Rifles and Cartridges

In the recent past, the hunter with a preference for a certain cartridge had to accept any available rifle which would chamber it. Similarly, the hunter who preferred a certain type of action often was limited in his choice of cartridges which that action would safely handle.

Today, modern rifle and cartridge development has reached a stage where the big-game hunter can exercise his individuality in both rifles and car­tridges, yet have them in combination.

The four basic types of actions in the big-game rifle are:

1. Lever
2. Bolt
3. Slide, or Pump
4. Autoloading

THE LEVER ACTION

Various lever-action big-game rifles attained a degree of popularity be­fore the turn of the century. Among these were the Winchester Models 1866, 1876, 1873, and 1886. None of them, however, reached the sus­tained acclaim of the Model 1894. This fact was partly due to the simple, sure functioning of that particular action. It was due to a far greater extent to the fact that the Model 94 was designed to handle a cartridge loaded with the new smokeless powder—all former lever actions had been made for black-powder cartridges.

Winchester's Model 94 was made to handle the .30/30, the .38/55, and the .32/40 smokeless cartridges. But of the three, the .30/30 soon became most popular and has remained so ever since. Even today, for some types of hunting, the old Model 94 full of .30/30 shells is hard to beat.

Other early lever-action rifles included the Winchester Model 1892, meant for short cartridges, and the Model 95, box magazine, which handled the .30/40 Krag, .35 Winchester, .405 Winchester, and .30 Government cartridges. The .405, incidentally, was President Teddy Roosevelt's favorite rifle.

In 1899 the Savage lever-action Model 99 repeating rifle was released, and like the Model 94 Winchester, the Savage 99 has retained its popularity to the present time.

The Savage was designed for a cartridge similar to the .30/30, which was the unique .303 Savage. The action differed from the Model 94 in that it was hammerless, had a rotary magazine, and side ejection of empty car­tridges. It was a strong, safe action, sleek in appearance, and had excellent handling qualities. Of all the lever actions, the Model 94 and the Model 99 have been most popular. The Marlin Model 336 has also been a popular lever action.

Among the intrinsic drawbacks of the old lever action were the facts that its construction necessitated a two-piece stock; and the rear locking bolt would not permit the extended use of the higher-powered cartridges without "stretching" and creating excessive headspace. In the Model 94, an addi­tional fault was that only blunt-end bullets could be safely used in its tubular magazine—otherwise there was danger, during recoil or bumping, of a sharp bullet point igniting the primer of the cartridge immediately ahead.

Today's versions of the popular lever-action rifles include the modernized Savage Model 99 and Winchester's new Model 88. In the Model 88, the three basic faults of the Model 94 have been corrected. The 88 has a one-piece stock, which is conducive to better accuracy; front-locking bolt-lugs, which will permit the use of higher-intensity cartridges; and a clip magazine which will allow the use of spitzer (sharp)-pointed bullets.

In these two modern lever-action rifles, such adequate cartridges as the .300 Savage, .308 Winchester, and the .358 Winchester are available and safely handled.

The virtues of the lever-action rifle are that it is light, handy, permits fast successive shots, is useful for both left- and right-handed shooters, and is the handiest type of rifle yet devised for use in a saddle scabbard.

Lever-action rifles (from top): Winchester Model 94, Savage Model 99, Winchester Model 88, Marlin Model 336.

THE BOLT ACTION

Bolt-action rifles for big-game hunting came as a natural result of this type of action's use by the military. The bolt-action military rifle had several advantages over the older lever-action rifles. It was a strong, simple action, more foolproof in its functioning, and permitted the use of high-intensity cartridges. The bolt action could be used on a one-piece stock—itself rugged and sometimes used as a club—and was easily dismantled and re­assembled.

Men returned from wars with a familiarity with and liking for the old Krags and Springfields. Many surplus supplies of these and the later Enfield rifles were made available by the government at a few cents on the dollar to civilian shooters. It all added up to a generation of new bolt-action users.

Bolt-action rifles (from top): Winchester Model 70, Remington Model 700, and the Savage Model 110-MCL for the left-handed shooter.

Two commercial versions of the bolt-action rifle were Remington's Model 30 (a commercial form of the 1917 Enfield), marketed in 1921, and Win­chester's Model 54 introduced four years later.

