Let's Talk about Working Rifles

[Uncle Grinch]

One of my working rifles.. Siamese Mauser, 45-70, 20 inch barrel, parkerized finish, texture paint wood stock. It gets the job done.

 

[butchlambert]

One of my working rifles.. Siamese Mauser, 45-70, 20 inch barrel, parkerized finish, texture paint wood stock. It gets the job done.

I like it, sorry that I sold mine.

 

[David Milisock]

My line of thought is that these rifles should be called purpose-built rifle instead of working rifle.
I have many rifles that are geared to times in the field, life in the truck or to protection of property or life.
My Remington Model 7 7mm-08 serves me perfectly. In my general hunting areas it can be put in play quickly, has the power and range for most all my whitetail hunts and is accurate. The rifle is short enough and light enough it's at home stalking or in the tightest of hunting blinds. I'm probably disappointing you though because I have owned the rifle 30 years and never made one single alteration to it.
I would list all those what you typify as "working guns" I own but why. Over the last 55 years of gun ownership I have listened and tried many things others swore were "sliced bread". Some I worked to implement in the industry, some were valid for me personally, and many just didn't work out for me. Smart is knowing what works for me and helps me be a better marksman. I classify everything else as "gimmick".

All rifles have a purpose so in my opinion calling them purpose built is obvious. With that said even a safe or mantle queen have a purpose, it's just a purpose that in my opinion has about as much value as a woman who is a virgin and wants to stay that way. A working gun fulfills its purpose and lasts, IN THE FIELD.

A working gun is designed and used for (surely) a specific game animal but has a design that can take it, and by it, I mean whatever the situation throws at it. A combat rifle has to be accurate, stand up to nasty conditions, be used as club when needed and function as soon as you pick up ammo.

Be it a squirrel rifle, a deer rifle, designed (by me or a factory) a rifle for Kodiak bear or the most dangerous animal on earth, the hippopotamus. A working gun is not a range or mantel toy it's a working gun for a rifleman who works at being a rifleman. Not sure many know the meaning anymore, but I tell my son that it's drop, acquire, fire and hit, in any conditions, while taking fire. Thankfully I don't take fire anymore and if God blesses me, my children and grandchildren will not have to see that, but you must always be prepared.

You're not disappointing me when you say that you buy factory rifles, in my opinion that in many cases is smart. That 8MM I posted except for a little bedding and a sling is just as bought it. Someone else tried to modify it from a WWII rifle and didn't understand bedding. I have a Howa 1500 in 223, a factory file except for the scope, a Remington 700 BDL in 6MM Remington, except for the scope and after I shot her out the replacement barrel, she's a factory rifle. A 444 Marlin that has the factory thumb extender on the hammer and a sling a pure factory gun, no scope.

The list goes on for quite a while, I only build what I want and what is not made in a quality manner by manufacturers. My 358 Norma, my 450 Marlin are good examples. When I got the 358 no one manufactured them and those who had them protected them like their virgin daughters. To this day no one I know builds 450 Marlins except custom builders. I wanted it cut for 500 grain projectiles in a bolt rifle to function at 60,000+ PSI. At the time Styer made them but only cut to handle 400 grain projectiles and at $4,700. I bought the parts and Mike at the Rifler did the work, for less than 1/3 that cost at that time. He's a gem of a gun smith!

Just my opinion but there's too much fashion and doo dads today, real advances combined with proven technologies from the past, again just my opinion are the future for the rifleman and his rifle.

 

[David Milisock]

I like it, sorry that I sold mine.

You sold a winner.

 

[David Milisock]

One of my working rifles.. Siamese Mauser, 45-70, 20 inch barrel, parkerized finish, texture paint wood stock. It gets the job done.

You do know that the 450 Marlin in a bolt rifle is ballistic identical to your Siamese Mauser in 45-70? I almost went that way, a damn fine idea.

 

[David Milisock]

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. View attachment 1390229View attachment 1390230View attachment 1390231

Here's the guide gun I used that made me build the 450. It's a factory Marlin 444 (JM) and I carried it for years as a guide gun and it worked fine. It packs as much punch as the 45 7- guide guns but bullet selection is critical. One day I had to come up against a heavy grizzly and it didn't break the shoulders. I was running hard cast which up to that point had worked well.

So, I built the 450 and left the 444 to use only in areas where there would be no big boned bears and for deer. For deer it's great when you hunt crowded areas, and you have to try and stop them 99.99% of the time immediately in their tracks. The 444 is why I don't have a 30 30, as far as deer or short-range elk go, they fit the same purpose.

 

[shoot4fun]

Just my opinion but there's too much fashion and doo dads today, real advances combined with proven technologies from the past, again just my opinion are the future for the rifleman and his rifle.

