I'm a sucker for compact hunting rifles....

[RR]

I came of age dragging various full size rifles and shotguns through the woods hunting. Long treks through Tennessee hill country, the Smokies and Blue Ridge, or swamplands of eastern NC. I was a kid/teenager and those guns belonged to my dad and uncles so I took what I could get and used it as intended. But..... It affected me......

These days I'm older, wiser, have my own grown up $, and my body is more broken than I'd like to admit most days. So lighter, more compact, rifles and shotguns are my go to.

About 2 years ago, give or take a few months, I picked up an H&R Handi-Rifle in .30-30 from my brother-from-another-mother @thrillhill . He told me when I picked it up that he had been planning to have it chopped and threaded, but just hadn't got around to it and lost interest. I told him that is exactly what I planned to do with it.

So I brought it home. Swapped the wood stocks for Choate youth synthetics, let my nephew hunt with it for a season, and then dropped it off with a local smith. He had a lot going on so it took some time to get back, which is fine. I have plenty of rifles to keep me busy.

But I picked it up yesterday and voila.

16.5" barrel, 30" OAL. Threaded 5/8-24. Relocated the front sight backward.




Can't wait to get it to the range or the deer woods this fall. Currently looking for a taller rear Williams sight blade. With the front moved back I feel like I may need a shorter front or taller rear. Would prefer the taller rear to better clear the rail.

I have a Vortex Diamondback 2-7x35 in a set of Warne QD rings that will live on this. But I want iron sight capability too, because reasons.

Show me your compact hunting rigs.....

 

[Average Joe]

I’m with you on the size of hunting guns. I’ve lugged long heavy guns all around the place. These days, I understand that it doesn’t take large magnum rifles to kill the game I hunt and there are better choices for length and weight than the old Remingtons, Winchesters, Weatherby's, and Rugers.

 

[RR]

I’m with you on the size of hunting guns. I’ve lugged long heavy guns all around the place. These days, I understand that it doesn’t take large magnum rifles to kill the game I hunt and there are better choices for length and weight than the old Remingtons, Winchesters, Weatherby's, and Rugers.

I tend to hunt thicket edges and creek bottoms where 75 yards is a long shot through the woods. I can't think of a deer I've killed with a rifle in the last 8 or 9 years that I couldn't have killed with a handgun or bow.

 

[kcult]

I guess this is considered a short hunting rig.

Edit: It's good ol gimmicky 300blk. This deer was taken with 187gr PNW.

 

[RR]

I was even more tickled when I remembered that the Vortex Diamondback I bought for it is a 1.75-5 instead of a 2-7. Even more svelte. And all the scope I need for how I hunt.

 

[chiefjason]

LOVE my 300 BLK Handi Rifle. Every time I think about replacing it I just can't bring myself to do it. Works perfect with a heavy coat during rifle season.

 

[RR]

LOVE my 300 BLK Handi Rifle. Every time I think about replacing it I just can't bring myself to do it. Works perfect with a heavy coat during rifle season.

I have a CVA Scout Takedown in 300BLK. I can relate.

 

[Surveyor]

18" barrel.

 

[ImYourHuckleberry]

I used to coyote hunt with a 16" barreled 7.62x39, but hiking it through the fields was a task. I opted for a short barreled version of it.
Now I use a 7.5 inch barreled 7.62x39 and at the ranges I'm shooting, I think it is just as capable as the 16" version.



I can stick it in a backpack for hiking to the huntin' spot.

 

[Snal~]

I've got a Handi in 30-30, an older model with a wood stock.

Very cool build you have there!

 

[Cocked & Locked]

I had a nice little Handi Rifle years ago. .45-70, laminated stock and forearm, satin hard chrome barrel & action. Sold it to forum member @Snal~ years ago.

You remember that Snal? You drove down to Lexington one night and picked it up then headed back home.

 

[Surveyor]

I tend to hunt thicket edges and creek bottoms where 75 yards is a long shot through the woods. I can't think of a deer I've killed with a rifle in the last 8 or 9 years that I couldn't have killed with a handgun or bow.

In my younger days in the upper Midwest, I hunted with a model 29 smith for about 5 years in the swamps of lower Michigan.

Killed more deer with that gun than I have with a rifle the last 25 here. Although I think I'm getting close to evening that out finally.

