Show your work horses and bubba rifles

Lovin it.

This is my old trusty 12ga sxs. Bluing worn off at the barrels. Used it as a canoe paddle one in a last effort.

View attachment 576618
The CZ (BRNO) sidelock was and still is one of the great unappreciated bargains still to be found on the planet. I had the English stocked version.
 
Ontario,
IMG_2780.jpeg
I have never shot an animal with that particular rifle. I’ve always preferred to leave it on my mud room wall.
 
Not a rifle but I've had this SBE1 since I started hunting on my own, a personal point of pride that all of the wear on it was caused by me. Originally it had a walnut stock but it got broke on a decoy sled about 15 years ago. Yes that's electrical tape holding on the old small Easyhit sight they don't make anymore. That piece of super 88 is going on 5 or 10 years now, much longer than the factory adhesive or my glue job did. A couple of pics from this year.

IMG_6342.jpg
IMG_6450.jpg
IMG_6157.jpg
IMG_6159.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
42412169-154C-4A9A-AC5F-B21D2FF81A8A.jpeg


I’ve put enough shells through this to fill a truckbed.

Dad bought it for me when I was 12 and shooting trap competitively. It’s taken plenty of doves over the years too. Now it mostly comes out for the occasional round of sporting clays. Small kids, multiple jobs, and high ammo prices don’t work well together.
 
My 54 Winchester in 30-06. It’s an honest old gun with nothing but the old rotted pad replaced. It’s from 1926 and sports it’s original stainless steel barrel with the original black factory paint.

IMG_2184.jpeg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
My most beat up rifle would be a Ruger American Predator I got in .358 Winchester (Grice Guns limited run).

First I cut the barrel to 18 inches then 16.5 inches. I added a front site with a QD rear peep site. I replaced the Predator stock with a conpact/youth model stock. I cut the fore end off to save weight and put the round tip back on with a screw and bedding compound.
It's ugly but it's only about 6.5 pounds scoped and I'm not afraid to use it. It's killed a couple caribou, multiple bears and two moose. I let two boys (ages 12 and 13) borrow it for near bait hunting. Both hammered their bears and got very quick kills. A lot of times I strap it to my pack and carry it on scouting trips or as a backup gun when I take kids hunting (they normally have a 308 that may or may not wear a suppressor depending on whether we are more interested in weight reduction or recoil reduction for a young hunter.
received_1453085621900385.jpeg


20210610_200302.jpg
 
Last edited:
Never worried about a few dings or scratches on a favorite rifle, wood can be surprisingly resilient, and easy to maintain. This stainless laminate Ruger in 300WM has been my go-to for 20+ years, and is headed back to KS in a few days to hopefully put a whitetail doe in the freezer. A work horse rifle does not need to be beat up and ugly, but sometimes they do need a little improvement over how they left the factory though...:A Shades: Life's too short to hunt with an ugly gun.

1703642864779.jpeg


1703642470161.png

1703642505509.png

1703642541845.png
 
She sure ain't gonna win any beauty contests but she sure does bring home the bacon or venison in this case.
PA231.jpg
 
This thread speaks to me.
I’m having trouble posting pics of my dad’s old Remington 742 with chewed up receiver rails. I “fixed” it by blocking the gas port and converting it from semiauto to single-shot. It’s perfect for hunting spikes etc.
IMG_0575.jpeg
 
Dang, Warbeast, your question cuts right into a man's soul.




No pictures because they are all riding in vehicles (parked in the pouring rain right now), all of the time.


1. A JCPenney bolt action .22 rifle (A Marlin/Glenfield). This has probably accounted for 90% of the critters that I have even taken.

2. A Remington Model 700 .30/06. This has taken about 90% of all the big-game animals that I have ever taken.

3. A Weatherby Vanguard in .300 Winchester Magnum. This has taken 46% of all of my African big-game animals.


This question has a way of humbling a man with a safe-full of "nice" rifles.

The rifle you just happen to have with you at the right time makes more difference than all of your "safe queens" combined.

