Old School vs. New Tech: What’s Your Go-To Rifle for the Veld?

[Kevin Peacocke]

Blued steel and walnut in a Ruger No1 and a Heym double. I do have a few modern PCP air rifles too, but insist upon a walnut stock.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Reading all these posts about blued steel and walnut in a bolt action rifle or centerfire double, I'd bet the muzzleloader guys said the same thing when bolt rifles and smokeless cordite were the new kids on the block. I can hear them now. "Sonny, you don't know what a real rifle is, it's one with a ramrod". Every generation has it's preferences and blued steel and walnut will fade like the muzzleloaders. If for no other reason, the cost of manufacture.

 

[MS 9x56]

Reading all these posts about blued steel and walnut in a bolt action rifle or centerfire double, I'd bet the muzzleloader guys said the same thing when bolt rifles and smokeless cordite were the new kids on the block. I can hear them now. "Sonny, you don't know what a real rifle is, it's one with a ramrod". Every generation has it's preferences and blued steel and walnut will fade like the muzzleloaders. If for no other reason, the cost of manufacture.

Well ain’t you just a ray of sunshine.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Well ain’t you just a ray of sunshine.

A bud works in a gun shop in rural PA. The bolt action, blued, walnut guns sit and collect dust. Same with our local Cabela's. Heirs bring them in and get pennies on the dollar. They can't give them away. Not so with tupperware and stainless. If that's a little rain, oh well.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Reading all these posts about blued steel and walnut in a bolt action rifle or centerfire double, I'd bet the muzzleloader guys said the same thing when bolt rifles and smokeless cordite were the new kids on the block. I can hear them now. "Sonny, you don't know what a real rifle is, it's one with a ramrod". Every generation has it's preferences and blued steel and walnut will fade like the muzzleloaders. If for no other reason, the cost of manufacture.

That's like saying bolt action rifles would fade because semi-autos came on big during WW 2. That was 80 years ago. Most hunters still use bolt action rifles in blued steel, and many still like the look and feel of walnut.

 

[OxfordTheCat]

Reading all these posts about blued steel and walnut in a bolt action rifle or centerfire double, I'd bet the muzzleloader guys said the same thing when bolt rifles and smokeless cordite were the new kids on the block.

I always enjoy the quote when I stumble upon it:

"A gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears"
- George V

Every generation has it's preferences and blued steel and walnut will fade like the muzzleloaders.

And it will be a tremdous shame.
Much like the Gen Z trend of young men wearing sweatpants to dinner and everything short of a job interview, while I'm not yet at the 'get off my lawn' stage of life, I simply can't agree with or fathom the choices.

 

[Hogpatrol]

That's like saying bolt action rifles would fade because semi-autos came on big during WW 2. That was 80 years ago. Most hunters still use bolt action rifles in blued steel, and many still like the look and feel of walnut.

I started hunting in the early '60s. Back then for big game, our choice of rifle was original or sporterized military, Mausers, Enfields and Springfields. They were cheap and did the job. Who buys one of those for big game now?
Over the last 65 years, I've seen many changes in hunting firearms. The latest is semi-autos for big game being legal in a lot of states and seeing the up and coming younger hunters preferring them over bolt actions. It may take the remainder of the boomer generation passing but hunting bolt actions will eventually be as small as the military market is now. Disclaimer, I have over a dozen blued steel and walnut rifles and shotguns and shoot all of them.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@MS 9x56
Sorry about that
I must confess this pair are modern renditions.
Integral octagon barrels, GMA G33/40 actions,
stocks are from a single piece of Bastogne with Dakota Arms skeleton buttplates inlaid with Gabon ebony.
Hopefully, this will get rid of your condition
Best regards
Steve

@Jefferry404
Steve you are a mean bastard.
You will have poor ol @MS 9x56 drooling more than a saint Bernard dog chasing a bitch in heat.
He won't be able to find a big enough box of tissues to keep up
He does love fine rifles in old classic.
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I always enjoy the quote when I stumble upon it:

"A gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears"
- George V




And it will be a tremdous shame.
Much like the Gen Z trend of young men wearing sweatpants to dinner and everything short of a job interview, while I'm not yet at the 'get off my lawn' stage of life, I simply can't agree with or fathom the choices.

