Looking for something vintage and slow
- Thread starter Polaris
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #22
Have seen some .43 Beaumont and 71 Mauser sporters, but haven't found one with much rifling in the barrel. The only reason I'm not going for a lever, is that they are/were too popular. Looking for something more oddball than that. I have a Sav 99 in .300, but it's an heirloom and I don't like taking it out in inclement weather.
I do like the Krag idea. They turn up, often quality gunsmith built sporters in fine condition at modest prices. Enfield maybe. There are a lot of enfield sporters in this part of the country. I love the Swedish cartridge, but unless it's on a Norwegian Krag or a rolling block action, it's a little too modern. Any of the 93 or later mauser patterns are little changed from then to the pre-64 M70. I have a couple of vintage ones, great rifles. I guess what I'm really looking for is one of those rifles that was either a stepping stone to more modern designs, or an interesting dead end. Rem M8 and I forget the model of the slide action fit that bill. 91 "Argentine" is on my radar also if I could find a good one.
A sporterized Swiss 1889 or Vetterli rifle would be right up my alley also.
I do like the Krag idea. They turn up, often quality gunsmith built sporters in fine condition at modest prices. Enfield maybe. There are a lot of enfield sporters in this part of the country. I love the Swedish cartridge, but unless it's on a Norwegian Krag or a rolling block action, it's a little too modern. Any of the 93 or later mauser patterns are little changed from then to the pre-64 M70. I have a couple of vintage ones, great rifles. I guess what I'm really looking for is one of those rifles that was either a stepping stone to more modern designs, or an interesting dead end. Rem M8 and I forget the model of the slide action fit that bill. 91 "Argentine" is on my radar also if I could find a good one.
A sporterized Swiss 1889 or Vetterli rifle would be right up my alley also.
- Nov 4, 2004
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The first one that comes to mind is the Marlin 1895 in 45-70.
I heard what I said but I was never a lever fan either, just bolt actions.
Bought the Marlin 1895G and I fell in love with it. It's a joy to carry, easy to maneuver in the deer blind,
Very accurate and an absolute hammer on deer.
Don't over look a Marlin lever.
JD338
I heard what I said but I was never a lever fan either, just bolt actions.
Bought the Marlin 1895G and I fell in love with it. It's a joy to carry, easy to maneuver in the deer blind,
Very accurate and an absolute hammer on deer.
Don't over look a Marlin lever.
JD338
HAWKEYESATX
Handloader
- Aug 15, 2016
- 1,805
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You could try a replica of an 1874 Sharps rife in .45-70, or in .45-120, or even .50-90.
A Ruger #1 in .45-70 would fit the bill.
Even one of the Montana manufacturers used to list their Sharps rifle in .30-40 Krag.
I would recommend looking into one of the repro Sharps.
HawkeyeSATX a.k.a. Bryce
A Ruger #1 in .45-70 would fit the bill.
Even one of the Montana manufacturers used to list their Sharps rifle in .30-40 Krag.
I would recommend looking into one of the repro Sharps.
HawkeyeSATX a.k.a. Bryce
Rigbymauser
Handloader
- Nov 3, 2012
- 496
- 0
Something slow and vintage?..Find a Mauser 98 in 9x57. They can be picked up for a fairly cheap money...especially if it´s not a true Commercial Oberndorf Mauser. They shoot a .356" bullets but any .357-358" bullets works perfectly. The original 9x57Mauser shot a 281grain long flatnosed bullet.
TackDriver284
Handloader
- Feb 13, 2016
- 2,572
- 2,159
I see you looking for something antique and slow, does this fit the description of what you are looking for? Just having a sense of humor with a cup of coffee.
http://imgur.com/a/wIPXX
http://imgur.com/a/wIPXX
- Thread starter
- #29
TackDriver284":2nzziwou said:
Yeah, more or less antique. From the advent of the self contained cartridge up to 1930 or so. I guess the "slow" part is relative, with 30-40 Krag in the mix. Mausers are great rifles, but I already have an M98 sporter and an M1917 sporter that are basically modern rifles even though they're old. Just looking for something eclectic and classic for my new off-grid deer camp. The cover is very tight, so a good excuse to use something under 2200 fps with a big hunk o lead. I don't currently have anything like that in my arsenal, I top out at .311 caliber.
Currently a Krag sporter, Rem 8 or 81 in .35, or a Rolling block or "Ballard" in .30-40, .38-55 or one of the black powder metrics are high on the list. A Swedish or Danish rolling block would be really cool.
TackDriver284
Handloader
- Feb 13, 2016
- 2,572
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Polaris":22vx84hz said:
Don't leave out the .303 British
- Thread starter
- #33
Well, a quick stop at the local Gander sent this quest on an interesting and totally unexpected tangent. Instead of vintage and slow, I got absolute classic and a bit zippy.
On the very limited used rifle rack, there just begging for some attention by somebody who likes forgotten calibers, was a pretty nicely sporterized 1905 Greek military Mannlicher Schoenaur carbine. The bore is immaculate, the stock is solid and pretty nicely oil finished, blueing (possibly re-done) is quite good and it's dovetail cut for the marbles LER aperture sight I have on hand. Greek crests, proofs and numbers are all intact.
