Let's Talk about Working Rifles

[David Milisock]

I've developed an itch and no, I have not been on shore leave. I have a set of working rifles as I only find rifles useful in the field as interesting and since not one fits every need, I have a few. The itch is to hear what real field shooters are using for their particular needs and decide which area needs scratched, I have a few actions laying around that need me to play with them. I have varmint, medium game, general purpose, heavy game long range, dangerous game/ guide and scout rifles to mention a few

My first entrance is my version of what may be considered a Scout Rifle. No, I didn't follow Coopers concept very closely as I considered his concept not to suit my needs or capabilities.

First, I don't like forward mounted scopes, second pointing a rifle at something that I'm not shooting at is a nonstarter for me so I can use the glass to view it to me is a bad idea. As I always carry a parka to protect me and my gear in foul weather, I prefer to carry quality field glasses, I've never heard of anyone accidently getting shot by field glasses. So, no Cooper compliance here.

The rifle is an 8MM Yugoslavian1944 Mauser 98 I picked up $125, just for the action, the rifle came as you see it, mag follower was milled, Lyman sights, a Timney trigger, Ram Line stock. I prefer iron sights for fast acting hard use field rifles.The barrel was cut to 21 1/2" and needed some JB ran thought it to make it clean easier. With the Bipod it weighs in at just over 8 pounds so it does not meet Coopers 7-pound weight limit.

Since I always figured Cooper was more filled with sheep dip then less filled with sheep dip, (Cooper being a Marine and me Navy I always figured being full of sheep dip was a basic requirement for a Marine) as such I thought I'd sling some crap and call it my scout rifle. His idea of a short, fast acting rifle for a scout was pretty decent for a Marine!

I shoot a Hornady 195 grain spire point flat base interlock at 2,500+ FPS, pushed with 56 grain Accurate 2700, recoil is stout! I prefer it over the 308 or 30-06 as you lose less performance from a 32 bore than a 308 with the short barrel. From the bench it shoots a bit over a 1" 3 shot group at 100 yards with those iron sights and believe me it's not a target configuration, I have had the bruises to prove it.

It is a wonderful rifle to carry in the field and it can take deer or elk at 300 yards, I can drop to the prone position acquire and fire in 10 seconds and make accurate hits at those ranges. It isn't pretty but it hasn't affected the tase of the meet. So, if I have to work as point man on a hunting party, bring in some meat or defend myself it's plenty good, so, it's my scout rifle.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I want to get a sauer 404 matched pair big caliber and little caliber and keep them forever

 

[David Milisock]

I want to get a sauer 404 matched pair big caliber and little caliber and keep them forever

What do you call big and little calibers?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

What do you call big and little calibers?

Like a 30-06 and up then a 243, 22-250, 223, etc

 

[CJ6]

"Classically".... under .338 is "small bore" .338-416 is medium bore and above 416 is large bore.

 

[K22]

I'm a real field shooter - I hunt year around and /or engage in practical range practice i.e., shooting off of shooting sticks. Rarely do I shoot off a bench and then only for load development or when I need to determine the source of a problem I may be having with a particular rifle. I'm only interested in practical field shooting.

While I shoot and hunt a lot of 223 Rem bolt rifles, if I had to pick one caliber / rifle as my "working" rifle, it would be the 243 Win. With this caliber, I can successfully hunt deer, varmints and predators. In fact, this is exactly what I did in the late 60's through the mid 70's. I never found it lacking even in the days when I was restricted to factory ammo.

As far as rifles, my first choice would be a Winchester Model 70, control feed action. My second choice would be a Tikka T3X lite.

Later, when I began reloading, I discovered the 85 Sierra BTHP. With this bullet, I can hunt all 3 of the aforementioned species. This bullet shoots like a match bullet accuracy wise and has excellent terminal performance. There is a real advantage to have one do all bullet and rifle since the familiarity you can gain builds skill and confidence.

So, if "Big Brother" told me I can only have one rifle , this would be it!

 

[gutpile271]

my 1972 rem adl in 6mm rem. on barrel #6 now. If I could have two 1952 Husky in 358 win.

 

[spencerhenry]

I had a super grade model 70 338 rebored to 375, put a 1.5-5 on it. Killed a moose with it first time out.
That’s my big bore, unless you count the 405 win and a couple 45-70 and a 45-75.

I like big bullets

 

[Myshootinstinks]

I don’t care for forward mounted scopes either but love the old peep sight. The peep is accurate at long distances or close and they are as rugged as a sight gets. I keep a peep sighted gun around always, from 22 to ‘06.

