I'm going to be 71 next month and to me a hunting rifle that I would lust for has a wood stock (the prettier the better) and tuned by a gunsmith trigger and a good scope like a Leupold. Today Companies are producing low cost rifles with excellent triggers, Pillar bedded or free floated plastic stocks, and a bargain priced scope that shoot great for low prices like $400.
My question is even though these are great values is it just us old guys that still love the old school rifles with a pretty stock, excellent trigger, free floated barrel and good scope?

Or am I just too old school.

Old School
H&R 300 Ultra Rifle in 243 with FN action and Douglas air gaged barrel


Current Savage 114 American in 270 That I bought because of the stock and it reminded me of an old school rifle

I think a classic action all wrapped in a great piece of wood is what a hunting rifle should be and I'm not ol...oh wait, yeah, I guess it is an old guy thing.

My custom .270 Win. built on a CZ Brno M21

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Bill Bates

i'm 41 and prefer a wood stock in a hunting rifle. i like bolt actions in .308, with a good quality leupold scope.

dad would buy and trade rifles at will...most were to trade for soemthing different, there was a core set of guns that were never on the market. if he acquired one to go into that set, he immediately took off any scope that was not a leupold to replace it for one.

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SDMF

Both are beautiful rifles, but the Savage stock is truly stunning.

And yes, I'm a lot closer to eighty than to seventy.

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Oh well, what the hell.

To answer your question, "no," it's not just old guys who love a classic rifle. Back in the day, I was plinking at the range with my AR. Then I took out my Marlin 30/30 for the next round. Old timer came up to me and commented on how he couldn't believe I'd own something so old-school after seeing me with the AR.

The workmanship in those old rifles can be appreciated, but currently, similar (excellent) shooters can be had at a fraction of the price, like you mentioned. Plus, you won't feel too bad if your $600.00 gun gets banged around a little, versus your $2000.00 gun.

To be honest, I'm not quite as old as you two fossils. And I don't even know a place that stocks or sells Savage. And while I've seen some Savage rifles over the years, I've never seen one in person with a decent stock. The ones I see for sale have scrap wood for stocks. Some in the past look like sanding the stock was an afterthought. If I found a Savage or any other rifle with that nice wood, I'd own it. Its how I ended up with my 7mm Rem Mag Browning. It doesn't shock me that an occasional Browning comes down the pike with presentation grade wood. Even their "bad" wood is pretty nicely done. But sometimes you just luck into a store with a rack of new guns. And if you look real hard, you'll see one that is great. I guess they occasionally salt the mine at Savage, too.

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Dick Burg

This is a result of the "age of Glock."

Many people are now willing to accept "ugly" guns if they work right and shoot straight.

We have the Savage Axis, and the copycats Remington 783 and Ruger American.

The best thing I can say about this development is that it MAY get more people involved in shooting, which is a good thing.

Yea, must be an old guy thing.

First thing I did with my new 340 MKV WBY and Stevens 25-06 was replace the plastic stocks with wood.
Split the difference with lamanated.

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

It's not just you 'old guys', despite constantly being told I should want black plastic stocks, painted on finishes and bull barrels in super-duper magnum calibers, this 23 year old much prefers a light rifle with a nice wood stock and a good deep blue in a caliber suitable for use by ordinary human beings. Example, my Ruger M77 Hawkeye Standard in .270 Winchester. I'm glad I bought it when I did, Ruger quit making them in left hand this year.

I do also happen to have one of those 'ugly but functional' rifles, a Remington 700LH SPS Varmint with a 26 inch bull barrel in .243 with a Timney trigger, HS Precision stock, and 4.5-14x42mm Nikon Buckmasters scope. It excels at making tiny groups at very long distances but it just doesn't have the soul of my other rifles. It's the only 'black rifle' I'll own.

I know you said Deer gun. I have not hunted deer since I moved here and they make us use a shotgun.

If I do hunt, its with a Ruger Super Redhawk 44 mag. Wood and stainless...





Here is the last Savage I bought this summer.

I looked at the Remington SPS and decided wood and blue steel look better. I bought this model 25 instead to shoot a 100 yard and 200 yard off hand rifle matches.



Its not as pretty as some above, but.... Its mine and paid for
AND it shoots little groups.

223 rem bolt action 4 shot magazine.
I also have a Remington 700VL 22-250 which stays in the safe most of the time.

I do not own any stainless rifles with plastic stock.

David

I love good wood on a rifle.

That said, I am most conserned with features such as weight (under 7 lbs ), short and handy ( 20' bbl or less) and an absence of features such as pistol AR 15 grips. I've never found a semi auto action useful in hunting.

