doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Favorite rifles

Most of us here seem to be old enough to appreciate Social Security. To add to SKB's topic about favorite rifles, I'm curious to hear how members' interests have evolved as we matured. As an adolescent, I thought the pinnacle of rifle satisfaction would be a 257 Weatherby. Fortunately, I never had the money to pursue that delusion. Then I discovered Jack O'Connor and concluded a 270 was the best single caliber. Meanwhile I'd been shooting a 30-40 Krag. When I finally had enough money to choose what I shot, I settled on the 270, and for forty years it was what I used. When my grandson started hunting, I realized that he'd inherited a trait from me that involved a slight handicap; we're both right handed but left eye dominant. We shoot left handed. Simultaneously I discovered an interest in '03 Springfields and the 30-06. I gave my left hand Dakota 270 to Nathaniel and never looked back. To me the '06 gives a lot more flexibility, mostly through the use of lead bullets. I still like the 30-40 for some of the same reasons. I once thought the Model 70 was the best thing going. Gradually I shifted to favor the 98 Mauser. I know the M70 is better than a Springfield in some technical details, but I still prefer the '03. I feel settled on the bolt rifle question. I'm still up in the air on single shots having never owned a Holland Woodward.

In 1962 I bought a Model 70 Winchester Featherweight in .243 Win. caliber. It was my favorite for years and brought down many white tails. Nearly every kill was a one shot kill. I shot them through the chest. They would run 50 yards or less before bleeding out. About 10 years ago I wanted more challenge so started hunting with a .30-'06 1903 Springfield NRA sporter using iron sights. Killed 3 or 4 bucks with it until Rock Mtn Bill sold me another NRA Sporter on which he had slimmed and checkered the stock. It is now my deer rifle but have lost interest in hunting so it now resides in the safe.

Hi Billy, I see you are once again posting your disdain for pro-2nd amendment Conservatives in the main Double Gun forum in the "Judge Brett Kavanaugh" thread.

I wonder why you don't post your support for anti-gunners here in this sub-forum. I also wonder why you are tarring Judge Kavanaugh and another Supreme Court Justice as sexual predators when you would never do the same concerning far more credible accusations against Liberal Democrat anti-gunners like Bill Clinton or Ted Kennedy? Do you think they were unfit for office?

My favorite rifle is my .50 caliber flintlock. I also like the pre-64 Model 70 that belonged to my dad, and I like my 1895 Marlin .45-70. I'm hoping to kill a deer with my new .450 BPE double rifle this year. I have lots of rifles that I really like, but I've never liked anyone who supports anti-gunners. That's as goofy and irresponsible as hiring a pedophile to babysit your kids.

I also bought a Model 70 in the early sixties, new, when I was a teenager, carried it through the streets of D.C. to my father's office. Since I rarely hunt with a centerfire rifle, I sold it in a few years. Now, I would probably consider an 03 NRA Sporter my favorite, even though it is still an iron sight gun. I bought it from a friend who probably bought it from NRA, new, in the forties. If I need a scope, I would probably use my well worn Oberlies 03, both are 30-06 caliber guns, both always sighted and ready to go, although neither have drawn blood in the many years I have owned them. I carry a Ruger 77 in 7MM Remington Magnum on Canadian hunts, but I would hesitate to call it my favorite, although its 40 year test target is hardly bigger than an inch and a quarter.

My ideal is to have one( or more) of every caliber.
Mike

Der Ami, I agree. So far, I've never had a 416, a 458, a 600, a 470, a 17,a 20,or a 22 mag. Otherwise, I've covered most of the ground. Favorite calibers these days include 22LR, 22 Hornet, 222 Rem, 257 Roberts, 7x57, 7.65 Arg, 30-40, 30-06, 35 Win, 375 H&H, and 45-70. The latter two I enjoy less and less except with sissy loads.

