2024 Whats your Favourite Centrefire Rifle

[bigpete]

umm, not interested in making machine guns or making suppressors . not what i consider a practical hunting rifle for my application, and suppressors will get you in a lot of trouble if not licensed for one . i believe suppressor use also dictates reduced loads , which is counter productive for reach and down range energy . kiwis use them a lot in dense bush close range scenarios i've heard . if i owned a large property and did a lot of pig control , i'd consider applying for a semi auto centrefire .but i'd employ my personal gun smith to craft old school hunting rifles , 404 jefferies on a P14 custom , 7x57 AI on a nice early 98 mauser, that sort of thing . if i lived in the states i'd be inclined to own a MP40 or a early pattern thompson smg i suppose . an ar10 in 358win would be interesting too i reckon . heard a lot of stories about folks using mini 14 in 223 and the chinese sk's with fmj ammo on mobs of pigs back in the day . after poor performance a lot of these guys went back to sporterized 303's and 94 30-30's caused they were more effective .

on second thoughts disregard all of the above . i want a german mg42 ,8x57 loaded with 170gn sst's . mobs of pigs would have no chance . i need about 1000 rounds to get started. can you help AJ i'd also have to get a kubelwagon to mount the mg42 onto i suppose . as my deisel prado doesn't have a sunroof

Suppressors are more effective with supersonic ammo in my opinion, subsonic ammo is already very quiet.

Its even quieter through a can

[bladeracer]

Its even quieter through a can

Indeed it is, but few of us need that level of quietness for hunting.

[bigpete]

I think out of all the bullcrap additions I've seen people " need " for hunting, quietness is probably the most " needed "

[bladeracer]

I think out of all the bullcrap additions I've seen people " need " for hunting, quietness is probably the most " needed "

Really? I can't recall any instance when I wished I had a suppressor in addition to my subsonic loads. I'm sure for culling purposes where you might be dropping a whole herd of beasts in a paddock in the dark it could be useful, but not for hunting.

[bigrich]

suppose the use of a suppressor depends on the situation . i don't have a need for one myself .

[bigpete]

Ex bowhunter here. Would much prefer quiet phutts to incredible booms. Disturbs the serenity less for starters .
Actuslly not really even ex,just slowed down

[Sean]

Wherever I go I take my old Tikka m65 in 7mmRM. 26” bbl in a McMillan stock......it just shoots.
Down to my last 400 140g accubonds so started looking at other projectiles. The 162 eldx shoots even better.

[bigrich]

Ex bowhunter here. Would much prefer quiet phutts to incredible booms. Disturbs the serenity less for starters .
Actuslly not really even ex,just slowed down

we all slow down pete , it's called aging damned if i'm fit enough for bow hunting

[Billo]

Wherever I go I take my old Tikka m65 in 7mmRM. 26” bbl in a McMillan stock......it just shoots.
Down to my last 400 140g accubonds so started looking at other projectiles. The 162 eldx shoots even better.

rifle

Sounds like a tried and tested old rifle Sean, I was put off the 7mm RM years ago when I saw the violence it would inflict on small goat at close range, last year I got to do some reloading and testing for a mates Tikka T3X 7mm RM and I found a new appreciation for the cartridge

[Wapiti]

I do always find it disappointing that others with no need for something, or the inability to understand why some others might find something advantageous, will not support those with the need in their own situations. Or even understand other's needs or wants.

I remember the pathetic people waddling around the rifle clubs denigrating anyone back in 1996 that they used semi-auto rifles for hunting, competition and through even just interest.
Those same 'Fudds" said it again in 2003 with the larger handguns.

The enemy within. I'm sure not deliberately so, but definately self-obsessed and closed minded.

[bladeracer]

Ex bowhunter here. Would much prefer quiet phutts to incredible booms. Disturbs the serenity less for starters .
Actuslly not really even ex,just slowed down

I'm not a fan of the horrendous noise we make, but the noise lasts maybe a second or two if it rolls down a valley, then it ceases to exist.

[bladeracer]

I do always find it disappointing that others with no need for something, or the inability to understand why some others might find something advantageous, will not support those with the need in their own situations. Or even understand other's needs or wants.

I remember the pathetic people waddling around the rifle clubs denigrating anyone back in 1996 that they used semi-auto rifles for hunting, competition and through even just interest.
Those same 'Fudds" said it again in 2003 with the larger handguns.

The enemy within. I'm sure not deliberately so, but definitely self-obsessed and closed minded.

I'm all for people having whatever they want to own, and I sign all the petitions. I just don't have any use for suppressors myself. I owned one legally forty years ago but it was of such little interest I never bothered setting a rifle up to use it. When I was a kid I was immediately experimenting with very reduced loads in the .222Rem, within months of getting my first centrefire rifle I was making low subsonic .22LR-equivalent loads. In almost everything I own my primary loads are greatly-reduced loads as I rarely need to shoot to the extreme capabilities of a rifle. If I'm shooting 50m I'll use 50m loads, if I'm shooting 150m I'll use 150m loads, and if I'm shooting 300m I'll use 300m loads. I see no need to let off a full-noise .204/.223/7mm-08 to kill something that is 50m away.