These two commercial bolt-action rifles, and their military forebears, are the foundation of today's modern, highly efficient sporting rifles. Today there are a half-dozen American manufacturers making high-quality bolt-action big-game rifles. Two of the best known are the Winchester Model 70 and the Remington Model 700. The Savage Company has fulfilled a long­standing need by their introduction of a modern bolt-action big-game rifle in optional left-handed model—the Model 110—MCL.

In addition to the factory bolt actions meant for big-game hunting, there are any number of custom-built big-game bolt actions. In the main, these custom rifles are built around a sporterized version of the Mauser action, usually the Model 98 Mauser. The best known of the custom-grade bolt-action hunting rifles, and the last word in beautiful, high-class arms, are the Weatherby rifles.

This custom-built sporter combines a Model 98 Mauser bolt action, Vickery barrel, and Bishop stock.

Due to the increased interest in bolt-action rifles, plus the availability of cheap military actions and machine-inletted stocks, which take ninety per cent of the drudgery out of stock building, there has been an augmented interest in home remodeling of rifles.

Too, with the ever-improving design in military rifles, many nations have taken to dumping their surplus of obsolete rifles on the open market; and needless to say, the United States has been the favorite dumping ground.
These cheap rifles often prove most expensive in the long run. It is suffi­cient to say here that the cost of converting any military rifle to sporting use is often as much as the purchase price of a better, and new, factory sporting rifle. More, with the exceptions of a few such actions as the Enfield, Spring­field, and Model 98 Mauser, old military actions are both unsafe and un­suitable for conversions. The majority of such "bargain" military rifles are junk.
Single actions, either of converted type or custom made, are generally unsuited to big-game hunting, except by the experimenter or specialist.
THE SLIDE ACTION
The slide-action, or trombone-action, rifle followed the popularity of the pump-action shotgun introduced just before the turn of the century, and

Remington 760 slide-action rifle.
was expressed in the Remington Model 14, later developed into the Model 141. This rifle handled the .25, .30, .32, and .35-caliber Remington car­tridges.

Over the years, the slide action achieved a considerable popularity, especially with shooters who liked the pump-action shotgun. The rifle was "fast" on deer-sized game, especially when hunting in brushy country necessitating quick follow-up shots.

Today's modern slide action is best represented by Remington's Model 760 Gamemaster rifles. These are trim, clip-loaded, fast-handling rifles with bolts that rotate and head-lock into the barrels. This permits the use of the most modern cartridges including the .270, .30/06, .280, .300 Savage, .308 Winchester, and .35 Savage.

THE AUTOLOADERS

In 1913, the Remington Model 8 Autoloading Rifle was introduced. This was a John M. Browning design which continued in popularity down almost to the present day. It was re-designed in 1936 into the Model 81 Autoloader, and many of these old "corn-shellers" are in use today.

This autoloader used the same series of rimless cartridges as the slide action—the .25, .30, and .32 Remingtons, all comparable, ballistically, to the rimmed Winchester .25/35, .30/30, and .32 Special. In addition, the Models 8 and 81 used the famed .35 Remington cartridge, long known for its knock-down properties at close range on deer.

The Remington Autoloading Rifle of today bears little resemblance to the old Model 8 or 81. Instead, the Model 740 Remington Woodsmaster closely resembles the modern slide-action rifle and is available in much the same series of high-intensity cartridges.

In addition, two new gas-operated autoloading rifles have recently be­come available to the hunter. One is the Winchester Model 100, the other is Remington's Model 742. The Remington model is also available as a carbine, with l82-inch barrel length. This carbine-length barrel is also available in the Model 760 slide action.

CARTRIDGES

Cartridges for big-game use are always being improved, developed, and replaced. A popular cartridge today becomes obsolete within a year or two. The trend in cartridge development is basically in the direction of improved bullets, of reasonable weight, being driven at higher and higher velocities.