 

[butchlambert]

I have hunting rifles from 22to458 Lott. My go to rifle at this time is a 308 with a 2.5X25X March. Not planning on going to the dark continent at this time.

 

[ebb]

They ain't Sauer's but my field rifles are in a pair like Dusty spoke of. Ruger 77s 338win mag and 25-06. I took both to Wyoming and Colorado many years back. Elk, mule deer, huge coyote, and several antelope. still got them to this day only the 25-06 has been shot till it had to have a new barrel. The 338 is not as user friendly, so it doesn't get shot as much.

 

[David Milisock]

They ain't Sauer's but my field rifles are in a pair like Dusty spoke of. Ruger 77s 338win mag and 25-06. I took both to Wyoming and Colorado many years back. Elk, mule deer, huge coyote, and several antelope. still got them to this day only the 25-06 has been shot till it had to have a new barrel. The 338 is not as user friendly, so it doesn't get shot as much.

I'm not sure I'd want to drop one of those fancy rifles and be seen crying in a stream at the bottom of the hill!

 

[David Milisock]

my 1972 rem adl in 6mm rem. on barrel #6 now. If I could have two 1952 Husky in 358 win.

I have a BDL from the 80's on its second barrel.

 

[David Milisock]

I've developed an itch and no, I have not been on shore leave. I have a set of working rifles as I only find rifles useful in the field as interesting and since not one fits every need, I have a few. The itch is to hear what real field shooters are using for their particular needs and decide which area needs scratched, I have a few actions laying around that need me to play with them. I have varmint, medium game, general purpose, heavy game long range, dangerous game/ guide and scout rifles to mention a few

My first entrance is my version of what may be considered a Scout Rifle. No, I didn't follow Coopers concept very closely as I considered his concept not to suit my needs or capabilities.

First, I don't like forward mounted scopes, second pointing a rifle at something that I'm not shooting at is a nonstarter for me so I can use the glass to view it to me is a bad idea. As I always carry a parka to protect me and my gear in foul weather, I prefer to carry quality field glasses, I've never heard of anyone accidently getting shot by field glasses. So, no Cooper compliance here.

The rifle is an 8MM Yugoslavian1944 Mauser 98 I picked up $125, just for the action, the rifle came as you see it, mag follower was milled, Lyman sights, a Timney trigger, Ram Line stock. I prefer iron sights for fast acting hard use field rifles.The barrel was cut to 21 1/2" and needed some JB ran thought it to make it clean easier. With the Bipod it weighs in at just over 8 pounds so it does not meet Coopers 7-pound weight limit.

Since I always figured Cooper was more filled with sheep dip then less filled with sheep dip, (Cooper being a Marine and me Navy I always figured being full of sheep dip was a basic requirement for a Marine) as such I thought I'd sling some crap and call it my scout rifle. His idea of a short, fast acting rifle for a scout was pretty decent for a Marine!

I shoot a Hornady 195 grain spire point flat base interlock at 2,500+ FPS, pushed with 56 grain Accurate 2700, recoil is stout! I prefer it over the 308 or 30-06 as you lose less performance from a 32 bore than a 308 with the short barrel. From the bench it shoots a bit over a 1" 3 shot group at 100 yards with those iron sights and believe me it's not a target configuration, I have had the bruises to prove it.

It is a wonderful rifle to carry in the field and it can take deer or elk at 300 yards, I can drop to the prone position acquire and fire in 10 seconds and make accurate hits at those ranges. It isn't pretty but it hasn't affected the tase of the meet. So, if I have to work as point man on a hunting party, bring in some meat or defend myself it's plenty good, so, it's my scout rifle.
View attachment 1389983View attachment 1389984

Below is my concept of a guide gun, a custom built dangerous game rifle in 450 Marlin, custom cut for 500 grain 60,000 PSI loads. It's been built on a Chilean 98 Mauser by the Rifler, it has a 22" Shilen air gauge barrel, the magazine follower has not been milled, a dangerous game rifle needs to tell you when it's empty. The trigger is the military 2 stage with a nice crisp break.

The semi-buckhorn sight is ERA as is the front sight, the stock a Ram Line, weighted to 9 3/4 pounds. The controlled feed works well on all my Mausers and Reminton 03 rifles, I prefer it for dangerous game work. As you can see it is a big bore and the 500 grain loads will not chamber in the lower pressure level lever rifles and with the 450 Marlin belt they will not chamber in any other Magnum. It produces about 4,500 ft/lbs of energy with the 500 grain at 2,000 + FPS.

