[bushmaster1313]

I don't hunt - but I enjoy owning guns and taking them to the range.

The two hunting rifles that catch my eye are the pre-64 Model 70 and the Ruger No. 1 RSI, in moderate recoil calibers, e.g. .243 Winchester.

Any other non-hunters on the Forum have a favorite hunting rifle?

[*NOVA*]

...not by choice. In fact I was checking out how to get a Virginia Hunting license online.

Back in Mobile, AL., my friend and I used to go squirrel hunting - his mother cooked em and we ate em. That was EONS ago. I joined the Navy and left for good. Meanwhile my friends took up deer hunting.

My grandfather had a chance to kill a deer when friends took him out on a hunt - he chose not to pull the trigger.

He never taught my Dad to hunt, but my Dad served two terms in Nam, flying A-4s dropping bombs and had plenty of time shooting while in the service. But not hunting - so the chain was broken. I knew I had it in me to learn how to shoot and hunt - learned everything I know pretty much on my own so far except what folks on these forums share with me and the ROs that give me pointers at the range. I decided to do something about that. While I continue to learn everything I can about guns, I realize I need to get out there and learn how to hunt. Still looking for some one to help me get started, take me out and show me what I need to know. Figure I'll start with squirrels and rabbit and work my way up to a white tail deer. Meanwhile...

I took my son to the NRA range just yesterday - We have a Savage Model 64 that came with a POS aluminum tube someone dares to call a scope. I threw it away and mounted a Nikon 4X Rimfire on it - we were shooting 1' groups at 25 yards and 2" groups at 50 yards, bench rested. I figure with a little more practice I'll have a good hunting rifle.

So I reckon that qualifies me as a non-hunter (for now) who really does have a favorite hunting rifle - a Savage Model 64! :)

[Mikey Idaho]

I really love my Remington 700 in .243 which I guess is a hunting rifle, most of my rifles and handguns are more of the sporting/tactical type, since I don't hunt I could care less about terminal ballistics and whatnot, I mostly care about my guns/calibers being flat shooting with mild recoil. not hunting really changes what you prioritize.

[SGW42]

I don't hunt either, but bought a Ruger M77 Hawkeye in .308. it's a "nice to have" if someone ever does ask me to go out with them, but can also be used for fun at 100+ yard ranges. (I have quite a few rimfires to shoot at 50 yards, which is crowded at my range.)

[hardluk1]

bushmaster What do you have now, anything.. How far will a long shot be for you. It is nice to have atleast one solid beater for close in and bad weather hunts. One of the better priced rifles out today that will save some bucks and perform well and not have to worry about how you treat it would be a T/C ventura. Look at the 7/08 and 308. They are accurate, cost affective and then you can then start buy'n the sweet look'n firearms. Get a good solid new rifle to hunt with first. Today most any older decent used gun seems to sell for more than some brand new better better shooting firearms . If you don't own a good shooting .22lr get one for small game hunting also. Tree rat and wabbits do fill the pot too and make for more time in the woods.

[GreyCoupe]

All good advice.

I have a modern era Winchester Model 70 in .243 and it serves the purposes you describe well. Accurate, modest recoil. pre 64s are a legend, but the new ones are great.

I also had a Ruger M77, and it was a solid rifle, too.

Have fun.

[303tom]

Kind of a Oxymoron is it not, it`s not a hunting rifle unless it hunts !

[Moose458]

For a "just plain fun rifle" to shoot, try a Swedish mauser in 6.5x55 Swede. Low recoil, very flat shooting, and if it works out you can hunt about anything in North America.

[TonyAngel]

I think that everyone should have at least one 30/30 lever gun. I have a Marlin.

[nathan]

I love my Russian SKS dated 1950, my first centerfire rifle in 1995. I hunted for the first time in 1996 and killed my first hog with it. I still have it today and shot about 2000 rds. I guess its an all around gun, plinker and hunting rig .

[valnar]

As a non-hunter the first rifle I bought was a Marlin 336 in 30-30, just to "cover my bases." I still don't have a .22, but that's probably next.

