2024 Whats your Favourite Centrefire Rifle

[Billo]

I'm just loading up some ammo for my final Pig thermaling session of the year and I started thinking about all the rifles I've used and carried over the past year.

Started the year off with my Howa Superlite 308, Single shot 25-35W and 500 S&W both took game during day time stalks, the 44 Magnum got carried a bit and bowled over a few. A Super Varmint 7mm-08 joined the family but its getting pushed out the door for the flatter 6.5 PRC which Ive set up for my night time shenanigans

Bring on 2025

[Blr243]

I’m also in the process of loading up my Ute for a pig thermal ing adventure. I wish i did have a favourite rifle because then I wouldn’t have to pack so many. I’m taking my bow 357 citadel shotgun howa mini in 223 and 300 blk Ruger 450 bm … potentially others but I reslly should not

[Billo]

I’m also in the process of loading up my Ute for a pig thermal ing adventure. I wish i did have a favourite rifle because then I wouldn’t have to pack so many. I’m taking my bow 357 citadel shotgun howa mini in 223 and 300 blk Ruger 450 bm … potentially others but I reslly should not

Yeah my favorite would probably be the Chiappa 44 magnum, so slick. Ruger 77 6.5 PRC is really impressing me thou its only done range work, hoping the wind tonight backs off as it blowing 60kmh

[bladeracer]

I'm just loading up some ammo for my final Pig thermaling session of the year and I started thinking about all the rifles I've used and carried over the past year.

Started the year off with my Howa Superlite 308, Single shot 25-35W and 500 S&W both took game during day time stalks, the 44 Magnum got carried a bit and bowled over a few. A Super Varmint 7mm-08 joined the family but its getting pushed out the door for the flatter 6.5 PRC which Ive set up for my night time shenanigans

Bring on 2025

I was planning to list all the firearms I got to use this year, but you beat me to it

I really struggle to favouritise a specific rifle, I tend to think of the safes as all one rifle that I just adapt to my needs at the time

Looking through my logs I've done the most shooting this year, by far, with the Henry H001 .22LR and the Ruger Precision Rimfire .22LR followed by the Uberti 1866 Yellowboy .38 Special. I've done very little with any of my milsurps this year(!) - I've only fired the Carcano, Mosin, M38 Swede and the Lithgow .303-25. I've also used the Marlin 1894 .44Mag, Rossi 1892 .357 Mag, Winchester 1894 .30-30, the Ruger Americans in .204, .223 and 7mm-08, the Ruger American Rimfire Target and Compact models in .22LR, Norinco JW25A .22LR, BSA Sportsman 5 .22LR, the .45-cal muzzleloading Hawken Rifle, and the Dickinson T1000 shotgun.

I've also used other people's firearms this past year: two other Henry H001 .22LR's, Browning Trombone .22LR, Mossberg 341 .22LR, Chiappa 1892 .357Mag, Buckmaster 12ga. shotgun, Tacsorus 12ga. lever-release shotgun (lever under the trigger guard that I didn't like), Rossi 1892 Puma .357Mag, Rossi Gallery .22LR pump-action, a couple of unknown coachguns, and some handguns - several Uberti 1873 Single-Action Army's in .357Mag and .45 Colt, a Series 70 Colt 1911 .45ACP, two Ruger MkII .22LR's, Browning International .22LR, Walther SP22 .22LR, Sig Mosquito .22LR, Ruger Security Six .357 Mag, HK VP9 9mm, S&W Model 17 K22 .22LR, Unique DES69 Match .22LR, several Morini, Feinwerkbau and Pardini .22LR match pistols, and a selection of different air-pistols - Morini, Feinwerkbau, Pardini, Rohm and others - I'm not into air-pistols, or "match" pistols so I don't take much notice of what they are and can't tell one from another.

I'm hoping to do a lot more shooting next year but we'll see what happens

[bigrich]

I'm just loading up some ammo for my final Pig thermaling session of the year and I started thinking about all the rifles I've used and carried over the past year.

Started the year off with my Howa Superlite 308, Single shot 25-35W and 500 S&W both took game during day time stalks, the 44 Magnum got carried a bit and bowled over a few. A Super Varmint 7mm-08 joined the family but its getting pushed out the door for the flatter 6.5 PRC which Ive set up for my night time shenanigans

Bring on 2025

I was planning to list all the firearms I got to use this year, but you beat me to it

I really struggle to favouritise a specific rifle, I tend to think of the safes as all one rifle that I just adapt to my needs at the time

Looking through my logs I've done the most shooting this year, by far, with the Henry H001 .22LR and the Ruger Precision Rimfire .22LR followed by the Uberti 1866 Yellowboy .38 Special. I've done very little with any of my milsurps this year(!) - I've only fired the Carcano, Mosin, M38 Swede and the Lithgow .303-25. I've also used the Marlin 1894 .44Mag, Rossi 1892 .357 Mag, Winchester 1894 .30-30, the Ruger Americans in .204, .223 and 7mm-08, the Ruger American Rimfire Target and Compact models in .22LR, Norinco JW25A .22LR, BSA Sportsman 5 .22LR, the .45-cal muzzleloading Hawken Rifle, and the Dickinson T1000 shotgun.

