10 Classic Hunting Rifles Every Hunter Should Own (Part 2)

4. Ruger No. 1 Single-shot hunting rifles aren’t what most of us have in mind when we think of the classics, but the Ruger No. 1 is one that has stood the test of time. It was introduced in 1967 and is a hammerless falling-block single shot that styled after the British Farquharson rifles and was offered in a plethora of chamberings and developed a cult-like following. In an article introducing the Ruger M/77 in the September 1968 issue of OL, O’Connor says the following regarding the still-new Ruger No. 1: “The production of a single-shot big-game rifle was a bold gamble on Ruger’s part. I am sure that 9 out of 10 market consultants would have said that the demand for single-shot rifles for centerfire cartridges had gone out with the mustache cup and the Stanley Steamer. In spite of all this and also in spite of the fact that Ruger gets a premium price for the No. 1 single shot, his (Bill Ruger) only problem has been to produce the rifles fast enough.” 5. Marlin 336 Another classic deer rifle that everyone should at least be familiar with is the Marlin 336. The Marlin 336 was introduced in 1948 and produced until recently. It’s one of the most popular lever-action deer rifles and commonly chambered in .30/30 and .35 Remington. The style of deer hunting has changed in many ways over the decades, but there’s still a place for the quick-pointing, hard-hitting, close-range woods rifle that the 336 is. From an availability perspective, it would make sense to get one in .30/30—and that combination has accounted for untold amounts of game—but in a perfect world, I’d have one in .35 Remington. The future of the Marlin 336 is uncertain, but after seeing what Ruger’s ownership of Marlin has done for the Model 1895 in .45/70, if they resume production of the 336, they will likely be the best made to date. 6. Ruger 10/22 The 10/22 is likely the single most successful .22 LR design ever made. It’s a recoil-operated semi-automatic action chambered in .22 LR that’s still in full-production today. The basic 10/22 carbine has the nifty feel of a .30 caliber M1 carbine and utilizes a 10-round rotary magazine. With its long-term popularity and simplicity, the 10/22 has become one of the most versatile and customizable .22’s ever—if not the most. Ruger has offered takedown models, but the market is also ripe with aftermarket parts and accessories. Extended magazines, stocks, integrally suppressed barrels, triggers, and more are available. Although the 10/22 is nearly 60 years old, it’s just as relevant today as it ever was. The 10/22 is simple, fun, and a joy to shoot. 7. Remington Nylon 66 Aside from the Ruger 10/22, the Remington Nylon 66 is often regarded as one of the best production semi-auto .22 LR rifles ever made—at least if you’re asking a member of its cult following. The unique, almost toy-looking rifle was a fairly radical development—and one of the first to use a synthetic (nylon) stock. This semi-automatic rifle was fed from a magazine tube that was loaded through the back of the stock and was known for its reliability with many different types of ammo. In fact, part of the incorporation of these synthetic parts into the design was to eliminate the need for lubrication.