Of all the firearms you own, which do ENJOY shooting the most, in other words which is the most fun? This would include all types. I would have to say my .54 cal muzzleloader with a round patched ball. I love the sight of smoke, the smell and the sound! And it's like stepping back in time.
Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria
To God Alone Be The Gloria
I only shoot it rarely in defference to its age but it is a converted French Charlville that was carried by a sixteen year old kid in the Mississippi militia at the battle of Edwards Station. Buck and ball. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
(yeah, I have the provinence too)
BCR
That's like asking a father to choose his favorite child.
Pressed, I'd have to say my Rem 700 VSFS. I still can't get over how well that thing can be made to hit things beyond 300 yds. Even from a sitting position, with a shooting sling, it's right there. All the way to at least 600 yds. if I have good range information and make a good wind call.
I'm saving up for a Shilen trigger. E
When it comes down to just plain "fun" my 'go to' gun is a T/C Contender usually in .32-20, .30 Carbine, or .38 Spec.
But, .22 rifles and reactionary targets are great fun, too - the9.3Guy
Remington 700 .25-284, with a close second being a Sako Fiberclass .30-06. Both are extremely accurate and get shot A LOT! Flinch
I would have to say my Ruger 10/22. I just love to shoot that rifle. 2nd would be my Savage 110DL in .270 Win (lefthanded of course). That rifle is just too accurate not to be fun.
Mark.
Anyone of the following three: My .300 Wby, my .454 Casull, or my mini-30!
But I also really enjoy my 77/22 and 10/22! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Boggy Creek Ranger
That is very interesting.Iahd a neighbor who found a Colt cap and ball pistol out in the desert east of El Paso that was drooped still ine the cocked position.That leads to some interesting possibilities as to the owners fate.
Another aquaintance found some 45-70 cases in Dog Canyon north of El Pasoin New Mexico. This was supposed to be a place where Mescalero's liked to lure troopers from Ft. Bliss for some sport hunting. Can you tell us anything else about your firearm, that kind of stuff is always intriguing.
My Ruger No. 1V in .220 Swift, it is so accurate and no recoil. My .300 Weatherby is alot of fun but it has just a little more recoil than the Swift <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. My new Ruger 77-17 might take over as my next fun gun if it keeps sticking those tight groups in there.
Jeff
For pure fun to shoot I have to agree it's hard to beat a traditional muzzle loader. I have a 50 cal. CVA mountan rifle I built from a kit almost 30 years ago. It's a percussion and I shoot patched round balls, black powder, and load from the pouch. It's fun to shoot.
But, My .222 Remington varmint rifle always makes me grin. What's not to like about no recoil and one hole groups? A day at the range or prairie dog town with that rifle will cure a ton of ills.
My favorite rifle to just play with is a Left Hand Winchester Model 70 in .280 Remington with a #5 contour Douglas barrel. It shoots well and has no recoil from the bench.
If I had to pick only one rifle to hunt with it would be a stainless Remngton 700 in 7mm Rem Mag. I have carried this gun for miles and it had accounted for more meat in the freezer than all my other rifles combined.
I would have to say my Interarms .50 cal muzzleloader. Save from the cleaning, I can shoot that all day and recoil is not an issue at all with that gun. A close second would my 338 Winnie. My favorite gun! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
For hands down fun, nothing beats a standard issue Ruger 10/22 for me. It certainly is the one that gets out to play most often. TM
Right now it's varmint season and I have a new .220 Swift barrel on an old friend, my M 70 that I got new in 1957. It's fun having it shoot well again and now I can see the bullet hit the game unlike when it was a 243.
Every gun has it's plus and minus side but the small bullet is a plus where I hunt in preventing richochets also. This is the fun gun of the moment.
For just downright fun to shoot. Ruger 10/22 or a Ruger MKII Target Bull Barrel.
Anything in a #1 is next.
Jim B.
The common denominator is fun. I have a Ruger 10/22 and Mk II. They are fun to shoot. But my Colt Match Target and Winchester Model 63 make them feel like cheap imitations. I don't know why, but it seems that some of the old ones just have a better feel to them. But you have to go with what you have, and like I said the Rugers are fun.
Blin-- Here is the story on the musket. In the early 60's I was acquainted with a man who was then in his early eighties. He said the musket was the one that "they" had given his father when he joined the army at age 15 and that his father was in the battle of Edward's station (Champions Hill) outside Vicksburg. I read a hand written manuscript that his father had composed in later life.
The musket is a French Charlville M1787 converted to percussion fire. The bayonet and scabbard were still with it. My friend had no living close relatives and when he died he left me his father's musket.
