In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Ideal hunting rifle
Sam06
Member Posts: 21,244 ✭✭✭✭
If I still was a hunting man and I wanted a rifle for Deer, Bear, Elk and such Here is what I would do:
I would get a pre-64 Winchester M-88 and put a well made 24" barrel on it in 338 Federal.
If I couldn't find a good M88(I have one) a Savage 99 would do just as well( a 308 gun with a detachable mag).
I would mount a 3.5-10x Vari-x 3 on it...............
And never look back.
That set up would work on African plains game just fine.
But I don't hunt anymore
I would get a pre-64 Winchester M-88 and put a well made 24" barrel on it in 338 Federal.
If I couldn't find a good M88(I have one) a Savage 99 would do just as well( a 308 gun with a detachable mag).
I would mount a 3.5-10x Vari-x 3 on it...............
And never look back.
That set up would work on African plains game just fine.
But I don't hunt anymore
RLTW
Comments
Breaks my heart that neither of your "base rifles" is still in production.
Would it be possible to ream out an 88 tube?
My 99 featherweight in .308 wouldn't have much barrel wall left, I don't think so anyway.
Does the .338 federal need a 24" tube, to achieve maximum ballistics?
There have been several FN-FAL types converted to 358 Winchester ... If 2MOA is good enough....
That also means in theory any other 308/762NATO battle rifle could be converted...
They are slick and very fast.
Right now I have one left that I am not selling it, a 308 made in the early 50's and it has shot a one inch group at 200 yds with handloads. The trigger is not great but this one has the best trigger I have seen in a M88.
I always wanted on in 358 but could never connect.
I had a 284 but I sold it to a buddy same with the 243 I had.
I consider the m88 to be one of the best hunting guns ever built.
Good point!
I have never owned one but they seem solid
Like a SAKO timberwolf, man but they are so hard to find.
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!
Nah, my little Winchester Model 04 with CCI 22 Shorts works perfectly for those bastages; one shot and DRT!
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!
Just put me down for the give away, and I promise it will be hunted with!! And loved!
I'm taking a 1940's 300 Sav with a Stith mount and Lyman Alaskan 2.5X scope to Montana this year to shoot a critter with it!
My old eyes just don't allow me to use open sights any more.....
The 358 is what crossed my mind when I read your post. The 338 Federal would be a little more power but I thought the 358 was already chambered in the 88. Maybe not, I'm far from an expert. But the 358 is a heck of a round.
With more grizzly around in the western states a man needs to pack something with enough thump to it to handle what's needed.
I really like the 338 Federal, ballistic wise and on paper. From what I have read it is a real killer too. Like the 338-06 the 338 Fed really shines with the mid-weight bullets 180-220 pushing them faster than a 308 can.
I also think a 24" barrel would up the velocity some too but not make it too long.
15 gr. of 2400, shot poa at 50yds. Great for rabbits and practice.
In a lever gun the 358 would be my pick because of the 38/357 bullets
to load and practice with. JMO
Give that little rifle one fouling shot and it would print cloverleafs with, believe it or not, a 21" Midway barrel and Federal factory ammo.
I truly miss that little darling.
Miss my old Savage 99, Ruger 7, Remington 700 but hunting now with shotguns and bow.\
There are many ideal hunting guns for your situation. Chose one with a good barrel.