement rifle and caliber

  1. #21
    Boolit Master Win94ae's Avatar
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    The rifles I have now.

  2. #22
    Boolit Master dh2's Avatar
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    I am retired and could never find the rifle I wanted, I have wanted a 7mm STW for years, so about 2 years ago I found a Rem 700 short chambered barrel, and ordered me a Magnum length Rem 700 action and set it in a houge stock put a Nikon scope on it. Factory brass and ammo is available. reloading dies are easy to find, depending on what you call heavy recoil that may be a problem . but for me it is a long range deer rifle of my dreams.

  3. #23
    Boolit Buddy
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    My first bolt action rifle was a 25-06. It would be one of the last in the safe if the herd had to be dispersed. I would lean .243 if starting with a blank canvas and deer was the largest game I hunted.

  4. #24
    Boolit Master 444ttd's Avatar
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    its either the 30-40 krag.....


    or the 35/30 winchester


    although i luv 9.3x57
    Ad Reipublicae his Civitatum Foederatarum Americae, ego sum fortis et libero. Ego autem non exieris ad impios communistarum socialismi. Ora imagines in vestri demented mentem, quod vos mos have misericordia, quia non.

    To the Republic of these United States of America, I am strong and free. I will never surrender to godless communist socialism. Pray to images in your demented mind, that you will have mercy, because i will not.

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  5. #25
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    Way too hard for me to pin down a rifle I would want as my crown jewel rifle like that. Too many things I really want at some point to play with.

  6. #26
    Boolit Buddy memtb's Avatar
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    I bought my retirement, “hunt all game game” rifle in 1989 (27 years before I retired).....with a divorce impending. I love the .375 caliber, for it’s practicality, popularly, and legal for most game worldwide including the big five. I had been using the .375 H&H since 1982, but wanted a lighter, more weather resistant, higher velocity, flatter shooting rifle/cartridge. So, I had a semi-custom rifle built. A .375 AI, Win. model 70 action, McMillan synthetic stock with Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad, Douglas Match Grade SS 24” barrel with iron sights and sling swivel mounted on the barrel for a lower carry height. Total weight, scoped, loaded, and slung is 9 pounds 1 ounce.....a tolerable carry weight that also helps mitigate felt recoil.

    I choose the AI, for the increased velocity and the capability of using standard factory .375 H&H ammo with minimal velocity loss. My present load is a 250 grain Barnes TTSX @ 3130 fps mv which gives me very usable ballistics out to (and well beyond) my 600 yard, self-imposed range limit! When I do my part, I can get sub 2”, 3 shot groups @ 300 yards. I’m looking forward to using up my present bunch of 250 TTSX’s and going to the Barnes 270 LRX, for it’s improved slightly heavier weight and it’s improved long range capabilities. It’slot’s been my “only” hunting rifle/cartridge since I received it February 1990.

    If I wanted a very similar package today with minimal custom work....it would be a Kimber Talkeetna. Simply have a competent gunsmith run a chamber reamer in it to make the AI conversion, and you’re good to go!

    I will say that, this is not a combo for those with shoulder issues or the recoil timid.....but, it’s not nearly as bad as most may think! Closing in on 70, only during load development will I exceed 20 rounds from the bench at one sitting (and take a couple of days off before the next session) for obvious reasons! memtb
    Last edited by memtb; 08-22-2021 at 10:49 AM.
    You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel

    “LETS GO BRANDON”

  7. #27
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by koger View Post
    Well since I am retired by neccesity, 3 strokes in one day, I am building my last gun I probably will ever build. It is a Remington Roller, Smokeless action, with a Green Mountain, tapered octagon 24" barrel in 7x57 Mauser. I will do the bluing, and am working on the stock and forearm. The stock and forearm are made from one piece of wood, 4AAAA curly maple, solid stripe from one end to the other every 1/4" apart. It will have a cheekpiece, and either a Schnabel forearm or a ebony tip. I will hot blue the metal, and stain the maple a dark mahogany/English red mix, which turns the stripe black, and will have a classic Rigby buttplate, checkered steel, that I will blue also. I will use a classic English oil finish on the stock, and expect it to take from 20-24 coats, hand rubbed. The barrel is installed, and the stock 90% finished, just need to get on the forearm, which is 80% inletted. I replaced several screws in the action. I have the trigger down to #2.5, crisp and smooth . I will be mounting a scope on this firearm, as I approach 60 years of age, and my eyes cant hold out forever. I have a base I machined out to match the countour of the chamber, and will likely mount a 3x9 x40 Leupold I have already, which should complement the whole package, or I might put a vinage Leupy 2x8 that I have on another rifle. I thought about putting sights on it, but the barrel looks so nice as it tapers and would look cluttered to my way of thinking. I think this would make a handy stalking rifle, or a nice rifle for blind sitting and should do well on deer, bear, elk or mule deer, If I am able to hunt them, out to about 300yds with a Sierra 139g BTSP moving along at a nice pace. I plan on having it completed, by firearms season here in KY.
    That is an awesome project and I hope you can enjoy it for many years. The 7mm never gained the following it deserves here in the US. No need to anything more for most of the hunting we "peasants" can afford to do.
    Don Verna


  8. #28
    Boolit Master
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    I just finished building my retirement rifle, started with a bubbed 1917 enfield that I picked up cheap , rechambered it to a 308 Norma mag, restocked it with a boyds lam stock in cayote put a 4x16x40 BSA mildot scope on it that I had. Now my kid wants it for elk season this year.