[Sheepdog1968]

I think that everyone should have at least one 30/30 lever gun. I have a Marlin.
I bought my 30-30 before I hunted for the reason mentioned by TonyAngel. I had the same thing where my dad didn't hunt. I wanted to but just needed a helping hand to get started. My father in law is a hunter. He took me out. Now I feel comfortable enough to go to new places on my own (or bring friends along). Had I poked around a bit more on the internet, I would have likely found some sort of organization near where I lived that could have helped me.

[Aiko492]

bushmaster What do you have now, anything.. How far will a long shot be for you. It is nice to have atleast one solid beater for close in and bad weather hunts. One of the better priced rifles out today that will save some bucks and perform well and not have to worry about how you treat it would be a T/C ventura. Look at the 7/08 and 308. They are accurate, cost affective and then you can then start buy'n the sweet look'n firearms. Get a good solid new rifle to hunt with first. Today most any older decent used gun seems to sell for more than some brand new better better shooting firearms . If you don't own a good shooting .22lr get one for small game hunting also. Tree rat and wabbits do fill the pot too and make for more time in the woods.
I just bought my first bolt rifle (as the OP is, a non hunter that wants to learn). TC Venture .308.

[Tallinar]

I enjoy the H&R single shot break-open rifles. Very affordable, and perfectly sufficient for hunting if I ever get into it.

I just bought another one in .45-70. While I don't hunt currently, I like to have a cartridge I know I could use to hunt all North American game if I wanted to. For now, I just enjoy the wide versatility of the cartridge as a handloader. Fixing to try to load some lead ball rounds this winter for it for light cowboy plinking. :)

[bushmaster1313]

Not planning on hunting. Just having and shooting.

Recoil of about a .243 is just right and only need minute of paper plate at 100 yards.

[tack243]

Love my Remy 700 VLS 243 as well,a little heavy for huting but I'm sure it would work.
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc509/tack243/Camo243oct-22-2011004.jpg

[SGW42]

I'll also suggest a 30/30 lever gun for just plinking at 100 yards. You could use the open sights (or get an aperture) and 30/30 is the cheapest centerfire caliber I see on store shelves excluding .223 and/or 7.62. The recoil is very moderate for me, but YMMV.

Plus levers are just fun.

[benEzra]

I'm a nonhunter, but have always thought it would be fun to own an accurate bolt-action in .270 Winchester. I don't know why I'm partial to that caliber---perhaps it was coming of age reading Guns & Ammo and IIRC there were some fans of .270 that wrote for them---but I think it's a neat caliber.

[sayak]

What makes a hunting rifle? Largely portability, ergonomics, and an appropriate scope I suspect. A hunting rifle that is used for range shooting becomes a range gun. A range gun which someone takes hunting becomes a hunting rifle. It is all about use. I would prefer a lighter rifle to hunt with than a dedicated bench shooter might enjoy, but we both desire accuracy. To stay proficient and keep my rifle dialed in, I take my "hunting rifle" to the range as often as I can afford.

A .270 is a great rifle for both hunting and recreational shooting, but if I was interested in a "hunting rifle" for recreational shooting where I'd be burning a lot of rounds, I'd go for a .223. It comes in many configurations and is cheap to shoot (but it can still kill everything from coyote to deer... and of course, men).

[Squidward]

I do my hunting at Safeway. My favorite rifle is my 10/22 but I doubt they'd let me bring it inside. :)

[bushmaster1313]

What makes a hunting rifle?

From my non-hunting perspective:

Muzzle energy of a 30-30 and up
Not an evil black rifle or any other combat inspired semi-auto
Not a heavy target/sniper rifle

Rifles that come to mind:
Remington 760
Remington 700
Winchester 70
Winchester 94
Savage 99
Savage 110

[22lr]

No such thing as a hunting gun, only a light weight gun for those who dont like to work out.



LOL, I kid I kid. I do shoot a bull barrel 308 on a Springfield 1903a3 action, its just what im used to shooting. Ive owned a few lightweight hunting rifles but never kept one. I just prefer the mind numbing accuracy of a 1" bull with a good scope. But if I had to pick, id say you will never find a more classic hunting rifle than a Savage 99. Ive owned one, and definitely one I wished I had kept.

[Germster]

Hey! I flew A-4's too! Was you daddy Navy or Marine?

Since I'm probably as old as your pop you know that I'm getting pretty long of tooth. I don't hunt like I did. O300 comes earlier than it used to.