I've also used other people's firearms this past year: two other Henry H001 .22LR's, Browning Trombone .22LR, Mossberg 341 .22LR, Chiappa 1892 .357Mag, Buckmaster 12ga. shotgun, Tacsorus 12ga. lever-release shotgun (lever under the trigger guard that I didn't like), Rossi 1892 Puma .357Mag, Rossi Gallery .22LR pump-action, a couple of unknown coachguns, and some handguns - several Uberti 1873 Single-Action Army's in .357Mag and .45 Colt, a Series 70 Colt 1911 .45ACP, two Ruger MkII .22LR's, Browning International .22LR, Walther SP22 .22LR, Sig Mosquito .22LR, Ruger Security Six .357 Mag, HK VP9 9mm, S&W Model 17 K22 .22LR, Unique DES69 Match .22LR, several Morini, Feinwerkbau and Pardini .22LR match pistols, and a selection of different air-pistols - Morini, Feinwerkbau, Pardini, Rohm and others - I'm not into air-pistols, or "match" pistols so I don't take much notice of what they are and can't tell one from another.

I'm hoping to do a lot more shooting next year but we'll see what happens

that's quite a variety blade

my favourite rifle for hunting , my FN actioned musgrave 308 . my favourite range rifle , my madco barrelled 222 rem 700 . however i bought a tikka t3 in 6.5 manbun , new sako brass , 120bt's .4" @ 100, 129sst .6" @100. 2209 in both loads, stainless in a b&c stock , this is due to become my favourite "all weather" hunting rifle . but i wouldn't expect any less from a t3

[Oldbloke]

The one I'm carrying.

Ah probably my Marlin 223 or M70 30.06

[bladeracer]

Yeah my favorite would probably be the Chiappa 44 magnum, so slick. Ruger 77 6.5 PRC is really impressing me thou its only done range work, hoping the wind tonight backs off as it blowing 60kmh

My mate's Chiappa .357 broke after 50rds. We found the ejector spring in the action so I'm guessing either the collar fell off or the ejector actually snapped off. It was no longer feeding from the tube or allowing the bolt to close into battery. He took it back for warranty so I didn't get to look inside it. Unfortunately he learned that the new rifle he'd bought was actually secondhand so no warranty. To help him out, instead of giving it back to him for me to fix, they sent it to a smith up in Melbourne and we've had no news since.

[Blr243]

Where do winds get to 60 kph ? I don’t mind a bit of wind. Makes my stalking easier , unless it’s changing allover the shop

[bigpete]

My favourite is my howa superlite 308w. Just a fantastic rifle,my only gripe is I'd have preferred a hinged floorplate magazine that you can top load. And 2 more inches of barrel length if I have to be picky

[Bugman]

Don't need an arsenal of firearms, as my Ruger M77 in 243 is my go to hunting rifle.

[Faedy]

Love all my rifles, but my Tikka. 308 is my favourite atm.

[6mm Remington]

Remington model Seven.in 6mm. Had it for 35 years. Flat shooting and hard hitting.
Clean, one shot kills on big pigs and scrub bulls in NQ earlier this year.

[bigrich]

Remington model Seven.in 6mm. Had it for 35 years. Flat shooting and hard hitting.
Clean, one shot kills on big pigs and scrub bulls in NQ earlier this year.

6mm rem is a forgotten classic . better case shoulder than a 243. the original 243 wildcat design by warren page had a longer neck and a better shoulder angle . i know 243 just works , but the case design focuses powder burn in the throat of the chamber . not good for barrels . 6mm rem case is superior in my opinion , bit more speed for heavier projectiles too . JMHO

[on_one_wheel]

I can't decide on calibre, however the Remington 700 is definitely my favourite.

[Jorlcrin]

My Tikka CTR .223 has proven(yet again) itself to be a fantastic rifle for my needs.
Short, 10-round mag, and reliable; it's been spending most of it's time in the Landcruiser, and accruing a loooong kill-list.