Following is a list of many of the standard big-game cartridges which have remained popular. The list begins with those usually considered min­imum for deer, and shows also the bullet weights available for use on suit­able big game:

Autoloading  rifles  (from top):  Winchester Model   100,  Remington Model 74OADL, Remington Model 742A.
Rifles and Cartridges                                            41
CARTRIDGE             BULLET WEIGHT  (grains)
.243 Winchester                        100
.244 Remington                         100
.250 Savage                              100
.257  Roberts                            100,   117
.264 Winchester Magnum          140
.270 Winchester                        130,  150
7                                               mm Mauser 175
.280 Remington                         150,  160, 165
.30/30 Winchester                     150,  170
.30 Remington                           170
.30/40 Krag                              180, 220
.30/06 Springfield                      150,  180, 220
.300 Savage                              150,  180
.300 H&H Magnum                  150, 180, 220
.303 Savage                              190
.303 British                                215
.308 Winchester                        150,  180
.32 Remington                           170
.32 Winchester Special              165,  170
8                                               mm Mannlicher-Schoenauer            200
8 mm Mauser                            170
.338 Winchester Magnum          200, 250, 300
.348 Winchester                        150, 200, 250
.35 Remington                           200
.358 Winchester                        200, 250
.375 H&H Magnum                   270, 300

To this list may be added the various "magnum" cartridges such as the 7 x 61 Sharpe & Hart, the Weatherby series, and wildcat cartridges which duplicate or exceed the ballistics of the above standardized cartridges. Too, additional bullet weights in comparable range are available from several bullet makers for handloading.

HUNTING SIGHTS

Sights for big-game rifles are of three types—open sights, peep sights, and telescopic sights.

Standard sighting equipment on factory rifles usually consists of open sights. The front sight is some form of bead, round or square, and may be red, white, or plain black. The rear sight consists of an element set solidly into a slot in the rifle barrel, with an extension strap of thin steel upturned at the end. This vertical upturn has a U or V notch in which the front sight is aligned. Elevation adjustment is made by spring-lifting the rear of the sight upon a series of elevated notches. Each notch, depending upon the length of the rifle barrel, represents several inches change. Windage adjustment is obtained by moving the entire rear sight sidewise with a brass punch and a hammer.

Cartridges for deer-sized game: (A) .30 Remington; (B) .30/30 Winchester; (C) 300 Savage; (D) .250 Savage; (E) 7 mm Mauser; (F) 257 Roberts; (G) .243 Winchester; (H) .270 Winchester; (1) .280 Remington; (J) 7x61 Sharpe & Hart; (K) .264 Winchester Magnum.

Open sights are useful at reasonably short ranges, and for young shooters. The eye, while using open sights, attempts to focus upon three separate objects at once—the rear sight, front sight, and target. Older men, whose eyesight is less keen, often have difficulty making this quick visual adjust­ment.

A better sight is the peep sight. This is a sight having a relatively large opening, or aperture, and is normally set as far to the rear in the sighting plane as possible (usually on the rifle's receiver) so that the eye looks not at the sight but through it. A normal eye will "center" such an aperture naturally without actually seeing it.

This rear peep sight is used in conjunction with a front sight similar to that used with open sights. In use, the eye must only focus on two objects, the front sight and the target.

Generally peep sights are accurate at longer ranges than open sights, and are more useful to the older shooter who is beginning to lose the flexibility of his eyesight. Peep sights are adjustable for both windage and elevation.

Cartridges for the heaviest North American game: (A) .35 Whelen with 250-grain bullet; (B) .348 Winchester with 220-grain bullet; (C) .358 Winchester with 200-grain bullet; (D) 300 H&H Magnum with 180-grain bullet; (E) .300 Weatherby Magnum with 220-grain bullet; (F) .375 H&H Magnum with 300-grain bullet.

Standard open sights: the flat-top (top) and the semi-buckhorn both come with a V or U notch and ele­vation   adjustments.

In the better models, this is accomplished by micrometer-like knobs, with each click representing a fraction of a minute-of-angle, itself practically one inch per hundred yards.

Incidentally, in adjusting both open and peep sights for elevation or windage, the rear sight is moved in the direction of the change desired. That is, if a rifle in trial shoots left, the rear sight must be moved right in order to correct the error. If the rifle shoots high, the rear sight must be lowered.

Telescope sights are the finest type of sights, and are useful for most forms of big-game shooting. The scope has four basic virtues. It enables the shooter to see better because of its light-gathering qualities. One application of this virtue is that it allows the hunter to sight accurately earlier in the daylight hunting period, and later at dusk. Again, the magnification of a scope sight helps greatly in correct bullet placement and game identification.

The peep sight is more accurate at long ranges than the open sight, and has adjustments for windage and ele­vation. Courtesy Redfìeld Gunsight Co.