Don't hunt with a gun that will embarrass your dog.

Na, it's not just you "old dogs".. I just had my 37th birthday last week... For the past 8 years I have been toting a Rem 700 ADL synthetic in 270 Win that was given to me as a gift for deer hunting. I'm not a fan of the looks, but for a basic little workhorse I couldn't be happier.

Now my younger brother, (33) has been a Winchester nut for quite some time. He has (4) m70's ranging from pre-64, XTR, last year New Haven, and a current production FN. And then he has (2) Trappers and a pre-64 m94 32spl... To say he had me pining for a Winny of my own a long time ago would be an understatement...

This past november I decided I needed my nice m70 and let go of 2 pistols to make it happen. I got a new m70 Super Grade in 338WM. I love love love that rifle!

Then, in early December I wandered into an LGS looking for some ammo and stumbled upon the perfect Christmas gift for my 10 year old son. An old Winchester model 69a.

When I picked that up, I noticed I sort of fancy looking m94.. checkering on the wood, and caliber 375 WIn on the tag... I had no idea about the 94 Big Bores till this point. And after going home and doing some looking around, I just had to have that Big Bore 375 despite the scavenger hunt that it is to get ammo and components!

The 94 Big Bore now rests one slot below my Super Grade on my gun rack...

This shop, like many others, has more than enough black rifles of various configs.... But I never really "see" them in much the same way I look right past the auto pistol case and to the revolver case looking for that tell-tale body line of an S&W hiding amongst the other things.

My 700 Remmy is a tool. It gets the job done and is deadly accurate... But my 2 Winchesters will be passed down to my son someday and they will always reside under a Barrett roof.

And you know what?? I don't even have any descent pics of either to share!! I'll have to remedy that.

I'm 60 so I bridge eras. Fanciest rifle I have is a Sako finnbear in 300 mag (circa 1969). But I didn't buy that, it was a gift from a relative who was thinning his collection.
If it's my money on the counter, most likely it's going to be a blue steel gun with synthetic or laminated stock.
OTOH, an M70 Alaskan in 30-06 could pry my wallet open.

Yes it's you old guys!

I don't have much use for a hunting rifle. I have one and someone years it does see the light of day....some years. But usually the only reason it comes out of the safe is when im rearranging something. So for that rare time it's actually shot I don't need to nor want to spend money on it. Mine is actually a wood and blued steel Ruger 77 in 3006 but it's that way because it was a good deal. If there was a better deal on a rubber or synthetic stock I'd have bought that one. If I go hunting I don't mind doing a little climbing over rocks and trees and that stock will look pretty bad rather quickly.

I thin you got it right with this. I think a lot of the younger generation, me including (35) don't view firearms as anything more than tools. We all know that with minimal maintenance they last and last. So for me its....does it shoot straight and reliable? Is it a good price? That's as far as I go. I was reading a post here yesterday about waxing revolvers and I thought to myself that that idea has never even crossed my mind. No more than waxing the TV remote!

I discovered CZ rimfire rifles in 2011 at the ripe old age of 57..... micro-mauser action, walnut stocks...... and best of all; Mannlicher stocks on the FSs...... I'm up to 3FS rimfires and a .223..........

All are great for walking in "Penn's Woods" and a lot of......

"what is that?" and
"where can I get one?"...... at the range!!

I'M AN OLD GEEZER, THAT HAS HUNTED IN THE NEW ENGLAND WOODS FOR OVER 50 YEARS. IN THE TERRAIN UP HERE, LONG SHOTS ON GAME ARE RARE. MY HUNTING HAS BEEN WITH MARLIN LEVER RIFLES, SHOTGUNS, AND REVOLVERS---ALL STEEL AND WOOD. I HAVE OWNED SOME THAT WERE NICELY FIGURED FOR FACTORY WOOD, AND IT HAS ALWAYS PAINED ME IF ANY GOT DINGED UP. NONE WERE ANYTHING LIKE THE GORGEOUS WOOD ON SOME OF THE RIFLES ON THIS THREAD. I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE CARRYING ONE THROUGH THE THICK, ROCKY, BRAMBLE FILLED WOODS UP HERE. I USUALLY SWAP TO PACHMAYRS ON MY REVOLVERS, IF I INTEND TO CARRY THEM IN THE WOODS….
I LIKE BUSHMASTER ARs AND SYNTHETIC STOCKED SAVAGE BOLT RIFLES WITH THE ACCU TRIGGERS. I CAN APPRECIATE THE VALUE OF A STAINLESS RIFLE IN A SYNTHETIC STOCK, THAT WON'T CHANGE ZERO, OR OTHERWISE BE AFFECTED BY HARSH WEATHER CONDITIONS. THEY JUST DON'T GIVE ME THE URGE TO PICK THEM UP AND HANDLE THEM, LIKE OLD MARLINS DO. I THINK OF THEM MORE AS TOOLS, RATHER THAN WORKS OF THE GUNSMITHS' ART……..

