Define "Stalking Rifle"

[Paul at Fechan]

in the US there's a strong following for sporting AR's that fit that description really well. I loved my AR but people get that look when you pull out a black rifle to shoot stuff in the UK.... BUT not if it's foxes

So went back to standard bolt action

 

[Klenchblaize]

in the US there's a strong following for sporting AR's that fit that description really well. I loved my AR but people get that look when you pull out a black rifle to shoot stuff in the UK.... BUT not if it's foxes

So went back to standard bolt action

To hell with what people might think just jeep it green and all will be fine:

 

[chunky sailor]

iv no problem with 300yd head shots with the rifle in the right hands but is it not silly and down right cruel to take these shots when the dick behind the rifle cant group 3 bullets at 100 yds or 200yds but thinks f--k it ,its right its gona be f----d if i hit it anyway,with no qualms about whether or not its hit in the leg or belly whats worse is the same idiots are being encouraged to do this by DSC i and 2 and accredited witness holders not that that counts for much in my book just another money making scam.its not evryone but there are people like this and im unfortunate enough to know some!!!!

 

[I. Farticus]

iv no problem with 300yd head shots with the rifle in the right hands but is it not silly and down right cruel to take these shots when the dick behind the rifle cant group 3 bullets at 100 yds or 200yds but thinks f--k it ,its right its gona be f----d if i hit it anyway,with no qualms about whether or not its hit in the leg or belly whats worse is the same idiots are being encouraged to do this by DSC i and 2 and accredited witness holders not that that counts for much in my book just another money making scam.its not evryone but there are people like this and im unfortunate enough to know some!!!!

I'm fortunate enough not to have met anyone with DSC1 & 2 or an AW (or frankly anyone without any of these qualifications) that has encouraged me to take headshots at 300yds. Nor, as a holder of DSC1, have I ever done the same.

I guess I'm the lucky one to have avoided this, but will be very watchful in the future

 

[Gunner971]

Surely, a stalking rifle is whatever the stalker decides to use for shooting deer. I personally use a Parker-Hale 1200. I know that it's not very fashionable, however it's what I feel for me is the perfect rifle. It's got a few marks on the stock, so I don't feel too bad if I add another at any time. It's accurate enough for me to hit where I want at my self imposed maximum range of 200 yards. It's not too heavy to carry all day on the hill or in the woods.It also a .308 which I think is the most useful calibre to have. As I said, there is no 'perfect' stalking rifle for everyone.

 

[rabbitter]

iv no problem with 300yd head shots with the rifle in the right hands but is it not silly and down right cruel to take these shots when the dick behind the rifle cant group 3 bullets at 100 yds or 200yds but thinks f--k it ,its right its gona be f----d if i hit it anyway,with no qualms about whether or not its hit in the leg or belly whats worse is the same idiots are being encouraged to do this by DSC i and 2 and accredited witness holders not that that counts for much in my book just another money making scam.its not evryone but there are people like this and im unfortunate enough to know some!!!!

That's a bit of a rant. Who exactly are you railing against?

 

[Heym SR20]

A Stalking rifle quite simply for a Gentlemen will be made by a London gunmaker in 275 Rigby, with a Mauser action and fine and trim walnut stock. It will have sights regulated to 100, 200 and 300 yards and may be fitted with a telescopic sight.

Others may use a stalking rifle made by a Birmingham maker also in 275 Rigby or possibly a Lee speed or Enfield actioned rifle in 303. Failing that it will be a256 Mannlicher finished and regulated by a British Vendor.

 

[Brithunter]

A Stalking rifle quite simply for a Gentlemen will be made by a London gunmaker in 275 Rigby, with a Mauser action and fine and trim walnut stock. It will have sights regulated to 100, 200 and 300 yards and may be fitted with a telescopic sight.

Others may use a stalking rifle made by a Birmingham maker also in 275 Rigby or possibly a Lee speed or Enfield actioned rifle in 303. Failing that it will be a256 Mannlicher finished and regulated by a British Vendor.