[Oldbloke]

I do always find it disappointing that others with no need for something, or the inability to understand why some others might find something advantageous, will not support those with the need in their own situations. Or even understand other's needs or wants.

I remember the pathetic people waddling around the rifle clubs denigrating anyone back in 1996 that they used semi-auto rifles for hunting, competition and through even just interest.
Those same 'Fudds" said it again in 2003 with the larger handguns.

The enemy within. I'm sure not deliberately so, but definitely self-obsessed and closed minded.

I'm all for people having whatever they want to own, and I sign all the petitions. I just don't have any use for suppressors myself. I owned one legally forty years ago but it was of such little interest I never bothered setting a rifle up to use it. When I was a kid I was immediately experimenting with very reduced loads in the .222Rem, within months of getting my first centrefire rifle I was making low subsonic .22LR-equivalent loads. In almost everything I own my primary loads are greatly-reduced loads as I rarely need to shoot to the extreme capabilities of a rifle. If I'm shooting 50m I'll use 50m loads, if I'm shooting 150m I'll use 150m loads, and if I'm shooting 300m I'll use 300m loads. I see no need to let off a full-noise .204/.223/7mm-08 to kill something that is 50m away.

Same here. For my 223 I have a "normal" load, a "22mag" load & currently working on a 22lr load.

[bigrich]

The enemy within. I'm sure not deliberately so, but definately self-obsessed and closed minded.

i'll give ya top marks for honesty though mate

as has been pointed out , unity in the firearms circles is somewhat lacking

[Oldbloke]

The enemy within. I'm sure not deliberately so, but definately self-obsessed and closed minded.

i'll give ya top marks for honesty though mate

as has been pointed out , unity in the firearms circles is somewhat lacking

Agree

[alexjones]

I do always find it disappointing that others with no need for something, or the inability to understand why some others might find something advantageous, will not support those with the need in their own situations. Or even understand other's needs or wants.

I remember the pathetic people waddling around the rifle clubs denigrating anyone back in 1996 that they used semi-auto rifles for hunting, competition and through even just interest.
Those same 'Fudds" said it again in 2003 with the larger handguns.

The enemy within. I'm sure not deliberately so, but definitely self-obsessed and closed minded.

I'm all for people having whatever they want to own, and I sign all the petitions. I just don't have any use for suppressors myself. I owned one legally forty years ago but it was of such little interest I never bothered setting a rifle up to use it. When I was a kid I was immediately experimenting with very reduced loads in the .222Rem, within months of getting my first centrefire rifle I was making low subsonic .22LR-equivalent loads. In almost everything I own my primary loads are greatly-reduced loads as I rarely need to shoot to the extreme capabilities of a rifle. If I'm shooting 50m I'll use 50m loads, if I'm shooting 150m I'll use 150m loads, and if I'm shooting 300m I'll use 300m loads. I see no need to let off a full-noise .204/.223/7mm-08 to kill something that is 50m away.

Same here. For my 223 I have a "normal" load, a "22mag" load & currently working on a 22lr load.

What's the grain weight and fps(assumed) for this 22lr like load? 40grain 1100fps?

[bladeracer]

What's the grain weight and fps(assumed) for this 22lr like load? 40grain 1100fps?

For .22LR loads I use the 30gn to 40gn bullets from about 700fps up to about 1500fps, for WMR I use 40gn to 50gn bullets at around 1750fps to 2000fps, for Hornet loads I use 32gn to 55gn bullets at around 2500fps.

[mickb]

I do always find it disappointing that others with no need for something, or the inability to understand why some others might find something advantageous, will not support those with the need in their own situations. Or even understand other's needs or wants.

I remember the pathetic people waddling around the rifle clubs denigrating anyone back in 1996 that they used semi-auto rifles for hunting, competition and through even just interest.
Those same 'Fudds" said it again in 2003 with the larger handguns.

The enemy within. I'm sure not deliberately so, but definately self-obsessed and closed minded.

very true, we did as much damage to ourselves back then. The cork sniffing deer stalker type wankers were the fastest to sell semi's down the tube. The fellas who only see animal one at a time. I recall Nick harvey saying back then semi's had no place in the game fields. All those useful and sometimes quite stylish dedicated hunting semi's, some of them damn fine guns and rifles. Good riddance to that ten pound pom git.

[bladeracer]

if i lived in the states i'd be inclined to own a MP40 or a early pattern thompson smg i suppose.

If I were in the US I would love to build a collection of the modern .22LR versions of the classic submachineguns and military rifles, just about everything has been replicated in .22LR by now.

[bigrich]

if i lived in the states i'd be inclined to own a MP40 or a early pattern thompson smg i suppose.

If I were in the US I would love to build a collection of the modern .22LR versions of the classic submachineguns and military rifles, just about everything has been replicated in .22LR by now.

it would be great wouldn't it . i'd be going through people's garbage to have a constant supply of tin can targets at least it would be affordable in 22lr . man it'd get expensive shooting a mg42 in 8x57 . i'd be buying PPU ammo by the shipping container

one of the more unusual guns i'd like is a FG42. gun jesus does a good story including live fire on forgotten weapons

[bladeracer]

if i lived in the states i'd be inclined to own a MP40 or a early pattern thompson smg i suppose.

