Hunting gear: firearms

Currently rebuilding a M1917 into my new deer/GP hunting rifle, the following are all new: barrel, stock, scope, firing pin spring, cocking piece, trigger, scope base. Still to be done are coat the metal, glass and pillar bed the action, develop load for. Barrel is unfired as of today.

-Xander
 
Is it still in .30-'06?

My great uncle had a sporterized Eddystone 1917 that he took hunting out west. He ended up shooting the biggest mulie the locals had ever seen, and the local tavern owner bought the deer from him so he could mount it. To our knowledge, it's still hanging on the wall in his bar.
 
Yep, I love the 30-'06 cartridge and wouldn't shoot another 30 caliber.

Here is the gun now, excuse the tape and foam on the stock, I am working out how much I need to add to it for proper eye alignment. Still need to install pillars and glass bed the stock, then coat all the metal flat black.

20160721_125808_zpshlqtymgx.jpg



-Xander
 
Last edited:
I just bought an old Winchester 670 in 30/06. She's nothing fancy but she sure can shoot straight.
 
Of course, if you want to shoot tiny things with tiny bullets, this is the one.


13653398_1179047942146695_1551768478985012864_o.jpg
 
Nice looking MKII Target! My mom had a very nice example of one that she gave to my brother last year, well he's now started fiddling with it and changing things around, my mom is not happy with him...

-X
 
fast14riot said:
Nice looking MKII Target! My mom had a very nice example of one that she gave to my brother last year, well he's now started fiddling with it and changing things around, my mom is not happy with him...

-X
Click to expand...

Thanks. All I've done to mine is change the front sight. The stock one tore up holsters and really made no sense to me. The green fiber optic sight really works well for me.
 
I traded into a Ruger American Predator 18" in .308 for this year with a Vortex Hog Hunter scope, 3-12x56. I've been doing some shooting with it and out of the box it was really impressive. I got it set in using Hornady American Whitetail, 150grn and it really seems to like them. I am not a target shooter and definitely not the best shot but I was getting groupings between 1-1.5" at 200.
 
fast14riot said:
Yep, I love the 30-'06 cartridge and wouldn't shoot another 30 caliber.

Here is the gun now, excuse the tape and foam on the stock, I am working out how much I need to add to it for proper eye alignment. Still need to install pillars and glass bed the stock, then coat all the metal flat black.

20160721_125808_zpshlqtymgx.jpg



-Xander
Click to expand...

That is a really good looking stock! Here's a pic of the Ruger.

yGDJs3Y.jpg
 
Thanks! It's a Boyd's Prairie Hunter in pepper laminate. Boyd's are great stocks for the money, come with a durable clear coat, inletting is usually right on, plus they offer lots of options.

I think I'm going to develop my load for this gun around the Berger 175 VLD Hunting bullet, use a 200 yard zero and should be good to go out to 400 yards with nearly a dead on hold.

-X
 
I vary the rifle I use depending on the game I am after and the circumstances that I may find myself hunting it in. I have taken a good number of cull does (Black Fallow mostly) with a Sako AII is 22/250. My general hunting companion these days started life as a Sako AII (also in 22/250) but all that remains of that original rifle is the action. It is now a .308Win and is an absolute dream to hunt with. If ranges are longer and/or chasing bigger deer I will use my Weatherby in .300Win and if it is buffalo etc (or rabbits if I am practicing ;) ) my .375H&H comes out. In Africa last year I used the H&H on Buffalo, Kudu, Crocodile and Warthog and I didn't not at all find it wanting. Inter-space a Model 94 in 30/30 or .44Rem for those times where things are happening a little faster or in the scrub and I like to think I have most bases covered... :D
 
I will happily use the .375 over the .300 every time. The .375 is a long slow roll back and the .300 is much whippier if that makes sense. Where I will happily wander around exploding rabbits with the .375 the .300 just makes it all a bit unpleasant. That said, I don't at all mine hunting with the .300 (I have owned them both since I was 13 or 14 so I am pretty comfortable with each).

Needs pics ;)

My African ensemble... :D

 
Makes sense to me, and I'm actually glad to hear that. I'm well familiar with the hard whip of the .300. I've traded it off in favor of the .270 WSM currently. That is plenty of gun for everything I can hunt here, except sometimes very large bull elk. Hunting those big bulls in the very steep country where you need them to pile up is what has me curious for something a bit bigger, and I've been thinking the .375 over. Thanks for that Andy.

Cheers,

Dave
 
I have a soft spot for the .300 but as you know it can punish at both ends.

This was it with me out hunting at the start of the month (not that you can see much of it)..

 
Are you hunting hogs and black fallow in that picture? We are going into our fall bear season and archery deer and elk seasons here. To stay on topic, I should say that I will be packing a S&W .44 rem mag with 270 grain speer gold dot handloads, but only as a backup gun. It is pretty good bear medicine if things go poorly.
 
Hogs, goats and Chital (Axis) out in that country mate. Had also bee testing some loads in the .308 and .300. GREAT success in the .308 (165gn Noslers) and abject failure with the .300 (180gn Noslers).
 
Funny how that can go. I've been having a bit of trouble with a couple of my old stand-bys. Probably need a good cleaning. But then I ran out to put a few rounds through my daughter's .243, and it loves the handload for my .243. Giving me dime-sized 100 yard groups, I'll see if I can grab a picture later. SOOOO nice if things come together :)
 
Yes, with the .308 I thought it was absolute rubbish till I went and inspected the target and realised that there were three projectiles through a hole that looked like two just touching, I am not messing with that, even if the powder was about 30yrs old !! The .300 went about an inch and a half, I know it can do much better from experience so I need to start again and actually drop the load I suspect. I had got up several grains above maximum with any pressure but I am going to work back down now.
 
Andy the Aussie said:
Yes, with the .308 I thought it was absolute rubbish till I went and inspected the target and realised that there were three projectiles through a hole that looked like two just touching, I am not messing with that, even if the powder was about 30yrs old !! The .300 went about an inch and a half, I know it can do much better from experience so I need to start again and actually drop the load I suspect. I had got up several grains above maximum with any pressure but I am going to work back down now.
Click to expand...

Lol, don't mess with success! I'm working upward with the short .270, and I'm within a grain of recommended maximum with no signs of excess pressure. It's putting four in an inch group, so I think I will try four loads set out .010" and four loads set in .010" and see if that closes it down. Man I wish I had a range off my reloading room.

41.5 grains H4350 with Barnes 80 grain TTSX for the .243. Not the hottest load, but several rifles shoot it well.



 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top