Perhaps its greatest asset is that the shooter looks and focuses upon only one object—the target. The scope's reticule appears to be superimposed upon the target. Lastly, the scope makes a fine substitute binocular. In hunting big game, the scope will be used ten times for looking, spotting, and identifying game, to the one time it is used in shooting.

The real turning point in scope use by the average American big-game hunter occurred in 1933. Before that time, scopes were high-priced, usually imports, and generally mounted high on the rifle. The best grades, suitable for big-game hunting, were beyond the purse of the average hunter and therefore beyond his interest. In 1933, however, Bill Weaver of the W. R. Weaver Company, El Paso, Texas, perfected and placed on the market his "3/30" scope. This glass sight was equal to the expensive scopes in optical qualities. It would withstand the recoil of heavy rifles. It could be mounted low to the rifle barrel. And most of all, it cost only a fraction of the price of other good scopes—$27.50.

The famed "3/30" caught the fancy of American hunters, and we have become increasingly a country of scope users. Today, American-made scopes are among the world's best, and the younger generation of big-game hunters is coming to regard the scope sight as an integral part of the rifle. For hunters over fifty-five years of age, with normal eyesight, a scope sight is almost a must for accurate shooting, since at that age man's eyesight has lost its power of "accommodation."

For most big-game hunting, scopes of 22 to 6 power are best. For average use, the best is 4 power. A majority of hunters like the cross-hair reticule, as it permits easy holdover and visibility at distant game. For shooting in dark woods, at reasonably close ranges, or for running game, many prefer a post reticule, or dotted cross hair.

Competition is so keen among scope makers that fine hunting scopes, in single power, may be had from several reputable makers at around the $50 mark, for a 4-power glass. Among these are high-grade 4-power scopes by Weaver, Bushnell, Leupold, Bausch & Lomb, Stith, and Lyman. There is no need to go higher in price, and it is difficult to obtain any higher quality than the products of these makers.

The past few years there has been an increased interest in variable scopes. The variables are scopes which may, by turning a graduated collar, be changed in power, usually from a low of 2 or 3 power, to a high of possibly 9 or 10 power.

The drawbacks of variable scopes are that they must of necessity be large and bulky, due to the necessary large-diameter objective lens of high-powered scopes. Too, as the power increases the width-of-field de­creases, and the apparent size of the reticule changes. Due to their bulk, variable scopes won't ride handily in a saddle scabbard, and they are more susceptible to bumps, mainly because there is more to bump. Lastly, they cost more.

With variable scopes, however, the advantages outweigh the faults. First, one scope of several selective powers of magnification will cost far less than separate single scopes, one for each power. Again, a variable scope permits the use of the same rifle for more types of game without a change of sights. As one example, a .243 with scope turned to 9 power is nearly ideal for shooting chucks; with a twist of the wrist the same .243, using heavier bullets and with scope set at 4 power, becomes an adequate deer outfit. As another example, a .280 Remington with scope set at 3 power represents an almost ideal combination for running deer in somewhat open country; when set at 6 power it is similarly ideal for that ram perched upon a bluff 350 yards away, or the antelope buck at a long 400 yards, which is watching and cannot be approached any closer.

Often the cost in ammunition spent in re-sighting a rifle whose scopes must be changed to fit the game hunted will pay the difference in price of a variable scope. Finally, a variable scope on the big-game rifle often eliminates the need for lugging a pair of binoculars around. The scope, turned up to 8, 9, or 10 power becomes a comparable spotting instrument.

At this writing, there are at least four fine variable scopes for hunting use—the Bushnell, Leupold, Weaver, and Bausch & Lomb. Each has its individual advantages and selling points. These include the selective Command-Post of the Bushnell; the nitrogen-filled fog-proofing of the Leupold; the integral mounts of the Weaver; and the renowned optical qualities of the Bausch & Lomb. Prices for variable hunting scopes currently begin at around $80.

All scope sights of high quality now have coated lenses, and are ad­justable, either in the mount or the scope itself, for windage and elevation. Gradations, both for windage and elevation, are normally in fractions of a minute-of-angle. Dials under the adjustment-knob covers plainly indicate which direction to turn the knobs for a desired correction.

