What are your not-negotiables for a rifle?

[roklok]

Funnily enough I dislike the Winchester 3 position safety. I do love the M1917/P14 safety though.

Same here ! I never cared for the Winchester 70 style safety, I owned one M70 and the safety was my least favorite thing about it. I have a Remington 30 Express made in 1935 that is in the process of being rebarreled to 375 H&H, love the 1917 style safety on it.

 

[1dirthawker]

interesting thread.

kind of depends on the game the rifle is intended for as to what i will tolerate, but, things that are not negotiable on my AK big game rifles:

1. synthetic and stainless or coated with cerracote (i like hogue over molded stocks)
2. must be absolutely reliable (nobody wants a gun that goes off sometimes)
3.CRF (although i recently bought an r-8)
4. low mounted scope
5.no detachable magazine (the blaser can be locked in place)
6. NO MUZZLE BRAKE!!!

other things like LOP, scope type, etc can be adjusted, shortened, added etc. i love beautiful wood and blued but for the daily carry outside in the weather rifle, the above list is pretty much required.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

,

I can be more forgiving of an inferior rifle if the glass is very good. So, item number one for me is a very good scope.

I don’t care for muzzle brakes anymore. Noise is worse than recoil!

Wiggly stock parts: if the stock moves in your hand on the barrel, if there is a magazine that isn’t tight fitting, if the bolt rattles or moves. A good rifle is a solid item that shouldn’t make noise.

After those things, I’ll hunt with about anything. In truth, I’m happy to hunt with any type of rifle because I’m always happy to hunt.

I’ve purchased some cheap rifles, because they were cheap and I was just getting discretionary income. I hardly ever used the cheap rifles. I would have been better off waiting for something of quality.

@Tra3
A couple of my rifles I bought were ridiculously cheap ( to me anyway) $300or less. These turned out to be some of the most accurate rifles I have owned. One was a BRUNO No2 in 22lr extremely accurate. On a good day with the ammo it likes it will shoot less than 0.2" groups at fifty yards when I do my part.
The other is my Stevens 200 aka Savage 110 that I got for $300. At the time it was a 270 and with 130gn copper ACP projectiles it would get 3,200 fps with zero pressure signs and shoot 1" groups at 200 yards all day. That rifle became my 35 Whelen but u kept the 270 barrel incase I have a stupid moment and put it back in. Top that off the stock fits me like it was custom built for me.
Cheap can be good
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Reliability, function and accuracy above all. Those are my non-negotiables.

You guys know I'm gonna say the R8 Professional, but at the same time I love a fine timber stocked rifle. I'd say no to muzzle brakes on everything except a home defense AR/AK. Suppressors only for use in certain situations.

@BeeMaa
Even if'n y'all put a grade 10 walnut stock on your Barbie gun and with all the wonderful characteristics it's has for you to me it would still be like putting lipstick on a pig and calling it beautiful.
Some things just don't do it for me and I'm afraid the R8 is on of those, but to each their own.
As stupid as it sounds I would prefer a Savage 110 over an R8. Yeh I know I have no class or finesse but that's just me.
A nice K95 on the other hand is a thing of beauty, practicality and simple form and function.
Bob

 

[Tra3]

,

@Tra3
A couple of my rifles I bought were ridiculously cheap ( to me anyway) $300or less. These turned out to be some of the most accurate rifles I have owned. One was a BRUNO No2 in 22lr extremely accurate. On a good day with the ammo it likes it will shoot less than 0.2" groups at fifty yards when I do my part.
The other is my Stevens 200 aka Savage 110 that I got for $300. At the time it was a 270 and with 130gn copper ACP projectiles it would get 3,200 fps with zero pressure signs and shoot 1" groups at 200 yards all day. That rifle became my 35 Whelen but u kept the 270 barrel incase I have a stupid moment and put it back in. Top that off the stock fits me like it was custom built for me.
Cheap can be good
Bob

The Ruger American rifles are cheap. The stocks are cheap, components cheap. The barrels will rust more easily.
But, they have been wonderfully accurate. I don’t think they are any less accurate than my Blaser.

A hunter could use many of the cheaper production rifles and do tremendously well with them. But they don’t feel as good in the hands and, for a lazy gun cleaner like me, are at grave risk of harm due to my incomplete attention to their proper care.

