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I've got lots of rifles, but before I quit, I want to hunt Africa (& other places) a few more times. My favorite hunting rifle is a bolt rifle. Now the question: what's the best bolt action rifle available (cost is not an issue) for hunting - in whatever caliber you need (not just the big bores, but don't rule them out) ? What's your recommendation ??? ____________________________ .470 & 9.3X74R Chapuis' Tikka O/U 9.3X74R Searcy Classics 450/.400 3" & .577 C&H .375 2 1/2" Krieghoff .500 NE Member Dallas Safari Club | ||
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Frank, ask 10 people this question and you'll likely get 10 different answers. It's based on what a guy/gal owns, and what they like. Bottom line (if $$$$ is no object) is what you like. If the best bolt action in the world sucks in your opinion, you won't have it. I'd be the same way. I like most of my factory guns better than my custom rifle, but mostly due to it needing more work. For me personally, my Rugers, Remingtons, Weatherbys etc., kill game just as dead as if I paid $550,000 for a custom double rifle. Maybe a few gunsmith's can shed better details. Good luck with the quest, and best of hunting on your next safari. David Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333 Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com NRA Benefactor DSC Professional Member SCI Member RMEF Life Member NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor NAHC Life Member Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262 Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142 Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007 http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409 Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941 10 days in the Stormberg Mountains http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322 Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232 "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running...... "If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you." | |||
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Frank, You been around long enough to know the answer to your question, you just trying to stir up the masses! Mauser, Mauser, and Mauser...I love a good custom mauser done in English Africana, nothing to compare.... Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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Frank; Good BAIT!! I really hunt everything with pre-64 Model 70's, stock and custom. If you want a really heavy hitter, have one nicely built up in a synthetic stock in 416 Rigby, 500 Jeff or 404 Jeff...or wood and engraved if you also want a showpiece...they will all kill things without question...if you do your part!! And, everyone must have one in 375H&H...goes without saying...and again a pre-64 70 really can't be beat!!...they are available in ablut any caliber you can imagine...they are really getting expensive....I saw a $5000 Super Grade 375 yesterday at a show!! 470EDDY | |||
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It does not get any better than a properly tuned model 70. | |||
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Ditto, Moose-Hunter "An individual with experience is never at the mercies of an individual with an argument" | |||
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A properly fitted controlled round feed custom rifle by nay of the good custom rifle makers; proper fit is the reason why a custom rifle makes sense to me. | |||
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If you are willing to spend $50 K, then James Purdey will build you a nice rifle on a CRF Mauser action with wing safety. It does not get any "bester" than this. If you want to sepend a lttle less, those people are nearly as good as Purdey (the founders are ex-purdey workers). | |||
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I shoot a Blaser 93 and love it. I can't see myself ever wanting another kind of bolt action after this one. There are more and less expensive ones out there but I think it is all personal on this qeustion and what you like and works for you | |||
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If you want a piece of art, yet absolutely the finest in function, contact Peter Hofer-Jagdwaffen in Austria and rest assured no others will ever come close. All of his clients can afford anything but time and it is not for sale to anyone. His rifles are definitely at the peak of performance and artistry in wood and metal work. His web site is a journey well worth taking. | |||
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I have been told by a number of guys that I need to seriously consider an older Mannlicher-Schoenauer...like a 1903. I've owned most of the other action types and brands and they all have their place but many of them do not interest me any more. These days, I can walk through the average gun show and not even pick up a gun off a table. The same goes for the average gun shop. _______________________________ | |||
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The finest of the finest is the one you have in your hand as you hunt the animal of you dreams in Africa. If you own a gun and you are not a member of the NRA and other pro 2nd amendment organizations then YOU are part of the problem. | |||
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There isn't one! Each one has his favourite, so use the one you like best. | |||
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Custom build Mauser with a 98 action in 375 H&H Frederik Cocquyt I always try to use enough gun but then sometimes a brainshot works just as good. | |||
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+1 Brian "If you can't go all out, don't go..." | |||
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nothin sweeter than the smell of fresh blood on your hunting boots | |||
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Since I am a poor hunter, I can not think of a bolt rifle without considering the cost. Consequently, I will limit my responce to the action to make up a dream rifle. Also, I will tie my responce to rifles suitable for dangerous game since that is where your choice can become a life saver. I would only consider two actions and those are the M-98 Mauser highly customized and the pre-64 Mod 70. 465H&H | |||
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Frank, Easy the rifle that fits you the best.. and shoots accurately... Single barrel or double... Mike | |||
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As long as it's accurate, reliable, balanced and left handed it will work fine. Frank "I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money." - Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953 NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite | |||
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Fjold, It is so hard for me to read further posts, after reading yours. For the life of me I just don't know why! Also, can you head over to Tommy's and get a double cheese burger and a chili tomale, and tell me how much I liked it. That is what I miss most about CA! Jason Z Alberts “If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you." – Samuel Adams | |||
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I second that opinion. A right handed bolt action rifle just doesn't make it. | |||
