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.

Originally Posted by Synthetic

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.

Attachment 182822

Attachment 182823

Yup, he makes fine suppressors. 1-2 sheets of roofing lead between limb saver and butt stock will sweeten both balance and recoil. Cut to shape with chisel. Paint the edges or just bend tape over the edges before screwing the limb saver tight.

Originally Posted by Cordite

Yup, he makes fine suppressors. 1-2 sheets of roofing lead between limb saver and butt stock will sweeten both balance and recoil. Cut to shape with chisel. Paint the edges or just bend tape over the edges before screwing the limb saver tight.

@Cordite Yep great supp's for hard use,back in the day when these Old School brick shithouse suppressors were the go ,we would take the recoil pad off, drill a small hole inside the butt at the heal & place small round fishing sinkers until the balance is restored ,a lot of times it would actually improve balance /handling over the original unsuppressed feel.

With our DG rifles in Africa they would also use the Old School shotgun "capsule" recoil reducers ie type that originally used powdered lead, these were still available/used in various sizes by Italian shotgun makers up to when l left in 2015 & if you going to have kids using the rifle may be a good balance /recoil reducing option. From memory l think Fabarm was one of the common cheap versions but there were a few different makes & sizes/weights.

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.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

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.

Shit I’m glad you bought that!

Originally Posted by Maca49

Shit I’m glad you bought that!

As it turns out, so am I. It wasn't my first pick, but it turned out allright.
I think I recognise the one on the far right also.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

As it turns out, so am I. It wasn't my first pick, but it turned out allright.
I think I recognise the one on the far right also.

That’s a monkey tail?

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.

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?