The rifles I have now.
The rifles I have now.
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.
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.
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.
MOLON LABE
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.
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”
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.
@ 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".
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
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
My Straight Shooters thread:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...raight-shooter
The Pewter Pictures and Hallmarks thread:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...-and-hallmarks
”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
My Straight Shooters thread:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...raight-shooter
The Pewter Pictures and Hallmarks thread:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...-and-hallmarks
Don't know yet......but I'm thinkin.
NRA Benefactor
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.
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.
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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
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
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
Vudoo model 360, 22LR
I retired in 2003 and my rifle was a Ruger #1 rsi in 7mm Mauser.
NRA Benefactor Member NRA Golden Eagle
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 |