The "Stalking Rifle"..have one?

[Chuck R.]

Granted it's sort of a British/Scottish thing, but how many of you have what you'd consider to be a "Stalking Rifle"?

Shouldn't Not to be confused with the classic "brush gun", I think the range potential eliminates what we consider to be a typical brush gun anyway:

The classic form of the stalking rifle came out of the English gun trade a century ago. Slender of barrel, it was chambered to a moderate but versatile cartridge suitable for shooting to a couple hundred yards, sometimes a bit more. It might possibly be a .25-caliber or 6.5mm, perhaps on up to .318 Westley Richards or .338 Federal. In that range would certainly be today’s 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.5x55 Mauser, the 7mm-08 Remington and the old 7x57 Mauser.

and:

Many stalking scenarios require a shot be taken across open ground at ranges of up to 250 yards. A rifle that can deliver a bullet with as flat a trajectory as possible is desirable. This allows for minimal hold-over or hold-under, between 50 yards and 250 yards.

There's a pretty good description of what one is or isn't here:

https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/choosing-ideal-stalking-rifle/371862

and here:

https://www.vintageguns.co.uk/magazine/stalking-rifles-through-the-years-

I've got 3 rifles that I think fit the bill, by coincidence all 3 are Rem M7s: .223 (Varmint Stalker?), .260Rem and a .350RM (I guess a heavy Stalker?). All have 20" barrels, and optics that make hitting out to 250yds doable. Also all 3 are in the 6.5-7 1/2 pound range "all up".

So what about you guys? IAW Boddington, you don't have to actually stalk to make use of a stalking rifle.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Win Mod 70 Featherweight Compact in .308 Win. Son now has it.

 

[jdsingleshot]

There is no game animal or varmint in western Kentucky that I can't kill with my home made bolt action .25-20. It weighs only 5 pounds and points as easy as looking at something. The deer I shot with it last fall went about 40 yards. I love carrying that rifle on a hunt.

Then there is my small ring Mauser in 7x57 that I carried in the mountains of Oregon and Montana. I think it is a classic stalking rifle. The stock fits me perfectly.

 

[eastbank]

browning low wall in .260 rem, light weight in a cartige that will reach out there if needed.

 

[jmr40]

I just sold my Ruger American Predator in 308 with an 18" barrel. That was my stalking rifle. Long story, but I ended up with 2 Tikka T3's in 308. One in blue, the other in SS. I'm going to cut the barrel on the blue one down to about 19" and use it as my stalking rifle.

 

[.45Coltguy]

There is no game animal or varmint in western Kentucky that I can't kill with my home made bolt action .25-20. It weighs only 5 pounds and points as easy as looking at something. The deer I shot with it last fall went about 40 yards. I love carrying that rifle on a hunt.

Then there is my small ring Mauser in 7x57 that I carried in the mountains of Oregon and Montana. I think it is a classic stalking rifle. The stock fits me perfectly.View attachment 1097121 View attachment 1097122

Mighty hard to beat the good 'ol 7x57 Mauser. One of my favorites.

 

[Barbaroja]

I guess the only thing I’ve got to fit the bill currently is my savage axis in .243win. It isn’t pretty but it shoots great and carries easy.

 

[Captcurt]

My goto for many years was a Savage 10 Sierra. A 6 3/4 lb 300WSM with a 2-7X Leupold. It is short. fairly light and shoots sub-MOA. Back several years ago I found a Compact Ruger 77 in 260 Rem at a yard sale. I threw the Tasco that was on it in the trash and stuck a 2-7 Leupold on it. To me, it was the perfect gun for still hunting. I would still have it if it had been walnut/blue. Gray Laminate and stainless is not my cup of tea.

I've used several different Creedmoors over the last 3 or 4 seasons, but the Savage gets pulled out when I might have to sneaky snake.

 

[.38 Special]

This one is fairly close.



Made in America, of course, and chambered for the decidedly not-British .30-'06.

R.J. Renner does a very nice conversion of the Ruger No. 1, and some day I mean to have one.

 

[FL-NC]

This is all new to me. The rifle I did most of my "stalking" with was a M24- about 16 pounds of 24" heavy barreled 308 bolt rifle that needed to be supported by a Harris bipod.

 

[Roverguy]

I have a few that would qualify:

This interwar Mauser sporter is one



And my Ruger No 3 in 30-40 would be another:

 

[WisBorn]

My favorite walkabout rifle was a M700 BDL LH 308win with a 2-7 Leopold. Loaded with 165 grain Game Kings.

Today I would like to try a Ruger American LH with a 2.5-8x36 Leopold. 6.5 CM, 7-08, or 308 would be fine.

I liked the M700 work great with changing terrain walking from woods to marsh to agriculture fields. Sitting for awhile on a stump or down tree. Shots could be from a few feet to several hundred yards.

 

[.38 Special]

Oh, you know what? I forgot one.



A fairly odd sporterized Enfield, the barrel stamping of which wants us to believe it was done by Cogswell & Harrison in London. I have my doubts, but there you go.

