Today I got my old Model 81 Remington, 300 Savage out to see if I could hit anything with it. I took a cranberry juice jug filled with water, and two small squash off my wife's Halloween decoration. I put a Red Dot on it last year using existing holes, because I can't see open sight worth a crap anymore. It looks like hell on the rifle but as I said, I can see through it. Put the jug on top of my target stand at 95 yards. I sat at my bench and shot off my elbows. A 150 gr Hornady found it's way to the jug and I was happy. I put the squash on a table at 50 yards and fired as before. I missed the first shot but the next two were dead on. I'm going to use this rifle this year in a few spots where 100 yards would be a long shot. This was my Grandfathers rifle. He was a local trapper and guide years ago. I have had it since the age of 16, 54 years now. Do any of you use a favorite old rifle for Deer or other hunting? If so, tell us about it. Barlow
Hunting with old rifles
- Thread starter Barlow
- Start date
I have an old 22 rim-fire I've had since I was 10 years old. It's a Sears & Roebuck model single shot.
This thing is as accurate as my newer Savage mark II...I bought the Savage thinking it would be more
accurate than my old Sears model...but the accuracy is about the same. Some of these old rifles were
made very well back in the day.
This thing is as accurate as my newer Savage mark II...I bought the Savage thinking it would be more
accurate than my old Sears model...but the accuracy is about the same. Some of these old rifles were
made very well back in the day.
I have several...an 1894 Winchester 30-30 rifle, 26" barrel, full length mag and crescent buttplate, she dates to 1920....an 1893 Marlin Deluxe Takedown, same configuration as the Winchester. this one is circa 1900-1905 or so, Marlin records were lost in a fire those years if I remember right.
I also have a 141 Gamemaster in 35 Remington that goes back to 1935...it is unfired, so as much as I'd like to, I don't actually hunt with that one.
My favorite is the 1886 Winchester in 45-70.
I also have a 141 Gamemaster in 35 Remington that goes back to 1935...it is unfired, so as much as I'd like to, I don't actually hunt with that one.
My favorite is the 1886 Winchester in 45-70.
While I don't have it long enough to be my "favorite", I acquired a 250 Savage Model 1899 take-down last fall, made in 1915, after yearning for one for years. I loaded up some 100 gr. Ballistic Tips over a moderate load of H4895 and proceeded to fire a 50 yard 3 shot group that was as small as my scoped hunting rifles- some of which are trued Rem. 700's. It comes to the shoulder and sight acquisition is faster than any other firearm I have ever used. It is now my primary gun when I don't plan on sitting in a stand.
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CharlieNC
Gold $$ Contributor
Probably not old by most standards, but I have a 20+ year old Tikka 695 in 300WM which is my usual elk hunter. Like it so much that I added a SIII 6-24 scope and Boyds Varmint stock this year in Zombie Green to dress it up! Very accurate, smooth action, and not too many shots through the barrel since its only for serious hunting. As I recall it cost around $300 and was a great deal for level of performance.
Martini Cadet rechambered to .357 Magnum gets out when I have a doe tag to fill. Shoots the 180 grain Remington SJHP at 1750 fps MV and very accurate to 100 yards, that’s as far as I’ve pushed it. My eyes are getting bad also, bifocals that make open sights tough but with it’s fine sights, front replaced, I can do 1 1/2” 5 rounds from the 100 bench. It will be out after Thanksgiving here in PA.
First of all the 300 Savage is a great cartridge especially for the eastern white tail hunter. It will take care of 99% of the shots in my area where I hunt in PA.
My father killed 18 bucks in his hunting career, all with a 30-30 Winchester Model 94, open sights. Granted these were all shot in the northern "big woods" of PA where the shots were under 150 yards most of the time. He also shot a bunch of doe when he could get off work to hunt which in those days was a separate season.
In those days my father hunted for meat to feed the family, he never save one rack, some of which were pretty nice for that time period. In those days you could shoot a 3" spike buck. He never cared about rack size. He was twice the hunter I am.
While I enjoy shooting the old 30-30 once in a while, my aging eyes make it a challenge. I wouldn't dare hunt with it out of fear of wounding a deer.
My father killed 18 bucks in his hunting career, all with a 30-30 Winchester Model 94, open sights. Granted these were all shot in the northern "big woods" of PA where the shots were under 150 yards most of the time. He also shot a bunch of doe when he could get off work to hunt which in those days was a separate season.
In those days my father hunted for meat to feed the family, he never save one rack, some of which were pretty nice for that time period. In those days you could shoot a 3" spike buck. He never cared about rack size. He was twice the hunter I am.
While I enjoy shooting the old 30-30 once in a while, my aging eyes make it a challenge. I wouldn't dare hunt with it out of fear of wounding a deer.
centershot
Silver $$ Contributor
You guys are making my mouth water!!
Post pics if yall can! Bonus points for nice old Pre 64 Winchester - M70's, M54's, .22 LR M52's, and their various lever rifles... Savage M1920, Remington 720, Remington Model 30 and/or M1917/P14 sporters, M1903 sporters, custom Mauser sporters and builds, etc..!
There was a member at snipershide who had an original Roy-built ~1949ish dated heavy barrel Mauser in .270 Weatherby in excellent condition that was downright stunning. If anybody can find the pic/link to that beauty..please share!
There was a member at snipershide who had an original Roy-built ~1949ish dated heavy barrel Mauser in .270 Weatherby in excellent condition that was downright stunning. If anybody can find the pic/link to that beauty..please share!
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Care to post pics sir? Also, what optic?
I don't know how to upload pics or I would.
I have a leupold vx2 6-18 on it and load it with nosler brass 120gr ballistic tips over 70gr retumbo
My gun isn’t old I’m
Got it 1953 new . It’s 721 Remington 300 HH Hasn’t let me down yet .
Larry
Got it 1953 new . It’s 721 Remington 300 HH Hasn’t let me down yet .
Larry
+1 on the M1. I've also taken deer with a Krag, a Remington 721 in .300 Savage (before I turned it into a match rifle), a VZ24 Czech Mauser, and my dad's old Remington 742 in .280 Remington. My daughter has that one now.
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