Semi-Auto Hunting Rifles

cam1936 said:
One day I hope to do a hunt out East. The fact that a couple posters have mentioned how the 740/742/7400 are staples just shows how different the hunting must be from out here! I almost never see other hunters with a semi auto. Maybe the odd BAR or tactical type.
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Things have changed around here now. Most people have bolt guns it seems... But, there are still a few semis and pumps kicking around among the older fellas.
 
cam1936 said:
One day I hope to do a hunt out East. The fact that a couple posters have mentioned how the 740/742/7400 are staples just shows how different the hunting must be from out here! I almost never see other hunters with a semi auto. Maybe the odd BAR or tactical type.
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Trust me, if you've hunted pretty much anywhere else, you'll hate it. And I'm not saying that in order to keep all the hunting to myself. Hunting in Nova Scotia sucks.
 
BigUglyMan said:
Trust me, if you've hunted pretty much anywhere else, you'll hate it. And I'm not saying that in order to keep all the hunting to myself. Hunting in Nova Scotia sucks.
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What he says is true. The hunting is spotty here at best. There are areas where there seem to be some nice big bucks, but if you want some deer meat, you don't want to be picky what you shoot. If you're looking for a 200+ pound deer, scoring anywhere close to 140, you're 90% sure to go home empty handed. I hunt in an area that's always been known as good deer country, and when someone shoots "a monster", it's 180 lbs, and scores 120 tops.
 
BigUglyMan said:
Trust me, if you've hunted pretty much anywhere else, you'll hate it. And I'm not saying that in order to keep all the hunting to myself. Hunting in Nova Scotia sucks.
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My sheep hunting partner is from Ontario and has stories of a big hunt camp where everyone had a really good time. They hunted with dogs chasing the deer past a line of guys. Really quick shooting.

Sounds like fun to me. Nothing I would trade our hunting out here for, but definitely something I would like to do one day.
 
My personal choice has been a Bar Safari. Had one in 30-06, and 300wm. Still have a 338wm. Semi's dont seem to hold value on the EE, one could buy 8 Bar 30-06 or 12 Rem's for the price of one new modern hunter.

Never warmed up to the plastic short trac brownings. To me the only failing of the Bar Safari is the weight, tough, reliable, inexpensive to buy...great guns.

I looked into a company in the states that took Bar Safari 338's and converted them to another 2.5" mag family caliber.....the 416 Taylor. It was a few years ago, so not sure but i think it was $1800 USD plus ffl and brokerage.
 
shortaction said:
Just went online and checked them out. Nice looking rig! How do you like the safety? Does it have a detachable mag?
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Safety just like a Garand or an M14 Poly. ;)

Yes to the detachable mag. I have a 2, 3 & a 5 rounder. Exact same one fits the Sauer 202 bolt action rifle.

The biggest hitch? Unlike other 30-06s, this one dislikes any bullet weight of 180 grains or higher. The bolt literally smacks the back of the action cover pretty hard.
And a match tolerance chamber. Which is very strange for a hunting rifle. Externally adjustable trigger, and it can be set scary low weight.(eek)
Garand level handloads are just about perfect for this rifle. But myself I have settled upon 125 grain Accubonds, for deer/black bear/hogs.

The barrel heats up more quickly then many others, but who cares when you have a tag or maybe two in your pocket & it groups 3 quick shots into a hair less than one inch from a bench @100 yards.
 
I like my XCR-M, it might be a little heavy but I don't notice it anymore. Between the weight and the brake the recoil is minor allowing for fast follow up shots when needed.
 
My vote is for the RFB, mine will hit a 10" plate at 600 yards over and over again. It's not light but the weight is positioned so far inward that its very easy to aim standing. A conventional rifle feels clumsy and front heavy in comparison. I've had no jams or malfunctions of any kind, not to say that they don't happen but not to me so far (300 rounds or so). Easy take down and cleaning, fully ambidextrous. And as an added bonus it doesn't throw the brass a mile away with a big dent in the side. I can't wait for the RDB
 
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