Rifles

Hunting rifles fall into an interesting category among the firearms crowd, with more shooters having more opinions about the long guns than any other smoke pole. The likes and dislikes range from composite versus wood; short barrel versus long barrel; and dont even try to argue about the perfect caliber.We selected three top-selling models for a test of good hunting tools and settled on what the late Jack OConnor considered the perfect caliber for North American game. In his classic The Rifle Book, he states: "Hunters using the .270 discovered that with it they could hit game at longer ranges than with anything else, and that when they hit they got a higher percentage of one-shot kills."With the argument about the perfect caliber finally put to rest (just kidding), we picked the Remington Model 700 SPS; the Savage 114 Classic; and the Weatherby Stainless Vanguard for our test of hunting tools. All three of the long guns have seen quite a bit of field and target range time as hunters across the country seek out their perfect deer rifle. We found few faults in the handling and functioning ability of the rifles and were generally pleased with the overall performance of all of the firearms in handling factory ammunition.Although our Weatherby came equipped with the manufacturers custom Accubrake recoil reducer, we removed the device for velocity tests. Recoil from all of the rifles was considered in the easily handled range, even after extensive time punching holes in targets. We noted that the out-of-the-box trigger pulls on all three rifles, ranging from 4 pounds for the Remington to 2.5 pounds for the Savage, were satisfactory to excellent for hunting.

The new Ed Brown Varmint stock includes every enhancement Brown customers have requested over the past few years.

Kathy Adkins moved from target to target, using a .38 revolver and a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol with deadly efficiency, putting holes in the dead center of paper targets meant to look like people. Adkins, 48, owns a real estate firm in Jackson and has been taking firearms training since March. Instructor Cliff Cargill said he has had many new students since the Legislature passed a bill last year giving residents expanded legal rights to protect…

A lot of Americans who believe in the right to own guns were very disappointed this weekend. On Friday, the Bush administration's Justice Department entered into the fray over the District of Columbia's 1976 handgun ban by filing a brief to the Supreme Court that effectively supports the ban. The administration pays lip service to the notion that the Second Amendment protects gun ownership as an individual right, but their brief leaves the term essentially meaningless.

This Is A Basic No-nonsense Carbine At A Good Price. A Little Trigger work And The Scope Of Your Choice Backed By The Mangonel Rear Sight would Make It Hard To Beat.

The 'Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2007' (HR 4900) legislation represents a major advance in protecting the rights of firearms dealers.

Winchester Ammunition’s new Theodore Roosevelt commemorative ammunition line feature a nickel-plated shell casing bearing a special Roosevelt head-stamp in three popular calibers: .30-30 Win., .45 Colt and Roosevelt's favorite big bore lever-gun round, the .405 Winchester.

Ron Sieg, Flagstaff Regional Supervisor, will present issues associated with lead from spent ammunition.

Konus Optical & Sports Systems will unveil its KonusPro M-30 Series of riflescopes at SHOT Show 2008, February 2-5, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

This article is on Brownells new Beta 100-Round capacity for enhanced firepower. 100-round capacity is great for extended shooting sessions with inexpensive surplus ammunition.

The 9.3x74r Ruger Was A Handsome Package With Classic Lines. accuracy Was Excellent With Our Handloads. This Was A Handy Rifle with Everything Done Well.

Given adequate funds, which would you prefer for all your general medium-game hunting, a single shot, or a good double rifle? This question has been around a good many years, particularly in Africa in the days before one could get good yet inexpensive bolt-action rifles. Today the question might be a bit different. Which one would make the better investment? Or, which would give greater shooter satisfaction? Given the great disparity in prices of good examples of single and double loaders, would there be any real benefit to owning one type of rifle more than another?

Sturm, Ruger & Co. chambers a most unusual (to American shooters) mid-power cartridge in the Ruger No. 1, the 9.3x74R. It's a rimmed cartridge commonly loaded with bullets of 0.366-inch diameter in weights from 232 to 286 grains. This cartridge has power a shade under that of the .375 H&H Magnum. We procured a Ruger No.1 ($1030) in this caliber. Ammunition is not available everywhere, as we found to our chagrin.

We were fortunate to have the loan of a fine Manton double rifle (about $10,000) in this caliber, which not only used the same bullet size as the 9.3x74R, but put out its 320-grain bullets at essentially the same velocity as our handload for the Ruger—though at vastly reduced pressure. While a single shot like the Ruger has the immense advantage of being able to use a variety of bullet weights, the fine double is generally regulated for only one load, with either soft-nose or "solid" bullets. But one load per rifle is generally adequate, as many experienced hunters have found over the years.

Norma, RWS, Sellier & Bellot, and perhaps one or two others make ammo for the 9.3x74R. Hornady has promised to make some for several years, but none is yet forthcoming. We were unable to find ammo anywhere in time for this report, so we resorted to handloading. We used jacketed and cast bullets designed for the various .360-caliber British cartridges. Specifically, we loaded 320-grain bullets from Hawk, Inc., and from Woodleigh, and 275-grain cast gas-checked bullets from Mt. Baldy, into new RWS cases. Nosler also makes several bullets in this size for handloading. We don't claim we got the maximum results out of the 9.3x74R. We stopped when everything was working well. The Manton was easier to feed. Its owner provided all the ammunition, featuring Woodleigh's 320-grain bullets, same as we used in the Ruger, and both Bell and Bertram brass.

So how did these two compare? In several important ways there's no comparison. The Ruger has a list price of $1030, and almost any dealer can order you one. The Manton, or anything like it, will set you back today right around $10,000. And you probably won't find a decent one for sale, though you might find several clunkers. Let's see what we found out about each of them.