Thread: Oldest active hunting rifle

I've got a 1949 BRNO Model 21 that I still use often for hunting deer.

I'll post a pic when I can.

Outside the bastardised 303s, I'm not sure there are many bolt action rifles still being regularly used for hunting in NZ that pre WWII vintage. A few 1930's Obendorf Mausers perhaps?

I’ve got a 1925 type B Mauser oberndorf in 9.3x62. I’ve shot one deer with it. Once I’ve got a deer with my bow I’ll take it out again.

Here's one i enjoy getting out and shooting some critters with now and again, my 1941 no4 sniper rifle. its not the oldest I have but its by far the heaviest, 11.6 lbs!! Ya feel that after a 1000m climb up and down!

Bump
This was such a good post it needs some more old hunting guns

Ballard 44 Rimfire 1856



It has now fired 3 rounds at animals and has 3 hares
One was shot by another forum member who had never fired it before

So a very good shooter for 168 years old

1933 Walther .22lr Sportmodel
I don’t have many Rabbits at our place , but when the odd one shows up ……….



I had the old Leupold scope of it a while ago , here is a photo of getting it sighted back in .
Two shots , adjust the scope , four shots to confirm ( SK Pistol match ammo / I only head shoot Rabbits so target ammo is perfectly OK )

Has anybody rebarreled a martini-enfield action recently? I'mm in love with those carbines but all the ones I've seen in person have significant barrel corrosion.

Originally Posted by podocarp

Has anybody rebarreled a martini-enfield action recently? I'mm in love with those carbines but all the ones I've seen in person have significant barrel corrosion.

I sold my martini Enfield carbine to a very keen younger man and he's out the slaying pigs and deer with it

I brought it for the action because the barrel looked buggered.
It shot way better than I expected so I couldn't bear to break it up

So if the bore is poor it might shoot ok if you can find a load it likes

Originally Posted by stug

I’ve got a 1925 type B Mauser oberndorf in 9.3x62. I’ve shot one deer with it. Once I’ve got a deer with my bow I’ll take it out again.

Now is your time then.

I've got a 1926 savage 99 in 250 savage that I use.

1900 Lee Enfield .303 carbine. Re-barrelled with 1895 barrel. Carried in action in the Boer War. Took a 180lb boar just a few years ago.

Bit of a platypus by the look of it, but obviously it works.

Originally Posted by podocarp

Has anybody rebarreled a martini-enfield action recently? I'mm in love with those carbines but all the ones I've seen in person have significant barrel corrosion.

Greetings @podocarp,
A friend rebarrelled one for me in the early 1980's which I still have. We used a takeout barrel from a .308 target rifle. The barrel had to be cut of at the breech around 40mm to get rid of the old chamber and rethreaded. A new chamber was cut in .30-30 which needed some adjustments to the extractor. Later the chamber was recut to .30-40 Krag. As it was a target barrel there was plenty of meat at the breech end for the new threads which may not be the case with a sporter barrel. I believe that the threads on the Martini and the Lee Enfield are similar so one of the latter barrels could be used but the whole chamber would need to be recut. This is to to provide the recess for the rim which the Martini has but the Lee Enfield does not and provide room for the case.
The only other option is a new barrel but the Martini rifles were mostly made in the century before last so the choice should be between lower pressure cartridges.
Regards Grandpamac.