Who uses a pump rifle?

[Quiet]

Being a lefty I started looking for hunting rifles that agree with me. I wound up buying a used Remington Model 760 pump in .30-06. Still sorting it out load and scope wise, but I thought I'd ask if anyone here -- leftys or righties -- has hunted with a pump gun. What I like is that the gun offers me a quick follow-up shot in the timber without having to reach over and crank a right-handed bolt, as well as 300-yard ridge line to ridge line capability should the occasion arise. I know this gun is popular in the northeast states and have heard of some Washington and Oregon state hunters using them. I think a pump gun is actually faster than a lever, though I have never verified this. I like my Winchester 1886 .45-70 in the woods but my old peepers are starting to need a scoped rifle these days.

 

[Brnsvllyjohn]

I don't personally own a 760 but I know a few guys who do. When I was using that type of Remington I used 740, 742 and even had a model 4. A semi auto but they perform about the same on paper. One of the 760s was pretty accurate and the other ones were so so and that was the same with my semi auto guns. As long as the removable magazine was in good shape they seemed to be reliable as far as feeding rounds into the chamber and the guys who used them could get a very quick follow up shot. I think one of my brothers took more animals with his 760 than any other gun he owns but he retired it 30 years ago. It all depends on the terrain you hunt and how far you might shoot. I have seen my brother take deer at over 350 yards but he has since gone to a very accurate bolt gun.

I sold my Remingtons years ago but the guys with the 760s still have them they just don't hunt with them now. Nothing wrong with them as long as thy shoot accurately. My model 4 was very good on paper I just decided I didn't want it any more. Accurate for those guns was about a 2 inch group at 100 but typically most seemed to be a lot closer to a 3 inch group at 100 with factory ammo, hand loads were a little better than that. My model 4 shot about a 1.5 inch group as did one of the 760s with hand loads.

 

[Common Sense]

I usually a Remington .270 that my grandfather bought 50+ years ago. He was a lefty. I like the pump.

 

[Planetcat]

I was just talking to my buddy about how it would be cool to have a pump action hunting rifle, and that Remington seems to be the only one left making them. I wish I had bought a Browning pump before they got discontinued or had bought the Rem 7600 instead of my sometimes unreliable 7400 semi-auto. As John said, make sure the magazines slide in/out nicely. I had to pry out a few in my 7400 .270.

 

[Bankrunner]

I've got one (760 in 30.06) that was handed down from my Dad. He shot a lot of whitetails with it and I've shot a couple as well. They are great guns, with that being said I haven't hunted with it in maybe 12 years. I switched to a bolt action for smaller groups and a lighter rifle.
The 760 doesn't feel much different to me that the 870 wingmaster. I just wish the barrel came off a little easier because cleaning from the muzzle doesn't seem right.

 

[Jack Ryan]

I'd like to have one in 35 Remington or 45-70 if they made one.