Rifles that Need to be Hunted (or loads developed for) in 2025

[Blkram]

Was thinking that I have quite a few rifles in the safe that still need to be hunted (9) and take game with...hopefully most, if not all, in 2025.
And some of these still need to have loads developed and finalized (*3)...at least these 3 have all taken game so far...

• LH CZ 527 American in 204 Ruger (hunt)
• Winchester Model 88 in 250 Savage (hunt)
• *LH Rem 700 in 250AI (develop load w/ 110 gr AB and 115 gr BT)
• Winchester Model 1885 High Wall in 6.5 Creedmoor (hunt)
• LH Steyr Mannlicher Model M FS SE in 6.5x55 (shoot and hunt)
• LH Steyr Mannlicher Model M FS in 270 Win (hunt)
• Winchester Model 88 in 7mm-08 Rem (hunt)
• *LH Rem 700 XCR in 280 Rem (develop load w/ 150 gr AB)
• LH Browning X Bolt All Weather in 7mm Rem Mag (hunt)
• LH Fierce Carbon Rogue in 7MM PRC (finalize preferred ammo, and hunt)
• *LH Sako Model 85 Finnlight II in 338 Federal (develop load w/ 200 gr AB)
• LH Rem 700 in 358 Win (hunt)
• LH Ruger M77 Mark II in 416 Taylor (hunt)

At least I have shot all but one (6.5x55) to date...at least once!
And at least one needs to be shot more to determine which ammunition it is going to prefer (7MM PRC); talked to Federal on Friday - they do not yet know if they will even offer the 170 gr Terminal Ascent bullet as a component! Let alone if or when they may provide load data for it. (And I have yet to find any of the 0.284" 155gr bullets to try handloads for the 7mm Rem Mag.)

Glad I was able to take game (caribou) with my 270 WSM last fall! (And and an antelope with my Bowtech that previously hadn't taken any game)

What's hiding in your safe?

 

[Bruce Mc]

I've got a Rem 740 in 244 Rem that I have not shot. I have some ammo loaded for it I just lost interest. I have a Rem 700 25-06 that I have good loads for and have hunted a couple of days with no kill. It just doesn't have any aura about it, its plastic. I have a 760 in 270 win that had I a woodsy place to hunt it would get a hunt. It shoots lights out with 140 accubonds. But the last ten years or so when I go afield I only see three rifles in my cabinet, Win JOC featherweight 270 win, Rem 700 classic 257 Roberts, and Ruger #1 220 Swift.

 

[RL338]

Rifles that went out to the field but no luck
223 Rem - Wby Vanguard
7mm RM - Wby Vangaurd

Rifles going out this year
30-30 Win. - Savage 840
340 Wby - Wby Mark V

Rifle/Handguns that haven’t gone out yet
243 Win. - Wby MarkV CFP Accumark
6mm Creed - Howa/MPA
25 Creed - Savage Striker
6.5 Creed - Howa/MPA
338 WM - Wby Vanguard
338 Lapua - Savage 112
458 WM - Savage 110

 

[JD338]

Sue has a Ruger 77/44 Rem Mag that needs to get bloodied. Waiting on her Weatherby Camelia Wilderness 7-08 Rem to arrive. That one will get some action this summer and fall.
My S&W 629 3" needs to get bloodied this fall as well.

JD338

 

[Slimfinn]

Ones that I havent hunted and might take this year are my new to me S&W 657 41mag, and m94 375win.
The ones I've hunted but still not blooded so may take out are my Sako85 in 30-06, and Ruger no. 1 in 243.
Its just hard not to grab the 260(I do need to work up a new load), or 264wm.
I may also work up another load for the daughter's 25-06.

 

[Blkram]

I've got a Rem 740 in 244 Rem that I have not shot. I have some ammo loaded for it I just lost interest. I have a Rem 700 25-06 that I have good loads for and have hunted a couple of days with no kill. It just doesn't have any aura about it, its plastic. I have a 760 in 270 win that had I a woodsy place to hunt it would get a hunt. It shoots lights out with 140 accubonds. But the last ten years or so when I go afield I only see three rifles in my cabinet, Win JOC featherweight 270 win, Rem 700 classic 257 Roberts, and Ruger #1 220 Swift.

