Anyone have a Stalking rifle to flaunt?

tokguy

tokguy

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I'm doing a little reading (Ruark's 'Horn of Hunter') and am realizing that the 'Stalking rifle' concept suits me quite well. I spend most most of my deer hunting stalking on the creek. Iron's or a 4x at best...usually with something that is really a 300 yd max rifle, heavier slower bullets work well in my locale to boot.
In the spirit of COVID restrictions not bringing me down; I'm keeping it upbeat and asking if anyone wants to flaunt their Stalking rifle, your opinion on why it is or isn't perfect is welcome as well.
Have a great day
Tok
 
My #1 stalker (I call it my walking rifle) is an old mannlicher, chambered in 9.5x57 (aka rimless nitro express). Love stalking bears with it. Shoots good, but a guy feels the steel but plate pretty good too lol.

 
Absolutely love my Tikka T3x Battue in 308 with Leupold QDrings on a 1.5-6. Its a nice light package with awesome irons for stalking and more than capable of longer than 300 yard shots (obviously scoped) if the opportunity presents itself
 
Ruger 77/44 wearing a 1.5-4.5

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Rem 870 smoothbore/rifle sights

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Winchester 94 in 3030 with a Skinner peep

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In Ontario, we call these "dogging guns" whether dogs or used or not
 
You already have and will receive more examples of various peoples concepts of what constitutes a "stalking rifle."

To me it must be maneuverable, sleek, wieldy... other attributes in my mind are classic walnut and blued steel, and chambered for a stout cartridge, although there will be plenty of kick back on those points. Functional iron sights are best, but in the absence of acute vision, a low powered optic suitable for quick target acquisition in close quarters.

I prefer a bolt action rifle, a case can be made for any action of preference. My closest pair, are pictured below, in 7X64 Brenneke and .358 Win...

Super Cub just built a beauty that is close to perfect to my way of thinking, perhaps he will post a picture.
 
What is a "stalking" rifle?

I assume it means different things to different people and also changes depending on location and species.
 
Just picked up a Model 7 in 350 Rem Mag (middle) for just this purpose. Waiting on a 2.5-8x VX-3 in the mail. The 660 in 308 (top) with too large of scope (VX 5 HD 3-15) makes a good one too. Probably going to swap the VX-3 3.5-10x from the 600 Mohawk in 243 (bottom) to the 308 to get it better for stalking again. Definitely love my Marlin SBL 45-70 as well tho. Too many choices ����
 

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Rigby made the best looking stalking rifles in my opinion for repeaters anyway. The jim corbett rifle is another prime example
Some one on here who im extremely jealous of had one build and custom stocked in beautiful walnut by a true craftsman in similar style

Other forms are single shots which i think the brits did very well and tbe germans followed with equally graceful lines but much more complex systems

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This is my current stalking rifle
 

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I suspect the OP is referring to a "stalking rifle" in the British and continental sense of the term. It was usually a bolt action, in a deer-class caliber (or bigger in African applications), flat-shooting, light weight carrying long distances, equipped with strap, quality iron sights and could also be topped with a scope.
 
One that has enough power to take anything in North America out to 200 yards, pleasant enough to shoot all day long, and swings and points like an extension of my arm, the “little” 9.3X57 Mauser.

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The oversize bolt knob is particularly handy in cold weather.

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Usually has a 3/4 inch sling on it, but took it off recently for these pictures.

Also have a very similar 8X57 that has more than 60 notches in the stock, not all mine. ;)

Ted
 

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Decker9 said:
My #1 stalker (I call it my walking rifle) is an old mannlicher, chambered in 9.5x57 (aka rimless nitro express). Love stalking bears with it. Shoots good, but a guy feels the steel but plate pretty good too lol.

Click to expand...

I've always wanted one of these rifles in that chambering , very nice .
 
ninepointer said:
I suspect the OP is referring to a "stalking rifle" in the British and continental sense of the term. It was usually a bolt action, in a deer-class caliber (or bigger in African applications), flat-shooting, light weight carrying long distances, equipped with strap, quality iron sights and could also be topped with a scope.
Click to expand...

You are correct sir. So far I have a plethora of candidates to play with.
I don't really consider anything past 250 yds as a valid shot...not the game that I play. Big power ain't cool in my neck of the woods.
30-40, 9.3 x 57, 8 x 57, 303 Br, 38-55 are a few of the calibers I use. Full patch, turn of the century, milsurp rds are usually what I end up using. A nice bubba'd milsurp with a thinned out stock works well for me.
7 x 57 is on the want list, though truth be told ( and Spaniard's be damned ) it's original loading doesn't trump a 30-40 IMO.
I really like carrying a 219 savage in 30-30... but it's an heirloom gun. The wrist on it is too slender for shotgun work... even the 30-30 seems brisk out of it.
 
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