What rifle influenced you most?

[Blkram]

Being a lefty, and an avid fan of western movies and literature, I would have to say that the lever action rifles had more influence on my interest in shooting and hunting than any other rifle.
And as much as the Winchester Model 94 in 30-30 was the most iconic levergun, and most common in my family and in our region; I always had more interest in the Marlin, as that was my grandfather's rifle, and the rifle that I collected my first big game animal with.

After that I would have to say that the rifle that influenced most of my rifle buying decisions and custom rifle builds has to be the Remington Model 700 Left Hand. Availability, reputation, accuracy and widest use for custom rifle builds and after market accessories all added up to make it the most desirable to me.

What rifle influenced you the most? And why?

 

[Vince]

1903 Springfield.
Because that's what my Daddy had in WWII. He told me a couple of stories and I grew up thinking a bolt gun was the perfect combat rifle. He said he thought his rifle was also in The First World War.
Oddly enough though I've never been a fan of the 30-06.
I've always considered it to be the great parent round of many better offspring but that is slowly changing.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

 

[gerry]

After that I would have to say that the rifle that influenced most of my rifle buying decisions and custom rifle builds has to be the Remington Model 700 Left Hand. Availability, reputation, accuracy and widest use for custom rifle builds and after market accessories all added up to make it the most desirable to me.

What rifle influenced you the most? And why?

Same here Gil for exactly the same reasons, have three LH Rem 700's now and like them a lot. Probably should have kept my first lefty too which was a 700 BDL 30-06 but being young didn't appreciate what I had.

 

[Oldtrader3]

My first Browning High Power, .338 WM which I bought in 1968, along with my first Model 70, Pre 64, .300 H&H bought about the same time with a good bonus that I received that year.

 

[Guy Miner]

Wow - good question...

Dad taught me to shoot with a little .22 Marlin 39 "Mountie" in the early 1960's. Love that rifle - Dad still has it and still teaches kids to shoot with it! I went and got my own 39A, and it is still my all-time favorite rifle.

He also had a pair of .30-06's, both "sporterized" military rifles. One a Springfield, the other the "Model of 1917. I still hugely respect those two rifles and the .30-06 cartridge. They're what got me going on rifle shooting and handloading. My son still hunts regularly with that old 1917.

In 1974, seeing my addiction to shooting longish ranges and small, furry pop-up targets... Dad gave me a brand new 6mm Rem 700 topped by a Leupold scope. Oh my goodness. We were off to the races! That thing zapped more small, furry varmints! Later, serving in The Corps, I learned that the Marine snipers were using a nicely built version of the Rem 700, and managed to acquire some experience with that rifle. Later I was a SWAT sniper team leader for 12 years and a sniper instructor, all using my Rem 700. Went through some real hairy times with that rifle. Also shot in a number of competitions with the Rem 700, usually doing well. When I didn't do well, it was the fault of the trigger puller, not a problem with the rifle.

For 40 years now, most of my hunting and range shooting has been done with Rem 700's - have worn out a couple of barrels. Have filled a lot of tags. Even as recently as last fall. Yeah, that's probably the one, the Rem 700 rifle.

Guy

 

[REDGREEN]

Weatherby mark v. Hard hitting and fast and flat.

 

[sask boy]

Gil, I am also right with you. I have owned left handed Rem 700s for many years first the BDL & now the CDL they have never disappointed me. Both my custom rifles have Defiance actions which are designed off the 700 action!

Blessings,
Dan

 

[FOTIS]

In Nov 1978 someone gave this issue to me. I must have read it from front to back 20 times. I was hooked.

Then of course one look at the WBY catalogue and I knew I wanted a Lazermark in 378 Bee!

 

[Dwh7271]

Remington 788 in 6MM. Shot everything with that rifle. Became a point and shoot rifle for me. First real reloading was for that rifle and the shotgun. Only thing I had other than a 22 and a shotty gun (870). Between the 870 and the 788, pretty much dispatched most of what I went after for a number of years. Still have all of them. All still shoot just fine.
That 788 electrocuted deer. Still does.
Then I read magazines and all the stuff and HAD to have a 270. (O'Connor's fault)Geez, if the 6 MM electrocutes deer then the 270 will really do a job on them. :grin: You guys know how it goes from there.
Then along came a 7 Mag, and so on.......


BTW Fotis, cool cover.

