So what happened to the pump rifle?

[Spats McGee]

For whatever reason (probably just being a product of my time), I've never warmed up to: (a) pump action rifles; or (b) bolt action shotguns.

 

[HowieG]

Ever notice that red star in the corner of the California flag?

Yep!

 

[Jeff olson]

The 03 & 07 Winchesters were semi autos and were not Brownings design.

As was the 05

 

[Jeff olson]

If you had to buy a pump action rifle today new or used, for hunting medium to large game what would it be?

Either the model 25 or 14 Remington.

 

[HowieG]

As was the 05

And the 10.

 

[HowieG]

For whatever reason (probably just being a product of my time), I've never warmed up to: (a) pump action rifles; or (b) bolt action shotguns.

I'm with you on the shotguns. Pretty clumsy. Especially that long barreled Marlin Goose Gun.

 

[Mosin77]

Pretty sure the bolt shotgun had one thing and one thing alone going for it: low cost. I doubt that applies now when you can buy a used pump as cheaply as you like.

The pump rifle, on the other hand, is a lot of fun in .22 rimfire. I can see its charm for low pressure cartridges (no extraction issues) and quick followup shots on small game. I think they were slightly popular back in the day for cartridges like .32-20 or .25-20 from Remington, Marlin, and maybe Savage. I wouldn’t mind trying one in .30-06, but not for what the Remingtons go for these days. There’s not a lot of hunting demand for as-fast-as-humanly-possible followup shots (that market went semi-auto) and for recreational use smaller cartridges are preferred. Not many people really relish the recoil of a .308 lever either.

Maybe for a driven game hunt in a jurisdiction where semi-autos are forbidden?

 

[Picher]

I have one, a Remington Fieldmaster in .22:
View attachment 1124764

It costs more than a .22 AR, however, I find it a lot more enjoyable to shoot. That said, I can understand it not being a "go-to" choice for most people. There is the cost, and there is an overall different feel. Even though it isn't that old, it feels old.

One other thing that I can see as a real problem for a lot of people is the tube magazine and indoor ranges. There is a range that I went to that required all firearms to be pointed downrange at all times when out of a case. That sounds sane until you ask the question, how do I load this thing?

To load it, it has to be pointed upward, not at the backstop. Once I realized that, at that range, I could not use tube-fed or muzzleloaders, I was fine. But it was a restriction. However, when I go to other places, I almost always bring it, as I said above, it just has a different feel to it. I like it, but I would be hesitant to recommend one. Either you know that you want one, or you probably don't want one.

I had one and liked it a lot, except for the tinny sound when it's dry-fired. I was in my late teens when I got the rifle and it was a great plinker. I hate to admit it, but it was fantastic on aerial shots at cans, etc.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

And the 10.

There is one more - The 63.

 

[Jeff olson]

There is one more - The 63.

 

[Simplereloader81]

I agree with the guy who said theres play in the forearm but for hunting purposes....aside from unpredictable autos, pumps are the best to use while hunting but one of the worst to use at the range. The pump is like a surfboard on the rest

 

[Riomouse911]

Ive shot both an original, heavily worn 1906 Winchester and a Rossi copy from the 90s, both .22LR, both cycled perfectly and were tons of fun for casual plinking but certainly not precision rimfires.
Also had a Remington 760 in .30-06 and it was terrible. Poor accuracy, difficult extraction, brutal recoil and it busted my knuckle everytime I tried to pull the magazine. Couldnt dump that steaming pile fast enough.
Never shoulda let go of the Rossi for sure!

I bought one a couple of years ago after a fit of nostalgia had me pining for an 1890 Winchester like my Grandfather had. I was priced out of a decent 1890 but the very similar looking-feeling octagon Rossi was affordable.



I like the rifle. It is accurate enough for me to have fun with and really does bring back memories of childhood romps through the oak bottom canyons of the family ranch chasing fox squirrels.

Stay safe.

 

[jmorris]

People stopped buying them so manufacturers quit making as many.

I think it might be the least mechanically advantaged as far as extraction goes, that might be an issue.

