Anyone hunt with old guns (the real old timers)?

One of my hunting partners allowed his PAL to expire, and did not get his new one in time for deer hunting this year. He carried my two-band Snider (.577) and some seriously evil-looking cartridges for a week, but unfortunately did not have a chace to see how that 535 grain bullet performed on deer. When I sighted it in, it was in the bull with a reasonable pattern (2" x 5" for five shots) at fifty yards, but not on the paper at a hundred.

The Snider of course is not a firearm (under the stupid gun laws), so he could carry it legally...........and it is pretty cool, enough that I am thinking about taking it for a walk next fall.

Doug
 
hs4570 said:
Have a comercial single shot Martini made by Alexander Henry in Scotland....
Its in .303 British.........the action is " in the white",and full of scrollwork , lever is color case hardened and scrolled with the 4 digit serial serial number on it.........even forend screw has tooling........ those more knowledgable than I state its pre WW 1 .......

but previous owner (s) bobbed the barrel and chopped the original butt stock and the old Henry rifleing was shot out......


In keeping with owning something old "with character" had the barrel replaced with that of a trimmed down #4 enfield and have an "old " steel Weaver 4 X with post mounted so it can continue to be used for hunting for a few more generations to come...............

........weighs about 6 1/2 lbs.......will shoot 1.5 in/100 yds/3 shots/handloads and when you meet people in the outdoors they all seem to think its "cool"
too that someone would hunt with something over 90 years old........


hs4570.........................................your mileage may vary
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I have it on reasonably good authority (which I will check) that Alexander henry of Edinborough ceased trading in 1913 so everything would be pre WW1.
That said I use regullarly (or rather take out) a 1917 BSA govt Contract SMLE No1 Mk111* which was converted for the trade by restocking with Sile furniture and fitting a nice front sight ramp, by Parker hale in 45. I believe this to be the original barrel and it has taken deer this year. I have also seen a chap stalking with his Martini enfield cavalry carbine firing a 215 gn round nose lead bullet. That is old enough for me. Here we have the problem of minimum muzzle energies which does rule out some of the black powder arms for deer.
 
I once used a rook rifle, for rabbit hunting. I figure it was made around the 1890's, and it looked so.
Used 38 special target low powered full diameter wadcutters (re/chambered).
Was really quiet, but I sold it last year, 'cause most 22 rifles would out shoot it at 30-40 yards.
But it was lightweight and its accuracy was okay for close range
bush bunnies....
 
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On the avatar I used to use is the bear and if memory serves the deer count is two with the orig 1885 high wall in the avatar circa 1889 cal 45/60...Its certainly not over powered for bear
 
I use a 6.5 X 55 swede (1906 original). I made a special point to use it this year since it just turned 100. My son uses a sporterized 1903 6.5 X 55 which did the trick for the big moose this year. A nice moose about 45 inch spread.
 
Whacked a doe this year at about 75 yards with a 1915 Mk III .303

Took my blackpowder out earlier, but didn't see anything worth shooting.
 
Took a nice doe today .
97 paces with the 8X56Mannlicher Schoenauer.
The rifle has now made its bones for me, and the bullet also!
Nov-1.jpg

1758mmprohunter3.jpg

Bullet started out a 175, ended up just shy of 170 grains.
Smashed the front shoulder up after it quartered throught the body ( hit was a bit farther back than I like, but it was a bang -flop!)
Not bad for an obsolete rifle, sighting system, and cartridge!
Cat
 
Remington Ryder #9 in 28 guage,single shot 34 inch barrel.

You can shoot a single pecan out of a sixty foot tree!

It's a side cocker but not hard to get used to. 1904

Bob
 
The classics are great. I like the old traditional calibers and rifles. I have used a 1916 BSA #1 mk 3, model 1893 Marlin in 32 win special made in 1925, and a model 96/38 6.5x55 Obendorf Swedish Mauser made in 1899 .
I recently acquired a model 20 Savage bolt action in 250-3000 made in the 1920s. I plan to use this rifle next season on Bambi or his Mother.
 
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