Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles What was your 'dream' rifle as a kid?

I always wanted a .270 of my own.

My dad had one during the years that he hunted and my favorite author was Jack O'Connor, so enough said there.

I acquired a brand new Rem 700 so chambered while still in high school. I still use it today.

Rifles I lusted for were the pre 64 model 70's and Sako Foresters in both rifle and carbine form.

I bought a pre 64 in .338 mag from an older elk hunting friend and used it for many years. It went to another hunter when I found myself solidly becoming an archery only elk hunter.

I ran into a Sako carbine in .243 at a gun show and bought it - it's still the only one I've ever come across. My boys and I used it to take several deer.

A bit later, my elk hunting mentor left me a Sako rifle in .243! So, not needing two .243's and wanting a handy elk thumper, I had the carbine rebored to .358 Win.

It's taken several elk and is a really great rifle. It's taken elk to 257 yards with 225 grain bullets and is way easier to carry and shoot than the .338 was.

Both of the Sako's are early models from the 60's and a joy to use.

I still "need" a custom built rifle to play with, but I doubt I'll ever follow thru with the urge.....

Born in '37 and grew up reading JOC and Keith. I lusted for a M70 Super Grade in .270 or '06. After I got one or four, reality set in. (I owned one SG three times.) They are too heavy. I'm still looking for the Featherweight Super Grade at a right price.

In the meantime, I discovered Browning Safaris in the sixties. They were every bit as nice and even nicer finished than the SGs. My present crop of bolt guns include a custom stocked and engraved 03 Springfield, a custom stocked commercial FN, and two Browning Safaris on the small ring Mauser in .243 & .308. The little pencil barrel jewels way outshoot the first two, both in .30-06. I threw in a Blaser R-93 Prestidge with a .270 and .9.3 barrel for grins and something not quite out of the dark ages.

Once I quit letting gun writers tell me what I needed, life got better. I like JB's approach. He never seems to tell us what to buy. He gives objective reports on guns and calibers, what his opinion is of the same, and wishes us well. That doesn't mean he has not cost me money, but he did not mentally twist my arm.

Jack

Bravo !!! I have a current love affair with the 300 WSM though I own some exquisite 280's.

Winchester M88. Never got one and now not sure I will.

I grade school the first one that caught my attention was the Marlin 444. I just knew that was the coolest thing in the world.

Winchester model 71 .348

Do you still hold the same opinion?

I remember going to a sporting goods store with my dad when I was about 10 years old and knew I wanted to deer hunt... And I saw a nice tang safety ruger 77 and liking the looks.

I turned 14 and bought a rem 788 carbine in 308 (price point - affordable)and used it one season. It was real heavy, problems with the scope base loosening up, and it was the odd caliber in deer camp and I had a huge supply of 3006 and new reloading gear that dad bought.
Sold the 788
Found a used R77 3006 (because of the integral scope rings) and bought it on my 15th b-day and still have it even if I only use it every few years.

I've been foolishly dabbling with other guns and plan on selling all of them except the R77, a SS browning X-bolt 3006 (similar safety, SS for rainy days), and a Tang safety Savage 99 308 that my dad gave me for Xmas.

Its hard to part with the others though.

In 257 Wby

M1 Carbine. Not really a hunting rifle but it was the first higher power rifle I wanted. Dale

Seeing this thread also reminds me of the older sporting goods stores and not the junk stores we have today like Bass Pro, Dicks, etc.


I loved the old family-owned stores which had better quality merchandise, smelled of smoked and knew folks by name.

Model 70 winchester.Finally bought one when I was 50 years old.

A Remington 760 pump in .243. I thought it was the ultimate rifle for shooting running whitetails in open county. I grew out of the idea before I got one.

Ruger M77 Flatbolt in 308. Living in a shotgun only for deer state, my father, while driving me to the gun dealer asked me "why would you want to buy that?" Then said "guess you could be doing worse with your money." For over forty years that rifle has traveled across the country with me on various hunts, and is now my semi-retired safe queen.

None of the elders in my family hunted big game but we lived on a farm and did small game and birds with .22s and shotguns.

I guess my "dream rifle" back in those days would have been a Remington Nylon 66.

Ever since I was 12 years old. 378 Bee in a lazermark.

Mine was in 1958 a FWT Mod70 in .270 Win. However, my first rifle was a Rem.721 in 30.06.,because I could not afford $129 for the Winchester. The used 721 cost $50. Then another $35 or so for a Weaver 4X.

I really, really wanted one of those Remingtons with the short barrel, vent-rib, sharkfin sight, and dog-legged bolt in 350 Remington Mag.

Mine was one of those same same rifles in 6MM Remington. All through high school I drooled at the Montgomery Ward catalog looking at one. Princely sum of $119.

I found a pristine one about 4 years ago, mounted a Leupy 2.5x8 scope on it, and it is a definite keeper in all respects.

Late 1970's.

A Sharps 45-70 made in Big Timber.

Who knows, maybe someday.



Should add, that was back when Elmer Keith was editor of Guns & Ammo magazine......I was a huge fan.