As a young guy in the 60's I just hoped I could amass a small collection of .22 RF pump rifles. I had no dreams of centerfire guns as they were beyond my budget back then. Over a number of years I gathered together a variety of pump .22's, with most being Remington Model 12 variations. I was pretty happy with the little .22 pumps.
Then I got into Marlin lever action repeaters of the very early variety. Mostly pre WWI, with a few in the post WWI era. I amassed a collection that covered every model, caliber, and feature I could get my hands on. Then I realized I did not have an example of a Marlin single shot rifle. The Ballard.
I found a Marlin Ballard at a local gun show, and was intrigued with the design. Soon I began searching for other models, and before I knew it I was selling my large collection of lever action repeaters and replacing them with Marlin Ballard rifles.
I have some Remington Rolling Blocks, and Hepburns. Also a few others from various makers, but the single shots are my true focus, and especially Marlin Ballards.

My favorite rifles are Winchester 1885s. Of those, I am often torn between the top and middle rifles in this photo. The middle is a .22 and is both a premier target rifle and an awesome squirrel rifle. It can be configured in many different styles for different occasions. Here it is tricked out for Schuetzen offhandl The top is a dedicated .45-70 target rifle, but it is amazing - or it was until last June.

The bottom rifle is giving me fits. Big ones. Right now.

My first rifle was a Savage Model 340 .30-30, the rifle with which I killed my first deer. Over the years I've accumulated quite a number, some of which came and went. They included double rifles (a Belgian .405 Winchester weighing 7-1/2 pounds that was more gun than I was man remains in my memory; the .250-3000 German double that replaced it was far more fun to shoot); single shots (primarily small frame Martini rifles, both BSA target rifles of various models and customized Cadets, although I have one Swinburne's Patent Martini currently being restored and an older Winchester Hi-Wall with a .218 Bee barrel rechambered to .219 Zipper Improved; there was once also a custom Ruger No. 1 .270); lever actions (Marlin 336 in .219 Zipper, Marlin 336A .30-30 and Marlin 39A .22; Winchester Model 64 .30-30 and Savage Model 99 .300 Savage); and more bolt actions (SAKO L61R .270, Remington 700 .222, CZ .204 Ruger, Springfield 1922 converted to .22 Hornet repeater, and Remington 725 .280 Remington). There have even been a couple of pumps (Remington .22 and Remington Model 141 in .32 Remington). And there are quite a number of .22s of various makes and designs. When my dad passed away, his Winchester Model 94 came to live with me as well. Somewhere along the line, I even ended up with a Springfield Armory M1A, a rifle I have no earthly use for, as all the DCM style matches in my area conflict with church on Sundays. It's the only semi-automatic long gun I ever owned.

These days, if I'm going deer hunting the Savage 99F goes with me. Were I ever fortunate enough to hunt elk or moose, the Remington 725 would probably be the first choice. Squirrel hunting is done with a Greener Martini .22 I had customized by a now-retired gunsmith named Brian Burgin. Varmint hunting will be done with the Springfield 1922 or the CZ.

Mostly I prefer sxs shotguns, particularly hammer guns and Darnes. My favorite is a Charles Moore 12 gauge with sleeved barrels that I bought from a member of this BBS. I shoot it regularly, both at skeet and preserve pheasants. I'd like to find a long barreled (28 or 30 inch) Darne 28 gauge and would still like to own a higher grade Manufrance Ideal, but I doubt I'll ever find either, as I don't really look anymore and I'm in an inventory reduction mode at this stage of life.

Firearms have given me immense pleasure over the years. I enjoy the craftsmanship of the older ones and marvel at what human hands and hand tools could accomplish and how long quality workmanship endures if cared for properly. We are truly fortunate to live in place where personal ownership and use of such things is permitted.

I sometimes wonder why I have so many rifles.....I don't hunt anymore and I rarely shoot any matches either. If I had a clue I'd sell some and buy another SC's shotgun as that is what my focus is these days. My current favorite is my 38-55 High Wall that is outfitted similar to Brent's lower pictured rifle....that may change next week....

Put a gun to my head and I'll waffle between a pre-64 M70 .30-06 and an '03 sporter, .30-06. When leaving on a trip to northern PA where the terrain varies between tight woods and open fields, I take a Savage takedown carbine in .303 Savage and one of the aforementioned '06's because they're both scoped and real killer-dillers out across a 300 yard field.

