I am the proud owner of an original Model 70 Westerner, The gun that started the .264 Magnum series. It is , and will always be, my favorite long range rifle. It was my Dads bought used in 1963 and has been mine for the past 10 years. This rifle has done amazing things over the years and was even given a nickname on its first year of service with my Dad out of respect for what it was capable of doing. On a Family and friends group Deer hunt in the wide open spaces of Central Oregon in 1964 this rifle made its debut a thing to remember and cherish forever. The terrain was mixed slow rolling fields of winter wheat and open exspanses of high desert. Mule Deer bucks were abundant that year and Dad invited one and all to come join him that year as the deer were fat and horns pretty impressive to boot. Ended up being 13 in the group that year and I got to tag along on my first ever deer camp hunt at the fine age of 6 years old,,, seems like it was just yesterday. My dad had tried to impress upon all who were to come that the shooting would be pretty far at times and being true men one and all ( few listened ). A gaggle of saddle rifles, old war surplus rifles such as .303 brits and a 6.5 Jap to mention a few and one newer 30-06 showed up for this hunt. Dad bagged a big fat 3 point opening morning and that was the only harvested buck on that day. By the end of the 2nd day one more deer had been taken with the 30-06 as I recall and the whining and crying was going something like this,,, "How far were you holding over his back Clem when you emptied yur gun ?" I dont rightly know Bubba but I couldnt see him in my sights no more when I pulled the trigger if"n that tells ya anything !!! So starts the .264 Mag saga. Dad offered to take 2 hunters out at a time and use his rifle and he would spot for them and call the shots as all would be a good 300 yard or better shots . Dad had been practicing long shots for a year just for this kind of hunting. By end of day 4 all 13 tags were filled and 11 of them with the .264. I will never forget seeing so many nice Bucks hanging in our camp. The air was cold so the deer stayed in camp. A pair of hunters stopped in camp at dusk on the 4th day to admire the horn collection. In my family when the hunt is over the gear changes and celebrating kicks in. Good food and a taste of good liquor becomes the theme of the day. Offering both of these to the 2 camp guests and deer hunters being known to brag a bit from time to time,,, it was soon discovered that the majority of the deer had fell victim to one rifle in particular and of course had to be brought out for "show and tell". While the gun was in the hands of one of the guests and he had seen one of the cartridges he was heard to say "That **** rifle is pure Hell on deer,,, downright EVIL as a matter of fact." All around agreed and someone then said, "Hell, you outta name it !!! So then then one and all started thinking of a name befitting such an evil deer slayer,,, To this day throughout my family and among friends this Sweet little rifle is known as " LUCIFER "and from then til now has proven worthy of his name on Elk, Antelope, Coyotes, Cougar, and a host of other varmits,,, Gotta go,,, I hear him calling ,,, goin huntin ....