 

[Highland Lofts]

I use my H&R 243 Handi-Rifle.
Nice & short and accurate out to 200 yards.
That the limit I shoot at.
Most of my shots are under 75 yards.

These for deer were all shot with the 243 H&R Handi-Rifle last deer season.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I guess my old 308 Rem 760 carbine 18" barrel is the closest I have to what would be a stalking rifle. 308 is kind of large for what is described here.
Really light and powerful enough for about anything.

I used to have a 6.5 Terni rifle which was a light battle rifle and it would have fit this description perfectly but I gave it to a friend of mine who wanted it worse than I did.
Maybe my Savage 110 in 243?

 

[LoonWulf]

Closest things ive got to traditional stalking rifles.

375 Ruger, Abolt 2 in a euro bolt stock, 23" factory contour shaw barrel.

7-08, Christensen mesa.

 

[Wolfshead]

Here’s my version of a Practical & Stalking Rifle.
It’s a Tikka T3x Lite Compact chambered in .308 Win. 20” barrel.
Topped with a Vortex Diamondback 1.75-5 x 32 BDC
I’ve replaced the bottom metal with a aluminum one from Mountain Tactical and it has a five round magazine also from Mountain Tactical
With scope weighs in at 6.5lbs unloaded.
“Custom” paint job by me….

 

[Bfh_auto]

Granted it's sort of a British/Scottish thing, but how many of you have what you'd consider to be a "Stalking Rifle"?

Shouldn't Not to be confused with the classic "brush gun", I think the range potential eliminates what we consider to be a typical brush gun anyway:



and:



There's a pretty good description of what one is or isn't here:

https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/choosing-ideal-stalking-rifle/371862

and here:

https://www.vintageguns.co.uk/magazine/stalking-rifles-through-the-years-

I've got 3 rifles that I think fit the bill, by coincidence all 3 are Rem M7s: .223 (Varmint Stalker?), .260Rem and a .350RM (I guess a heavy Stalker?). All have 20" barrels, and optics that make hitting out to 250yds doable. Also all 3 are in the 6.5-7 1/2 pound range "all up".

So what about you guys? IAW Boddington, you don't have to actually stalk to make use of a stalking rifle.

All my center fire rifles are set up to weigh 8.5 pounds and balance under the front action screw.
My 22-250 & 240Wby would be my general choice.
My 300WM also fits the criteria.

 

[KansasTrapper77]

My “Stalking” rifle is a 45-70 Marlin guide gun. But it’s conditions of “stalking” are a bit different than what you described .

If I were to make an English/Scottish stalking rifle for the conditions you described it would a 6.5x55 Swede Mannlicher style 20” carbine combined with some german made fixed power scope to match it. Then I’d buy a tweed suit, a flat cap, and some Wellingtons!

 

[Piranha451]

I believe my Ruger No. 1-A in 7x57mm Mauser fits the bill!

 

[Captcurt]

Closest things ive got to traditional stalking rifles.

375 Ruger, Abolt 2 in a euro bolt stock, 23" factory contour shaw barrel.

7-08, Christensen mesa.

Kinda have a hankerin for a Mesa. Don't need it, just want it.

 

[jmorris]

About the only “stalking” I do this time of the year is looking for lone boars, generally a suppressed SBR (OAL about the same as a non suppressed 16” rifle) AR with a thermal is what I use.

As heavy as they are a good sling is more valuable than the thermal but they too are a “game changer”, at least for what I am doing.

 

[buck460XVR]

Granted it's sort of a British/Scottish thing, but how many of you have what you'd consider to be a "Stalking Rifle"?

Shouldn't Not to be confused with the classic "brush gun", I think the range potential eliminates what we consider to be a typical brush gun anyway:

IMHO, most any modern(last century or so)medium/large hunting rifle fits per your posted description.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Win Mod 70 Featherweight Compact in .308 Win. Son now has it.

I immediately thought of my M70 Featherweight Compact in .243.

Or a Ruger M77 in 220 swift or 6mm Rem.

But i think the ultimate is the Rem Model 7 lightweight in good ol 257 Bob.

 

[Skoghund]

There are two types of deer stalking in the UK. Highland stalking as done in the highlands of scotland. and woodland stalking as done in England. You don't want a rifle thats to heavy for highland stalking 7x57 (.275 Rigby) or caliber .243 and up. The ranges aren't normally long as the skill lies in stalking in close to the beast you are after.
The fields and woods of much of England is where woodland stalking takes place often for roe, fallow, muntjac and some times Sika and Chinese water deer. I've shot deer with a .243 and .308. and hunting is often done from a high seat. Blaser, sauer, Sako and Tikka are some of the more popular rifles. There are those who think you must have a set up thats strait out of America sniper.
My Heym-Ruger and my mates Blaser from when we tried a single shot safari, trying to shot all the deer species in the UK in one week. We managed , Red deer, fallow, sika and Muntjac.