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

I qualify for the "older guy" club and find the aesthetics of beautifully grained wood and polished, blued steel appealing. Plastic stocks are ugly and all look the same. I agree that the move towards plastic and dull finished handguns has led the way to cheaper, durable and utilitarian rifles. The AR15 has also had a major influence on firearms design. The new rifles mentioned are functional tools for hunting but lack eye appeal to me. On the other hand, for a rifle I would carry in cold, wet conditions and not be concerned about it getting banged and dinged while moving through rough terrain...the utilitarian, pedestrian plastic stocked rife makes sense. There are "foodies" and others who have started to hunt purely for the meat and they just want to spend as little as possible to get that meat. My rifles are all stocked in wood. I have a AR15 and a 1943 vintage M1...The AR has it's uses but the M1 is the one I choose to shoot for pleasure.

Really liking that 243 Art.

Pretty sure you are aware I like nice wood.

To the point of even thinking a 10-22 deserves it.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

I'm 63 years-old and think exactly like One-Eye-Joe, most of my hunting rifles are stainless steel with plastic or laminated wood stocks. When I'm hunting I don't want to worry about scratching up my rifle stock or the rifle barrel getting rusted in rainy conditions. To me my rifle is a tool that is to be used but not abused.
A hunting buddy of mine hunts with a rifle that has a special camo protective covering over the stock and fore end to protect it from the elements. He doesn't want to get his "pretty" rifle dinged up in the woods.
My 27 year-old son hunts with a Browning X-Bolt that has a beautiful wood stock because he likes the looks and feel of wood. So, I guess he is old school and I'm not.
The only pretty stock rifle I own is a muzzleloader, it's a Hatfield Mountain Rifle that I have hunted with but now hangs over my fireplace.

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"Life is short, hunt hard"

I am with you, plastic is for Tupperware, rifles and handguns should be steel and wood.

I'm in the opinion that people invest too much emotions into guns.

I love the wood, even on my revolvers. the only plastic grip I have is on a my 6906.

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Back to back World War Champs.

Old school rifles are not for everyone as they are just tools but I guess I like pretty tools. I also was taught at a young age on how to refinish wood stocks so it doesn't brother me when I decide one is beat up to refinish it. That's part of the joy of owning them and I understand when people buy the current rifles with the plastic stocks that everyone has a choice.

H&R 301 Ultra Rifle 25-06 with FN commercial action and Douglas air gauged barrel and Manlicher stock.



Custom 25-06 built on a Mauser action.

It's hard to explain typing. I have no problems with old school and own a dozen military surplus rifles. I like them, I like shooting them but I have no emotional attachment to any of them and prefer if they were self cleaning! . It's just something that I use but don't fuss over.

I am 39 and can't stand the new trend in rifles. Previously, buying something off the "budget" line got you the same fundamental quality as the higher end products, like the Winchester Model 70 "Ranger" or the Remington 700 ADL. I understand that a plastic stock has its place, especially on a rifle used in extreme weather, but the current guns just seem like junk with crude simplistic designs, as many chincy plastic parts as possible, and no attempt at finishing. The analogy to Glock is correct, and why I don't own any of those either.

For my serious hunting rifles I use function over looks when making my choice of which gun to hunt with. Having said that I have beat up some very nice blued and wood rifles and harvested plenty of game with them and would not hesitate to use any gun I have to hunt with.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

I went to a suburban hs back in the late 80's(you remember, back before having a pocket knife would get you expelled), and more than a few kids in my shop classes brought in their own, or a family members rifles/shotguns, and either ordered precut blanks out of a catalog the shop teacher had, or in one case, turned one out of a burled walnut tree cut down from his back yard. The actions were either taken home, or, when it came time for all the fitting, were secured in a locked cabinet in the shop teachers office. Some of them even did some hand checkering and inlays. Considering I had a cheap Winchester 12 ga that I did a bunch of duck hunting with at the time, it wasn't really feasable for me to do it, as that gun was put through the wringer on a weekly basis during the fall.

Those were the days....