SCOPE MOUNTS

No scope will perform better than the rigidity of the mounts allows. Two qualities to look for in the choice of any mount is that it is light, and that it will stay entirely rigid. There are three basic types of scope mounts. One is a mount composed of two separate bases having detachable or integral rings for encircling and holding the scope. These bases are fitted to the rifle contour, usually at the rear of the receiver and at the receiver ring, and are screwed tightly down at these points. Many modern rifles are tapped-and-drilled at the factory to accommodate such bases. The scope is fitted into the rings and they, in turn, are screwed solidly to the bases, with the scope forming a connecting bridge.

This Weaver Model K6 scope has a split-ring mount which consists of two bases attached to the rifle which dovetail with rings that hold the scope.

The bridge mount is strong and solid because it has a connecting piece between the two rings which is screwed firmly to the rifle.

Another, and one of the most solid types, is an actual bridge mount. This differs from the two-base mount in that a metal, connecting bridge is shaped integral with the bases. In other words, the ends of this metal strip become the terminal bases, and have similar rings for holding the scope. Some bridge-type mounts are screwed solidly to the rifle. Others have dovetail arrangements whereby the bridge-and-scope may be removed by turning one portion of the mount laterally.

The third type is a pivotal mount which swings the scope out of line so that iron sights may be used—usually if the scope is put out of commission by snow, fog, or damage. This is accomplished by a hinged arrangement in the base. The base in one model is a flat longitudinal element which fits the contour of the receiver's side. The hinge works on the order of the hinge in a piano cover.

All these mounts serve their purposes. The bridge type is considered the most rigid of all. Regardless of the type of mount, all hunting scopes should be low-mounted.

SLINGS

A necessary accessory for the hunting rifle is a suitable sling. This is most useful for carrying the rifle over the shoulder while hunting, takingthe drudgery out of the necessary chore. For sitting or prone shooting, the sling helps greatly in steadying the rifle. For horseback hunting, the sling is often left off.

Other accessories include a recoil pad when necessary, rifle cases, clean­ing outfits, and a simple tool or so for making field adjustments and for fixing minor mishaps.

RIFLES FOR WOODS, PLAINS, AND MOUNTAINS

Often the beginning big-game hunter, and sometimes the veteran as well, will have but one rifle which must serve regardless of the game hunted or the overall hunting condition. Many times this is an advantage in that an increased familiarity with the single weapon will result in better shooting.

Many big-game hunters, however, have or will eventually own several rifles. Again, the hunter may do most all his hunting for a single species, or in an area having similar conditions of foliage and terrain. Because of such conditions, the big-game rifle may be classified as to special use.
This Weaver pivot mount allows the K3 scope to be swung to one side so iron sights can be used.

Broadly speaking, the big-game rifle will be used for mountain, plains, or timber hunting.

Rifles for woods hunting should be adequate in knockdown power (since precise placement of bullets is often difficult), have fast sighting equipment, be capable of quick successive shots, and shoot bullets of relatively large diameter and weight.

For these reasons, the woods rifle is often a slide, lever, or auto type of action, with either open or peep sights, or at least a very low-power scope. It must fit well and have an overall handiness.

Accuracy, flat trajectory, and retained punch at long ranges are the vital qualifications of the plains rifle. For these reasons, it is often a bolt action, of reasonable weight, is sling-equipped, and wears a scope of medium to high power. Precise shooting is necessary, as against the neces­sarily fast-shooting potential of the woods rifle.

The basic difference between the plains rifle and the mountain rifle in­volves gravity. For hunting in mountainous country, a rifle should have the same inherent accuracy, flat trajectory, and exact sighting as the rifle used on the plains. The species in mountain hunting are often just as far away, as unapproachable, as hard to hit, and as difficult to put down cleanly.

The big difference, however, is that the rifle must be habitually carried up and down, not laterally. Most hunters, after a few years hunting big game in the mountains, will admit that they are getting no older; but that the mountains are getting steeper. The difference between lugging a heavy rifle up and down mountains all day and carrying a light rifle is often the difference between staying home and going hunting.

For these reasons, the mountain rifle should be light. This is often ac­complished by shortening the barrel, lightening the stock, choosing a lighter weight scope and mount, and equipping the rifle with a lighter sling. Barrel length should not exceed 22 to 24 inches. The recoil of an adequate cartridge should be absorbed by a light recoil pad. If these features are judiciously selected, the rifle for mountain use can still be adequate and accurate.

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