I had a friend that had one of the Remington pumps (760) in 270, I never did shoot it and asked him a couple weeks ago if he still had it but he sold it years ago now. I don’t own any in rifle caliber pumps myself either, so the above is purely speculation.

 

[e rex]

I have a Remington 760 in 30-06. I couldn't ask for better service than it has given me, put up a truck load of deer without a problem. I also own a bolt rifle but when I want to kill something I grab the old pump gun. 150 grain Hornady cup and core over 57.3 grains IMR 4350 works just fine.

 

[Picher]

Here are cpl of my pumps: Both Winchesters and both are .22's. I could afford neither in my youth, nor the Marlin 39 Mountie I really wanted. Later in my 20's to 40's, I found these two in almost new condition.

The model 61 on top is sighted with a vintage Redfield 3/4" .22 scope. The gun's exceptionally accurate for a field grade .22. It'll do 3/8" at 32 yds off my porch rail with Federal Auto Match, CCI Mini-Mags and SV, as well as a cpl other brands. As a squirrel rifle, it has few equals and at ~4-1/2 lbs., it's a joy to carry in the field.

The lower is also a Winchester...a model 62 that I've added a Marbles tang peep and a white 1/16" bead for accuracy. Truth be told, I prefer it to the model 61 above as I like the hammer more than the 61's safety. Both are easy to carry and lots of fun for new or old shooters. And either will readily pick off charcoal briquettes from the fence rail 30 yds from our back porch.

Best regards, Rod

View attachment 1124908​

I lusted after .22LR pump rifles that were in the family, back in my pre-teen days in the 1950's. I shot my cousin's rifle and hoped to get one just like it, but they became too expensive and hard to get. I got a Lever Action, straight-stocked Marlin "Mountie" and it was a fantastic piece. I used it with great effect on varmints around the family camp when we were first married.

 

[sage5907]

I have a Remington 760 in 30-06. I couldn't ask for better service than it has given me, put up a truck load of deer without a problem. I also own a bolt rifle but when I want to kill something I grab the old pump gun. 150 grain Hornady cup and core over 57.3 grains IMR 4350 works just fine.

When I was 14 years old I bought a Remington 870 12 gauge for quail hunting and I was hooked on a pump gun for life. I was always interested in a 760 but because of the Winchester 70 bolt action I never owned one. I have used both a 760 in 308 and 30-06 and my only complaint with them is that the recoil is quite sharp. The stock needs a good recoil pad like a Pachmayr Decelerator. I always thought they would be a good house gun to keep behind the closet door. With the hammer down on an empty chamber the only thing needed to shoot is to rack the slide and hearing that sound would put a intruder on notice that bad things were about to happen.

 

[Rodfac]

I lusted after .22LR pump rifles that were in the family, back in my pre-teen days in the 1950's. I shot my cousin's rifle and hoped to get one just like it, but they became too expensive and hard to get. I got a Lever Action, straight-stocked Marlin "Mountie" and it was a fantastic piece. I used it with great effect on varmints around the family camp when we were first married.

Yep, I hear you Pich...sounds like we had a similar youth....I'm 76 now and bought my first rifle, a Marlin 57 Levermatic in 1960. It was paid for from my trap-line and paper route earnings in the dairy country south of Buffalo NY. That sweet little Marlin was half the cost of a Marlin 39.

Best regards, and BTW, I thoroughly enjoy your posts. Rod

 

[Varminterror]

For whatever reason (probably just being a product of my time), I've never warmed up to: (a) pump action rifles; or (b) bolt action shotguns.

I’ve avoided this thread all week because I really wanted to avoid saying this out loud.

I have REALLY wanted to like pump rifles for most of my life, and my son is of an age where he really wants to try one - I just can’t get into it.

(Admittedly, I do have a Mossberg bolt action 410 I kinda like for bunnies, but it’s definitely about as handy as a three legged mule for wingshooting. But as a LOVER of 16ga, even that wasn’t enough to help me enjoy bolt shotguns).

pumps are the best to use while hunting

I’ve also been hearing this kind of sentiment for most of my life, and despite hunting drives in thick woods back East, stands in the North, even North East, and stalking and ambushing out West, chasing whitetails and mulies in over half of the states in our Union, I simply haven’t been able to find the specific scenario where this is true. Same with buckshot, for that matter.