Oh dear you missed out some fine gunmakers by only including London and a bit mention of Birmingham Gibbs for one who made fine "Stalking" rifles for gentlemen and even us lesser mortals . Alexandra Henry of Edinburgh Scotland was another fine maker of course. I am glad you belated mentioned the .256" as it's a fine cartridge indeed and was very popular for The Hill in Scotland eve if it's forgotten today. Noticed an un-named .256" cartridge in a display at Blair Atholl some years back. Other cartridges had labels but not the .256" .

 

[Southern]

The old ones are out there, and individual gunsmiths still building them.
Westley Richards
http://wrusedguns.com/guns/rifles/46

 

[eldon]

Surely the answer is;
The ideal stalking rifle is one that inspires confidence to the operator!

Who cares about the weight, saves going to the gym.

 

[MARCBO]

Here is a proper stalking rifle. Makes a nice .54 hole and most deer just fall over.

SS

 

[palmer_mike]

Here is a proper stalking rifle. Makes a nice .54 hole and most deer just fall over.

SS

Might have problems getting a deer legal load for that in the uk (probably better off with a .243 tbh)

 

[Southern]

You cannot hunt deer with blackpowder rifles in England?

I have only had one, a Jonathan Browning Mountain Rifle, but I think old school cap and ball or flintlock is so cool for hunting.

 

[The tramp]

Yes you can, as long as it meets minimum caliber, and muzzle energy limits, might struggle in Scotland with the minimum velocity though.

What's the weight of a .54" ball ?

 

[Southern]

[TABLE="width: 472"]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 6"]Black Powder Ballistics, Modern:[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 6"] .45 Caliber Rifle, Magnum Rated, Barrel Length 28", Twist Rate 1 in 48":[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Powder[/TD]
[TD]Grains Volume[/TD]
[TD]Bullet Weight And Type[/TD]
[TD]Muzzle Velocity[/TD]
[TD]Muzzle Energy[/TD]
[TD]Pressure[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Goex FFFg[/TD]
[TD]120 Grain[/TD]
[TD]128 Grain Roundball[/TD]
[TD]2,124 FPS.[/TD]
[TD]1,283 FT.LB.[/TD]
[TD]18,700 PSI.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Goex FFFg[/TD]
[TD]110 Grain[/TD]
[TD]128 Grain Roundball[/TD]
[TD]2,043 FPS.[/TD]
[TD]1,187 FT.LB.[/TD]
[TD]18,000 PSI.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 6"] .50 Caliber Rifle, Magnum Rated, Barrel Length 28", Twist Rate 1 in 48":[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Powder[/TD]
[TD]Grains Volume[/TD]
[TD]Bullet Weight And Type[/TD]
[TD]Muzzle Velocity[/TD]
[TD]Muzzle Energy[/TD]
[TD]Pressure[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Goex FFFg[/TD]
[TD]120 Grain[/TD]
[TD]177 Grain Roundball[/TD]
[TD]2,015 FPS.[/TD]
[TD]1,596 FT.LB.[/TD]
[TD]10,800 PSI.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Goex FFFg[/TD]
[TD]110 Grain[/TD]
[TD]177 Grain Roundball[/TD]
[TD]1,963 FPS.[/TD]
[TD]1,515 FT.LB.[/TD]
[TD]10,300 PSI.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 6"] .54 Caliber Rifle, Magnum Rated, Barrel Length 28", Twist Rate 1 in 48":[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Powder[/TD]
[TD]Grains Volume[/TD]
[TD]Bullet Weight And Type[/TD]
[TD]Muzzle Velocity[/TD]
[TD]Muzzle Energy[/TD]
[TD]Pressure[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Goex FFFg[/TD]
[TD]120 Grain[/TD]
[TD]230 Grain Roundball[/TD]
[TD]1,773 FPS.[/TD]
[TD]1,606 FT.LB.[/TD]
[TD]11,100 PSI.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Goex FFFg[/TD]
[TD]110 Grain[/TD]
[TD]230 Grain Roundball[/TD]
[TD]1,728 FPS.[/TD]
[TD]1,525 FT.LB.[/TD]
[TD]11,000 PSI.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