As for fun shooting for non-hunters? It's called .22 rimfire. I'd suggest that you get some kind of military surplus rifle just for kicks. Big boom! Historical! Take your pick, there are many of them. You can still get an SKS pretty cheap, but every time I hear one go off, I want to take cover. If you go to the range and see an Asian guy wearing a green pith helmet shooting one, cap the SOB. Tell the cops you have my permission. They'll let you go.

Okay, okay, they won, we lost, but it still galls me. Actually it galls me big time. When I think of all the great guys.........and how dedicated we were.........

[sixgunner455]

There's no appropriate game at a Safeway. I find that, to hunt, I have to get out of town and away from crowded stores.

You can always swing by there to pick up a package of steaks on the way home if you are not fortunate in your hunt. :D

If you really have no intention of hunting with it, get a .223 bolt rifle, like a Savage, or Remington. If you get it in a heavy barrel, with the right twist, it will get you quite a ways out there, with good accuracy. Even if you're just wanting to do better at 100yards than a .22 LR will do, the .223 has a lot going for it. It's cheaper to shoot it than just about anything else that isn't a .22 LR.

[*NOVA*]

Hey! I flew A-4's too! Was you daddy Navy or Marine?

Since I'm probably as old as your pop you know that I'm getting pretty long of tooth. I don't hunt like I did. O300 comes earlier than it used to.
Okay, okay, they won, we lost, but it still galls me. Actually it galls me big time. When I think of all the great guys.........and how dedicated we were.........

Marine Corps. He wrote a book about his career called An Angel Rode My Wing LeatherNeck Publishing. My older brother drives out from Yuma and they go shooting at the range at Camp Pendleton.

Thank you for serving your country.

I guess a point I'd like to make, being old school and old fashioned in my way of thinking - is young folks would benefit getting off their arses, geting out in the woods, tracking game and literally bringing home the bacon. Military service would also be good for some young folks too. They are both rites of passage. I served in the Navy, but I don't think my boy would do well only because he's too independant thinking. (not a bad thing) So I really want to see him get experience outdoors, learning to respect nature, learn survival skills, be resourceful, be patient.

Reckon I need to start a new thread and hope someone has a piece of land we can shoot on - but sooner or later I figure we will try the WMAs.

[Tinpig]

I don't hunt anymore, I shoot at paper. But two of my favorite range rifles are "hunting" rifles:
Old Winchester 94:
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc91/ccanhamjr/Guns/Winchester94-1.jpg

New Savage 14:
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc91/ccanhamjr/Guns/IMG_0316.jpg?t=1319513406

Tinpig

[Germster]

Do you know when you pop got his wings? I got mine in late 1971. I'll bet he pre-dates me. While the A-4 community was pretty small there were east coast marines and west coast guys and we didn't all know oneanother. It has also been a very long time and my memory, well.....it's a bit mushy.

If your dad flew charlies, he was before me. When overseas, I flew what we called Super Echos. They were A4 E's with the larger P8 engine. The A-4 was a wonderful little combat aircraft. The Scooter. I used to call it a trans-sonic Cessna 150. Tiny inside and not much bigger out. Your dad and I must have known a lot of the same guys, but I'm not going to toss out names. It was an exciting time.

One sat in that little airplane all alone. When you closed the canopy I used to say it was like crawling back into the womb. It felt like home, an old friend, comfortable in a cramped, smelly sort of way. It was tiny, tight. No room. Miserable really, but we were accustomed to it. Comfort was never considered. The aircraft was astoundingly manuverable with a rate of roll that would bounce your head off of the canopy. No after burner. We experienced constant mechanical failures of one kind or another. Those darn CSD's. We had so many emergencies that they became commonplace. I rather enjoyed them, something different. Fire however was another matter. I never caught fire. I had friends who did. I never punched out, but I had lots of buddies who did. I never blew a tire either. I did from time to time have to take out a grease pencil and make a mark on the windscreen to use as a gunsight. I flew that aircraft in lousy weather NORDO and with spun gyros. I spun inside a thunderstorm once. Ice. Partial panel and training saved me. I trapped on SATS strips. I salvoed Zuni rockets and dropped FAE, the only weapon that I actually heard go off while in the cockpit. I was a FAC. Most of us were. What fun.

