What is your hunting rifle?

[Magungo1066]

Been thinking of the ideal hunting rifle set up right now for Eastern Whitetail. I was thinking it would be along the lines of .50-54 caliber, 38 inch swamped barrel. What do you guys shoot? Im going to be using my .50 for hunting but with the straight 42 inch barrel it is a bear in the carry department.

 

[Ames]

50 late Lancaster. Straight barrel.
Don't mind the weight of it because I carry in and ambush hunt one spot all day. Ambush hunt another spot closer to home on the way out. Very little time spent on my feet carrying it.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

A 38" swamped barrel in .54 sounds great to me and may be my next build. I have been looking at an Isaac Haines just like that. At present however, I have taken several whitetails with the caplock .54 Hawken and one last year with the .54 flinter. The flintlock works best as an end of the day plot watching gun unless I can convince my grandson to act as gun bearer and carry the beast through the woods for me.

 

[Art Caputo]

While I have owned several rifles, my go-to hunting rifle for the last 15 years or so for the Eastern Whitetail habitat falls right in line with your assumption. It’s handy 7 pound, 38” swamped barrel, Colonial style with a 50 cal, 38” swamped barrel. The characteristic wide butt plate, and and perfectly fitted stock dimensions result in a very nice fit, balance, and sight alignment. It was built by Jack Hubbard reflecting his “aged” finish treatment is subdued, and blends in well while hunting. The bonus is that it’s an exceptionally accurate shooter whether supported, or off-hand,, and requires no swabbing for at least a dozen shots.

 

[TreeMan]

Depends on what I wanna hunt. 54 Mortimer or Harpers Ferry for deer and bear, 32 Kentucky or 20 ga Trade gun for small critters.

 

[tnlonghunter]

Right now, it's a .54 Tennessee rifle with a 38" straight. By next year, I hope to be using a .50 with a 38" swamped barrel.

 

[rich pierce]

My favorite is an early flintlock rifle based on an original that was probably made in the 1760s give or take. It has a 38” .58 Getz swamped barrel, a custom lock, and wooden patchbox. It’s fairly light and well balanced because of the shorter barrel with that big bore. I built it in 2007 and though I’ve carried other rifles deer hunting, this one feels best. I’ve done some aging on the gun. Just for the feel I prefer hunting with an early rifle.

 

[Bob McBride]

All of my rifles are hunting rifles but for Whitetail, it's most often the .58 that gets the nod, my current .58 being an Allen Martin Early Lancaster Schimmel. As Daddy used to say, "It sure lays the wood to them".

 

[olskool]

my 54 cal. southern rifle with a 38in swamped rice barrel, and curly ash wood and Bob roller lock is my favorite. i killed a deer with it 2 weeks ago. it will kill anything that needs killin is SC and is a tack driver with 75gr. of goex ol eynsford 2F,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[mooman76]

Mine is a Cabelas 50/58 Hawken rifle with interchangeable barrels. That way I can change as I see fit. Also of coarse a good dependable rifle.

 

[Robby]

This year, .58 Bucks County style.

Robby

 

[olskool]

beautiful Robby,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[olskool]

All of my rifles are hunting rifles but for Whitetail, it's most often the .58 that gets the nod, my current .58 being an Allen Martin Early Lancaster Schimmel. As Daddy used to say, "It sure lays the wood to them".

Bob, why haven't you done any videos lately?

 

[ord sgt]

When I did hunt whitetail deer, it was with a Lancaster school full stock flintlock. 42 inch Green Mountain barrel, .50 calibre. The one in the sig picture.

 

[George]

My favorite hunting rifle is the one I'm hunting with that day. The one I've killed the most deer with is not even a rifle but a Jackie Brown 20-gauge flintlock smoothbore.

Spence

 

[Bob McBride]

Bob, why haven't you done any videos lately?

I’ve been hunting modern migratory and archery deer and turkey. I’m actually out crow hunting with the Jack Brooks Carolina trade gun 20 gauge right now and filming. One down. They’re not cooperating.....

I’ve already filmed the preliminary part of the video, explaining my absence, apologizing, and promising good things to come. I’m also setting up a modern hunting and rural life YouTube channel (Bob McBride Films) so I can get some of my waterfowl, archery, etc a place to be but BPTV will still be my primary channel. I’m also headed to a longrifle show next week in Ohio. I’ll film that as well. This time of year is hectic with hunting kicking off.

I’ve given the e-caller plenty of time off. Let’s see if I can decoy these black rats back over the top of me.

Expect videos coming pretty rapid fire when BP deer starts in just a few.

 

[Sidney Smith]

Mine is TVM late Lancaster in .54 caliber. The gun has a 42inch straight barrel and is heavy. Where I hunt its only about a 250 yard walk from my truck to my stand, and then I sit and watch down the hill. The heft of the gun really isnt a problem.

 

[kemart17]

Been thinking of the ideal hunting rifle set up right now for Eastern Whitetail. I was thinking it would be along the lines of .50-54 caliber, 38 inch swamped barrel. What do you guys shoot? Im going to be using my .50 for hunting but with the straight 42 inch barrel it is a bear in the carry department.

.58 cal hawken style i built 20 yrs ago. 36 in straight barrel, hi end curly maple stock. they dont run far when hit

 

[nchawkeye]

.54 flintlock I made in the late '80s...38 inch Ed Rayle barrel, 1 1/16 tapered to 15/16ths...

 

[tenngun]

I’ve not hunted with a rifle since 2011, and then it was three or four years before that I used just smoothies.
This year I think I will I will use my .45 SMR.
Right now I’m happy with my stable,( but Sitting Foxes Ohio Rifle Kit has been making obscene calls to me)
However my TFC and smoothrifle are ready to go. So I may grab one on one day one an another.