Thread: Oldest active hunting rifle

@ Grandpamac, I wouldn't call it a Hijack, when I started the thread it didn't have much intention of where it would go other than maybe 'no brand new Tikka TX3s'
I just had a feeling it would be good to have a thread for vintage hunting rifles. I have really liked all the posts so far.

What has surprised me is that we are yet to have one come out of the woodwork that goes along the lines of 'this is my milsurp 303 I bought back in the 60's and it still hits cowpats at 100 yds'.

A 303 you asked for and here one is, it can hit a "minute of cow" either in the yards or a small paddock. It has some unusual features.

The Baby Carbine is a lot closer to being an active hunting rifle

Nice 2" group at 25 yards
I need to build up the front sight blade to bring the group down
Trip planned with Tentman in a couple of weeks time and this should be wallabie ready

looking at other photos of rifle you put up...does rear sight roll to rear/flip up???or is it just pinned in place????
clever fells like yourself could slip it out and try it for elevation and make one with deeper groove....I assume you trying with sight picture having tip of blade in bottom of groove and bull at top of V...

Originally Posted by norsk

What caliber is it?

@norsk it is in original .577/450

It’s probably my loads and shooting

Man, and I thought my 1918 mkIII* was pretty old! Some nice old guns guys, great thread.

This is my Ruger m77 243 think i bought about 1979 , recently had an inch chopped of the barrel and recrowned which has got her grouping around 1.5 inches at one hundred so very happy with that . Had a bit of use lately on the range and in light of current ammo shortages mite see some time out hunting again.

Not used often. Been in the family 80+ years, made late 1870s - early 1880s. 450 x 3.25" BPE Damascus Alex Henry barrels. Now shooting Nitro for Black loads with Woodleigh 350gr.
It took a lot of time to regulate a nitro load to shoot to the sights but it's good now.

Now that is a thing of beauty

1957 30 06
And yes the scope on her now is a 3-9 thanks to of a forum member

Originally Posted by john m

Attachment 182984

Not used often. Been in the family 80+ years, made late 1870s - early 1880s. 450 x 3.25" BPE Damascus Alex Henry barrels. Now shooting Nitro for Black loads with Woodleigh 350gr.
It took a lot of time to regulate a nitro load to shoot to the sights but it's good now.

What a prize to be entrusted with. I am green from head to toe. Seems to shoot pretty straight as well.
Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by thatguy

@norsk it is in original .577/450

It’s probably my loads and shooting

My pet load for my Martini Henry's is: @thatguy

CBC case
60grn by volume 1.5 fg Swiss BP
Void in case filled with a peice of foam backer rod
Bullet seated right out in the case
Bullet cast stone hard ( cant mark it with thumbnail pressure)

Bonus with that load is that it will shoot to the sights at 100m.

The obscene hardness of the bullet means it grips the rifling better apparantly. If you jamb 80grns of swiss behind that bullet it will go clean through a railway sleeper.

Originally Posted by norsk

My pet load for my Martini Henry's is: @thatguy

CBC case
60grn by volume 1.5 fg Swiss BP
Void in case filled with a peice of foam backer rod
Bullet seated right out in the case
Bullet cast stone hard ( cant mark it with thumbnail pressure)

Bonus with that load is that it will shoot to the sights at 100m.

The obscene hardness of the bullet means it grips the rifling better apparantly. If you jamb 80grns of swiss behind that bullet it will go clean through a railway sleeper.

Thanks @norsk

I think my downfall was my casting. Pretty soft compared to what you described. I can mark min with my nail.

How do you get it so hard - do you add Tin and if so where do one find it?

I use magtech brass shotshells, 60-85gr black, polyfill, cardboard card, grease cookie, cardboard card, bullet.

My '89 production Ruger M77 in .308.
Only been out once (with me), and unsuccessful..had a great life before though judging by her condition.
Love the "big game"open sights and ebony forened!

Originally Posted by thatguy

Thanks @norsk

I think my downfall was my casting. Pretty soft compared to what you described. I can mark min with my nail.

How do you get it so hard - do you add Tin and if so where do one find it?

I use magtech brass shotshells, 60-85gr black, polyfill, cardboard card, grease cookie, cardboard card, bullet.

I bought antimony from ebay.

You can also buy cheap pewter vases etc from the junk shop which you can add to your melting pot.

I dont use a wad stack generally. I lube the bullet with liquid allox and them dip them in cheap mayonaise prior to firing. You can use cheap handcream too.