Thread: Oldest active hunting rifle

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 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.

@ 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

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.

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.

Originally Posted by 30late

Attachment 182977
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.

Have been offered a Ruger 243 just like this, but somewhat more "weathered". Was used for meat shooting back in the 80's, had a Leupold M8-4x on it, which I now have. Still shoots ok. Still pondering on it, but $400 sounds like a bargain me thinks. Those original M77's were nice rifles.

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.