I also have the same issue with saltwater rods and reels. I have some stupid expensive tackle, but I carry a Daiwa Sealine reel and a Silstar rod with me almost all of the time, because I don't care if they get beat up or broken. I've caught fish that I don't deserve to catch on that old outfit!
 
Ontario, View attachment 576682I have never shot an animal with that particular rifle. I’ve always preferred to leave it on my mud room wall.
I also have one of those wallhangers. I have shot it a couple of times. The Ideal tong tool loader is worth almost as much as this 40-60 cal 1881 Marlin. I should at least shoot a deer with it someday. This gun was probably designed to kill bison and Indians but it's difficult to draw a tag for them these days. :D
Marlin2.JPG
 
This was my workhorse. A Cerakoted, film dipped ABolt in 7 mag. Nothing special but accurate

2 moose, elk with CWO, mule deer, many PG animals

Just gave it to my Son in Law for his November elk hunt.
IMG_5122.jpeg
IMG_1458.jpeg
IMG_1457.jpeg
IMG_4745.jpeg
IMG_4627.jpeg
IMG_3423.jpeg
IMG_3350.jpeg
 
Last edited:
All my rifles are working rifles. No "Missy Prissy" once a year to the rifle range Safe Queens here. My "Work Horse" is a Winchester M70 338 Win Mag. I purchased it when I was in the Air Force stationed in Fairbanks Alaska. It was 1984- Alaska's 25th year Statehood anniversary so there were several Commemorative models in the case along side the XTR model. The Alaska State Commemoratives were $100 more and I didn't see how a little engraving would make it shoot any better so I went with the cheaper one.

It has killed Moose, Interior Grizzly Bear, Caribou, and Deer in Alaska, Deer and Elk in Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington, Deer in Montana, Hogs, Deer, Elk, Bear, Bison and exotics in California, Deer and Javelina in Texas, Axis Deer and Spanish Goats in Hawaii, Mule and Coues Deer in Sonora Mexico, Moose in Norway, 10 head of Plains Game in South Africa, and is slated to return to Africa in 2025. It has logged more air miles than most people.

It's favorite bullet is a 275gr Swift "A" Frame. Best shot was a Mountain Reedbuck (45-50lb) @325yds across a canyon at dusk during my 2002 SA Safari.

20231114_144502.png
20231114_144511.png
kudu.jpg
Norway Moose 2011 .JPG
colorado cold 1.jpg
Hawaii Axis 2012 .JPG
Hayfork California 141 B&C 1986.jpg
antelope Colorado 2008  .JPG
kuujjuaq pix 003.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Forum statistics

Threads
57,528
Messages
1,233,044
Members
101,251
Latest member
BurtonJohn
 

 

 

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

Grz63 wrote on Doug Hamilton's profile.
Hello Doug,
I am Philippe from France and plan to go hunting Caprivi in 2026, Oct.
I have read on AH you had some time in Vic Falls after hunting. May I ask you with whom you have planned / organized the Chobe NP tour and the different visits. (with my GF we will have 4 days and 3 nights there)
Thank in advance, I will appreciate your response.
Merci
Philippe
Grz63 wrote on Moe324's profile.
Hello Moe324
I am Philippe from France and plan to go hunting Caprivi in 2026, Oct.
I have read on AH you had some time in Vic Falls after hunting. May I ask you with whom you have planned / organized the Chobe NP tour and the different visits. (with my GF we will have 4 days and 3 nights there)
Thank in advance, I will appreciate your response.
Merci
Philippe
rafter3 wrote on Manny R's profile.
Hey there could I have that jewelers email you mentioned in the thread?
VIGILAIRE wrote on wesheltonj's profile.
Hi Walden. Good morning from England, Chris here (The Englishman!) from Croatia. Firstly it was a pleasure to meet you and Michelle - a fellow Sanderson! I have finally joined AH as I enjoy it very much. Glad you enjoyed the hunt and your write up which I read on AR was very good indeed. I am sending on WhatsApp pics from Bojan of some of the animals hunted recently. Take care and best regards. CS.
 
Top