But @jmorris nailed it - folks don’t buy pump action rifles, so they faded.

 

[Picher]

I bought one a couple of years ago after a fit of nostalgia had me pining for an 1890 Winchester like my Grandfather had. I was priced out of a decent 1890 but the very similar looking-feeling octagon Rossi was affordable.

View attachment 1125622 View attachment 1125623 View attachment 1125624

I like the rifle. It is accurate enough for me to have fun with and really does bring back memories of childhood romps through the oak bottom canyons of the family ranch chasing fox squirrels.

Stay safe.

The metal looks beautiful. Did you have it re-blued?

 

[earlthegoat2]

The lack of primary extraction of the 760/7600 is more hyped than really deserved. It really only means you can’t run hot rod handloads in them. Factory ammo or factory-like ammo is fine. Once again, it is a good hunting rifle not a target rifle or really a rifleman’s rifle. Just a hunting rifle. Remington was great at making hunting rifles and they died on that hill.

I tend to agree that they have a bit sharp recoil. The Carbine I had was pretty unpleasant with the hard rubber pad but was OK with it he KickEze I installed.

If you had to buy a pump action rifle today new or used, for hunting medium to large game what would it be?

It would have to be a 7600 in 35 Whelen if large Alaskan bears are included. 30-06 if just elk and moose. A 35 Whelen AI can be loaded pretty close to 338 Win Mag levels. In a pump rifle though, that thing about lack of primary extraction actually comes into play with loads like that.

 

[Riomouse911]

The metal looks beautiful. Did you have it re-blued?

No, thats how it came when I bought it off GB. The front sight had a dab of orange paint on it from the previous owner and a pencil point sized fleck or two of rust near the magazine tube opening on one side of the barrel. Other than that, I seriously think it had no more than a magazine or two run through it before it was put away somewhere.

It shoots pretty well with ammo it likes, but the open-top action limits me to open sights so I have kept the range short (25-30 yards so far. These are at just under 25.)



Stay safe.

 

[Elkins45]

I’ve probably said this 1000 times but I’ll say it again: someone could make a fortune selling a reintroduced Remington 7615 to people in the ban states. No pistol grip, not semi-auto, capable of accepting AR mags. It’s a really viable defensive option for states with an AWB.

Of course converting an AR to pump wouldn’t really be all that difficult. Just replace the gas tube with a rod and attach it to a sleeve wrapped around the hand guard.

 

[Elkins45]

I have one, a Remington Fieldmaster in .22:
View attachment 1124764

It costs more than a .22 AR, however, I find it a lot more enjoyable to shoot. That said, I can understand it not being a "go-to" choice for most people. There is the cost, and there is an overall different feel. Even though it isn't that old, it feels old.

One other thing that I can see as a real problem for a lot of people is the tube magazine and indoor ranges. There is a range that I went to that required all firearms to be pointed downrange at all times when out of a case. That sounds sane until you ask the question, how do I load this thing?

To load it, it has to be pointed upward, not at the backstop. Once I realized that, at that range, I could not use tube-fed or muzzleloaders, I was fine. But it was a restriction. However, when I go to other places, I almost always bring it, as I said above, it just has a different feel to it. I like it, but I would be hesitant to recommend one. Either you know that you want one, or you probably don't want one.

I’ve always wanted one of those but for some reason the only ones I see for sale around here have almost no rifling left.

 

[rondaxe]

Sage is right about the recoil in the Rem. 760. Mine kicks like a country mule. It has a narrow stock and a hard plastic butt plate. When I take it to the range I have a slip on recoil pad I use. I've never had any issues with extractions and I've run a lot of different handloads thru it. I never even noticed the recoil when shooting at a deer. I know a couple of PA. hunters and they both referred to the 760 as Amish AKs.

 

[nipprdog]

I’ve probably said this 1000 times but I’ll say it again: someone could make a fortune selling a reintroduced Remington 7615 to people in the ban states. No pistol grip, not semi-auto, capable of accepting AR mags. It’s a really viable defensive option for states with an AWB.

had mine for 12 years or so