Nostalgic rifles

[Patch 76]

I'm going to deer hunt this year with the rifle I killed my first deer with in 1959. It's a Savage 219, 30-30. I cleaned it with CLR (gasp) and mounted an old Bushnell Scopechief 2.5x8. Using 130 gr Speer Hp's it's been under 3/4 moa at 100 yards. I will use it where close shots are the only shots, but would not hesitate at a 200 yard chance. I will also be using my old 30-06 built for me in 1969 using a 98 Mauser , my first bolt action. What old rifles are you going to use, tell us about them. Thanks, Barlow

Good luck with that, Barlow! I can't wait to hear the story that will follow the hunt(s). My boys will surely enjoy hearing you tell!

 

[Barlow]

Mike, go to the accuratereloading forum. Lots of folks over there shoot that caliber. Yes, it is close to the 280.
I was fortunate to be able to buy 2 of Mike Walker's "Remington Custom Shop" favorite rifles. First was his Mod37 rimfire and next was his 722 in 257 Roberts. The 257 Roberts was his favorite white tail cartridge.

I asked him how he got the beautiful wood. Mike said, "I'm the keeper of the stock blank inventory".

I had a 722, 257 Roberts that I bought from an old friend years ago. I gave it to my Grandson. 100 gr Hornadys do the job. Barlow

 

[msinc]

I have two rifles that are unfired. I would love to take them out and hunt and maybe kill a deer or bear, but that unfired thing keeps getting in the way...one is a pre-64 Model 70 in 270. It dates to 1957. The other is a 141 Gamemaster that dates back to 1937. Both are mint. I believe the 141 had the distinction of being the last gun Remington made with case colored parts.
I fell in love with lever guns many years ago. I have an 1894 rifle that dates to 1920 and a Marlin 1893 takedown deluxe that goes back to around 1905. I do hunt with either of those. The 1893 is just about mint.
I have a pretty good collection of old American doubles, Parkers, Lefevers, L.C. Smiths, but my favorite of all those is my 20 ga X grade Fox. I have shot them, but they are worth a little too much to gunch up dragging around the woods. My favorite shotgun is a Model 12 20 ga Super Pigeon with B carved stocks and #5 engraving.

 

[1K6BRA]

Here is my favorite nostalgic rifle. A 1949 model 70 Winchester 250-3000 Savage wearing a straight 6X Leupold. I had looked for one of these in good condition for years and years and finally found one at a gun show while I was going through a divorce. Figured it was the least I can do for myself at the time so I bought it.I still use it quite often and killed this buck with it last year here in Pennsylvania.87 grain Speer soft points with reloader 15 powder. Rolls deer like a shotgun rolls rabbits!

 

[Laurie]

Seeing the lovely old M70, shows one upside from the USA's past issues over suppressors ( [sound] moderators / mods / moddies as we call them in the UK). That is a nice long barrel complete with the rifle manufacturer's original foresight assembly. Thanks to mods having become fully legal for most shooting here many years back - and no special licensing taxes / charges involved - virtually every varmint and deer rifle here now has a shortened and screwcut barrel and that applies to lots of lovely old classics too unfortunately. I have a nice mid 50s BSA 'Hunter' in 7X57mm and the chopped down barrel (24 inches to 21.5) sans front sight and ramp is the only thing that spoils it.

 

[Barlow]

View attachment 1072968 Here is my favorite nostalgic rifle. A 1949 model 70 Winchester 250-3000 Savage wearing a straight 6X Leupold. I had looked for one of these in good condition for years and years and finally found one at a gun show while I was going through a divorce. Figured it was the least I can do for myself at the time so I bought it.I still use it quite often and killed this buck with it last year here in Pennsylvania.87 grain Speer soft points with reloader 15 powder. Rolls deer like a shotgun rolls rabbits!

I just loaded that same bullet in my nephews Ruger Int. 250 Savage, it should work well. By the way beautiful rifle you have there!. Barlow

 

[spencerhenry]

I was just loading some shells the other day for my model 70 Ranger in 270. To get bullets up to the lands, I am .040 over book max COAL. Might be that it's had a few rounds through it.
It was my first centerfire rifle, bought it when I was 16 in 1987. It was also my introduction to reloading. My first 100 brass lasted until about the late 90's. I have killed fox, coyote, whitetails, mule deer, black bears, elk, mountain goat, and bighorn sheep with it. It has pieces of the butt plate missing, not much blueing left on the bolt handle, shows signs of rust in a few places (hunted deer in the rain for 5 days once), stock has quite a few dings, front sling stud has pulled out a couple of times and been relocated.
It was stolen in 1990, and by pure chance when I went to a gunshop to order a new one, they asked about my old one. Someone had brought it in to have sights put on it, I got it back!
With the apparent throat erosion, I thought about a new barrel, perhaps in 270 improved, and then maybe replacing the butt plate, and on and on. But, then I wondered at what point is it no longer the same gun? I am going to leave it just as it is, it doesn't shoot as good as it used to, but still shoots right at 1 moa. Good enough for the game I'm after.

Perhaps not nostalgic, but certainly sentimental!

 

[Fast14riot]

My hunting rifle is a 1918 dated Eddystone 1917 spotter I built up over the last decade. Pretty much the only thing original is the receiver and bottom metal, but it will still drop into a military stock. Kinda like the lumberjacks axe, two new heads and 3 handles, but its still the same old axe, lol!

 

[Barlow]

I'm going to deer hunt this year with the rifle I killed my first deer with in 1959. It's a Savage 219, 30-30. I cleaned it with CLR (gasp) and mounted an old Bushnell Scopechief 2.5x8. Using 130 gr Speer Hp's it's been under 3/4 moa at 100 yards. I will use it where close shots are the only shots, but would not hesitate at a 200 yard chance. I will also be using my old 30-06 built for me in 1969 using a 98 Mauser , my first bolt action. What old rifles are you going to use, tell us about them. Thanks, Barlow

I killed a decent 8 pt with the 06, 1 shot 100 yards out of my climbing stand that I was in for 9 minutes. 150gr Hornady IL 2840 mv. Crotch horn at 170 yards with the old thuty thuthy , took top of the heart off, 1 shot. It was a hoot and no wasted meat. Barlow

 

[1lessdog]

I like buying the rifles that I used when I was young. First rifle ( 1974 ) was a Enfield 1917 30-06 with the rear peep sight. I bought one last yr. 2nd rifle ( 1975 ) was Remington 788 22-250 with universal 4x scope at Coast to Coast for 114.00, I still have it. Third was a ( 1976 ) Remington 742 30-06 with Redfield 3 x 9. I just bought one and put the same scope on it. Bought at Gambles used 75.00.

Someday I will use these old guns then hand them down to the kids.