Favorite rifle for a day of loafing at the range: Heavy barreled '03 sporter, R2 Lovell, wearing a Fecker scope. Built by Hervey Lovell. That or a similar single shot Krag built by Hervey Lovell too, in .22 Maximum Lovell, purchased from Whitey shortly before he passed.

Ken post some pictures of that .38-55 highwall. This one was a .38-55 originally also, now a .38-72 and totally inaccurate. I can't figure it out. I really want to take it deer hunting out west in 3 weeks. Time is running out.

Brent,

The only pic that I have on file at the moment. All original 38-55 with exception of Montana Vintage rear sight. Single set trigger. I have three bullet molds but haven't rung any of them out. I'm currently shooting moderate loads of H-107 with a 279 grain RNFP with 5 shot groups a bit under 2" at 100 yards.

Regards,
Ken

That does look a lot like my rifle. Sounds like it shoots better too.

Thanks!

I shoot a .382 gas checked bullet and the accuracy is great.

Old LBT 382 275 LFN

Mike

Ruger 250-3000 and Brno circa 1950 7 X 57. The 25-06 was astonishing but too noisy for me.

The first rifle I deer hunted with was a Savage produced SMLE. Dad bought it from Sears for $13.00 I believe in 1963. I inherited the rifle 4 years ago and it has since gone to my oldest son. After that I liked the 30-30 in a Mod. 94 Win. By the time I was 15 or so I'd heard how great the 30-06 was over EVERYTHING else I felt as if I would vomit if I heard of the cartridge one more time. I didn't vomit but I knew better even at 15. I vowed never to own one as a hunting rifle and I haven't. I have however, played with a Garand and an 03-A3 long enough to learn their capabilities.

Interests evolved to where I hunted with nothing but muzzleloaders for several years, deer, small game and what few birds were left by the early 1970's. Proved all game could be taken with a PRB and a muzzleloading shotgun and got bored. Late 70's and early 80's saw me shooting quick draw and long range handgunning with a Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt and a Colt New Frontier in 44 Spl. Oldest son was becoming quite the shooter by then and he had an interest in sniper type rifles so we played fairly seriously with that for 4-5 years. At the same time I had developed an interest in BPCR and shooting out to 1000 yards and a bit beyond on a couple occasions. I'd still be doing that if I still had a 500 yard range out my back door. At that same time I hunted exclusively with a Shiloh Sharps in 45-90 for 12 or so years. Lord knows the game that rifle piled up. Sometime during that same 12 year period I acquired an Imman. Meffert drilling I used for checking cattle and fence lines. Great combination for such work but I never suspected the ember ignited by that first German firearm would grow into a nearly raging inferno. Shortly after that I bouhght my first double rifle, a German rifle of course, then a British double. I worked with them for a few years and set them aside to pursue a second life long passion, fly fishing, for about 5-7 years. Then I believe about 8 years ago that German firearm interest burst into flames and I've never looked back. I'd have to count how many I've acquired since then, combination guns, drillings, Mannlicher/Schoenauers, German stalking rifle, A C.G. Haenel Schutezen rifle, German Mausers, Swedish Mausers, even an old Husky rolling block in 8 X 58RD No cartridge is duplicated and most are at least a bit obscure. I've had a ball working up accurate, usable hunting loads for all of them. My eye is kept busy seeking out rifles I may not have a representative of and if it's in some weird old cartridge, even better!!

Favorite rifles are like favored gal friends. They all have something unique that makes them special.