The Skyhawk was uncontrollable on a slick windswept runway. We'd land in a crosswind on a rain soaked runway, about lose it and pour the coal to it, rotate, take off and come back around. On our next landing we'd trap, which meant we'd drop the hook and take the gear, a wire stretched across the runway. If you did it at an Air Force base you'd catch a load of crap. They had fancy airplanes with anti-skid breaks and drag chutes. We just had little A-4's made simply for killing communists and not built for show.

Flying these little jets was not exactly a joy, but it was out of this world exciting. The danger made it even sweeter. However I must admit that from time to time I'd get so scared that my knees would shake. I couldn't stop them. Even if I reached down and grabbed them, they'd continue to go. It only happened a few times, but when it did I wondered why I couldn't stop them from shaking, even if I told myself to calm down. I wasn't all that scared, just concerned that I might be killed. I was never frightened when coming aboard the boat. Just busy.

You never, ever let your voice sound anything but supper cool. A slight Southern drawl, learned from Chuck Yeager, which all fighter pilots adopted, was our vernacular. Our montra was Better dead that look bad.

Could our kids today do what we did during the VN War? Sure, they are proving it today in the Mid-East. Another war that we are about to lose. Again we are about to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Would I do it all over again? Absolutely. I'd just like to win the next time around.

[*NOVA*]

Dad got his wings somewhere in the mid 1950's.
His book is full of stories, even though he is no literary giant - in fact, I think your style of narrative is just as good if not better!

To make this hunting related - he tells one story where he and his wingman saw two Viet Cong hiding behind a tree on a hill. Dad dropped all his bombs and emptied his machine gun trying to take them out, but every time they just hunkered down behind that tree - no matter what direction the attack came from they were on the other side.

Afterwards my dad and his wingman lowered the flaps and did a slow fly by at tree top level and gave their brave enemy a salute to show their respect.

It proves that the prey can survive the hunt if they have the right survival skills and a desire to live, along with a little luck.

[66912]

I do not hunt "Anymore". It was much easier when I lived in Montana :(. Anyway, My two favorite are my Remington 600 in .308 & My 45-70 Handi rifle. Both deliver a punch to both hunter and hunted LOL.

[Owen Sparks]

6.5 Swedish Mauser.

[Picher]

If you're not going to hunt, you'd be much better off with a .223 Rem in a good scoped, bolt-action rifle. Winchester mod 70, Savage, Tikka, Ruger, Weatherby are all pretty good.

The newer Brownings are very nice range queens, though triggers aren't quite as nice as the Savage Accu-Trigger.

Don't beat yourself up with a heavy hunting caliber that heats barrels heat quickly and accuracy suffers if shot more often than one per minute. A .223 Rem is inexpensive to shoot, doesn't heat barrels much, and is extremely accurate. I have a wood-stocked Tikka 595 that's pure joy to shoot.

[Germster]

6.5 Swedish Mauser.
Those little 6.5 Swedes are some of my favorite rifles and a great bullet. Long and skinny. Just wonderful killing bullet. Also the rifles are well made. Very light recoil and great energy retention.

[Cougar]

An older round that is overlooked these days is the 7mm Mauser. Very soft shooting. Other than that, I'd opt for a .243Win or 6mmRem(aka .244Rem).

[hipoint]

depending on what kind of money you have would be a big decision point for me... Ammo is getting expensive and will most likely only get more so. For hunting I sight in my rifle periodically to make sure it's still holding zero and other than that I don't shoot it much except for when it's going to put food in my freezer, so the cost of a bullet compared to 50-60 lbs of meat is not a big factor.

However, when I take my rifle to the range, it's nothing to go through 40-60 rounds if I'm having fun. "cheap" bullets for my 30-06 are about a dollar each, so that's at least 40 bucks in shells plus gas and range fees... can easily turn into a hundred dollar day if you stay a while and really burn up some ammo.

The point I'm getting to (about time huh?) is if you're going to enjoy shooting at a range alot, and you don't have alot of disposable income, then get something that's affordable to shoot and capable of taking down a deer if need be. That's why I like mausers, I've got an old 8mm mauser, and you can still get big cans of surplus ammo very cheap for them, as well as some high dollar hunting ammo.... They're very tough and a time proven rifle...