 

[davidjoe]

For me, there’s really only one signature feature of rifles that define the period I came of age within.

I don’t even know if this feature has a particular name or not, but to me it is indispensable.




This grip, bent in the same exact place, of this same dimension, whether it’s made by Manners or McMillan, tactical or F-Class or hunting, will always have my loyalty. To me, this “handle” means business.

I have tried to love the competing grip design of the H&S Precision stock, and I still prefer it to the feel of the metallic stocks, but it’s a distant second place.



I still wrestle with the decision of using specialized, impractical rifles in competition. But my favorite form of competition has a fixed, known distance target and we simply don’t have to move the point of aim very much, and certainly don’t track a moving target.



However, I would much rather have a truly competent, versatile gun, if there could only be one.




This gun is a 22 pound 338 LM single shot, with a scope reticle and mount system that would permit its use in ELR to the maximum range of the cartridge.

With a fast twist 1.5” tapered Krieger 5R barrel, it does not leave any accuracy on the table, and the cartridge itself, is just so good in so many ways, probably it’s Lapua’s proudest achievement, of many.

 

[Ray123]

A working rifle? Depends on what the job at hand is...and my choice changes as does the job. Plinking, everything is on the table...hunting probably a bolt 338, or 350 Mag, with low power scope, cause I'm gonna shoot em up close and personal, and more often the game will be running away... but it could be anything over 30 cal including the 50BMG. The little calibers are for fun and target, I don't need 1/4" accuracy in a working gun...if moving around the gun should be on the lighter side. Then the AR comes into play, when the numbers increase. So to me a working rifle is a tool up to the task, but not necessarily newer or fancy, (old and beat up is okay)...with a ton of extras hanging on it and a 4 lb scope...it should have some versatility to it, in case "the work" suddenly changes...

 

[Wolfdog91]

My work when it comes to field shooting killing hogs here mine. It's not super advanced but give me a hell of an edge over all these local yahoos with Mag lights and .22lrs.
Bear creek 7.62x39 upper
Fmk poly lower
Coyote reaper XXl IR
Atn X site all day night digital scope
Bog death grip aluminum tripod.


It's not a 1/8" gun but I don't need it to be. It's not super sexy and and smooth but I don't need it to be. Will put every cheap HP or So 7.62x 39 I can find in a 2.5" group @100yd and honestly that's more then what you need for killing hogs . Especially if you give them a CNS shot inside of a boiler room.
I get made fun of somtimes by the more advanced guys in the night hunting groups but I can treat this rig like crap and it just keeps chugging along doing its job. Best part is I have less then $1000 all together in it

 

[Jager]

Ruger No. 1 in .270. Leupold Vari-X III 1.5-5. Because, you know, one shot.

The gun that gets called on the most, though, is an Anschutz heavy barrel in .22 Hornet. Single-stage trigger and Leupold VX-II 6-18. It gets called upon around the house here often enough that it stays out of the gun cabinet, within easy reach. The box of 40 gr. Berger handloads lives permanently atop the book case next to the wood stove in the living room. And an Armageddon Gear Game Changer sits on the arm of the couch, ready for a quick grab-and-go.

If I can't see whatever it is that needs seeing well enough, the Leica Geovids are also always close-by. Riflescopes are for shooting.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Remington came out with a great version of a “Scout Rifle” back in the ‘60’s.

The Remington 600 in 350 Remington Magnum. Short action, light weight, hard hitting.

It seems not many cared.

I like the OP’s concept. A 100% reliable rifle originally designed to withstand the rigors of the outdoors In a caliber big enough to bring down anything at the range it will be used.

 

[ebb]

David I am sure you were talking about the Sauer's that dusty mentioned not my Ruger's. There is an easy way to keep a nice rifle from being dropped in the stream, Hold on to it. But i do understand what you are saying. i have a friend that may be the best friend I've ever had. He carries a Browning A5 and when he and another friend and ny daughter were buggy hunting in the WMA he could not find his Browning. He told us to drive back to where we had stopped to talk with guys on two other buggies. When we got to that place he mentioned, he shuffled around in the water for about a minute and a half and his boot found the browning in ankle deep water. He loaned it to a hunter on a horse and it came back with a broken stock, but not completely in two pieces. He still hunts with it 5 years later stock still broken. I've offered to replace stocks and gun coat it several times but he can't be without it that long. i don't like having my good guns around him. he would do anything for me and I for him, but he has a whole different mindset about equipment and how long it should last and be taken care of.