This says it all! Most of those doo dads can and will do just what they were designed and built for but. IMO, to often you get one plus and create six negatives with it. The vast majority of these doo dads today are built around PRS type shooting. I don't play that game because I just can't fold like dollar bill or leap tall buildings any longer.
It seems semantic but I believe you're talking more about rifles that work instead of working rifles.
That's the crux of my crusty commentary.

 

[David Milisock]

This says it all! Most of those doo dads can and will do just what they were designed and built for but. IMO, to often you get one plus and create six negatives with it. The vast majority of these doo dads today are built around PRS type shooting. I don't play that game because I just can't fold like dollar bill or leap tall buildings any longer.
It seems semantic but I believe you're talking more about rifles that work instead of working rifles.
That's the crux of my crusty commentary.

I didn't think your comment was crusty. It's America, have any gun or opinion you want. I'd rather a keen debate than some damn yes man, run and hide BS.

Part of something to live by.
This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.
Without me, my rifle is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless.

A working rifle (a rifle that works) is a working man!

 

[ryanjay11]

Looks like you're working on the coyote population. What's the build? I've got a couple that are good for that, but my grandson will need one soon. I use a Howa 1500 in 223 and a Remington 700 BDL in 6MM Remington.

This rifle is absurd overkill for coyotes, but they are a target of opportunity. It's my big game rifle that travels wherever I'm going.

300 WSM
Defiance Deviant UL XM length
Proof Research 24" Sendero w/ Thunderbeast Ultra 7
Bix'n Andy TacSport Pro 2 stage
Manners EH1 Stock w/ APA RTG Bottom Metal/Inflection Magazine
Nightforce ATACR F1 4-16x 42mm

 

[Jager]

That's a good idea, I might build one for my grandson, he's a south paw and being a kid making him spend one shot at a time is good training.

I carried a No. 1 in the November woods for decades. It changed me.

 

[shoot4fun]

I carried a No. 1 in the November woods for decades. It changed me.

There is just something about the No. 1 isn't there?
Wish I had bought a hundred when they were $350!

 

[David Milisock]

There is just something about the No. 1 isn't there?
Wish I had bought a hundred when they were $350!

Me too!

 

[David Milisock]

This rifle is absurd overkill for coyotes, but they are a target of opportunity. It's my big game rifle that travels wherever I'm going.

300 WSM
Defiance Deviant UL XM length
Proof Research 24" Sendero w/ Thunderbeast Ultra 7
Bix'n Andy TacSport Pro 2 stage
Manners EH1 Stock w/ APA RTG Bottom Metal/Inflection Magazine
Nightforce ATACR F1 4-16x 42mm

That's the discussion, a working rifle pulled when needed is a, you get what's in reach scenario. I carry a 8MM quite a bit so it's over kill for a coyote too. However, I cannot carry 4 or five rifles with me all the time, it's not golf.

I have an AR 15 A2 in 5.56 an easy carry but too light in a pinch. I built a 6MM ARC AR to be my general purpose rifle. That and a good handgun suits me. I (being an old shit) have carried the AR and have seen the advantages of the modern versions with and since the A2. With that said I generally occupy an area where a 6MM ARC is sufficient as brown bear is as bad as it gets.

 

[Doug Bogg]

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

 

[Dusty Stevens]

On my big bore sauer 404 working rifle id put express sights on it and id use talley QD rings that i mounted the 1.5-5 leupold in. Right now its a zkk602 in 375h&h setup the same way. Its damn sure a working rifle.

 

[joshb]

One of my working rifles.. Siamese Mauser, 45-70, 20 inch barrel, parkerized finish, texture paint wood stock. It gets the job done.

I have one of those in a wood stock. It’s going in to be drilled for a scope mount, next week. My eyes need some help.

 

[Doug Casner]

I knew a guy that built a 45-70 siamese mauser. Seams like you could run hotter loads. Much hotter than lever action loads. Not far from .458 win. light loads. If I remember right. Doug

 

[std7mag]

Almost all my guns are "working" guns.
All go out in the fields & woods to put meat in the freezer.
And all vary by some amount as far as cartridge.
This years rifle deer season (PA) i carried 25-06, 25WSSM, 257Roberts AI, 280Rem, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mmWBY Mag.

Got a 7pt buck on opening day with the Rem Mag. Had 4 doe tags to try & fill, but looks like i'm eating tag.

 

[joshb]

I knew a guy that built a 45-70 siamese mauser. Seams like you could run hotter loads. Much hotter than lever action loads. Not far from .458 win. light loads. If I remember right. Doug

Yup! Supposedly one of the strongest old actions you can run with the cartridge. Great in theory but my shoulder declined to do the testing!
I tested some heavy loads in a Ruger #1 when I was younger. Bought the Siamese because it held more than one round, which is good for surprise bear attacks. Hasn’t been a bear spotted near me in a century but ya never know for sure, right?

 

[Tesoro]

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

I think you only need one 404 with 2 bolts/barrels. I can do that with my mod 200 if I could ever find a magnum bolt