Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Hunting with rifles that are at least 52 years old.

In a recent conversation I had with someone they mentioned that they were going to sell all of their rifles that were less than 50 years old and just hunt with ones that were at least 50 years old. At first this may sound a bit insane to think of but the more I think about it, it really isn't as far-fetched as it first appeared.

In this day in age of having the latest technology I thought it might be interesting to see what vintage center-fire rifles folks here still use and if such rifles would fufill all your needs for the hunting you do. Lets make the cutoff anything before the year 1960. This will make them about 52 years old.

I'll start with mine that fit that scenario. I won't include several rifles I have that are based on military Mausers and Springfields actions because they are heavily modified from their original condition.

Winchester Model 70 in 270 Win made in 1958
Winchester Model 94 in 30 WCF made in 1949
Colt Coltsman in 300 H&H made in 1959
Winchester Model 71 in 348 WCF made in 1948

I have to admit that these four would easily cover all the hunting I do or ever have done. It might not be as much fun as having all the latest goodies but it is certainly doable.

What about others of you?

Grandpa's '52 M70, 300 H&H Improved...

Interesting concept but that'd put nearly all LH bolts out of the running as there weren't many of those made then.
I'd be happy running Savage 99's but I've sold all of mine over the years.

Tanner, I love the honest wear on your Grandpa's rifle! It seems he was a bit of a looney too going with the improved version of that ancient warhorse.

Oldest rifle I use on a pretty regular basis is my 99 Savage take-down in .303 Savage. I have used it to take deer, caribou and (with the .410 accessory barrel) grouse.

You know, he was the only handloader in my family I believe, Ken. My dad ain't into it, he's a bowhunter. My Grandpa and my Great Uncle had twin rifles with back to back serial #s and they had the same treatment done, by a fellow by the name of Bishop in CA. I'd love to have my uncles, too... I never met my Gramps, he died when my Dad was 17, so it's cool to have a piece of him like this.

My ol' man has killed legit truck loads of game with this rifle! 300 H&H A.I. has an almost identical water capacity to a 300 Winny...

IMO, rifles have only become more easy to mass produce. Rifles could be plenty accurate back then and were available in chamberings to take any kind of game. I'll be darned if I get rid of my Montanas though.

.45-70 trapdoor 1884 Springfield
9.3x74R German double rifle (pre-WWII)
.358 Win. Savage 99 Featherweight (1950's)
.300 H&H pre-'64 M70 (1954)
12x12x.30-30 Sauer drilling hammer gun (at least 100 years old)
16x16x6.5x57R Sauer drilling (late 50's)
6.5x54 Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbine (early 50's)
.257 Roberts Remington 722 (early 50's, my grandmother's rifle)
.257 Roberts custom 98 Mauser by Bill Sukalle (1947)
.25-35 Model 1894 Winchester rifle (1898)

Have hunted with a number of other rifles over 50, and have sold too damn many. A few others are here waiting their turn.

1953. And yes, I do hunt elk with it.

Alan

Husky FN import '06....1950's.
Husky FN import 9.3x62....1950's.
FN import '06......1948.
JC Higgins FN import .270...1950's.
Husky 1640 .243.....daughters rifle......1950's-1960's?????
....and the ones that have not been hunted with...
Sako FN import '06...1950's.
JC Higgins FN import '06....1950's.
FN import .300 Win Mag.....late 1960's.
and one that I no longer own.....1951 Win mod 70 .300 H&H that was rechambered to .300 Wea........bought it that way and had it rebarreled to .338 Win......that was my go to for 10 years.

I've posted many of these pics before, but here goes...
1936 Ithica 37 16 Ga


1899 Springfield 1898 30-40 Krag


1911 Savage 1899 .303 Sav


Unknown year Winchester 69 22 LR


1936 Savage 99 250-3000 Sav with weaver 2.5 in Stith mounts. Killed a few antelope with this rig.


Just for kicks I still use the knife my great grandfather carried as an Idaho wolf and bear hunter in the early days...


I've got more, another Savage 1899 in 22 HP I hunt coyotes and bunnies with, a Savage 99 in 300 Sav I have killed a couple deer with as well as more I am forgetting.

I do love them ol' rifles.

Tanner, thanks for posting a pic of the ol girl finally......I've been wondering what she looked like.....Pretty sweet ol rifle....

Thanks for looking pal. I know it's tough on my pops to think about his old man, and it bums me out to have never gotten to spend time with him, but this rig sure helps! Shoots, too

Two centerfires, one rimfire;
1. 1958(?) Custom .458WM on Mauser action
2. Sporterized 1917 Enfield (Eddystone) in .30-06, barrel marked 8-43.
3. Winchester Model 74 (1950?)

Ed

Rem 722 300 Sav
Rem 721 35 Whelen
Husqvarna 51 12ga ( my fav. duck gun)

Darne R-11 12ga (fav. upland shotgun)

Lafever Nitro Special 20ga (custom skeet gun)

Comes close

Browning Superposed Lightning 20ga (early 60's)
Win 101 12ga (pre import0 early 60's

1952 model 70 257 Roberts Standard grade
1939 model 70 30/06 20" barrel
first year production model 721 30/06

My deer the last couple of years have been taken with a first model Newton (ca 1917) in 30-06. It has the peep on the firing pin.
--Bob

pre-64 Model 70's made in the 50's.
243 Standard
30-06 Featherweight
264 Westener
270 Transition
220 Swift Standard
Model 12 in 16 gauge
Model 12 Featherweight in 12 gauge
Model 1893 in 12 gauge
Marlin 39
3 Mossberg 22 LR rifles
Browning Superposed Lightning in 12 gauge
Model 12 Remington 22 LR

Let's see that would probably take in several of my rifles and shotguns. Move up to 35-40 years and you'll cover at least 2/3 of what I consider my main firearms battery. Most of my stuff is late 60's -70's vintage . I don't consider these old at all. :^)

Pre 64 M70's...mostly.I see no handicaps.

I will throw this one out there.My dad bought this .270FW in 57 at Ft.Bragg PX.Gave it to me when I was 12 or 13,it's had a bunch of scopes and kilt a truck load of deer...