@OxfordTheCat
Some of the new plastic guns with a chassis with enough m lock holes to mount forty different items, a but stock with more adjustment than a politician promise and scopes big enough to count the rings of Saturn and in some new wizz bang cartridge to me are about as exciting as
Watching porn on a radio.
They may have there place but not in my safe.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

A bud works in a gun shop in rural PA. The bolt action, blued, walnut guns sit and collect dust. Same with our local Cabela's. Heirs bring them in and get pennies on the dollar. They can't give them away. Not so with tupperware and stainless. If that's a little rain, oh well.

@Hogpatrol
If'n they can't even give them away maybe you could ask them to donate them to a worthy cause. You know someone like you who would appreciate them. Sounds good to me.
Bob

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Hmmmm, I am not so sure fine blued and walnut rifles and doubles will dissapear at all. Why, because they represent the grand age and the chance to re-live it. They alse appeal to those with good taste and that group normally has the money to indulge. Lets's put a little meat on that. The luxury watch market is alive and well, and the second hand watch market is as strong as ever. Westley Richard's order book is full, and you will wait six years for one. Rigby's Shikari which offered quick deliveries nearly three years ago but few have held theirs yet.
Of course the black gun market will grow, but it is different. At least it is keeping gun interest alive. And the mid-range blue and walnut may shrink, but save some pennies (lots actually) and you will always find one.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Mine has been around since 1955 but I have it in a modern version. Evidently, It is the second-most popular of all hunting rifle chamberings (after the long action .30-06)

One of Bob’s favorite PG dispatchers, the .243… I don’t want to plug your post with the countless PG and North American animals I’ve taken with it, so here are a few.

There will be more in the near future…

 

[Sika98k]

It would have to be something traditional in blued steel and walnut. I’ve managed to do that every time so far.

 

[MS 9x56]

@Jefferry404
Steve you are a mean bastard.
You will have poor ol @MS 9x56 drooling more than a saint Bernard dog chasing a bitch in heat.
He won't be able to find a big enough box of tissues to keep up
He does love fine rifles in old classic.
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

You know me too well Bob.

 

[Pondoro]

Blue steel and walnut thank you..

 

[coreydb]

Honestly, I have no favorite rifle. I just reach in my firearms "research library" and pull the rifle required for the hunt at that time.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

Yes, I'm having one put on my .404J

McLaughlin's Dangerous Game Cocking Piece Sight — McLaughlin Metalworks

The Dangerous Game cocking piece sight eliminates the need to choose between a scope and a peep sight. After many requests, we developed a low profile cocking piece sight that can be used while the scope is still attached.

www.mclaughlinmetalworks.com

He makes them for Rigby, it's a $2,400 option from Rigby or you can buy from him for $450; you can send your bolt to him and he will fit it.

This is kinda badass if it works.

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

My model 1905 9x56 Mannlicher Schoenauer... I would stake my life on... 100 % reliable.

And she's purrrrrty.

 

[PCC600]

I am in the old school camp . My newest rifle is very retro . A single square bridge magnum Mauser action with flag safety . A Rigby 416 Big Game . I specifically requested 24 inch barrels ( which they did not offer with the single square bridge at the time ) with a peep sight mounted on the cocking piece . They also made it with all folding rear sights so as not to block the view down the barrel . In keeping with the old school approach I also did not request a higher grade walnut stock - but I still got a nice piece of timber . This rifle handles very well and the peep sight works very well on buffalo at ranges of 50-100 metres.

 

[jswitzer]

9.3x62 on a 1909 Argentine. Hard to beat taking a nice rifle for a walk if the hunt is unsuccessful. Better if you take your animal.