 

[Snal~]

I had a nice little Handi Rifle years ago. .45-70, laminated stock and forearm, satin hard chrome barrel & action. Sold it to forum member @Snal~ years ago.

You remember that Snal? You drove down to Lexington one night and picked it up then headed back home.

Yep...I remember.

 

[Chihuahua Floyd]

My small deer rifle is a Marlin 1894 in 357 mag.
Almost lost it to my fad after he was in a car accident and cracked his chest.
He tried one round out of his 30-06, one round out of the 35 Rem. then fell in love with the 357.

 

[RR]

In my younger days in the upper Midwest, I hunted with a model 29 smith for about 5 years in the swamps of lower Michigan.

Killed more deer with that gun than I have with a rifle the last 25 here. Although I think I'm getting close to evening that out finally.

When my father in law was still alive and active the two of us bow and muzzleloader hunted hard. There were seasons where I filled all six tags during bow season. I'm finally catching up with firearms to what I've killed in my lifetime with either archery or blackpowder gear.

 

[Cape Fear]

I feel the same way, but I wanted something I could still stretch out to 250-300 yards when needed. I took a Savage 11, added a .308 Shilen SS prefit medium contour, cut to 16, threaded 5/8-24, added brake, rail, 4-12x40 scope, and Boyd's stock.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Winchester Wrangler 16” barrel .44 mag. Bushnell 2.5 power scope. Yes…I do have scopes on some lever guns.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Or my 20” barrel REM. Mdl 7.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Uhh, oh yeh .308

 

[RR]

This thread would be incomplete without mention of my Ruger GSR .308, or pics of the aforementioned CVA Scout .300 BLK.

 

[RR]

And ultimately a handgun is the most compact option.....



G40 pictured but also have a .45 Colt Blackhawk and a GP100 in the mix....

 

[45/70fan]

My last two H&R's are still at 22". A laminate wood 30/30 and a camo synthetic 357 Mag. Posted the Henry 44 Mag also just for grins. I was going to cut back and ream the 357 Mag to 357 Max but I decided to wait for the new 360 Buckhammer. Did I say I love single shots lol.

 

[RR]

Another favorite single shot. It's compact enough as it stands and I won't be chopping it.

.45 Colt H&R Classic Carbine. 20" barrel.

And some people may call me a "Space Cowboy" for this one.



Puma/Rossi 92 Scout. .45 Colt (Blackhawk .45 Colt/ACP convertible as well)

Replaced the annoying safety with a peep sight. The traditional half cock safety works just fine. Scope is mounted in Warne QDs.

 

[Crankbait]

11” barrel 6.8 SPC

 

[Michael458]

In our endeavors we carried and used shorter, faster, and far handier big bores than what was in common use in the beginning. Common use for example would be a 10+ lb 24 inch barrel, 46 inch overall 458 Lott or 458 Winchester or such......... With more efficient cartridge design and superior bullet tech we were able to accomplish the same mission with big bore rifles from .458 to .500 caliber in a much smaller package, 7.5 lbs, 18 inch barrels and 39 inches overall length...........In the case of the Super Short Big Bores they came in at 6.5 lbs, 16 inch barrels and 36 inches overall.......... one hell of a difference when you have to carry these things in the bush all day, and then accomplish your mission...........

 

[1075tech]

I bought my daughter a Ruger American Youth Compact in 243. It's a nice, light, accurate shooting rifle.

 

[Etruett]

In our endeavors we carried and used shorter, faster, and far handier big bores than what was in common use in the beginning. Common use for example would be a 10+ lb 24 inch barrel, 46 inch overall 458 Lott or 458 Winchester or such......... With more efficient cartridge design and superior bullet tech we were able to accomplish the same mission with big bore rifles from .458 to .500 caliber in a much smaller package, 7.5 lbs, 18 inch barrels and 39 inches overall length...........In the case of the Super Short Big Bores they came in at 6.5 lbs, 16 inch barrels and 36 inches overall.......... one hell of a difference when you have to carry these things in the bush all day, and then accomplish your mission...........

Why all those spare bullets? I thought @BatteryOaksBilly had taught you to shoot better than to need spares! I’ve heard him say 1000 times “it’s all about bullet placement “.

 

[Ge286]

This is a great small light weight rifle that’s easy to pack around. Christensen Ridgeline scout 16” 6.5CM