For $250 I think I stole it. Need to do a little research to see if this is restorable to military condition, the sights would cover up the dovetail cut, otherwise I have a new handy little woods carbine in 6.5x54MS instead of old and slow. Looking for a die set or possibility of interchangeability (neck size only) with 6.5x55 Swedish dies I have.
On the very limited used rifle rack, there just begging for some attention by somebody who likes forgotten calibers, was a pretty nicely sporterized 1905 Greek military Mannlicher Schoenaur carbine. The bore is immaculate, the stock is solid and pretty nicely oil finished, blueing (possibly re-done) is quite good and it's dovetail cut for the marbles LER aperture sight I have on hand. Greek crests, proofs and numbers are all intact.
For $250 I think I stole it. Need to do a little research to see if this is restorable to military condition, the sights would cover up the dovetail cut, otherwise I have a new handy little woods carbine in 6.5x54MS instead of old and slow. Looking for a die set or possibility of interchangeability (neck size only) with 6.5x55 Swedish dies I have.
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DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
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The 6.5X54 MS is a classic, to be sure. A most enviable find. Congratulations.
HAWKEYESATX
Handloader
- Aug 15, 2016
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That's a great choice! It's not considered zippy by today's standards, but you'll come to like it, I'm thinking.
I've seen a couple of Carcano carbines that someone is selling on a local sight here, and have been fighting the urge to not buy them. I love the 6.5x55, and I'm not familiar with the 6.5x52 that the Italian rifles shoot.
I know Prvi Partizan has ammo for the 6.5x52.
HawkeyeSATX a.k.a. Bryce
I've seen a couple of Carcano carbines that someone is selling on a local sight here, and have been fighting the urge to not buy them. I love the 6.5x55, and I'm not familiar with the 6.5x52 that the Italian rifles shoot.
I know Prvi Partizan has ammo for the 6.5x52.
HawkeyeSATX a.k.a. Bryce
- Thread starter
- #36
You may know this, but not clear from your post so I want to be sure. This rifle is different from the Italian Mannlicher-Carcano system that uses an en-bloc clip and is in caliber 6.5x52 (which is a larger bullet diameter than .264). This is the Greek military, also marketed as a high end sporting rifle primarily in Europe, Steyr made Mannlicher-Schönaur M1903 action. It uses a spool magazine similar to the Savage 99 and fires the 6.5x54 mm MS cartridge which uses "standard" .264 bullet diameter and has ballistics approaching the Swedish round. BTW, the action is extremely smooth on this one, almost as silky as a Krag. I really like it so far. Ordered some PRVI ammo and will be looking into reloading with my current dies, otherwise I'll have to spring for some spendy dies.HAWKEYESATX":5w4ciwck said:
- Nov 4, 2004
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The 6.5x54 is pretty close to the 6.5x55 Swede. Sounds like a pretty cool round and should be a fun project for you.
JD338
JD338
HAWKEYESATX
Handloader
- Aug 15, 2016
- 1,805
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You may know this, but not clear from your post so I want to be sure. This rifle is different from the Italian Mannlicher-Carcano system that uses an en-bloc clip and is in caliber 6.5x52 (which is a larger bullet diameter than .264). This is the Greek military, also marketed as a high end sporting rifle primarily in Europe, Steyr made Mannlicher-Schönaur M1903 action. It uses a spool magazine similar to the Savage 99 and fires the 6.5x54 mm MS cartridge which uses "standard" .264 bullet diameter and has ballistics approaching the Swedish round. BTW, the action is extremely smooth on this one, almost as silky as a Krag. I really like it so far.Polaris":y3gfznxx said:
Yes, sorry, I didn't make myself more clear. They, of course, are 2 completely different styles of rifles, and cartridges.
I let my 6.5mm obsession get the better of me.
I was just writing down what I was thinking at the moment, without clarification.
I think the Greek rifle, and 6.5x54 will serve you well!
I'm infatuated with 6.5mm cartridges. Have been since I was a teenager.
HawkeyeSATX a.k.a. Bryce
- Thread starter
- #39
Hawkeye... do you have a 6.5 Jap yet? That's an interesting one. I picked up a T38 carbine, early production, WWII bringback with known provenance this summer. The pre-war ones that only saw garrison or RE duty are very well made. Also an interesting and efficient cartridge. This rifle was shipped home from Guadalcanal as a documented war trophy. Taken in-action from a patrol boat my friends grandfather's boat shelled and boarded. He was USMC serving on a shore party on a coaster.
HAWKEYESATX
Handloader
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Polaris":o882lxtj said:
No, as of yet I haven't had a 6.5 Jap. I came really close to having one, but the deal didn't go through. I know that it is comparable to the 6.5x55 in speed and power.
I would be open to having one if the right deal came along.
The 38 action is one of the strongest ever made, too.
It's really cool that your grandpa got one as a war trophy.
HawkeyeSATX a.k.a. Bryce
