Old Rifles and the People Who Shoot Them

Status
Not open for further replies.
I have 2 winchester 94's in 30-30 they are both depended upon. I have a 1964 that is in pretty decent shape, it hangs in the closet for around the house problems. I also have a 1977 model....same year I was born. It's beat to heck (like me) and rides as a truck gun. I also own an old mosin if that counts, i'm planning on changing the rifle to suit me.
 
Thanks guys. She is a beauty. I inherited it from my great-grandfather. I've been thinking about restoring it.
 
Being an old curmudgeon myself I tend to gather old style firearms and shy away from the new plastic wonder stuff. I find very little on the market today that peaks my interest. My basic hunting rifle for here in Ohio is a Hawken. If I were allowed to use a cartridge rifle it would be a Winchester 94.

SantaFeHawkena.jpg
 
Well, I have a Ruger No. 1 which I suppose is my favorite for deer hunting. It is, as someone noted, essentially a reproduction of an old falling-block design.

And, if given the opportunity for a horse hunt, I think I'd take my Winchester 1895. It depends on how well I can shoot with the receiver sights.

And then there's the fantasy of taking a deer with the Garand. The last few deer seasons I have considered taking it out, but it usually gets left in the safe and I grab the Ruger.

Another fantasy is entering a "2-gun" match with the Garand and a 1911. I know they're not competitive, but it would probably be a lot of fun, anyway.

I don't have a "modern" rifle. It isn't that I don't like them (acknowledging Jim Zumbo, of course), it is just that I don't feel the need for one.
 
no hunting for me , but i defenitly find myself attracted to the older guns.
bought myself a smith mod 14 sometime ago , it hasnt come in yet due to
customs, but it won t take to long now.
recently i bought me this rifle... build in 1902 and rebuild by norma in 1967.
its called a cg 63 after the rebuild .
altough i am a big fan of revolvers , smith&wesson that is, i really , really like
this rifle.
 

Attachments

  • 007.jpg
    007.jpg
    64.3 KB · Views: 27
  • 003.jpg
    003.jpg
    49 KB · Views: 33
  • 004.jpg
    004.jpg
    51 KB · Views: 22
Hang fire, you are now my hero. I love looking at those old ballards. I guess I have so much interest in them because it was one of the rifles used by buffalo hunters of olde that you never hear about, and for me atypical is good quality. That's probably why those old Evans repeating rifles interest me as much as they do.

Skidder, I never have taken a good look at a winchester 54 before. I've seen 'em, but never detailed pictures like that, and certainly never in person. It appears to me the 54 was a sporter '03 variant? I bet that's one fun rifle! How does the 30 WCF perform in a bolt gun? I know the tighter lockup probably makes some difference, right?

Nice hawken! Black powder always looked fun to me. I never have had the opportunity to shoot BP, though. Unfortunately drought conditions in Texas have made it a tad... dangerous.:uhoh:

I've never seen a Smith mod 14 before. What caliber is it?

dmazur- that would definately be an interesting shoot. Just for grins and giggles, I'd like to do one with a lever-gun and see how I hold up.:D

Plodder- is it from the CMP? I may want to save up for a CMP service grade eventually.:cool:
 
Skidder, I never have taken a good look at a winchester 54 before. I've seen 'em, but never detailed pictures like that, and certainly never in person. It appears to me the 54 was a sporter '03 variant? I bet that's one fun rifle! How does the 30 WCF perform in a bolt gun? I know the tighter lockup probably makes some difference, right?
They are fun, and the big advantage is the spire points. You get a higher velocity and a flatter shot.
 
Re: the Win. Model 54 in .30-30, I've read of them along with the .30-06 and .270 chamberings. A lot less has been published on the .30-30 version. We know the rifles are out there. I wonder why we don't see more of them.
 
Marlin 1894 44-40 made in 1895 and it's still working for a living.
IMG_1010.jpg
50 yards
IMG_0999.jpg
DMH
 
Last edited:
The levers are a big part of my shooting collection. I have two '99 Savages, a .300, 1946, .250, 1951, Win. 375, bought in 83.

Hang Fire, My buddy has one exactly like yours, .45-70, 1887. I've never shot it, but he said the Ballard is a total rush to shoot! The family he bought the Ballard from lived in Ohio, the rifle had been bought by a family member brand new, still about 85%.
 
It is my intent to shoot a deer with my 1912 mfg. Winchester Model 1907 this fall.
We shot my nephews 112 year old Marlin on the 4th. Sadly, my grandfathers 1917 Model 1912 will never shoot again.
 
Except for my Nylon 66 I've never hunted with anything that wasn't wood and steel. Though I must admit to buying more stainless these days.
 
Well, I hunt with all of my guns, including;

A 1927 Winchester model 54 in "30Govt06"

A 1917 Custom Remington Mod 1917 in 30.06

A 1952 Marlin Model 39 in 22LR

A Ruger Ranch Rifle

A 1913 Winchester Model 12 16ga

A 1932 LeFever 12ga SXS

Mossberg Mod 835 12 ga Magnum

etc.
 
Last edited:
I have a soft spot for old guns, especially ones that can be purchased in excellent condition for considerably less than it'd cost to manufacture a new one.

IMGP0021.jpg

The newest addition, just arrived Wednesday. J&G Sales has them for $150 with the bayonet or $100 without currently :)

IMGP0030.jpg

I have some evil black rifles too, but my collection is becoming rather weighted towards wood & steel as I keep buying C&Rs.
 
Last edited:
I'd like to imagine myself as a 1950's rim fire connoisseur squirrel hunting with a Winchester 52 sporter before scopes became the norm.

1ebf3348.jpg
 
Now that you mention it, I don't own any sporting rifles that I would call "new." Even my recently manufactured rifles are designs that date back to the century before the last one.

A couple of examples?


A new 1892:

standard.jpg


A new M98:

standard.jpg


Some original oldies:


standard.jpg


standard.jpg


standard.jpg


standard.jpg


standard.jpg
 
I hunt with everything from springfields and enfields to AR15s and 10/22s. depends on my mood, my prey and my expected range. if I plan on going for deer I need something that is good out to 200 yards so that's either my 243 bolt or my 223 AR15. if I am going after elk that is a minimum 30 cal(for me) that is good past 300 yards so optics area necessity(for me) so that limits it to my springfield sniper or my 300 weatherby mag bolt gun(I think the WbY will get the nod this year). black bear is a short range shot between 6mm and 30 call so my enfields, springfield or 243 bolt gun all do the trick. squirrels or grouse? this, is a job, for 22LR!
whatever floats your boat. again, depends on practicality, utility and just what I feel like carrying that day.
 
Rifles I have used in the field include Springfield SIngle Shots in 45-70 and 50-70, Rolling Blocks in 45-70 and 50-70, a Ballard in 22 WCF, Remington 721 in 30-06, Remington 722 in 222 Magnum, Winchester 1895 in 405 WCF. I no longer have the Remingtons, and many of the single shots have been traded off and/or replaced with others.

My signature on another forum is "I prefer to hunt with cartridges designed before my Father was born."
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top