Winchesters seem to be the favored few: An early pre-64 in 375, which really followed two wildcats: a 35 Whelen and a 338-06:
both of these re-bored,re-rifled and re-chambered original
early Model 70s-one with a Super Grade stock-not orig with rifle. There is very little in N. America that cannot be handled with the last two cartridges.
Then there is a nice SS 1885 HW in 45-60, which works well on
coyotes. Then there are a raft of early pre-war Model 71s
two of which are in 450 Alaskan/Fuller. They are indisputable
in bear country-better than either a 45-70 or 45-90.
Then there are some smokeless 33 WCF 1886 rifles, which are a joy to carry and hunt with. Ben Lilly carried one throughout NM-AZ-CO and decimated the last grizzly bears in those states with that one rifle. He also used a 1894 in 30 WCF, but felt it did not stand up to a 33 WCF-agree with him there. Still have a supply of 200 gr Hornady FPs-using 4198.
The beauty of lever actions in bear country is speed and reliability.
All rifles MUST have iron sights-anything else may be dangerous on a brown bear or even moose hunt in Alaska.
The last moose killed not 10 miles from my homestead plot in AK was taken with a M71 in 348 Ackley Improved with a 270 GR Hawk bullet. One shot resulting in 7 hrs skinning and hauling meat.
Like seen in recent bad news from WY-ALWAYS carry a working
large handgun like a 44-45 revolver-when around or returning to a elk-moose kill for meat-if not a fast handling lever rifle. Grizzlies get real protective
of appropriated gut piles and meat caches.

Ruark and Keith were right: Use enough gun.

HRM
Lt Col-
MACVSOG-5th SFG(ABN)
Khe Sanh (71-72)

NRA-Life SFA-Life

Yup, recently a professional guide was killed while working over an elk carcass.

Kinda makes me glad there aren't any elk in Maryland. I don't want to tangle with a pissed off grizzly.

Billy, you left a bunch of your Socialist drivel and support for anti-gun Liberal Democrats in the wrong forum. I found it and am returning it to you. I'm sure you meant to post it here for your rifle friends so they would all know you support anti-gunners. No thanks necessary. You're welcome!

Some, like Clinton and the Kennedys, get a pass. Others, like Trump and Kavanaugh, get to pay the price. It's all about the Democrats, who love a criminal if the criminal is a Democrat.

It's always ok....if they're a socialist/democrat/progressive/quasi-communist. For that party, today, the Constitution is nothing more than a piece of toilet paper. They would rather climb a ladder and lie as to stand on the ground and tell the truth. Like Harry Reid, "Romney hasn't paid taxes in 10 years"....and the list is as long as I-44

When you start looking for politicians saying/ doing stupid stuff, there always enough to go around. Democrats don't have an exclusive franchise on error. What is most wrong with our society today has almost nothing to do with parties; it's the corruption of public discourse by social media and the power of dark money to fan ill will through fear and intimidation. We see the results here and often.

Are you now blaming "Dark Money" and "Social Media" for your support for anti-2nd Amendment Liberal Left Democrats Billy?

We don't see you starting any threads that bash liberal anti-gun Democrats. But you go to the Double Shotgun forum to bash pro-gun Republicans and President Trump quite often. Here's a link to one you posted:

Some of Billy's Republican Bashing

Can we take it someplace else please. There are plenty of places on the net for such discussions if that is what you are looking for. There are very few places for discussion of classic rifles. Lets try to keep this one. Adults do not have to agree with someones politics to have an enjoyable discussion about classic rifles with them.

Thank you,
John

Thank You John! I am in complete agreement.

John, I specifically asked anti-gun Billy to abstain from the crap he posted in the double shotgun forum. I only wanted to get shooters and gun owners to contact their Senators to support the confirmation of a pro-gun Supreme Court Justice. That's all. Billy doesn't care about polluting that sub-forum with his disdain for pro-2nd amendment Conservatives or his support for anti-gun Democrats. And neither does SKB.

It's all one website, and it would be great if gun guys could all stick to strictly firearms related discussions, and never had to deal with guys who undermine our rights to keep and bear arms. But the reality of the situation is that we have guys like Billy and SKB who continue to demonstrate a bias against those who protect our right to actually own guns. If they have their way, talking about them will be all we have left... until the anti-gunners decide to restrict that too.

I don't wan't to hear about anybody's political opinions here.
Stick it in the off topic.
This was supposed to be about your favourite rifle.

Exactly, stuff the politics someplace else.

Yeah rocky mtn bill, keep your support for anti-gunners someplace else!

We don't want to see you bashing Trump and pro-gun Conservatives here or anywhere else. That kind of crap doesn't have any good place to be posted on a firearms enthusiasts website.

