Ideal hunting rifle
If I still was a hunting man and I wanted a rifle for Deer, Bear, Elk and such Here is what I would do:
I would get a pre-64 Winchester M-88 and put a well made 24" barrel on it in 338 Federal.
If I couldn't find a good M88(I have one) a Savage 99 would do just as well( a 308 gun with a detachable mag).
I would mount a 3.5-10x Vari-x 3 on it...............
And never look back.
That set up would work on African plains game just fine.
But I don't hunt anymore
I would get a pre-64 Winchester M-88 and put a well made 24" barrel on it in 338 Federal.
If I couldn't find a good M88(I have one) a Savage 99 would do just as well( a 308 gun with a detachable mag).
I would mount a 3.5-10x Vari-x 3 on it...............
And never look back.
That set up would work on African plains game just fine.
But I don't hunt anymore
0
-
That sounds like a mighty fine shootin' iron!
Breaks my heart that neither of your "base rifles" is still in production.
Would it be possible to ream out an 88 tube?
My 99 featherweight in .308 wouldn't have much barrel wall left, I don't think so anyway.
Does the .338 federal need a 24" tube, to achieve maximum ballistics?0 -
If you feel the need, I got one NIB. 0 -
As long as you don't demand superb accuracy....
There have been several FN-FAL types converted to 358 Winchester ... If 2MOA is good enough....
That also means in theory any other 308/762NATO battle rifle could be converted...0 -
I have had 4 M88 Winchester all Pre-64 guns and all of them shot Min of Ang with handloads.
They are slick and very fast.
Right now I have one left that I am not selling it, a 308 made in the early 50's and it has shot a one inch group at 200 yds with handloads. The trigger is not great but this one has the best trigger I have seen in a M88.
I always wanted on in 358 but could never connect.
I had a 284 but I sold it to a buddy same with the 243 I had.
I consider the m88 to be one of the best hunting guns ever built.0 -
How about a browning lever rifle? 0 -
Geri wrote:How about a browning lever rifle?
Good point!
I have never owned one but they seem solid
Like a SAKO timberwolf, man but they are so hard to find.0 -
I always wanted a Marlin 338 express for my ultimate hunting gun 0 -
I don't hunt anymore, but just in case I decide to my "Ideal Hunting Rifle" is still in my safe; a 1956 vintage Winchester Model 70 Featherweight chambered in 30-06. 0 -
forgemonkey wrote:
For ?Armadillos? ???? ,,,,,,, :shock:Old-Colts wrote:I don't hunt anymore, but just in case I decide to my "Ideal Hunting Rifle" is still in my safe; a 1956 vintage Winchester Model 70 Featherweight chambered in 30-06.
Nah, my little Winchester Model 04 with CCI 22 Shorts works perfectly for those bastages; one shot and DRT!0 -
Well now.........That's kind of a waste of a nice rifle like that. Just withering away in a dark scary safe.Old-Colts wrote:I don't hunt anymore, but just in case I decide to my "Ideal Hunting Rifle" is still in my safe; a 1956 vintage Winchester Model 70 Featherweight chambered in 30-06.
Just put me down for the give away, and I promise it will be hunted with!! And loved!0 -
Have a couple of 99s. A 50s era 300 savage and dads 250/3000. I think I would stick with the older rotary magazine guns over a newer detachable mag version. Never saw anyone lose the mag or drop it and bend the lips on the rotary style Also I will stay with the 300 as it will kill most anything I'll ever shoot with it. After all wasn't the military using it as a reference in developing that new fangled 308? Bob0 -
Love the '99'sBobJudy wrote:Have a couple of 99s. A 50s era 300 savage and dads 250/3000. I think I would stick with the older rotary magazine guns over a newer detachable mag version. Never saw anyone lose the mag or drop it and bend the lips on the rotary style Also I will stay with the 300 as it will kill most anything I'll ever shoot with it. After all wasn't the military using it as a reference in developing that new fangled 308? Bob
I'm taking a 1940's 300 Sav with a Stith mount and Lyman Alaskan 2.5X scope to Montana this year to shoot a critter with it!
My old eyes just don't allow me to use open sights any more.....0 -
Sam06 wrote:I have had 4 M88 Winchester all Pre-64 guns and all of them shot Min of Ang with handloads.
They are slick and very fast.
Right now I have one left that I am not selling it, a 308 made in the early 50's and it has shot a one inch group at 200 yds with handloads. The trigger is not great but this one has the best trigger I have seen in a M88.
I always wanted on in 358 but could never connect.
I had a 284 but I sold it to a buddy same with the 243 I had.
I consider the m88 to be one of the best hunting guns ever built.
The 358 is what crossed my mind when I read your post. The 338 Federal would be a little more power but I thought the 358 was already chambered in the 88. Maybe not, I'm far from an expert. But the 358 is a heck of a round.
With more grizzly around in the western states a man needs to pack something with enough thump to it to handle what's needed.0 -
They made the M88 in 358(243, 308, 284) but they are hard to find and when you do you pay ALOT for them.
I really like the 338 Federal, ballistic wise and on paper. From what I have read it is a real killer too. Like the 338-06 the 338 Fed really shines with the mid-weight bullets 180-220 pushing them faster than a 308 can.
I also think a 24" barrel would up the velocity some too but not make it too long.0 -
I went to the suction side and looked up M88 in .358. There are a couple, both over 3K. Pricey for sure. 0 -
Had a 358, but used a 35 whelen for years. Loaded 38/357 bullets over
15 gr. of 2400, shot poa at 50yds. Great for rabbits and practice.
In a lever gun the 358 would be my pick because of the 38/357 bullets
to load and practice with. JMO0 -
.300 Win Mag with a brake. 0 -
I wish I still had my "Ideal" hunting rifle. 7x57 on a 1930 Greek contract FN action.
Give that little rifle one fouling shot and it would print cloverleafs with, believe it or not, a 21" Midway barrel and Federal factory ammo.
I truly miss that little darling.0 -
Nice looking gun and a 7x57 is a great round. 0 -
The classic bolt guns with a GOOD barrel in classic calibers like 270,308, 30-06, 7mm and the like deliverd...
Miss my old Savage 99, Ruger 7, Remington 700 but hunting now with shotguns and bow.\
There are many ideal hunting guns for your situation. Chose one with a good barrel.0 -
gearheaddad wrote:
Well now.........That's kind of a waste of a nice rifle like that. Just withering away in a dark scary safe.Old-Colts wrote:I don't hunt anymore, but just in case I decide to my "Ideal Hunting Rifle" is still in my safe; a 1956 vintage Winchester Model 70 Featherweight chambered in 30-06.
Just put me down for the give away, and I promise it will be hunted with!! And loved!
0 -
CZ 30-06 and a real keeper 0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
23 comments