  9. #29
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    @ Camba, the type of or what type of hunting you plan on using the rifle for influence your choice of DR.
    ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
    Je suis Charlie
    Remember Lavoy!
    I'll cling to my God and my guns, and you can keep the "Change".

  10. #30
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    white eagle's Avatar
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    I was supposed to get a rifle for retirement? I'll have to remember that.
    Actually retired bout 5 years ago. I will get a Kimber Hunter in 280 Ackley
    weighing in at a touch under 6 #'s without scope..
    Or a model 70 Super Grade in 35 Whelen or a Model 70
    Featherweight in 220 Swift
    Hit em'hard
    hit em'often

  11. #31
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    I retired last October. This spring I bought a 300 AAC Blackout upper. Plenty time consuming making brass. Low powder charge weights. Cast Bullet friendly. Low recoil. Hunting isn’t a concern for this rifle, but if it was it is as capable as a .30/30. I anticipate many pleasant hours of low cost range time.
    ”We know they are lying, they know they are lying, they know we know they are lying, we know they know we know they are lying, yet they are still lying.” –Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn

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  12. #32
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by 45-70marlin View Post
    I retired almost 3 years ago. I needed a light, low recoiling rifle. Arthritis in my hands also is a problem. A few months ago I bought a Rossi 92 in 357 with a 20" barrel. I love this gun, cheap to shoot, easy to reload and cast bullets for. Gun is a bit over 5 pounds and very accurate out to 125 yards. I can shoot 38spc. Or the 357 magnum. I did a little smoothing on the action, plenty of videos on doing it. Gun is nice and one to think about.
    I love my 1894C for pretty much the same reasons. Leaps to the shoulder, points like a finger and ammo falls out of my SDB at 400 an hour.
    ”We know they are lying, they know they are lying, they know we know they are lying, we know they know we know they are lying, yet they are still lying.” –Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn

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  13. #33
    Boolit Buddy Ural Driver's Avatar
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    Don't know yet......but I'm thinkin.
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  14. #34
    Boolit Master
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    Retired 2004, still haven't found that perfect rifle, you know, weighs 6 lbs, shoots to 697 yards without holdover or dial spinning, puts a 50 caliber hole out the far side of the biggest bull quartering away at 500 yards while shooting under 0.5 MOA without perceptible recoil. Anybody have one of those? Do have a bunch of Savage 99's, Marlin's, 1911's, 22LR's, other stuff for fun. Still occasionally get that gotta buy something compulsion, I guess sort of like the ladies that have to shop. I keep thinking about a Mini-30, but with a 20" barrel and a handsome wood stock.

  15. #35
    Boolit Buddy
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    I like the rifle capable to kill deer mostly under 100 yards with occasionally reaching 200 yds. Same rifle to punch paper and capable of low vel cast bullets for small game. Ultimately, been able to stretch my shooting years longer by keeping cost down on ammo.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  16. #36
    Boolit Buddy
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    I built up a 300 BO a couple of years ago on a Rem 600 action with a Shilen barrel, WOW with the RCBS 30-165 sil, it will shoot better than I can hold, under 1 1/4" all day long.

    That rifle is at the top of my to keep list.
    J Wisner

  17. #37
    Boolit Buddy
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    I have a long, long way to retirement. But for deer at reasonable distances,punching paper, an fairly cheap to shot. Cz-527 chambered in 7.62×39 with good glass on top

  18. #38
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Camba View Post
    I like the rifle capable to kill deer mostly under 100 yards with occasionally reaching 200 yds. Same rifle to punch paper and capable of low vel cast bullets for small game. Ultimately, been able to stretch my shooting years longer by keeping cost down on ammo.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Primers cost the same no matter what caliber you shoot.
    Cheap bullets mean cast...if you want to drive them past 1600 fps you will want gas checks
    Cheap brass means calibers based on .308 or .223 cases if you want deer at up to 200 yards.

    Seems to me my first suggestion... a .308 will get you what you want. Read about “the load”. Promo is the same as Red Dot but less expensive...I keep a minimum of 32 lbs in inventory for a reason.

    A .358 would be a better cast round but difficult to find an inexpensive gun in that caliber. But you might find a .338 Federal no one wants and that would be sweet.
    Don Verna


  19. #39
    Boolit Buddy
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    Vudoo model 360, 22LR

  20. #40
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    I retired in 2003 and my rifle was a Ruger #1 rsi in 7mm Mauser.
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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check