Favorite hunting firearms

[DeanMk]

Pfffttt!



Actually, I believe the 7mm-08 is a fantastic round. It's what I bought for my wife. She's killed an elk and a couple of deer with it. Where it really shines against the other three is ammo availability, with the possible exception of the 270. It does carry a heavier bullet than the 25 cals, but it also kicks a bit more than the Roberts.
Her Ruger 77MKII Compact in 7mm-08 also kicks harder than her Savage 99 (kinda heavy) in 243, but she shoots it a lot better. Anyone that needs a capable rifle that won't knock their shoulder off should be looking at the 7mm-08.

7mm-08 also has a knack for being chambered in a number of well made, lightweght hunting rifles.
My dad bought a Remington 725 in .270, in the early 1950's. It was his main hunting rifle for about 25 years until he got a Winchester 94 in .30-30.
The 725 rarely left the gun case after that.
This thread has me wanting to take a ride in the way back machine so I can take up my dad's offer to buy me a model 7 in 7mm-08, when that gun came out (it was really for him, and I think I knew that. I just shoulda let the ol' guy have his way. Sorry about that Dad).

 

[Jerry]

OK...Andy is the coolest...boss hog.....big bull on the mountain.....no doubt about it! Seriously awesome firearms! And a Great Guy!

Oh yeah, I hunt with a 1951 Marlin 336 in 35 Remington with iron sights.

Thanks for all the photos Andy. I enjoy them all.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

OK...Andy is the coolest...boss hog.....big bull on the mountain.....no doubt about it! Seriously awesome firearms! And a Great Guy!

Oh yeah, I hunt with a 1951 Marlin 336 in 35 Remington with iron sights.

Thanks for all the photos Andy. I enjoy them all.

Thank you Jerry.
Off now to buy a new hat to fit my big head....

A 1951 Marlin 336 in .35 Remington with iron sights.....very nice indeed.
Andy

 

[orygun]

7mm-08 also has a knack for being chambered in a number of well made, lightweght hunting rifles.
My dad bought a Remington 725 in .270, in the early 1950's. It was his main hunting rifle for about 25 years until he got a Winchester 94 in .30-30.
The 725 rarely left the gun case after that.
This thread has me wanting to take a ride in the way back machine so I can take up my dad's offer to buy me a model 7 in 7mm-08, when that gun came out (it was really for him, and I think I knew that. I just shoulda let the ol' guy have his way. Sorry about that Dad).

Yes! Small gun in a very capable chambering. Here's Ruger's similar offering to the Model 7 shown between my Ruger and the Savage 99. It's almost tiny, but fits my wife like a dream.

 

[CastleRocker]

My "favorite hunting firearm(s)"? I don't have very many, but it seems whichever one I happen to take hunting is my "favorite" at that time. I suppose it just depends on what I'm hunting.

Deer; Ruger model 77 (tang safety) in 270 Win., or Tikka T-3 Lite in 300 WM.

Elk; same as deer

Coyotes and cats; DTech upper in 25 WSSM.

Upland birds over a dog; an old 20g 870.

Waterfowl; Benelli SBE 12g. (The original one). Sometimes the 12g 870.

Grouse without a dog; an old 1958 model 41, and a Volquartsen 17HMR.

Grouse with a dog; 20 guage 870, or the SBE Benelli.

Rabbits; Iver Johnson single shot .410, (still looking for an affordable side by side .410), and my model 41 Smith in case they stop.

Sage Rats; (I don't consider it "hunting" but it's fun!) A 10/22, the Volquartsen 17, and a Savage in 17HMR, and LOTS of ammo. If my wife goes with...another 10/22 and a Marlin 17hmr, and at least double the ammo.

And that's all I have to say about that.

 

[DeanMk]

Yes! Small gun in a very capable chambering. Here's Ruger's similar offering to the Model 7 shown between my Ruger and the Savage 99. It's almost tiny, but fits my wife like a dream.