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Frank: I would have to say that an Empire Rifle is probably the best easily available custom bolt action in the US today. They make a really fine gun. Dave Dave DRSS Chapuis 9.3X74 Chapuis "Jungle" .375 FL Krieghoff 500/.416 NE Krieghoff 500 NE "Git as close as y can laddie an then git ten yards closer" "If the biggest, baddest animals on the planet are on the menu, and you'd rather pay a taxidermist than a mortician, consider the 500 NE as the last word in life insurance." Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (8th Edition). | |||
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Hi: What about a Mauser M77? Are they any good? | |||
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Who makes the Empire? Empire does not produce a single rifle, they are all contracted out to several different sources. | |||
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I didn't even bother to read the thread after reading your post. You've got 4 double rifles and you're asking this old unanswerable question? | |||
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Remember that no matter what you buy you will be turning it over to the airlines for the trip over and back! | |||
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great point! Doesn't that scare crap out of those that use custom guns? I worry about my off the self Rugers when I board a plane. Why spend the $$$$$$$ cash on custom bolts when the mass produced guns work well? I understand the cost for doubles but haven't been able to shell out the cash for custom bolts yet Someday---maybe nothin sweeter than the smell of fresh blood on your hunting boots | |||
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I have found Dakota actions to be very well made, but then, mine are 10yrs old now. Close tolerances but yet smooth too. I think the pre closure Winchesters are a bit sloppy. You can remove metal, but putting it back is a bitch. Montana Riflemans are also sloppy. The one or two Granite Mountain I have played with were really excellent and tight but smooth as butter. Some old Mausers were great, but some were rattle traps too. Remingtons are smooth, if you want to go that route. Airlines may get your guns, and treat them like hell, but that is what insurance is for. Hunt with what you want, and if it is of concern, insure it for replacement. I regularly travel with guns that would cost what a smallish house costs to replace (read here: double rifles) and have yet to have a problem, but I don't sweat the issue because the rifles are insured. My thoughts, worth what you paid for them! JPK Free 500grains | |||
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if cost isn't an issue then a M-70 classic that has been run thru D'Arcy's shop is what fills the bill. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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Like JP577 said H&W is about as goood as it gets. I have handled these fine rifles and they are IMO finer then H&H custom rifles . Raimer Johannensen couls also make you a nice custom rifle. Cheers, André Always always use enough... GUN & KNIFE | |||
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I believe there is an answer to this question but it takes alot of practice shooting with different african rifles to know.I was told by a well known gunsmith that certain actions work better with large cartridges and others with slim ones.Then there is stock design and fit to consider.Also,different sights to compare.IMO,its not an easy thing to determine what works best,but there IS an answer to this question. | |||
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Shootaway is in fact correct. Sorry, I was being flippant. What the gunsmith said is true. I went down the same road strewn with bolt actions. But no, I never commited to a custom bolt. My journey may have been shorter if I had done so. In a factory rifle some work. The CZ works, Mausers and Mauser clones work (yes, Whitworth/Interarms/Zastava/now Remington), Model 70s work. But...the CZ needs the least amount of work, bedding, shorten barrel, but it will never be a truly nice action. Like Harald Wolff said, "you can't add metal back to the action". But it will handle almost all big cases. The modern commercial mauser clones need to be bedded and checked over but they are not built for a whole range of chamberings. But I think all the parts in these two rifles are generally good. The M70 may be the best action, will work with a whole range of cartridges but needs ALOT of work. The stamped internals are pretty strong but the extractor, it's clip and the gas block are not good. What everyone says about the custom bolts and the modern Mauser (with a capital M) is true. You can't go wrong really with a true custom bolt. They're expensive tho...and the work is there...but I came to the conclusion that if I'm going to pony up $4-12K I'd rather have a double. BTW, if DG is on the menu then the double wins hand down for me as well. | |||
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Gunbug, The Mauser 77 is an interesting rifle and it functions very well indeed, it is accurate, it has switch barrels, it is shorter than a conventional Mauser and its really a fine rifle..I had one that was stocked by a famous gunmaker and it was a fine rifle... The downside is it looks more like a damn Mossberg shotgun than a fine rifle, and I don't like ugly rifles, wimmen, er horses..I can tolerate an ugly dog however! Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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I cannot believe this has come up again and again and the answers are the same as last time and the time before that so --- Thus if we are going to re-hash the re-hash -- just stick with Cindy -- vastly more visually appealing subject OMG!-- my bow is "pull-push feed" - how dreadfully embarrasing!!!!! | |||
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A Satterlee made M 98, a grade obove H&M,and Prechtal... | |||
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Frank ----- I would have to agree with vapadog's answer. I have shot them all and own many, but the one's I really want to keep and pass on too my grandson's are the Model 70's. Good shooting. phurley | |||
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Okay, you're right. The Blaser 93 is actually the best Dave DRSS Chapuis 9.3X74 Chapuis "Jungle" .375 FL Krieghoff 500/.416 NE Krieghoff 500 NE "Git as close as y can laddie an then git ten yards closer" "If the biggest, baddest animals on the planet are on the menu, and you'd rather pay a taxidermist than a mortician, consider the 500 NE as the last word in life insurance." Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (8th Edition). | |||
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With no cost issue.I would be on my way to england right now.Purdy and Holland and Holland come to mind | |||
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The fact remains that some rifles that H&H sell are made by other makers, they just have the H&H LABEL no more no less, and a price increase of who knows how much !! Daniel | |||
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I have never heard of H&H doing this. I know that some other makers in London do. I disagree with anybody who says that H&H have lost their quality. Does anyone know how many bolt action rifles they built last year?..... I do John | |||
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