The "Stalking Rifle"..have one?

[LoonWulf]

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

I didnt/don't really need one either lol......still, im giving a friend of mine a gun of her choice and if she takes the mesa ill replace it.

 

[marksman13]

I’ve got a few No. 1s that fit the bill, but I do most of my stalk hunting on pigs and that’s generally done with an AR of some flavor.

30-06

6.5x55

250 Savage

POF Rogue in 308

6.8 SPC

 

[Patocazador]

Almost all of my rifles fit the description.







Above are 6.5x54 M-S and .257 Roberts. Also have two more Mannlicher rifles in 7.65 Arg. and another in .30-06, plus a Ruger #1 in .257 Robts. A 7x57, .243 Savage 99, .250 Savage, 7-08 Model 7, and a few others.

Steel and wood are where it's at in my book although a few have plastic stocks .

 

[Aletheia]

My stalking rifle is whatever I have with me after I spot something. To me, it's more of a hunting style than a rifle type.

 

[22250Rem]

Based upon the criteria from the OP; slender of barrel, 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 cal. or 6.5mm. It goes on to mention the 6.5x55 Mauser as one of the suggested cartridges. So, this is as close as I can get to that description. A slender barreled 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser, and while I don't consider it a classic stalking rifle in the traditional British or Scottish manner it's still meets most of the requirements put forth in the stalking rifle definition. Doesn't weigh much, either, although I never got it on an accurate scale since putting the Bell & Carlson aluminum bedding block stock on it a few years ago... .. It's a nice walking & stalking piece.

 

[Random 8]

I read the Guns and ammo article, and I must heartily disagree with the assertion that a slide action, detachable magazine rifle (or shotgun) cannot be loaded, unloaded, or otherwise manipulated with ease and silence. Therefore, in my own not so illustrious opinion, I do own a stalking rifle. A Rem 760 in .300 Savage with a pivot-mounted 2x7 Redfield. There's a temporary comb raiser for proper cheek weld with optics. The irons are for emergency weather induced backup. I can shoot them with the riser. It's not optimal, but it is useable as such.

My wife's Savage M11 .308 with a 1.5x6 German reticle scope would definately qualify though. Seems my version of the ideal woods gun IS a stalking rifle (we have a lot of power lines, pipelines and open oak woods), although my most used piece is more of a Hochsitz gun, with it's heavier barrel and larger optic. It is built for snap and offhand shooting though. I'm just a big boy, so a rifle on the heavy end of 9lbs doesn't really bother me. It is a .280 Rem.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Most of my assortment of rifles would qualify.
I generally disqualify the milsurps. The 1917 Eddystone decidedly doesn’t. Nor does the .375Ruger M77/MkII AFRICAN.

But the Remington Mod-7’s, a Ruger #1 RSI in 7x57 probably define a “stalking”.

But my favorite are two Winchester M94’s, and two Marlin M336’s; in .35Rem and a half magazine .30/30! The Marlins of course wear Leupolds...
and then there’s that pesky Marlin M1894 in .218Bee that’s a deer slayer of the first order. But I guess that makes it a “carbine”...

 

[Glockula]

How about an old winchester 88 in .308 win? She is nice and light and more than accurate enough to 250. It is a nice stalking but not a great stand rifle.

 

[jak67429]

Since we are limited to rifles, my granddaughters savage axis in 243 with a 2.5-7 Leopold scope. Can easily hit a deer out to 300 yards, she proved that already. very light and handy. 243 win is plenty for anything around here. Personally my stalking gun is a super Redhawk in 44 mag.

 

[uuolf]

I'm old'ish but like new stuff... Tech wise... Mine is a MSR AR-15 in 6.8 rem SPC with a 16" barrel... 7 lbs'ish with it's compact 4x scope

 

[alsaqr]

My favorite stalking rifle. Spotted the hog on the other side of the tall grass dining at a protein tub. For 75-100 yards i crawled and snuck up to within 20-25 yards. Assumed a good prone position, poked the rifle from the grass and shot hog in the ear.

 

[d2wing]

My Tikka T3 SS in 7-08 fits the bill nicely. Next time I am home I should take a picture of sweet thing.

 

[citizenconn]

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

I love my .260 Rem target rifles. I've been meaning to build a lightweight large frame AR in .260 as a hunting rig. Thanks for the reminder!!

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

How about an old winchester 88 in .308 win? She is nice and light and more than accurate enough to 250. It is a nice stalking but not a great stand rifle.

Had one many years ago. Wish I still did...

 

[The Bushmaster]

I always thought that "stalking" meant sneaking up as close as you could. I was taught by an old man years ago on still hunting and tracking. AND not using a "long range" scoped rifle. My average shot was anywhere from 35 to 100 yards. I hunted Blacktail in the Cascades and Sierras. My .30 WCF M94 a "brush gun"? Nope! One of the best "stalking" rifles ever manufactured...

 

[alsaqr]

I always thought that "stalking" meant sneaking up as close as you could.

My uncle taught me to stalk and track whitetails.

 

[d2wing]

I always thought that "stalking" meant sneaking up as close as you could. I was taught by an old man years ago on still hunting and tracking. AND not using a "long range" scoped rifle. My average shot was anywhere from 35 to 100 yards. I hunted Blacktail in the Cascades and Sierras. My .30 WCF M94 a "brush gun"? Nope! One of the best "stalking" rifles ever manufactured...

Yeah, some folks ideas are different. I guess they have more open country. I use my 94 for my stalking. I tried with an AR but it was too noisy.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

As I hunt with muzzle-loaders, this is more of my pre-season scouting rifle, or woods-bumming bear repellent rifle. Got it for $50 a long time ago, guy at the gun show couldn't get $100 for it. Perfect condition, beautiful tight action, perfect bore, and it's a Canadian Long Branch to boot. How aboot that? Anyhow, fits the classic definition in form, and of course it's a .303.

 

[LoonWulf]

shots can be had at muzzle burn to over 500yds, most are somewhere under 100-200, but you want the extra reach sometimes.......
and unless your used to carrying long guns in tight confines, having a shorter rifle can be a godsend when your back in a thick kipuka. IMO these kind of conditions are where a "modern" stalking rifle excels.

 

[Riomouse911]

The caliber is a tad light as it’s a .243, but my M-77 RSI would be my entry in the stalking rifle sweepstakes.



Stay safe.

 

[zdc1775]

Mine would have to be my CZ 527 in 7.62x39. Just a touch over 7 lbs fully kitted out with a 2-8 scope and more than enough energy and accuracy for 200 yard shots at deer size game.

 

[pintail]

Mine is a ruger #1 308 win with zeiss 1.5x6 scope, and for cover a Win mod 94 in 30-30 currently with poxy rear sights but my williams peep sight was delivered this am.

 

[crestoncowboy]

700 mountain rifle in 257 roberts.



I have a vanguard in 243 and a patriot in 300 mag that are light and 22 inch barrels that work well for stalking as well. To me the weight of the gun is all that matters when actually stalking. A 300 mag is never at a disadvantage to a 243 IMO. Stalking or not.

 

[Old Hobo]

Scoped Tikka T3 in .308

 

[Space Ghost]

If I have anything I'd consider a "Stalking Rifle" it would be my Remington 700 Classic in 7mm Mauser.
It's fitted with the PA 1-8 for shots both near & far, a Surefire flash hider so I can run my suppressor, and Magpul bottom metal (plastic) so I have DBM capability.
The 7x57 is capable of taking anything I'd ever want to, and the recoil is tame. The rifle is not overly heavy or cumbersome, but plenty accurate.