 

[Elkman]

I would consider my 1956, Remington 721, as the one that had the greatest influence on me and my rifle selection, for the rest of my life. As far as game goes I have killed far more with my 1966 push feed Model 70, which except for the safety is a clone of the 700 Remington. I have also owned several 03's which are truly a work of art. I have been fortunate to have owned a number of exceptional rifles, but these stand out.

 

[Bruce Mc]

I guess the rifle that had the biggest influence was a Ruger M77 .220 swift varmint rifle. It made me very serious about handloading and caused me to become much more "OC". I finally got rid of that rifle because it just wouldn't shoot small groups but the handloading obsessions remained.

 

[JD338]

Remington 700 BDL 30-06. This was my first rifle and with it I took my first WT deer, Antelope and Black Bear. I also starting reloading and of course, my introduction to the Nosler Partition. I put about 6000 rounds down the barrel and had it rebarreled by Remington. I ended up selling this rifle which I wish I never did.

JD338

 

[preacher]

Well, I've had so many, lets see...I don't accumulate and I either trade, give away or sell them in order to get more! But, I'd have to say the ones that influenced me would be an old Stevens .22 bolt repeater that my dad had as a boy. I shot my first squirrel with it at 8, and have been looney ever since! A Marlin 783 22 mag, an H&R Topper in .410 ( it is extra Full Choke!) The next one would be a Savage single shot 20ga, a Winchester 94 Classic carbine, my uncles 1917 Enfield he gave me before he died, a Ruger 77 .280 ( started handloading with it, 1977) a Remington 700 7mm Rem Mag, my all time fave my 700 Classic 35 Whelen ( Improved) a Weatherby Orion in 20ga, a Matchgrade Arms 340W ( later had it rebarreled to 338Win) a gain twist Vanguard in 338 RUM and a Mod 721 7mm RUM...every 30-06 I've ever had...pistols have to be a Mod 28 Highway Patrolman .357, then the 1911 ( over a dozen of those through the years) and now Glocks....theres more rifles/shotguns/pistols but I better stop here or someone will think I'm a liar!

 

[Oldtrader3]

I once owned the Jimmy Lile knife that is shown in that Guns and Ammo cover picture. It was one of Jimmy's most sold patterns

 

[cloverleaf]

Dads Herters Mauser Mark X in 7MM Mag with a K4 weaver with a 2 Min Dot. Beyond explaining.... I had to have a Mauser of my own. CL

My current 250-Savage, an FN Mauser comercial


Dad and his 7mm Mag and me with my first 250 ,,,,a 93 Mauser

 

[Guy Miner]

Nice stuff guys... Real nice.

 

[RiverRider]

My uncle's 788 in .222 Rem...it was homely compared to the rifles he would shoot when we went on our jackrabbit slaughtering forays, but pretty is as pretty does. If I could see something thorough that old K-4, I could hit it and he did no better than I did. I've got one like it of my own now. It just wears a much better scope. Funny thing is, I can't claim much better success with my current 788 than I had with my uncle's.

 

[str8meat]

my dad had a remington 788 in 22 250. i watched alot of animal fall with that gun. then i used it for my first buck deer. unfortunatley they didnt last forever. would love to have that one back.

 

[DrMike]

I've had a love affair with the Model 70 Featherweight for a long time. All, save for one, that I've worked with performed very well. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[nvbroncrider]

Any of the 1898 Mauser variants. My grandpa swore up and down the ol 03A3 was the best action ever made. I've got a rifle he built on the VZ-24 Brno the best 98 ever built in his opinion then a M77 tang safety which is a good action except the double feed issue do to the plunger style ejector. I have a M77 MKII V/T which is great really like how the safety is designed. Win 3 position that physically lock the firing pin. Then since joining the forum a slew of M70's. A custom Pre-64 a bunch of classics, gotta love them idiot proof triggers, and a SC FW. I have a couple Rems as well and they are nice. But both were flawed from the factory. They are acceptable now but not perfect.

In my opinion the "perfect" action would include a 98 Mauser style action a Ruger 3 position safety and a M70 bolt release and Pre-SC trigger and include the Montana 1999 barrel arrangement that requires no extractor cut in the barrel. That would be the best features of each and make one hell of an action.

I do like Ruger's ring attachment but with the way Talleys work I don't think that's a necessary addition for the perfect action.