My Five

Gratuitous Gun Pics, The Gun Thing

The headline was interesting:  Five Rifles You Should Shoot Before You Die, but as it’s behind a paywall, I couldn’t get to read it.

However, seeing as opinions are ubiquitous (like paywalls, it seems nowadays), here are Kim’s 5 Rifles You Should Shoot Before You Die.  I’ve stuck to centerfire cartridge rifles for the purposes of brevity.

1.) 1885 Browning / Winchester High Wall (preferably in a “buffalo” cartridge chambering e.g. .50-70, .45-110 or .45-70 Govt)

Some might argue that the Sharps would be a better choice, but there is no feeling in gundom quite like closing John Browning’s “bank vault” action.  Unless it’s working the bolt of the

2.) Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) in .303 Enfield

Once again, many could argue that the Krag-Jorgensen (.30-40 Krag) is an equal thrill — and I won’t refute that, because it’s fine too — but the SMLE’s action is wondrous.

3.) Schmidt-Rubin K.11 / K.31 (7.5x55mm Swiss)

It is scarcely an exaggeration to say that the venerable Schmidt-Rubin rifles are better made than 90% of any rifles ever made;  it’s a marriage of Swiss watchmaking precision with a straight-pull bolt action, and it’s a feeling like few other.

4.) Winchester 1894 (.30-30 / .30 WCF)

The Marlin’s action is similar, but the Winchester is the preferred choice.  In the hands of a practiced shooter, the lever action can be worked with such speed as to make it sound like a semi-auto.  And speaking of semi-auto rifles, here’s my last choice:

5.) M1 Garand (.30-06 Springfield)

The Garand tames the recoil of the powerful .30-06 like no other rifle, and not only is it a pleasure to shoot, but it gives you a lovely little sonic ting!  to tell you that your ammo is all gone.

Honorable mentions:

Ljungman AG-42 (6.5x55mm)

The Scandi equivalent of the Garand, and it’s amazing.  Like the Schmidt-Rubin, its quality of workmanship is astounding, and the gentler-recoiling (but no less effective) 6.5x55mm Swede cartridge makes the Ljungman very close to the Garand in the pleasure of its shooting.

Mauser 1898 (G.98, K98, K98k) in 8x57mm

Of course, one could argue for the inclusion of many of the 98’s clones (e.g. the Springfield ’06) on this list, but the fact that Mauser still makes the 98 action today, unchanged, says it all.  Like the 1885 High Wall above, the closing of the Mauser’s action is a bank vault sound, and it makes you confident that no matter what, that bullet is going to leave the rifle when you squeeze the trigger.  (For those who are leery of the recoil of the 8x57mm, you can substitute the smaller 7x57mm Mauser — in, say, a Venezuelan mil-surp Mauser — and still get the same feeling.)

Now some may say, “But Kim, what about modern rifles?  Aren’t they as good, or even better than the old ones you’ve listed?”

Here’s my response.

One of the joys of shooting old rifles is not just the act of shooting, but the fact that when one does so, there is a feeling that one is touching a piece of history.  In one swoop, one is experiencing our shooting heritage and firing a beautiful rifle,  It is a feeling like no other.

Of course, I like shooting new rifles just fine.  The CZ 550, (pre-’64) Winchester Model 70, Sako 85, Remington 700… I’ve shot them all, enjoyed them all, and would take any of them into the bush with me with complete confidence.

But everyone should shoot one of my Top 5 rifles before they die.  If you haven’t already done so, it’s a bucket list to be pursued, I promise you.

And I have no idea how this list compares to the linked paywall list (perhaps someone could tell me, in Comments), but I’ll stand by my choices, regardless.

11 comments

  1. I saw a Browning for sale in NH for about $1k. It was right after you had written about that rifle a few months ago. It was in .45-70. It sure was beautiful. Unfortunately my funds and space did not allow for me to adopt it.

    Your list is rather solid. That Ljungman looks very interesting and the 6.5×55 Swede caliber sure looks like a nice cartridge although less popular than the current 6.5 Creedmoor craze.

    My quick list would be:
    1) M1 Garand
    2) Mauser action so the original, the 1903 Springfield and its variants, Winchester model 70 pre 64 style or maybe the Ruger 77mk II
    3) Lee enfield pick the No 1 mk III* or the No 4 rifle or its variants
    4) M1A compare and contrast with M1 Garand
    5) AR15 although I don’t own one, people should try it to see what the hoopla is about. Yes you can customize these rifles very easily.

    Alternates:
    a Marlin 336 or Winchester 94 in 30-30 ought to be on that list. K31 Swiss ought to be there too. A Savage 99 should be there too as well as a quality 22lr rifle. sorry, a limit of five just isn’t enough. Shoot I’d put a black powder musket, Brown Bess, Enfield or Springfield or a different style just so folks could experience the development of firearms over the past two hundred or so years.

    JQ

  2. That is one of the few paywalls I am willing to pay to get past. Their list:

    Winchester 1873
    pre-64 Winchester Model 70
    Browning BAR (hunting rifle)
    Remington Model 8/81
    Sharps

    These sorts of lists are never definitive and generally tell more about the interests if the writer than about the items on the list. I think their list is acceptable as is yours.

  4. Well Kim I’ve got 3 out of your 5 in my collection – Enfield No 4 Mk 2, a very beautiful K 31, and my very late production (1955) all matching Springfield Garand. Number four would probably be my Winchester M1 Carbine and for number five I’ll go with my late 70s production Remington 700 BDL in the under appreciated .25-06.

  5. I’ve been able to shoot 3 of the 5, and you’re right on, Kim. The Lee-Enfield SMLE I inherited from Dad does have the smoothest sction ever. The M1 Garand is a joy to shoot (I like the peep sight, too), and the Swiss K31 was fun with one exception – every time I ran the bolt it would throw the spent cartridge up & back, landing right on my head – good thing I was wearing a hat. I’ll have to find the other two and see about them.

  6. Would I be considered an outcast if I admit that my favorite rifle is the Ruger 10 / 22.

    It is versatile, has many Ruger AND aftermarket customizing parts available, recoil is almost zero, and ammo is cheap and plentiful.

    It is also very reliable, and affordable.

    1. CoffeeMan,
      You’re not an outcast at all. Hard to beat a 10/22 for a fun time at the range.

      I wanted to squeeze in my wife’s Ruger 77/22 onto the list. Five is too constraining

      JQ

  8. Fortunately, I own 4 of your 5. And I don’t dispute your list. I might put an M1 carbine on it, but then I’m a military rifle guy.

    Just a reminder, the WWII shoot is on again, October 14. El Dorado lake range, El Dorado, Kansas. google will get you there.

  9. I can’t disagree with your list, although I have been wanting a Yugoslavian Mauser 1923/47 due to its straight bolt handle which makes it a tiny bit easier to reach over with my left hand to work the bolt.
    Like you, I think there’s something special about taking an old milsurp to the range and putting it through its paces. “History in my hands”, something that isn’t as easy to achieve with cars or boats or other things.

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