Billy can't seem to stop himself. I tried to get him to stop, but now he just posted this off-topic crap and name calling:



Nero and Bob Saathoff would probably feel better if they just used the IGNORE function to tune out this anti-gunner.

The Holland Woodwards are really rare. I bought this #2 action at auction long ago. It was missing the safety mechanism, had been barreled to .45/90 and was being used as a bpe target rifle. It now wears a Krieger .375 Flanged magnum barrel, safety rebuilt, new barrel hardware etc. The scope is an original H&H scope with rings, I built the bases. I have a pattern stock for it as well. Just about ready to built some loads and take it to the range. If I was not so busy with client work I could wrap it up pretty quick.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/GvJcUYQ.jpg?1[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/xcSbnwR.jpg?1[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/9OmgZhN.jpg?1[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/YYv7OC4.jpg?1[/img]

Now that is what a single shot hunting rifle should look like. In that caliber, you can load it for a broad range of uses. I'm guessing you've saved some special wood for it. Post more pictures as it develops.

SKB,
I'm not familiar with a ".49-90" or is that a mistype?

45/90 I fixed it

I couldn't open the pictures. Is it going to have a fancy stock? And will you go with slab sawn or quarter sawn wood? I think it would be cool to do a MAGA inlay in the cheekpiece with ebony.

Most H&H Woodward rifles seem to have modest wood. The piece I have set aside is quarter sawn Turkish, not super fancy but should be pretty.

Billy, you left some more of your Leftist dogma in the double gun forum where it doesn't belong. I am returning it to your own thread where you can appreciate it. No need to thank me.



I am curious if you were complaining to CB about the vast sums of money that Liberal Left anti-gun Billionaires like George Soros uses to buy Democrat Congressmen and influence elections? Or if that fact troubles you at all?

Bill,
Well it really is a pretty good stick of wood.

Too bad this nifty thread has to be ruined by a feud over political crap. Got no dog in this feud, but wish somebody would delete it all.

I'm no happier than the rest. I didn't post this dispute here.

No, bill, you didn't. Mrs. Same ol' Same ol' did. I see his tracks all over :

*** You are ignoring this user ***

Until that stops, I'm not giving Dave a nickel

That's cool BrentD. Keep on using Dave's website, but at the same time, counsel others to withhold support for it because you don't get your own way. One would think you would simply leave and start your own website. You could moderate and you could fill it with all of your anti-lead ammunition propaganda too. And isn't that subject of your support for lead ammunition bans why you really don't like me?

Post deleted.

Bill,
My pattern stock was given to me by board member Steve Helsley. It had a trap buttplate that had some pretty deep pitting damage. Pitting now repaired and ready for the next step. The stock itself was badly damaged and for a #3 action. Lots of accraglass, some wood, etc and it is ready to be bedded to the metal. I have a trap grip cap too!

Of all the single shot actions that have been reproduced, I wish someone would take on the Holland Woodward. It doesn't look any harder to do than the Fraser or Farquharson. Steve Earle, get on it.

This statement from Billy says it all about the mentality of a gun guy who supports anti-gunners.

I specifically asked that my thread in the double shotgun forum, soliciting guys to call their Senators to confirm Judge Kavanaugh, should remain free of political discussion. But Billy predictably polluted it with his usual crap and denigrated the pro-gun Conservative Supreme Court nominee, along with President Trump.

Yet he, and several of his apparent Liberal Left pals have a real problem with me moving HIS bullshit to HIS thread.

Must be the same mentality that make Liberals feel entitled to a portion of other people's earnings in order to advance their agenda.

News Flash! ------ Billy's anti-gun bullshit spoils the Double Shotgun forum every bit as much as it spoils the Classic and Custom Rifle forum. So does anyone think the guy who asked for it to be deleted from this thread will make the same request of Billy to delete all of his support for anti-gun Democrats in other forums? Hmmmmm???

If I'm wrong about this, I'd be interested in a rational explanation why.

