Those who know me know that I have ben hunting for 75 years plus and during that time I used a variety of rifles and shotguns. They have asked a few times what I thought were the best" this or that" and the word "Best" is in the eye of the beholder ( user ). Plus I have not used all the new calibers on the market today, but speaking of yesteryear I feel these earn a shout out.
Mauser 98
Win 70, pre 64
Win 71 (possibly the best handling lever rifle I ever used )
Savage 99
Parker, Fox and Bennelli inertia system
James Purdy Express Double Rifles which lead to the Double rifle's of today.
Weatherby--One would not be handicapped if all you had was a 257 and 340 ( except for the big 5 in Africa ) and if it was legal I feel the 340 is up to that task as well
What else should I have mentioned ?
as to preferred calibers, again I have not hunted with some of the new ones, but I have and feel I still could ( health issues aside ) hunt everything in the world from predators to elephants with
22-250
6.5 x55
300 H & H
375 H & H
450/400
But I would hate to go through life without having a Win 71, a 243, or a Weatherby., but the 5 I listed served me well for 75 years (-: And I might mention with the new powder and bullets on the market today, they would work even better now than they did in years past.
What did I forget or what should I have used--your turn gentlemen and hunting wife.
Mauser 98
Win 70, pre 64
Win 71 (possibly the best handling lever rifle I ever used )
Savage 99
Parker, Fox and Bennelli inertia system
James Purdy Express Double Rifles which lead to the Double rifle's of today.
Weatherby--One would not be handicapped if all you had was a 257 and 340 ( except for the big 5 in Africa ) and if it was legal I feel the 340 is up to that task as well
What else should I have mentioned ?
as to preferred calibers, again I have not hunted with some of the new ones, but I have and feel I still could ( health issues aside ) hunt everything in the world from predators to elephants with
22-250
6.5 x55
300 H & H
375 H & H
450/400
But I would hate to go through life without having a Win 71, a 243, or a Weatherby., but the 5 I listed served me well for 75 years (-: And I might mention with the new powder and bullets on the market today, they would work even better now than they did in years past.
What did I forget or what should I have used--your turn gentlemen and hunting wife.
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