Favorite rifle to carry that you own....

Noel said:
Nice rig Rick!
Did you make that bolt handle?
I've yet to see a 358 Husky up here.
Click to expand...
No, Martin Hagn lives just a couple of blocks up the hill from me. He took some time off from making those millionaire's falling blocks to do that work for me.

I've never seen another 358 Husky in the featherweight models. I don't know how long they made them for, or how many ended up in Canada.

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Several "Carry Gun" Choices in NW Ontario: 1973-2003

My criteria and the choices I have made are based on my 30 years in NW Ontario in and around Thunder Bay.

In looking at the previous posts I realize that I have tried many of the choices advocated as "da best eh". For both fun and an education I think I can say that I "tried them all" each in turn. As well the people who sometimes accompanied me did the same.

By use I found that some of these choices worked out better for me than others.

They were "real life situations" when I was "out and about". Sometimes the trip to camp was a day or two; other times I would be there a week or two at a time. Most essentially there was "really no immediate backup". In 1970s or early 1980s satellite phones or cell phones were NOT an available option. The CB gave irregualr service; the nearest phone or phome booth was 30 miles away.

The majority of the time outdoors in 100's of trips from Thunder Bay to the Addey Lake near the Canada USA Border area were routine. However a few over the years included occasions where a bear openly stalked and then attacked cattle in my neighbours barnyard, or when a pack of wolves chased my hunting dog or when a large bear showed very aggressive behaviour towards workers at a construction site that I was supervising.

On only a few of these situations were ones in which I had to fire a shot. In the overwhelming two the presence of a firearm ensured that an avenue of escape was available while the threat persisted.

That said, it brings to mind the criteria at hand here. You have to "carry the firearm around" ALL the time..by foot or on a skidoo or in a canoe or bush plane or in the car or truck.

In the fall the "carry gun choice" was mostly based on moose hunting for several months each fall from Thanksgiving right through to Dec 15. The rest of the year was "small game time" except in the summer when no firearms could be used for hunting at the Lakehead. In the latter instance I informed and got permission from the district MNR office to keep a firearm in camp for bears.

Many times in all kinds of weather I had to go alone into "Gods Country" over 30 miles from the nearest phone or electrical plug in, back in by snowshoe or skiis in the winter or in the spring fall or summer by canoe or on foot some three miles or more into the bush off the main bush road.

No ATV or skidoo 95% of the time. So what do you want to carry three miles there and back at -30Celsius or at 100 degrees in the summer time?

My picks are scored here. My Top Pick based on experience is scored a "10" with the rest to follow as I experienced them. I would add that ALL were used with a sling and carried with a sock type canvas or knitted gun case. Also with straps to tie to a bicycle or truck rack behind its seat or to side of skidoo or in bottom of a canoe.

its essential that you do have a "workable case". For example when your canoe flips "where does the rifle or shotgun go" so you can STILL continue to carry it when the canoe is bailed out?

When you meet the MNR Game Warden after dark in a hunting area your firearm has to be cased with a trigger lock. Do you carry your gun case with you ? I do..and have since 1977. My neighbour knitted me one.


Rated #10: A Savage 99 lever in 250-3000. The Featherweight model and a takedown. The "Best" of 1916 technology. Purchased for $75.00 in 1977 because its muzzle was badly ringed by having a cleaning patch "shot out of it" by the previous owner. Freebored by my gunsmith and restored to shoot 2" groups at 100 yards.
Weight loaded with five rounds: Under six pounds

Very accurate at 300 metres with a Lyman peep sight. The 250-3000 was wayyyy before its Time! A real featherweight to carry ALL the time. Broken down fits into any backpack. Bradford Angier picked it out in his book "How to Survive in the Bush"; thats why I got one in the 1970's. Angier was 100% right eh! Later acquired by Savage collector who accepted freebore thang.


Rated # 9: A 760 Remington pump .308 Carbine with 18.5" brl. Weight loaded about 6.25 lbs. Used a 3/9 scope with scope covers as well as a Williams peep set for 100 yard zero.
Was amazed how accurate it was on a Fig 11 target at 500 metres.
2007 equivalent easy to get. Would consider the new Rem .223 Patrol Rifllea as well or get a used 280 Remington 7600.

Rated: # 8 Mini 14 carbine in .223. Weight with 20 round mag in 1983. About 6.5 lbs.
"1980s The good old days!".
Normally carried with five round mag with 20 round in reserve in 1980's. Today would go with Mini 30 as well. Balanced perfectly on bicycle handlebars or broken down to be carried in backpack. Easily disassembled when rain drenched

Rated # 7 No. 5 Jungle Carbine in 303 British. About 7.5lbs or more loaded with ten rounds which can be easily carried in two or more five shot clips. No wandering zero evident. Cost me $35.00 in 1968 and traded off about ten years ago at the upscale prices. Vastly underrated as all around carry rifle/carbine. All those "bubbad" 303s need is a flash hider..VERY practical for snow conditions.

Rated # 7: Hi Standard Pump shotgun with Singlepoint optical sight with slugs, 00 buck or No 4 shot or 7s. 20"brl. Very Versatile. Slugs give moose hunting capability as well as with bears.

Rated # 7 (tie) Browning Model 92 lever in 44 Magnum. As Admiral Peary had carred a Win 92 in 44-40 to the North Pole it proved to be a good choice as well in very cold conditions. Lightweight at 6lbs or so loaded with ten rounds. Balance like Savage 99 or rem 7600.

All these rifles and the one shotgun were carried extensively. Actually most of the time they rode on a sling when walking or snowshoeing or skiing. The majority have a benign /belong in the bush appearance. No one commented on them much at all.

Rated # 6: Take your pick here> Still 'workable". Mosin Nagant 44 Carbine in 7.62 or a Swedish M-38 in 6.5x 55mm.