My question is even though these are great values is it just us old guys that still love the old school rifles with a pretty stock, excellent trigger, free floated barrel and good scope?

I think the appreciation is there where the economics may not be.
Very few companies now put out a wood stocked gun that is affordable.
CZ rimfires may be an example of one that still does and they seem to do quite well. There FS series calls to me.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

I've got a few semi customs with nice wood and a few other post and pre 64 Winchesters in wood. But have to admit the two trued and accurized Rem 700's I have, in glass stocks see far more use.

I can appreciate a blued rifle in a nicely figured walnut stock, but you simply can't beat glass for consistent accuracy.

Not at all Sir, not at all. I have been in love with old school beauty and workmanship since I can remember.... But like you imply, I made do with what I could afford for awhile till I was able to get a couple heirloom pieces....

But admittedly, those danged S&W's were eating up all of my extra allowance for quite a while and kept shuffling my Super Grade to the back burner...

[IMG][/IMG]how is this for an olskool rifle? my model 14 remington in 30 rem. cal. made in 1912

I have both types and I do prefer the wood stock on rifle and handguns but I have a savage 11vt in 22-250 and plastic stock. It ain't a pretty gun plastic stock doesn't fit well and looks cheap but for the price a great shooter. I think a lot of it boils down to what you have to spend and what you are going to do with it. what about shotguns I bought a old Stevens model 77 it has walnut stock and forearm I would much rather have it than a new Remington or mossberg from Walmart with plastic or cheap wood.

I don't know where I fall. Can be found in the woods with a P'53 Sergeant's rifled musket built around 1860, with a .223 AR that's taken lots of deer, or a $3000 (new) Winchester Ultimate Classic Model 70 left hand that I've spray painted to cut the brightness of the factory stainless, not to mention much odder and uglier things. (SAGE stocked M1A for one.):







Still looking for a Dakota in LH and smallish bore (one of these days!), but did get an older (1990s?) blued LH Winchester '06 Model 70 Classic NIB last month, just because it looked good.

I just don't care for a Plastic Stock (Except on a AR) To Me a Rifle is more than just a tool & platic stocked bolt actions have about as much appeal as a Axe or Shovel

I hunt deer most with a Ruger 77RL in .250 Savage with a nice wood stock. And grouse with a Italian 20 gauge OU with wood that looks good too. Like them both and have taken most of the game I've killed with them.

A few years back my younger son and I went out to hunt deer after he
got out of school. It was the last day of the rifle season, snowing but not too hard. When we got to the bit of slashed woods we were hunting the snow came harder. By the end of the light the snow was coming sideways. It wasn't light fluffy stuff either but small, nasty, wet flakes that piled up quick and made getting out to the highway again a crawl, rather than a drive.

The snow got all over the rifles we had with us and made keeping the
scopes usable a chore. The rifles were a mess when we got home.
Took some work to get them dry. More work later to be sure we had
done so.

On that kind of day, or when it's spitting rain in bird season, I like to
hunt with another gun. It's a Mossberg 590 12 gauge with a black parkerized finish, and black plastic furniture. Rain or snow don't
mean a thing to it.

So, put me as an older guy with a foot in both camps.

That Remington model 14 has what we, who live near the Ilion factory, call "employee grade wood". Every once in a while you will see a standard grade rifle with wood like yours. Outstanding.

I have a Model 12 (.22) that was originally my great uncle's with wood that is normally found on "D" grade guns.

First of all, Happy Birthday.

My first hunting rifle. I wanted to wait for a .308 but when I saw the wood I "settled" for the .270, a 1994 Rem 700 ADL, Nikon Monarch scope.

Not a good pic, but.

[IMG][/IMG] the other side.

Old school...


New fangled.....


I vote "BOTH!!!"

There's nothing like having good wood on a blue steel colored rifle or wood stocks on a handgun or good wood on a shotgun.

But I seem to get one day or two of monsoon rains every so often on a hunting trip. This is pouring rain and fog. We're out there in it for the long haul. My not so affordable rifle with the Purdy wood gets a soaking. They say the wood when it gets wet enough it can expand or swell. Prefer wood stocks.

"BUT" in the heavy pouring rain I like my plastic stocks much better. My plastic stock is a Russian 308.

I fought off the black plastic stocks for many decades. But some rifles with them makes sense. I have a maverick shotgun in plastic too.

I'm sorry but some guns with there wood stocks are very valuable to me and I can't replace them for the price I paid. There so Purdy I hate to hurt them. Plastic is good in some cases.

