Thread: Oldest active hunting rifle

Thought I might start up something that will hopefully be more entertaining than a superior caliber debate.
Basically looking to see what old rifles are still out there actively knocking over critters. What is the oldest still going,
Kudos for examples given by the original owner.
Extra kudos for photos as proof.

Not going to win the oldest contest, but the oldest I have is a 1986 Remington 700 in 243.

Comfortably a sub MOA gun. Obviously been very well looked after by previous owners. Trigger definitely been worked on by a professional before, as it's crisper than a modern Tikka. Wood and blueing is great to look at. Action is super slick.
My only regret is putting a Waikati Engineering overbarrel suppressor on it. Effective and quality suppressor that will probably outlast the gun, but so big and heavy it affects the handling of the rifle significantly.

Greetings All,

This is my Martini chambered in .30-40 Krag. It falls a little outside longshot's criteria of "still out there actively knocking over critters" but this is due to deficiencies in the owner rather than the rifle. The action was made in 1881 and is now on its third barrel and fourth cartridge. The woodwork seems original although the fore end has been cut back. Has the rifle been knocking over critters in the 40 years I have had it? Regrettably no. Has it snuck along in the Kaweka's? ready for action? Yes. Does it shoot well enough to do the job? Definitely. Is the cartridge up to smack over a deer? Hell yes. Has it had an active hunting past? Probably. There are some notches in the fore end band that may indicate past success. Will it be taken hunting again in the future? Definitely.
Regards Grandpamac.

@akaroa1? I'm sure you could wipe the floor with any forum member of your choosing in this thread!

Originally Posted by Pommy

@akaroa1? I'm sure you could wipe the floor with any forum member of your choosing in this thread!

Too many to list
I have plenty of vintage rifles and really only collect ones that aren't genuine collectors pieces
Prefer the ones I can restore and repair and use for what they were intended for

My most regular vintage hunting rifle is a Stevens 44 1/2 22 hornet circa 1915



But I have vintage rifles ready to go for any animal you could think of in NZ.
Right up to my 500 BPE
Also have a few restorations underway

The next vintage rifle to go hunting is this Remington Rolling Block Baby Carbine 44-40
The dies and cases arrived yesterday

1907 Husqvarna cape gun in 16 gauge and 9.3x57r.
So far only the shotgun barrel has been gainfully employed, the rifle barrel though close to 38/55 is proving more difficult to develop a satisfactory load for but I'm always hopeful.

All nice ones gentlemen. Suggest a shit ton of old 303s close to the Martinis vintage kicking about too. @Synthetic maybe the trigger is just what they had back then. I know the trigger on my Remy 416 circa early mid 90s is pretty good.
2 poundish and crisp as. Is as I bought it

Very nice workhorse Martini @grandpamac.
Would love to hunt something with my Martini Henry but still can’t shoot a dinner plate group at 100.

I,m not even in the hunt, but the 1920 savage 22 single shot gets out the most for garden hares and rabbits due to the convenience of a suppressor.
Like many with old iron sighted rifles, the aged eyes seem to be the biggest limitation to vintage hunting rifles.

I've got some top hat caps now so I might have to try my Whitworth (1863) on the local goats, but given the steepness of the hills and the value of the rifle it won't be a regular thing!

Originally Posted by gundoc

I've got some top hat caps now so I might have to try my Whitworth (1863) on the local goats, but given the steepness of the hills and the value of the rifle it won't be a regular thing!

@gundoc you will need some of these

Early 1900s Stevens visible loader in 22 long. Was my grandfathers rifle. No longer safe to shoot having been used to play cowboys and indians by my Father and his brother in the 40s (Back in the day where grandad would check the gun was empty and kids could still do fun stuff....

Dated prior to Stevens becoming Savge stevens so close to or just before WW 1 when grandad went off to fight and come home with a wife...(english nurse)

Somewhere I have a photo of Grandad as a young lad with a couple of big goats, this rifle and a small lever action.

I also know where his 1930s 'sears' Belgian side by side hammer shotgun is but no idea if it is still safe to use.

Range patern MLE 1896

Originally Posted by thatguy

Very nice workhorse Martini @grandpamac.
Would love to hunt something with my Martini Henry but still can’t shoot a dinner plate group at 100.

What caliber is it?

Originally Posted by longshot

Thought I might start up something that will hopefully be more entertaining than a superior caliber debate.
Basically looking to see what old rifles are still out there actively knocking over critters. What is the oldest still going,
Kudos for examples given by the original owner.
Extra kudos for photos as proof.

Greetings @longshot and All,
First my apologies for having hijacked your thread which was for old rifles still in use. So people I suggest it would be nice to see photos of rifles still in use, perhaps not as go to rifles but used from time to time. There must be a truck load of really neat hunting rifles made last century that some of the younger forum members may never have seen. I am thinking here of Savage 99 rifles in .250 Savage, Remington pumps, British bolt actions and rifles from Europe. Although perhaps not used much they are likely still around. In the current issue of Rod and Rifle on page 58 there is a picture of antlers with a rifle resting on them. The rifle receiver has the unmistakeable Martini outline. Where is that rifle now?
Regards Grandpamac.