 

[ftrovato]

1) No detachable magazine for the same reason. I had one fall out of my 760 pump and it cost me a bull moose.

2) I prefer wood. Battle scars add character. If it bothers me, I will refinish the stock.

3) Definitely do not like muzzle brakes or suppressors. I shot a couple of animals long range with my PH's suppressed 270 WSM and it was a delight to shoot. Fortunately, he was carrying it not me. If I was a range junky, I might feel differently about suppressors. But for the little time I spend shooting paper it's just not necessary.

4) I prefer rifles and shotguns with some weight to them. Heavier rifle mitigates recoil. Heavier shotgun swings better. To me balance is most important and I have found very few lightweight long guns that balanced well. I carry this heavyweight old Browning humpback all day, day after day, every fall for six weeks hunting uplands. Unless the bag limit is filled, it's in my hands with sling detached. I can take it and I'm no body builder. Works for me. I miss very few birds or clays: my skeet average is 22/25 ... and I'm half blind (literally!). Loaded with three twelve gauge shells, 31" barrel, and dressed in plastic it weighs just a bit over ten pounds.
View attachment 660749
My 30-06 1903A3 weighs slightly more when fully loaded with six rounds. I can carry it all day no problem. And in rough country.
View attachment 660750
My 404J is a bruiser at over eleven pounds fully loaded with four rounds. I carried it all day for several days hunting buffalo in 2023. Yes, I notice the weight but my fragile retinas need it for recoil mitigation.
View attachment 660751
All guns are balanced perfectly at the forward half of floorplate (or just ahead of magazine loading port for A5). Balance is more important than gross weight.

5) Classic styling is not terribly important to me. Because I stalk big game up close and I'm often shooting moving targets, quick acquisition is more important than cosmetics. Monte Carlo cheekpiece is fine for getting me on the crosshairs in a hurry. Low European style comb not so much. Fit is paramount, especially for a quick shooter. My shotgun wears a slip-on recoil pad for extra LOP when shooting in shirt sleeves but it gets pulled off on extra cold days when I'm layered up. Not pretty but it works.

6) I agree about minimizing attachments. Tried a bipod for a while. Didn't work out. Throws off gun's balance and rarely practical. I do have quick detach rings and iron sights on both rifles. Good to have another option for adverse conditions or scope goes south. Again, maybe not the prettiest setup but it works. No lighted reticles. Just something to go wrong. I don't own a range finder or chronograph but contemplating buying the latter. I do reload.

7) I'm not into long range shooting, either at targets or animals. Sub MOA is overkill in my book. MOA is good enough for shooting big game out to 200 yards. Sub MOA for a dangerous game rifle is just silly.

Keep it simple. Don't overthink. Choose what works not what is trendy.

That Browning has a lot of character! I suspect you have more memories caring that shotgun than most people have small game hunted.... Pheasant hunting for me is as good a life gets!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Same here ! I never cared for the Winchester 70 style safety, I owned one M70 and the safety was my least favorite thing about it. I have a Remington 30 Express made in 1935 that is in the process of being rebarreled to 375 H&H, love the 1917 style safety on it.

@roklok
Can't go wrong with a 30s/M17, simple, bomb proff and can be made beautiful unlike an R8.

Sorry @BeeMaa but no matter what you do to Barbie you are still putting lipstick on a pig.
The R8 is a bit like me. Functional, useful and butt ugly
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Barbie rifle?
And why the hate on a 243? Its a fine flat shooting round I hear.

@62flint
The 243 is the greatest wounding calibre I have ever come across.
To big for small game, not big enough for medium game
Doesn't live up to Winchesters hype.
I have had to finish off more game shot with one than I care to count.
To me it may be fine for paper targets but for hunting leave it at home unless you load it with bullets that match the game which most in Australia don't.
I hate it with a passion.
Bob

 

[ftrovato]

@62flint
The 243 is the greatest wounding calibre I have ever come across.
To big for small game, not big enough for medium game
Doesn't live up to Winchesters hype.
I have had to finish off more game shot with one than I care to count.
To me it may be fine for paper targets but for hunting leave it at home unless you load it with bullets that match the game which most in Australia don't.
I hate it with a passion.
Bob

Tell us how you really feel Bob. ;-)

 

[62flint]

@62flint
The 243 is the greatest wounding calibre I have ever come across.
To big for small game, not big enough for medium game
Doesn't live up to Winchesters hype.
I have had to finish off more game shot with one than I care to count.
To me it may be fine for paper targets but for hunting leave it at home unless you load it with bullets that match the game which most in Australia don't.
I hate it with a passion.
Bob

ok ,,, So what the hell is a barbie rifle?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@ontariohunter A5’s are my FAVORITE shotgun. New or old doesn’t matter to me. My wife finally tried my sweet sixteen and now I need to buy another one for myself.