EDIT: Billy's Liberal Left pal SKB likes to divert and veer away from questions he cannot answer, or simply doesn't like. He has done this same thing to disrupt many otherwise prodcuctive gun rights discussions in the DoubleGun forum. If you stick around and pay attention here, you begin to see some rather disturbing patterns emerge.

And the grip cap, typical H&H bold scroll, I love it!

I don't know either of you guys, and I'm not a Liberal or a buddy. But this is still BS.

I guess you didn't understand the question I posed in my last post above. Or perhaps you didn't see it since SKB has been busy trying to bury it.

Sorry if I lumped you in with Billy, Steve, and our other supporters of anti-gun Liberal Left Democrats. But I'd still like to know why the crap they post in the double shotgun forum is acceptable when they dump it in one of my threads. But somehow, they are offended if I put their crap here in their thread???

They had almost a full 24 hours to reply, but all they had was diversion and putting their tails between their legs. No one else had a good answer either.

Bill,
I have not spoken to Steve Earle in some time but I know he had borrowed a #3 H&W action and had plans to build some. That was several years ago and I now see he is planing a rook size Fraser action. I too hope he gets to rolling out a H&W action.
Steve

SKB says he doesn't like to contaminate this BBS with political crap. But look at the doctored photo he posted in my thread supporting Judge Brett Kavanaugh. I wonder why he can't be honest with us... or honest about his obvious bias against pro-gun Conservatives?



I guess it's time for Lefty Stevie and Billy to quickly post some pictures of wood or grip caps to bury this post in the past. Well, maybe not Billy, because he hasn't figured out how to post photos yet.

It looks like Billy misplaced another of his anti-Republican political posts in the main double shotgun forum. So I'll do him a favor and put it here so his classic rifle pals can see how committed he is to the Liberal Left Democrat Party that wishes to take away the gun rights of law abiding citizens.



My hope is that they will appreciate this, and remember how Billy stabs his fellow gun owners in the back with his unvarnished support for anti-gunners. That way, when Billy has a question or seeks out a gun part or something, maybe they will feel differently about helping him. I hope it all works out well.

No need to thank me Billy. I'm sure you meant to post this garbage here instead of polluting the double shotgun forum with your B.S.

Don't worry though. Your Liberal gunsmith pal SKB should be along shortly to post some fluff, in an attempt to push this into the background. It's what he does.

Keith, I'm not sure where (and I'm not going to dig) you got the idea that Steve is a liberal. I've known him for years and talked politics with him plenty and certainly don't get that impression.
Maybe the fact that he gives a good dose of "don't give a shit" to most areas of the modern politic is what rubs you the wrong way, don't know.

Anyway, allow me to further divert the conversation to the topic of the OP and also agree that the Holland Woodward is a fine rifle.
Here's mine:

Huvius, nice gun. Thanks for sharing.

And since you are curious about my opinion of SKB's political preference, well, that is based entirely upon his many political posts over the years in the double shotgun forum and the old Misfires forum. The vast majority of those posts have been very obviously biased against pro-gun Republicans and Conservatives.

He has also participated in many gun rights discussions, but strangely, he has tried very hard to change the topic with more criticism of pro-gun Republicans or our NRA. He also spends a lot of time posting fluff in an attempt to disrupt the topjc.

My opinions of him are based solely on what he posts here. I have never met him, and I certainly cannot understand why a man who makes his living from working on firearms would behave in that manner. But then again, there are a lot of guys who seriously believe that the anti-gunners will back off if we sacrifice certain classes of firearms that we personally may not be interested in. Both he and rocky mtn bill have posted their negative thoughts about semi-automatics.

I'm still curious why anyone would object to me posting this sort of thing in this forum, but offer no objections when SKB or rocky mtn bill, and other liberals post their denigration of pro-gun Republicans in the double shotgun forum. It's all one website, and they have mucked up plenty of discussions supportive of the 2nd Amendment. In fairness, SKB does post some weak disapproval of Democrats occasionally, but the infrequent nature of that does not support his claim of being an independent moderate, in my opinion. I don't think anyone who examined his posts over the years could think differently.

A fine rifle indeed Huvius!