View attachment 1969124

WOW! That gun looks like it weighs 4 lbs!
Among guns made today, I also wouldn't mind a Tikka T3 Superlite in 7mm-08 with a nice scope. Maybe something in the 2-10x range....but the more I think about that Model 7...man, opportunity missed.

 

[Cerberus Group]

Yes! Small gun in a very capable chambering. Here's Ruger's similar offering to the Model 7 shown between my Ruger and the Savage 99. It's almost tiny, but fits my wife like a dream.

View attachment 1969124

Wow what a size difference...looks like a toy compared to the othes.

 

[Thebeard89]

One of my favorites would be a Marlin 336 in 30/30.

 

[GBorgerding71]

I remember the .257 being referred to as "The Women's Cartridge" because it was a soft shooter but still effective on game.
I wonder how the Roberts would compare to the .250 Savage, if each were loaded with the same bullet?

I like the .257 Roberts because it is a low recoil with tremendous impact PSI. It is a hunters drream with how light it is and quite resourceful on mid sized game. I have benefitted from my fathers, which I still own. The question is do I sell it with the die set to make the cartridges or keep it all for myself?

 

[JRuby]

I like the .257 Roberts because it is a low recoil with tremendous impact PSI. It is a hunters drream with how light it is and quite resourceful on mid sized game. I have benefitted from my fathers, which I still own. The question is do I sell it with the die set to make the cartridges or keep it all for myself?

I would keep.the die set with the rifle. I also am a big fan of the 257 roberts and own a couple. The 257 roberts is fading into history. It is getting to be a handholding proposition in my opinion. I don't know of anyone making a 257 roberts chambered rifle today. Fortunately the Bob can be formed from other cartridges. In my opinion the 257 roberts is too good of cartridge and fortunately the rifle loonies will keep it going even if it becomes obscure.

 

[JRuby]

Oh I'm sure back in the day there was a lively conversation around the hunting campfires as to what killed Deer better the 257 roberts, the 25-06 or .270.

That conversation is still going in one form or another. I don't think the question will ever be answered or agreed on.

 

[DLS]

I remember the .257 being referred to as "The Women's Cartridge" because it was a soft shooter but still effective on game.
I wonder how the Roberts would compare to the .250 Savage, if each were loaded with the same bullet?

Late to this party!

The Roberts provides another 200 - 300 fps.

 

[drstrangelove]

My first shotgun was a Browning BPS. Hated it… heavy and didn't rack well for me.
Double digit shotguns later, I found myself with a deal too good to pass up and forayed into the world of 16ga last year.
This Ithaca 37 took over 40 pheasants this year. Had Briley install thin wall chokes and rolled my own nontoxic shells (needed for my area).
It's old, it has class, and I shoot it very very well.

 

[fordor40]

It's really hard when you have a safe full of "hunting" rifles but it seems like I grab my 25-06 Tikka for deer hunts and my 30-06 Remington BDL for larger game. Those guns just feel comfortable.

 

[Stpierre87]

With hunting season coming up , just wanted to talk about favorite hunting firearms.
My favorite hands down is my .54 caliber Hawken Rifle copy.
With this rifle I have taken :
Grouse
Coyote
Antelope
Deer
Elk
And Black bear

My standard load for both shooting and hunting is 80 grains of 2F , a.15 patch and a .530 lead round ball.
At times I have upped the charge to 100 grains.
All of the above were one shot kills along with a complete pass through of the round ball.

Also shown is my shooting pouch and horn.
This bag holds everything I need to shoot and maintain my rifle.
You don't need a lot of gear for muzzle loading.

My hunting knife is an old one from around 1890 or so.
It has a brain tanned scabbard with quill work.
Would love to see Y'all's hunting firearms...
Andy

Hawken Rifle , shooting pouch and hunting knife

• Andy54Hawken
• Dec 31, 2024

I love my savage axis 6.5. Can bring it out and not worry about scratching it up

 

[HighlandLofts]

I hunt whitetail back in Upstate New York for a month every year.
My go to rifle is my H&R 243 Handi-Rifle.
I kill 2 to 5 deer a year with it.
My other five rifles back there just sit in my sons gun safe.