Despite the continuing impact of inflation, you can still find some excellent hunting rifles that won’t break the bank. Posted on 05/11/2017 8:06:29 AM PDT by w1n1
Despite the continuing impact of inflation, you can still find some excellent hunting rifles that won’t break the bank.
Progress and the march of time can be very hard on the wallet, especially when it comes to hunting rifles. Consider, if you will, the classic Big Three of American hunting rifles. According to a 2004 gun-value reference in my collection, you could at that time buy a new Remington 700 BDL rifle for about $500, and the ADL model went for even less. A new Ruger Model 77 All-Weather rifle could also be found for less than $500, and the same could be said for a Winchester Model 70 Black Shadow.
Today, the latest incarnations of these flagship models of American hunting rifles all have a suggested retail price of close to $1,000. In little more than a decade, these iconic American rifles have essentially doubled in price.
Not everyone can afford to lay out that kind of change for a hunting rifle. The Even fewer can afford semi custom or custom rifles, and if you have to ask the price of, say, a fine European double rifle, you may want to be sitting down when you hear the answer.
Of course, gun makers are well aware of this economic reality and have scrambled in recent years to produce more affordable guns for the masses. Many of these guns won't win any beauty contests. Some may be described as downright ugly. Actions may be less than silky smooth, and stocks may bend in a stiff breeze. Read the rest of the hunting rifle story here.
Not a huge fan of bolt action rifles though I own a few. All accurate weapons. Here in the dense forested north east I prefer a short lever gun, pump or semi-auto. You will almost never get that 300 yard shot in a park like setting around where I hunt. The ability to swing the gun and get off a second shot is paramount around here. You may not see the twig that will deflect and possibly injure a whitetail. I almost always try to get a quick second shot in just in case.
My most accurate rifle is a butchered 03A3 that I picked up for $50. It will shoot 1/2” groups with most ammo. I rarely hunt with it though. Too awkward in dense foliage . My Marlin 336 in .35rem. Is accurate enough and powerful enough. It comes up quick and levers quickly for that second shot.
A Finnish M39 is tremendously accurate, if you can a) find one, and b) find one that hasn't been shot out.
I have a pretty little Argentine Mauser, built at DWM in Berlin in 1897. Shoots like a dream and looks like it came out of the factory yesterday, except for the arsenal work on the stock that converted it from artillery to cavalry configuration. Accurate as all get-out.
I've known people who look down on old battle rifles for hunting, fearing that they aren't precise enough to be humane(!). But good luck getting better than 3 MOA out of a Winchester '94 at 150 yards, and a lot of Americans have put meat on the table with that iconic gun, and plenty of vets coming back from the world wars kept their family in meat with battle rifles.
I have found that almost all rifles and pistols are more accurate than the guy or gal on the trigger. To wit} They will hit what and where they are aimed. The guy or gal on the trigger blames the rifle or pistol when, in reality, they are who is at fault. The ones I have will knock a gnat’s eye out if aimed correctly.
LOL! In 1968 (that’s right, 1968) I bought a new Remington BDL, with 4 X scope, for about $220. Even more surprising, I picked it up the day MLK was shot. I still have it.
I too have enormous appreciation for the Marlin 336.
I prefer it over the Winchester 94. No contest.
Bought my son at age 12 a circa 1952 94 Winchester. A pretty and collectible 90% condition model 94 Winchester. Unfortunately one couldn’t hit a barn door with it. That was a decade or so ago. I also bought him a marlin 95 ‘guide gun’ in 45-70 for him that would group constantly at 2” at 100 yards.
Around 3 years ago after much shade tree gunsmithing later, I finally discovered the front barrel band was torqued and applying undue stresses on the barrel which got worse as the gun got hot. I relieved the pressure by bending it slightly back to the point where there was a minimum of stress from the magazine tube and band, even when hot. It’ll group around 2-3” now.
My son appreciates the gun now. But prefers hunting with the Marlin.... I don’t blame him.
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