Now if you do have some money aside and cost isn't as much of a factor, then all my advice is garbage :rolleyes:
If that's the case, get what you like and shoot to your heart's content. Lighter recoil makes a BIG difference after 20 rounds or so!

[CGRifleman]

Seeing as my only confirmed kill after three years in Alaska was a muskrat, I don't consider myself a hunter either. I have a Remington 700 XCRII in 7mm Rem Mag that I bought with the intention of moose hunting, but never got the chance to use it. Makes no difference to me... I love the rifle, and I hope someday to return to Alaska and put it to proper use.

[2ndtimer]

I do not hunt "Anymore". It was much easier when I lived in Montana .
I just got back from my first deer hunt in Montana, and wow! You aren't kidding. I saw more bucks in the first 3 hours in north central Montana than I have ever seen in my home state of Washington. Of course, hunting on private posted land vs. public land makes a huge difference, but there is certainly no comparison. I agree with the posters touting the .223 Remington for the hunting rifle for the non-hunter. Cheap to shoot, not as noisy, no recoil to speak of, yet very lethal for varmints and coyotes. Some states (like Montana) even allow them for deer, although they seem a little light for me if the deer are the larger variety. If I was a non-hunter, I would try to find one of those limited run Ruger Hawkeye Safari models in .223. Looks just like their "big gun" .375 Ruger with the express iron sights, barrel sling swivel and wood stock. Pricey, but I sure would like to have one.

[bushmaster1313]

From the O.P.:

I got this 1958/59 .270 FWT. I will shoot it with reduced recoil loads.
I know the full size would be better as a range rifle but the wood on this rifle called out to me.


http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9607/cimg0494w.jpg

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/5053/cimg0489h.jpg

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1065/cimg0493g.jpg

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/7426/cimg0499x.jpg

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/3061/cimg0501u.jpg

[BrocLuno]

Not much hunting now, but more range time. Will be shooting some John C Garand matches this spring. Maybe some service rifle later. Enjoy tinkering on old military rifles some. Like tinkering on ones that have been bubba'd before me more. A well done conversion from military to hunting/plinking is a always fun :)

[BCRider]

For me the big fun with rifles at the range is having a variety of action types. So I've got a variety of levers, bolts, pumps and some single shots both break action and some .22 pivoting "falling" block styles.

The need to actually work something on the gun to achieve my next shot is where much of the fun is for me. Of course I like it that much better if I'm having a "good markmanship day" at the same time.... :D

As far as the guns themselves go I'm more than happy to do most of my plinking with some .22 rifles. I've got a Henry lever, an old Remington 12 pump, a Remington and Stevens single shot "boy's" rifles and a Cooey bolt action. A couple have scopes and the rest are basic iron sights awaiting time to convert them to target peep rear sights. For the bigger stuff I really like my Marlin 336 in .30-30 which I reload for. And I've got a TC Encore with the short barrel chambered in .500S&W when I find my shoulder needs some "chiropractic work"... :D Recently I've added a Mosin Nagant rifle for a taste of what it was like on the Eastern Front. The availability of fairly cheap ammo makes this one a keeper for now.

[ball3006]

I no longer hunt. My favorite, at the moment, is my M1D. If I got a chance to hunt again, that is the rifle I would use or one of my scout scoped Mosin Nagants....chris3

[HGUNHNTR]

Kind of a Oxymoron is it not, it`s not a hunting rifle unless it hunts ! Not true. There are a multitiude of rifles on the market purpose built for hunting. THis is what the OP is talking about. My favorite would probably be a Tikka Battue. Lots of fun a the range.

[bushmaster1313]

Just looked up the Tikka Battue.

That is one sexy looking rifle and it looks very well made

The rear sight looks a bit unusual

[76shuvlinoff]

I don't hunt but have been hung up on levers for as long as I can remember.

Marlin 39A
Marlin 1894c in .357
Ted Williams 30-30
There's a Marlin model 60 in there with the levers too.

I have pistols and shotguns for SD- HD but someday when I have too much money I want either an 18-20" .223/5.56 or something in 308 just to have one that will reach out there and touch something.

[MrWesson]

I vote a bolt in .308 or a .30-30

If you aren't shooting over 100yds then I wouldn't bother spending the cash on a hunting cartridge.