I was in my stand once and the snow fall began. I was hidden in the pines but still got covered with 3" of snow before I left. The rifle was soaking wet too. I dried it out after a good cleaning and oiled it up again.

They predict it's going to be cold yet clear. But that one dark cloud follows me. I like my wood grain but.....

Is that a Winchester 54 I spy???

No sir. It is a 1920 Savage chambered in 250-3000. Also pictured with it is an 1899 Savage Saddle Ring Carbine chambered in 303 Savage.

The 1920 Savage is about 3 pounds lighter than a 54 Winchester. They were ahead of their time, being the first "lightweight sporter".

I think the man has it right, Remingtons are tools and Winchesters are tools that become heirlooms.

I see you like it. I've had 3 or 4 in 338, I like it better than the 300 Win.

Nope, I'm right there with ya at age 55, although I don't own anything that fancy, just my ol Ruger M77 with the tang safety (which I love.). Plus customized 98 Mauser & 03 that belonged to my dad. Those Timney triggers are sweet. My Ruger #3 is pretty plain-jane as well.

I once bought an older Savage 110 for it's nicely-figured walnut and traded it later.

I was at a gun show about 20-some years ago with a pocket full of vacation pay from a job I had just left and found myself drooling over an M77 RSI .308 carbine with some with some beautiful figure. Oh, the ones that get away:-)

Reloder7 seems to be THE powder for the .375W. Bullets shouldn't be a bother. I've settled on the Hornady 220gr. But cases? Haven't checked lately, but they used to be a "seasonal item", produced once or twice a year.
My BB94 wears a Williams rear aperture sight and a red fiberoptic front bead. But no deer has seen fit to get in front of it yet...

And neither do I have a photo!

Just of the Browning .44 Model 92. Something "just right" about a light lever rifle for toting in the dense woods all day.


And an '03 in a super nice old sporter stock. Inletting is a work of art. Weirdly, a Winchester buttplate...




Not a thing touched on the '03's metal. Somebody just went to scads of trouble to hard bed it in some fancy-ish wood.


Modern cartridge era "old school". Probably just Post WWI.

Jaymoore:

You have posted pics of 2 rifles high on my list of intent to buy!

Since getting my 94 BB, I have become infatuated with the Winchester 92 in 44mag. I know I can get a 94 Trapper in 44, but I want a 20"bbl and hear alot of talk about how nice the 92 action is. Very likely the next rifle I pursue.

The other that has recently gotten stuck in my brain-pan is a nicely sporterized 1903. A specimen like yours is spot on! I know that alot of collectors probably frown on sporterized 03's, but I want one not for collecting, but to have a little piece of history in a package that is geared toward deer hunting. I have seen some flat-out gorgeously done sporterized 03's and they speak to me.

Nice pair! REALLY like that 03!

As to the 375 Win components: The shop I got mine from had 1 box of factory ammo and 6 other loose rounds. He tossed in the 26 rds for free with the rifle! I couldn't have been happier with that considering what ammo gets bid up to on GB. So, I have 26 brass to get started with.

Bullet: I submitted a pre-order for bullets from Hawk Bullets that I expect to arrive any day now. Someone on another firearms forum I am on tipped me off to another small time bullet maker that I plan to try also. This fellow is very pleased with the bullets, which if I recall are almost identical to Hornady's 220 graniers and at $0.45 per bullet. That's a nice price from what I have been seeing. I can find that lead and post it up if you are interested.

Thanks for the offer, but I stocked up some time back. Lots of cases still unfired. It's not a "fun" rifle to shoot, but should be way more than needed for deer. Need to find some wild hogs or something.

Have recently pared back the lever gun accumulation. The two '94 pre war carbines (a .25-35 and a .30WCF) had no provision for an aperture sight, so they went last. Just can't see that well anymore to risk a poor hit in less than ideal light. The .444 Marlin was just too much! It went away first.

I follow these threads for the pictures alone..

A strange thing happens when we age: while many youthful hunters might flock to the latest plastic wonder capable of taking game halfway across the county, older gents sometimes forsake their own classic rifles and suddenly want to hunt with a truly older rifle and chambering such as a .303 Savage, .280 Ross, .300 H&H, or .32 Spl. Has anyone tried to buy a Savage Model 99 lately?

I prefer classic lines on a rifle. I hate rifles where an attempt was made to design "raciness" into a rifle with ugly, pointy trigger-guards, plunging pistol grips, thumbhole stocks etc. Likewise, if someone feels their "deer" rifle needs a detachable 25-round magazine, perhaps some work on marksmanship fundamentals needs to be undertaken before taking to the field.