If I were in the US I would love to build a collection of the modern .22LR versions of the classic submachineguns and military rifles, just about everything has been replicated in .22LR by now.

it would be great wouldn't it . i'd be going through people's garbage to have a constant supply of tin can targets at least it would be affordable in 22lr . man it'd get expensive shooting a mg42 in 8x57 . i'd be buying PPU ammo by the shipping container

one of the more unusual guns i'd like is a FG42. gun jesus does a good story including live fire on forgotten weapons

Yeah, .22LR is the only full or semi fun gun I could afford to enjoy

The FG42's I find to be interesting but not something I'd want to own myself. It's one that I haven't seen done in .22LR yet. But I Googled and found a guy that was making a pair of them a few years ago - no pics unfortunately - https://www.ar15.com/forums/armory/-22LR-FG42-build-thread/11-477573/

I used to follow a guy on Youtube that made .22LR firearms by gutting Airsoft replicas and fitting a .22LR barrelled action inside them.

[alexjones]

if i lived in the states i'd be inclined to own a MP40 or a early pattern thompson smg i suppose.

If I were in the US I would love to build a collection of the modern .22LR versions of the classic submachineguns and military rifles, just about everything has been replicated in .22LR by now.

I have a collector licence and I am trying to find one of these STG44 22LR. They are only Cat C becuase they have a 10 round mag. But there is only a handful in Aus and they never go for sale.

Last year someone handed in(sold) a real STG44 fully functional into Cleaver firearms. Cleavers have an armorers licence as well as a dealers licence so they can keep machine guns and it does not have to be destroyed which is good news. They said they would display it in the shop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t8rp8yFrOo

[alexjones]

A real STG44 is worth over 100k but cleavers never said what they paid for it.

[on_one_wheel]

One hundred thousand dollars?
surely not.... that's nuts.

[alexjones]

One hundred thousand dollars?
surely not.... that's nuts.

Yeah mate. Thats In America too so American dollars.

They are a bit cheaper in other parts of the world but in America due to their machine gun laws they are rare. Also in Australia they are very rare.

They only made a bit over 400k of them so there is not a lot left in the world anymore.

Supply and demand = money

A bloke in Victoria has a bad condition mg42 and he wants 50k for it.

[alexjones]

Seen a few videos of people in Ukraine fighting with STG44s and its crazy to think that they so valuable to collectors.

[bigrich]

Seen a few videos of people in Ukraine fighting with STG44s and its crazy to think that they so valuable to collectors.

saw a video on youtube 15-20 years ago of new in the crate german stuff the soviets captured of the germans and new crated lend lease thompsons . it's interesting what's still in use and laying around in storage . both sides in ukraine are using maxim style machine guns for fixed defensive positions cause their so reliable

[bigrich]

if i lived in the states i'd be inclined to own a MP40 or a early pattern thompson smg i suppose.

If I were in the US I would love to build a collection of the modern .22LR versions of the classic submachineguns and military rifles, just about everything has been replicated in .22LR by now.

it would be great wouldn't it . i'd be going through people's garbage to have a constant supply of tin can targets at least it would be affordable in 22lr . man it'd get expensive shooting a mg42 in 8x57 . i'd be buying PPU ammo by the shipping container

one of the more unusual guns i'd like is a FG42. gun jesus does a good story including live fire on forgotten weapons

Yeah, .22LR is the only full or semi fun gun I could afford to enjoy

The FG42's I find to be interesting but not something I'd want to own myself. It's one that I haven't seen done in .22LR yet. But I Googled and found a guy that was making a pair of them a few years ago - no pics unfortunately - https://www.ar15.com/forums/armory/-22LR-FG42-build-thread/11-477573/

I used to follow a guy on Youtube that made .22LR firearms by gutting Airsoft replicas and fitting a .22LR barrelled action inside them.

22's are cheap to run for sure. that belt fed one in the link the other day was awesome . think i'll watch it again

[alexjones]

Seen a few videos of people in Ukraine fighting with STG44s and its crazy to think that they so valuable to collectors.

saw a video on youtube 15-20 years ago of new in the crate german stuff the soviets captured of the germans and new crated lend lease thompsons . it's interesting what's still in use and laying around in storage . both sides in ukraine are using maxim style machine guns for fixed defensive positions cause their so reliable

Yeah mate the Soviets captured heaps of cool stuff and its all been stored.

Proper reliable and kind of cool. Keep them full of water and the barrels never get hot. Go to 10:45 on the below video. Ian says how the British army did a test in 1963 firing continuous 5 million rounds through a Vickers machine gun taking them 7 days and night to complete. By the end of it they pulled it apart and the gun was still in good parameters.

https://youtu.be/HSG2Flnc1Rs?si=-bE_FPryNEh1Qtb1

[alexjones]

I would assume that being down range from a hundred year old machine gun would suck the same as being down range of a one year old machine gun.

If anything the older machine gun might be water cooled and can run continuous if fed with ammo and water.