I don't even hunt with rifles....
It’s a bit odd as a self-dedicated “Handgunner” that I maintain a battery of bolt action hunting rifles in my collection. Literally I do not use them but for some reason I have decided to keep them, just in case. These do not count the fun guns such as misc. oddballs, leverguns, and AR15’s. Those are in the majority, and I typically keep those too, I enjoy them, tinkering. Examples are 1874 Sharps, .500 Nitro Encores, .218 Bee, .401 WSL, etc., to name a few, you get the drift. These bolt guns are what I keep in case I go crazy and an African or AK trip presents itself and I cannot resist. I think this is plenty and I don’t really think I need to fill any gaps in the actual “hunting rifle” battery. Thankfully they do not take up much space or eat very much. Just a bit of a wipe down on occasion. Bolt guns only in a dedicated hunting role… There are a BUNCH of “fun” guns I keep.
Custom M98 in 6mm Ackley
Custom M98 .30-06 – boy, the urge to convert to .338-06 or 9.3x62. I have several .308’s but in a different category.
Custom Enfield P17 in .338 Win. Mag.
Custom BRNO 602 in .416 Rigby (A Reeder custom I could never part with)
I think over the years I have methodically spaced these out, caliber wise, with little overlap. If I were to say, be offered an Antelope hunt out west, I’d probably try handgun or if rifle use something “fun”. Honestly, I’d probably use my custom Martini in .25-35 WCF. So why do I keep this battery of bolt guns around?! I guess it’s the “dream” they keep alive by a smoldering spark. I just can’t seem to whittle it down further. Of late I have interest in all of them for cast bullet plinking, maybe some hunting! It’s the only economic way to shoot .416 and I have a killer .338 mould I need to try. Yes, I even have a 6mm cast mould, it was Paco’s! So, I can entertain myself with them too, and share it with my friends. Anyone have interest or experience with these calibers? Justified!
I do
Hunt with Rifles, also Handguns, but not strictly. Interest and experience? Lets start by saying, I would and can substitute the 6mm Ackley for a 257 Roberts Ackley Improved. A caliber I bought in the newly introduced/reintroduced? rifles by, by USRA in their Model 70 Featherweight. (circa 1981ish) It saw a few changes after purchase to include the re-barreling in a #3 contour, so now its sporter weight/featherweight rifle, in the .257 Ackley Chambering.
I've own 4-30/06's bought for "other" things. One became a 338-06, one used for a trade up, and 2 I still have to be changed, although one bought from I believe your friend, his name escapes me, but a Sears Ted Williams M-70 has been adopted by my Son in law. I never hunted with a '06, choosing the 280 Remington to be my '06. The '06 I traded up, along with an 870 shotgun purchased off a co worker was used, to be traded for a M77 Ruger MKII SS 338 mag, the last year offered with sights. The sole purpose was an Alaskan adventure for Brown Bear and Dall sheep. My only regret was not getting a wolf and a wolverine tag, Yes both encountered along with the other two on that wonderful trip.
416 Rigby, Like yours a CZ version of the 602, worked over to my liking, to include a 3 position "Winchester like" safety, bolt bent so it wouldn't contact my knuckle, action worked over to basically include flawless feeding. I owned it, and a Ruger #1. Selling off the Ruger, keeping the CZ to take to Africa for my very first Cape Buffalo a few years ago.
25-35 WCF for an Antelope? Sure, but I think, the only thing Id do deferent is use it in a lever gun.
I have hunted twice with a rifle out of almost 80 hunts with
handguns, so not in my wildest imagination can I call myself a rifle hunter. One was up in the Quebec/Labrador area for Caribou and used a custom Ruger #1 in 45-70.
![[image]](images/uploaded/202310200033576531caf5b83a6.jpg)
An old bull with only a few points but a big double shovel.
The other hunt was a bear hunt in Canada where I used a Winchester model 94 in 32 Win Spl.
![[image]](images/uploaded/202310200035166531cb4455ee9.jpg)
I also hunted Caribou in the Quebec/Labrador area with a drilling. Three barrels. One a 16 gauge, another a 9.3X74 rifle barrel and one of the shotgun barrels with a 22 Magnum insert. Can that be considered a rifle?
I originally wanted a .257 Ackley. My view
Better than the .25-06 that everyone loves. Plus I like to be different. Alas, the warehouse was out of .25 blanks but had a deal on .243. So there you go…
The Rigby I love everything but the price of factory ammo. Not hard to find a (20) round box at an asking price around $200. If it’s a genuine “money shot” on big game I can manage it. I can plink with cast bullets.
The .25-35 is a lever action! LOL It would be neat to rechamber for a more powerful round but the .310 Martini action is thin at the barrel threads, needs a rimmed ctg., and is 100 yrs. old. I’ll leave it as is. It’s a custom by a man named Wells from AZ.
![[image]](images/uploaded/202310201602396532a49f9a751.jpg)