@RyanPalmer
Any married man especially @Action Bob can tell you
What's hers is hers and what's yours is hers.
You can't hide things. Better off buying two of fine things because one will always end up hers.
Rest assured if se said I don't need it and you sell it she will then use yours and you will lose it anyway.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

No black plastic stocks. No muzzle brakes or flash suppressors. No AR’s, no pistol grips. No pistol cartridge rifles.

@MS 9x56
Lucky my Whelen has a grey plastic stock then.
May have to get @ Forrest Halley to give at a rattle can Camo finish.
Bob

 

[MS 9x56]

@62flint
The 243 is the greatest wounding calibre I have ever come across.
To big for small game, not big enough for medium game
Doesn't live up to Winchesters hype.
I have had to finish off more game shot with one than I care to count.
To me it may be fine for paper targets but for hunting leave it at home unless you load it with bullets that match the game which most in Australia don't.
I hate it with a passion.
Bob

Come on Bob tell us how you really feel. As a former user of the 243, I concur with your assessments.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

ok ,,, So what the hell is a barbie rifle?

@62flint
A Barbie gun is my nickname for @BeeMaa Blaster R8. There's a lot of plastic in it..
Comes from the song
I'm a Barbie girl in a Barbie world, plastic fantastic.
The R8 may be fantastic but a lot of plastic like Barbie
It's my way of having a bit of fun with @BeeMaa.
He is actually a great person with good taste in weapons, wine and women. Just has a thing with his plastic fantastic Barbie rifle aka R8.
Bob

 

[MS 9x56]

@MS 9x56
Lucky my Whelen has a grey plastic stock then.
May have to get @ Forrest Halley to give at a rattle can Camo finish.
Bob

Just get it hydro dipped in a wood pattern and you have the best of both worlds.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

You're right mate, in the past l have... but l'm sick of buying and selling guns l just want to use the ones l've got.
l reckon this .308 will be a keeper though... it's light, handy and looks good to my eye - and the .308 is perfect for the deer hunting l do.
And like you said it'll be prefect for Harry
Even worked out a load for him, the 125gn Sierra ProHunter in front of a min charge of 2206H for around 2700fps. Nice little low-recoiling deer load.

Between the 425 Express, the .243 and the .308 l reckon l'm covered mate.

Russ

@Badboymelvin
The beauty of the 243 is that with a tapered expander in you flat due you can make it 308 with just one pass.
Once Harry uses the 08 he will never want anything less.
Bob

 

[CoElkHunter]

@Badboymelvin
Russ
My non negotiables are
Must be accurate
Must be adequate for the game I hunt
Must be in a calibre I like eg 22 Hornet or 222 REM,25, 35,7mm( non magnum).
Big calibres are nice but don't really have a use for them.
NO 243 WILL EVER GRACE MY GUN Room OR HUNTING, I WOULD RATHER SHOOT MYSELF THAN OWN ONE.
I don't mind detachable mags or synthetic sticks but really love nice wood and blues steel or bead blasted stainless.
No high class rifles like Rigby because even tho I like them will never afford one.

Definitely NO BARBIE RIFLES. My GI Joe ex- militarys wouldn't play nicely with them. The would probably get but stoked to the mag well or scope
Bob

Bob,
Just stick with your wildcats .35BNE (Banzai Nelson Express) and .25 Samurai and you won't have any problems. No need to buy a .243 WINCHESTER. LOL
CEH

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Oh no! Bob, you better check your supply of blood pressure meds.

@Ontario Hunter
He obviously don't know me and my hate for it YET.
But he will soon
Bob.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Just get it hydro dipped in a wood pattern and you have the best of both worlds.

@MS 9x56
In Australia It will cost you upwards of $200 to get it hydro dipped. Rattle can paint is cheaper and you know I'm a tight wad. Might just leave it grey
Bob

 

[CoElkHunter]

ok ,,, So what the hell is a barbie rifle?

Ask Ken. LOL