Pulled out my Ruger Precision Rifle .308 the other morning, to do a sunrise Walky-Pokk.
That rifle is heavy, loud and ugly, but GOD; I'd forgotten just how great it is to shoot.

So, these are about the only 2 of my centrefire rifles that have earned a mention, this year.

[bigrich]

I can't decide on calibre, however the Remington 700 is definitely my favourite.

they're not without their faults . you can't get early riveted replacement extractors for them . i've done two builds recently, 222 and 250 savage . both needed the sako extractor conversion . spring behind the ejector plunger needed "tunning" to make the 222 eject properly . very accurate rifles once pillar bedded . T3 tikkas have had the same level of accuracy out of the box . i like top feed mags in the 700 better though

[Peterwho]

I have a few Remington 700 BDLs. I changed out a 30-06 to a stainless 25-06. It’s been my new favorite for the year

[JGR1949]

Remington 700 Classic, 250-3000 deadly accurate and now resides with my son

25-35 single shot now that would be interesting

[alexjones]

Whilst it is a bit of a kids gun my ruger 10/22 is still my favourite.

[mickb]

I only have two centrefires, a 44mag lever action and a 223 wby vanguard. The 44 is a lot more fun for me. I got a load with a 200xtp that gets to 150m, also play with subsonics, cast bullets , cowboy style, and shotloads.

[bigrich]

Remington 700 Classic, 250-3000 deadly accurate and now resides with my son

i recently built one with a lothar walther barrel . when you get the load right they are very accurate

[Wapiti]

Favourites?
I'm not into anything fancy, certainly not looking for a miracle cure, so my go-to is pretty boring.
308 Winchester, in bolt, pump, and autoloader. Because it has that margin of error for everyday stuff we encounter. We just match the load/bullet to what we're doing, pretty simple from what we've learnt over time.
Rifle? Well it would be Sako in the bolt actions but for out of the vehicles it is anything with a heavy barrel, stainless.
Other action types, well, there's not much choice there in Australia so it's what our dealer can get for us, as long as it takes PMags.
But the calibre is the same.

Unless it's for pleasure, in which case, there's 300WM, 300RUM, 338 LAP...

[mickb]

Billo, I see in the OP you mention your 500 S&W. Mate just curious what primers you use? As I understood when the case was designed it had a large pistol primer pocket.

In 2003 this was upgraded to a large rifle primer pocket( same diametre, but deeper as we know).

however I see Hodgon reloading data has both Large rifle magnum and large pistol primer loads for each bullet

Interesting...

[Billo]

Billo, I see in the OP you mention your 500 S&W. Mate just curious what primers you use? As I understood when the case was designed it had a large pistol primer pocket.

In 2003 this was upgraded to a large rifle primer pocket( same diametre, but deeper as we know).

however I see Hodgon reloading data has both Large rifle magnum and large pistol primer loads for each bullet

Interesting...

Hey mickb I run large rifle primers, I've run some decent loads thru it but nothing approaching the 60k PSI it can handle, primer pockets are still tight as.

[JGR1949]

The rem classic in 250-3000 you can feed it anything it seems, a bit like a good 222 rem. 75grn to 100 grn its just not fussy

[Oldrooshooter]

I'm just loading up some ammo for my final Pig thermaling session of the year and I started thinking about all the rifles I've used and carried over the past year.

Started the year off with my Howa Superlite 308, Single shot 25-35W and 500 S&W both took game during day time stalks, the 44 Magnum got carried a bit and bowled over a few. A Super Varmint 7mm-08 joined the family but its getting pushed out the door for the flatter 6.5 PRC which Ive set up for my night time shenanigans
Oldrooshooter

HOWA .22-250 was my first center fire and I’ve put thousands of rounds through the stainless sporter barrel! Still shoots great for some reason so my new gun was obviously another HOWA but this time .223 in 1:8 twist with varmint barrel and MDT stock now I load heavier pills and also love it

Bring on 2025

[flashman]

Go to tikkas in 223rem , 308w but luv my ruger in 22mag ..

[bigrich]

The rem classic in 250-3000 you can feed it anything it seems, a bit like a good 222 rem. 75grn to 100 grn its just not fussy

mine is fussy with projectiles 85bt's are it's favourite, and of all things the 110gn hornady ftx . i'm starting to think my reformed 22-250 brass may have a donut problem

[Oldrooshooter]

What twist are you shooting 85gnbt out of in a .22-250. ??

[bigrich]

What twist are you shooting 85gnbt out of in a .22-250. ??

the 22-250 brass has been resized for the parent case , 250 savage, which is what i'm shooting the 85's out of . just as well i didn't post about my 100gn loads