===== conical bullets ==============================

[TABLE="width: 472"]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 6"]Black Powder Ballistics, Modern:[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 6"] .45 Caliber Rifle, Magnum Rated, Barrel Length 28", Twist Rate 1 in 48":[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Powder[/TD]
[TD]Grains Volume[/TD]
[TD]Bullet Weight And Type[/TD]
[TD]Muzzle Velocity[/TD]
[TD]Muzzle Energy[/TD]
[TD]Pressure[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Goex FFg[/TD]
[TD]120 Grain[/TD]
[TD]245 Grain Maxi[/TD]
[TD]1,894 FPS.[/TD]
[TD]1,952 FT.LB.[/TD]
[TD]19,500 PSI.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Goex FFg[/TD]
[TD]110 Grain[/TD]
[TD]245 Grain Maxi[/TD]
[TD]1,823 FPS.[/TD]
[TD]1,808 FT.LB.[/TD]
[TD]18,900 PSI.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 6"] .50 Caliber Rifle, Magnum Rated, Barrel Length 28", Twist Rate 1 in 48":[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Powder[/TD]
[TD]Grains Volume[/TD]
[TD]Bullet Weight And Type[/TD]
[TD]Muzzle Velocity[/TD]
[TD]Muzzle Energy[/TD]
[TD]Pressure[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Goex FFg[/TD]
[TD]120 Grain[/TD]
[TD]370 Grain Maxi[/TD]
[TD]1,520 FPS.[/TD]
[TD]1,899 FT.LB.[/TD]
[TD]12,200 PSI.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Goex FFg[/TD]
[TD]110 Grain[/TD]
[TD]370 Grain Maxi[/TD]
[TD]1,460 FPS.[/TD]
[TD]1,752 FT.LB.[/TD]
[TD]11,100 PSI.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 6"] .54 Caliber Rifle, Magnum Rated, Barrel Length 28", Twist Rate 1 in 48":[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Powder[/TD]
[TD]Grains Volume[/TD]
[TD]Bullet Weight And Type[/TD]
[TD]Muzzle Velocity[/TD]
[TD]Muzzle Energy[/TD]
[TD]Pressure[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Goex FFg[/TD]
[TD]120 Grain[/TD]
[TD]430 Grain Maxi[/TD]
[TD]1,440 FPS.[/TD]
[TD]1,980 FT.LB.[/TD]
[TD]12,900 PSI.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Goex FFg[/TD]
[TD]110 Grain[/TD]
[TD]430 Grain Maxi[/TD]
[TD]1,379 FPS.[/TD]
[TD]1,816 FT.LB.[/TD]
[TD]12,000 PSI[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

At 120 yards, a .50 or .54 caliber black powder rifle has more energy than a .44 magnum rifle, a .223 Rem, or a 12 gauge slug.

 

[The tramp]

There you go, with conical bullets, legal for all species.

I must admit, I like slinging 320gr rfngc cast from the 444. Does a good job

 

[long_range_rob]

I was playing with a muzzle loading 16 bore double percussion rifle from about 1830 at my local dealer on Saturday. A work of art it was and a very practical stalking rifle (That's what is was made for) but I don't fancy carrying the double 10 bore he had though.

 

[MARCBO]

My balls (the 54 caliber lead ones) are 315 grs.

SS

 

[Cris]

Are they expanding by chance?

 

[Brithunter]

Are they expanding by chance?

Pure lead which is usually used in M/L rifles will expand but that is not by design like a jacketed soft point. Soft lead expands when it hits something as it's soft.