I have shot the 6mm Rem in the past (a friend's rifle), but did not get a chance to hunt with it. While I have owned a 243 a couple of times over the years, I liked the 6mm as it was a more rare chambering.
I am looking to replace the 257 Roberts that I sold (a Ruger No.1 RSI) with a LH bolt action with a longer barrel. Who knows..this may happen pretty soon! Really like the quarter bores...

 

[Blkram]

Rifles that went out to the field but no luck
223 Rem - Wby Vanguard
7mm RM - Wby Vangaurd

Rifles going out this year
30-30 Win. - Savage 840
340 Wby - Wby Mark V

Rifle/Handguns that haven’t gone out yet
243 Win. - Wby MarkV CFP Accumark
6mm Creed - Howa/MPA
25 Creed - Savage Striker
6.5 Creed - Howa/MPA
338 Lapua - Savage 112
458 WM - Savage 110

I have shot rifles in both the 340 Wby and 338 LM...both great to shoot...but at the time, I was happy with my 338 Win Mag.
I probably should have asked my hunting partner of the time if I could have used his Lapua on the caribou bull I took with my 270 Win on that trip, but as the distance was just 95 yards, it wasn't needed. (And as he hadn't taken any game with his new custom rifle at the time, I didn't feel right in asking to use it on any game.)
Today, happy with my 338 Federals and 338-06.

I am interested in the 25 Creedmoor, as it is identical to my 250AI. I have ordered some of Nosler's new 25 CM brass to try in my rifle. While my rifle has a 1:10 I will be keeping my load development to the 110 gr AB and 115 gr BT.

 

[Blkram]

Sue has a Ruger 77/44 Rem Mag that needs to get bloodied. Waiting on her Weatherby Camelia Wilderness 7-08 Rem to arrive. That one will get some action this summer and fall.
My S&W 629 3" needs to get bloodied this fall as well.

JD338

Hopefully you can find a nice black bear or two this spring to break in those 44's~

 

[Blkram]

The 375 Win is a lot of funt to hunt black bear and moose with. Hope you get the chance!
I wish I could use my 41 Rem Mag on a hunt! Just not an option here in Canada. Might have to consider it on a hunt for something in Texas from a ground blind...

 

[RL338]

I have shot rifles in both the 340 Wby and 338 LM...both great to shoot...but at the time, I was happy with my 338 Win Mag.

I knew I missed one , my 338 WM. Added to the list.

 

[bdbrown66]

I have this constant dilemma: I like to buy and try new rifles, but then I regret that the other ones don't get enough attention when it's time to hunt. Only so many days and critters to hunt, and it's never enough. Something to look forward to doing after I retire, I suppose.

This year, I'm going to continue working up some loads for this Franchi Momentum 6.5CM and use it again for deer season. Apart from that, I will likely use either my Henry 45 Colt or 45-70, or my MS 30-06. The 243 won't be in the rotation this year. Also want to do some more work with this 360 Buckhammer, but I don't have enough confidence to hunt with it right now, and I haven't found a load to my liking yet.

 

[cloverleaf]

Some one Should hunt with my friends rifle....CL

 

[Wolfshead]

Here’s my Tikka T3x in .308 Winchester.
20” barrel, 1-10 twist, and is my still hunting, “practical rifle”.
I’m still trying to get a load figured out for 130 grain Barnes ttsx.
I have a very accurate load with 150 grain Accubonds and Varget, but just can’t get what I want with the 130s and Varget.
I picked up a pound of Ramshot TAC to try which Barnes says was the most accurate powder for their load data.
We will see and now that the weather is changing, hopefully it should be sometime soon!

 

[GregoryB.]

