Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles what's a proper "poke" rifle?

Fish,

Took a 'quick' look at the responses, but the one I did not see was a Ruger 77/44. I have one set up for the kids. I comes with decent open sights. I would suggest replacing the front sight with a Williams firesight. The rear is optional. Comes with rings. I have put a Weaver R4 (4x) rimfire scope on it. This scope is a one inch tube and plenty bright and clear. Best thing is I can dis mount it less then a minute with the Leathermen multi-tool if want or need to use open sights.

The things I like. Short, light wieght (apx 5.5 lbs), can use with or without scope, and mounts scopes well. Looks good with or with out scope. 44mag plenty for within 75 yrds, 44 ammo get any where, cheap to shoot if you reload.

Mine groups 300g XTP's at 7/8 inch at 50 yards, which is my zero point and the parallax setting for the Weaver R4.

If you really want I will see if I can do the digital camera / computer thing and post a picture for you.

BTW the kids are quite successful with it, to the dismay of some local bucks over the years.

Well.....here's the ticket then:


These are available NOW at Grice Gun Shop

Mine is being delivered this Thursday. I ordered it to fit the exact "poking around in the thick stuff" hunting situation you described.....can't wait!

firstshot
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Make your first shot count!

I use a BLR in 358 Winchester for that kind of hunting here in Mississippi - been quite happy with it.

870 Remington pump shotgun with fully rifled barrel, open sights and pick your flavor of sabot...within 75 yards, there isn't much this won't do. Use the right sabot and it won't matter what angle they are standing at either. You will core a 50cal plug straight through them and be able to eat up to the hole <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

That's when I break out the 50 cal. Hawken rifle.

well, i've got a .50-cal in-line. and i have done some poking around with it. but it's a pita to unload, you know?

280, Growing up hunting in the Alabama swamps, thickets, and cane breaks learned me if this. Pump or single barrel shotgun was the norm. Auto shotgun must mean you have a job in the city. I did not know there was any other kind of rifle other than a lever action until I was in high school. Bolt action rifle with the aid of a scope meant you could not get close enough or be still for very long. If you had a 742 or better yet a BAR, you were serious about your business. Seems like the auto Brownings were the benchmark for deer rifles. Too nice to drag through the saw briars though.
I have had several 7400 Carbine rifles with smaller, light weight scopes but they were still heavy and did not balance very well. 7600 is about the same. Nice rig but not my idea of a "pok'in round" pardner in the thick stuff. My buddy has a either a ss or nickel BLR in 7-08 with a 2-7-33 Leup. Best combo of size, weight, reliability, repeatability, and aesthics I've seen. Oh, and it looks good too.

Fish,

I have noticed that some folks become obsessed with the concept of an "all around rifle". I view that as a character flaw. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Long since I have determined there are six distinct types of big game hunting rifles. (Seven if you consider Africa...)

Trying to make one rifle shine in six distinctly different arenas is a fool's quest. Thus my idea was to have one of each... Then two of each.... Then.... "Aw...to Heck with it!"

Now all of us may not need one rifle in each catagory, there are some areas of overlap... But a short range " Woods " rifle doesn't do much in the Varmint or Mnt Rifle catagory.

In the type of hunting that you describe, I'd be just as happy with a 5" S&W "N" frame revolver.

My pick in the short-range woods rifle catagory would be a Marlin 1894 in either .44 Mag or .45 LC. A "Big-Bore 94" in .375 Win. or perhaps a M-760 Remmy "Shell-shucker" in either .300 Sav. or .35 Rem. (Or even .358 Win.) When hunting ranges are measured in "feet", any of the above can make a lot of sense. Just my 2 pesos worth...

[color:"green"]Grasshopper [/color]

Can't disagree with anything said there,other than I'd take an old school 6 1/2 inch or 8 3/8 inch N frame over the 5 inch-but that's just personal taste.

An old 1950s Remington 760 in 300 Savage or 35 Remington,with a low powered scope,would be hard to beat.

WB.

That No.1 RSI is 7x57, btw <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Of course, there is the option of a double rifle. The Russian one Remington is supposedly importing out would work nicely, seems to me.

They ain't hard to un-load, just pull the triger. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Fish,

Come over one Saturday and I'll let you shoot the little Ruger 44 Mag Carbine, all you want. 5 quick shots that leave huge holes in the target. Weighs around 6 lbs, 18.5" bbl,etc...

Mine is completely stock and will place 5 shots in 3"-3.5" @ 100 yds w/ iron sights. Nothing like leaving a big hole when you go poking...

That's why I really like my 45-70 guide gun for such purposes. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Ruger MK.II with barrel cut back to 19" and in .308. It comes out about the same length as a levergun.

That's a neat looking rifle!!!
I like it!!!!!
That would be my pick.
But, if Fish wants a 44 mag, Cheaha's 44 would get the job done.

Don

I like the idea of the Ruger 44 autoloader or the 77/44. Both are light and quick. Ammo is no problem and alot of punch down range.
How about something belt fed <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

My "poke gun" is a Marlin Guide Gun in 450 with a Williams Peep with the apeture removed. Accuracy is minute of deer shoulder to 75 yds.

Blessings

My preference for such activities is one of my Remington 600's.
Short and light and equally as deadly,especially in 308.
The Rem model seven would also be a good one.
And dont forget the little Ruger compact.
I am still kicking myself for selling mine in 243.

got to messing this morning with my 700/6x42 nikon and swede/4x trashco.
the LOPs are precisely the same. eye relief the same. swede an inch shorter overall but slightly heavier.
practiced flicking the safety off and with deliberate "quickness" dry firing at targets ranging from 10 feet to 100 feet.
the swede - with its wider field of view, much closer focus and much heavier duplex (the 6x42 nikon focuses sharply to about 30 feet, the trashco to 15 or so) - came on target quicker.
with practice the remmy was just as quick from 50 feet on out - but could not compete up close and personal.
so, now i'm thinking a straight tube k2.5 or similar on the swede ... for a minimum alteration.
field of view do matter at spittin' distance.