The rest of the story: From the manuscript and official records:
I found his father in the 1860 Mississippi census. The age would have been correct. In 1863 the Confederate army did not take 15 year old boys unless they lied about their age. However when Grant landed below Vicksburg and began his encircling movements the Mississippi milita was called out. (true) I believe he was militia. At this time it consisted of young boys and old men and they were armed with anything that was available. Real bottom of the barrel stuff. Thus the old converted flinter. The better organized groups had Mississippi rifles.
When his company got to the Army they were given to Capt. Martin. (there was a capt Martin in Featherston's brigade) and were mixed in with the regular troops on the Raymond road. He was then sent out as a picket along with the regulars. ( Featherston's brigade was responsible for picketing Gen Loring's right)
The yankees soon advanced and the pickets came under musket and cannon fire. ( true). They fell back on the mail line as they were supposed to do but most of the militia became paniced and kept going. ( true from battle field reports) When the main line saw the fleeing pickets they broke also (true) but were later rallyed briefly before a final retreat to the black warrior river.
Our 15 year old hero however decided that he had had enough war to last him and went home carrying his musket with him. He hid out for the rest of the war. The manuscript gives several individual names some of which I have been able to identify. I believe the manuscript is authentic and I wish I still knew where it was. A local historical society had it but the building burned.
That is the story of the musket as I know it.
BCR
BCR,
Interesting story, must be neat owning a firearm with that kind of history. Kind of a military history buff myself, mostly Anglo-Boer war and Pacific WWII.
Jeff
There is a certain satisfaction in banging away with an M1 Garand,that keeps it at the top of list,despite what else might be lurking in the closet.............................
94 Winchester 30-30 Williams Receiver sight. I like hitting rocks on the 200 yard berm with that peep. It is funny how amazed some people are that a 30-30 "can actually shoot that far". Sean
When I got my #1 in 22 Hornet together, it was my favorite. When I got my 25-284 together, it was my favorite. Then I bought a Win. 63, It's now my favorite "packing" 22, But my 77-17 is my all-around favorite rimfire. Also have a custom 10/22 that ranks right at the top. I guss that any one of these that I have in my hand at the moment, is my favorite.
Virgil B.
I'm with Jim and Bob....Ruger Mark II 5 1/2" 22lr. That gun is so accurate, it even makes
me look like a good shot!!! It's a real death-ray for amphibians too!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
After that I'd say:
RWS Model 54 - 22 cal
Rem 700 in 25-06/Marlin MR-7 in 270
Of all the rifles in the stable, Big Stick picks a 30-06 as his most enjoyable!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> What's the world coming to!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
The Garand's much deserved status,is formed of many components. Though I certainly weren't there at the time,I could easily side with Patton's summation of the rifle's magnitude.
Something pretty sweet about banging away with a piece so steeped in History and being marvelous to boot. She simply delivers,does it with much Ooomph,accuracy and incredible reliability.
Damn few things are more American than a working Garand and everybody oughtta treat themselves to at least one!....................
I understand...you're just not ready to come out of the closet (30-06 fan) yet!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
If it was good enough for Patton, then I definitely need one!! Good write up of your reasons, that is kinda my take on one. I talk to Gramps occasionally about his stint of packing one in Korea. He liked the fact that if someone got too close to shoot or he ran outta rounds he could club 'em to death with that thing. Plus, that ping from the strippers is just too cool!
Don't think for a second that I weren't hovering on every WWII tidbit my Grandpa related to me and that I'd forgotten any of 'em. I think it would be safe to say,that his enamoration with the Garand,were likely the first kindling to the fire of my craving one.
No coincidence either,that I searched for a Winchester Garand,as that is what he toted. There are other Manufacturers that are supposedly "better",but he still raves on the one he was issued and I still love shootin' mine.
I've said it often,that if a guy is gonna tote an '06 it had best be a Garand(grin)...................................
Qtip
I would have to say the rifle I have the most fun with is a little Marlin 1894 44 Mag that I had cut down to 16.5". That thing is a RIOT to shoot. More and more I find myself packing that in the woods instead of a hand cannon. Even with iron (ghost ring) sights it's minute-of-milk jug at 100 yards off hand. Good enough for me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
Love those lever action Winchesters.
1. 9422 mag, it will hit anything, w/in a reasonalbe range, that I point it at.
2. Sako Lt. Wt. Hunters. The stock fits me like a glove.
3. 1911 45 ACP, It was the first handgun I ever fired. It was of the WW2 era, which my uncle bought it for $15.00 through the NRA.