Over twenty years or more I did learn a lot by shooting these rifles at target practice wayyy back in God's Country. No neighbours or even house or buildings within 5 miles.

Each proved to have its bonuses and drawbacks.

Rifles and shotguns get wet or covered with snow; disassembly may not be an option so much as a requirment. Even so called all purpose gun oils will freeze up.
Graphite proved to be a winner with all of them,

At -30 Celsius in a 30 mph wind it can be tedious to work all the rounds out of a ten round lever action rifle magazine. Snowflakes and moisture play funny tricks with scopes even sealed at the factory ones. Many times bringing your rifle into the heated room means severe condensation.


It is somewhat "amazing" what a flat trajectory the 6.5x55mm has and how accurate it can be on a Fig II target at 400 yards with iron sights. Same with the Jungle Carbine. Vice Versa with the 44 magnum at ranges beyond 150 yards.

All those M-44 Polish carbines are really great carry guns. Ditch the bayo and re-zero sights. Try a scout scope. Drop it into a muddy swamp puddle in a fall or all ice covered it is easily disassembled. IF it gets scratches another $150 will get you a spare.
 
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No matter how many guns I buy I always ending up having the best days hunting with my Marlin 30 AS.Just a pleasure to carry and while on stand many memories are fondly recalled of hunts with it.
 
Well, while I love my BSA Martini Cadet 25-20 sporter my most common go-to rifle is my 1914 Short Lee Enfield 303/25.
It was bubba'd and rebarreled with a 25½" Sportco bbl sometime wayback when (I think during the 1950s or 60s) and has an old 3-9x40 Bisley Deluxe in Hillver rings on a Lynx bridge mount.
Mind you the scope is dying so it will probably be replaced with something a little higher powered with better coatings in order to be a better fox rifle for spotlighting.
But for the moment it's taken well over 100 roos(all legally), plenty of rabbits & hares and several goats in the 5 years I've owned it.
It looks a beater but will group around 1" at 100m and managed a quite servicable 3" at 200m in some gusty weather.
I've tried other bullets but the Sierra 90gn GameKing HPBT has been by far the most accurate moving along at about 2750fps, which is pretty good considering I didn't really play with the load at all to tighten it up.
I'd love a CZ 550 or Ruger #1 in 7x57 but for the mo the '25 is fine.
It isn't light or short but I never find it a chore to lug and it's more accurate than I am so I can't really complain.
Here she is:

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She also wears a Pachmeyer Slip-On these days to take the edge off that brass butt plate!
 
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I don't know if this has been posted but I like to carry my Lee Enfield No5 Mk1 It's lite, I can carry 10 rounds in the mag and it'll take anything in this country. And in an emergency I can mount the bayonet and do a bayonet charge.
 
My favorite would have to be my custom Mod. 70 338. Its in a Mcmillan Winlite Featherweight copy. Classic action with block removed and bolt stop moved back. I can load 250 Noslers with the base flush with the bottom of the neck. Stainless 23" fairly light conture barrell. Weighs 8 1/4 with 2.5 x 8 Leupold in Warne mounts. Put it together about 10 yrs. ago. Hard to beat for all around B.C. hunting.
 
I've got a Midland 30/06 that is pretty well balanced and nice to carry, got it from my uncle, not a high end rifle but one of my favorites.
 
Even though my current collection includes a few fine sporting arms, If going for a "walkabout" I would grab my CZ-858 :eek: :confused: . No, seriously!!
I remember the first time I handled one at Lever Arms I had no intent to buy.
The first thing I noticed was how incredibly light and slim it was. Oddly enough I love the plastic-particle board stock and grip and it feels like it was made for me. Extremely unobtrusive to carry, very pointable and for me has been rock solid reliable. Add to the equation about 2500 rds. plus thru her now and I can say I am proficient and confident in my ability with the rifle and 3.5" groups @ 100 yards with irons are fine with me on a walk. 7.62x39 is a half decent round as well.
Mad Mikey.
 
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Mossberg, pump 12g, first one is a slug, then "00", then more slugs, Knoxx folding copstock, 18.5 barrel with chokes!, small, compact, camp gun, protection gun, survival gun...basically my all rounder...it is attached to my back pack 24/7, so if I go hunting, fishing, camping etc...it is always with me, with different kinds of ammo, survival gear, food etc..you get the picture!
 
So far my favorite rifle which I don't walk with very much, cause it's on my atv or in my Jeep is my Custom Tikka M658 30-06, a 3 lb Trigger Pull, plus a stainless Ron Smith Single point cut heavy contour barrel, black matt finish. Barrel is 26"long including Holland muzzle brake, glass bedding with Steel pillars, Harris HBBRM-S Bipod, Pachmayr Old English Recoil Pad, with an IOR 3-18x42 Tactical Illum. MP8 scope.

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Weighing in at 14lbs
 
For a nuumber of years my favorite "walking around gun" was a marlin 44 mag, with no scope.
Last hunting season I had problem with the marlin and ended up using my brothers remington 600. I liked it so much I bought a 308 mohawk this year. I think this will be my new favorite walk around gun.
HOWEVER I am waiting on a delivery of a winchester model 94 timber in 450 marlin.
Who knows who the new king will be.

As for my favorite hunting rifle it is my winchester model 88
 
By far, my most satisfying the need carry gun I have is my 30 30 marlin.

It can get bumped, rubbed, has a real 'rigout' with scope,see through mounts,and the old irons set at 50 yrds.

it has shot everything! Killed everything! Crippled some stuff too. (none got away though)
coyote,fox,moose,bear,beer cans,caribou,deer,
rabbits, ...

I just love it. Doesn't spark the conversation that my 45/70 does,
but she has zero to prove for many years now.

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