I have quite a few that need hunted with or shot. I did at least manage to scope them. A lot I have not even fired.
Ruger #1
25-06
280
6mm
30-06
6.5 Creed

77 RSI 275 Rigby
308

1885 Low Wall 6.5 Creed
Henry Longranger 243

I am sure there are more if I open the safes and look.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Going to work up a 110 AccuBond load for my Remington 700 .25-06 as its getting a new Douglas tube put on. Decided to go with it instead of the Roberts.

My Ruger M77 .22-250 is going to give the 50 grain Hornady VMAX a try once the weather clears.

What will or will not get to go hunting depends largely upon if and where I draw tags this fall.

I put in for Mule Deer buck, Mule Deer Premium Buck, Pronghorn Antelope, Premium Pronghorn Antelope, and Antlerless Deer here in Oregon. I also plan to put in for some kind of an Elk tag. And I will be putting in for Wyoming Pronghorn Antelope again as well.

The contenders are largely “Golden Ticket” (my Pre64 all-weather .30-06), “Old Reliable” (my M70 Classic Stainless .30-06), my .25-35 WCF (Winchester 1894) or .54 Lyman Great Plains (for antlerless deer), .25-06 Remington and .264 Win Mag (for any and all of the antelope tags).

The old JP Sauer and Sohn .35 Whelen might get to come out and play as well.

 

[RL338]

Here’s my Tikka T3x in .308 Winchester.
20” barrel, 1-10 twist, and is my still hunting, “practical rifle”.
I’m still trying to get a load figured out for 130 grain Barnes ttsx.
I have a very accurate load with 150 grain Accubonds and Varget, but just can’t get what I want with the 130s and Varget.
I picked up a pound of Ramshot TAC to try which Barnes says was the most accurate powder for their load data.
We will see and now that the weather is changing, hopefully it should be sometime soon!
View attachment 25540

BLC-2 has been good to me in several 308’s with the 130gr TTSX.

 

[Blkram]

I have quite a few that need hunted with or shot. I did at least manage to scope them. A lot I have not even fired.
Ruger #1
25-06
280
6mm
30-06
6.5 Creed

77 RSI 275 Rigby
308

1885 Low Wall 6.5 Creed
Henry Longranger 243

I am sure there are more if I open the safes and look.

Nice...I have been wanting an 1885 Low Wall for quite some time...would love one in a 221 Fireball (bought a 223 Rem but then found out the twist was wrong for rechambering)...otherwise one in 6.5x55 is on my Bucket List.

I am enjoying shooting my High Wall in 6.5 CM...getting 2911 fps with the Federal 130 gr Terminal Ascent ammo, and it produces 3 shot groups of 0.599" at 100 yards...now to take it antelope hunting!

 

[GregoryB.]

Blkram, I keep eyeballing the 22 Hornet Low Wall when they pop up. I don’t have a 22 cal centerfire in the safe.

My brain kept coming back to this thread last night when I couldn’t sleep. I realised I have quite a few more unfired rifles in the safe including a beautiful #1 B in 6.5 Creed. I really need to finish my house remodel so I can go shoot some.

 

[grry10]

This is a hard one, but some that need attention are:

Winchester 70 in 7mm Rem Mag
Browning 1895 in 30-06
Ruger #1AB in 30-06
Ruger #1B in .280 Rem
Remington 81 in .300 Sav
Remington 141 in .35 Rem
Marlin 336 in 30-30
Springfield M1 in 30-06
Muzzleloaders (3) in .50
S&W in .41 Mag (has not been shot since scope was mounted 3 years ago)

I seem to always migrate to my favorites

 

[Hunter26]

Tikka T3x Stainless Hunter in 6.5x55
Weatherby Mark V Accumark in 257 Weatherby
Sig P220 Hunter in 10mm

Those three are up to deer hunt this year and none have gone hunting yet or a load developed. Also wouldn't mind working up a load in my Marlin 336 in 35 Rem with the RCBS 200gr FN bullets I cast a few years back. So many choices...