I'd choose Roger Biesen.

Regards,

Terry

Been there; done that; have multiple rifles to prove it.

American Hunting Rifles, Inc.

I like them all.

quote:

Originally posted by Vinny:
If you were going to build a semi-custom gun for use in Africa, which maker would you chose and why?
thanks

I would take the Express rilfe from Heym.

http://www.heym-waffenfabrik.de/english/indexeng.html


Why?
Big Magnum system completely made from best steel, with long extractor, 3 position safety, great trigger, express sights, very accurate even under bad conditions because of the special bedding.
high magazine capacity, nice bluing aginst reflections...
smooth action.

I had the folks at Waffenfabrik Hein build my last rifle and they will build my next one.

Great value for the money and a tack driver as well.

regards,

Mario

Assuming I was having a bolt gun built, Like T Carr, Roger Biesen

465H&H

Hein starts with a better action than the others.

quote:

Originally posted by new_guy:
Hein starts with a better action than the others.

Which action does Hein start with as opposed to Empire?

George

They build their own actions. Next up is a mag-mauser.

I really like the Lon Paul guns.

I'm just curious why they are classed semi-custom rather than custom? It sounds to me like you are talking custom rifle. Semi custom I would consider taking a stock win70 and putting a mcmillan stock on it, changing the sights, minimal work.

I don't have any of theirs, and don't know the costs on each offhand, but I'll say that it looks pretty hard to beat the pricing of the Biesen rifles.

Red

Of that group which would you class as custom and which as semi custom?

quote:

Originally posted by Dago Red:
I'm just curious why they are classed semi-custom rather than custom?

Not sure who coined the term "semi-custom", but it refers to large scale shops that have many options like Dakota, HS-Precision, Empire, Jarrett, Cooper, Shiloh-Sharps, Ed Brown.

You can have a lot of options put onto these rifles, but no matter what they will still be a the Dakota M76 with the same pattern stock, same barrel contour, it will still be a Dakota.

A custom rifle is the act of taking a rifle and making it suit your individual needs.

If I bought a M76 action, put a McMillan or Basner stock on it and barreled it with a fluted Hart barrel of my contour and my caliber choice, then dipped it in Titanium nitrate, and then added MY custom touches it is a custom rifle.

"Custom rifle" has nothing to do with $$$$$, but everything to do with being purpose built for one persons ideal type.

Semi-custom rifles are built in a small scale factory. Remington and Winchester Custom shop rifles are by definition semi-custom. No matter what the Custom shop does they will still be a Winchester or Remington rifle at the end of the day.

Biesen will build your rifle on almost any action you supply him.

465H&H

Ok, you guys that voted for Waffenfabrick Hein Arms - what is your take on them?

Dakota - we know about them due to frequent comments on AR

Biesen - lots of history on him as a stock maker and great technician

Hill Country - uses an action you send

Empire - uses a Mauser action, some controvery on price for value

All are great, but Waffen is a bit new to me.

I have one in .450 DAKOTA caliber, McMillan stock etc.
I thought I'd sell it, even though I have not even shot it yet and put the money into a 470 or 500 DR.
I can't do it, it's just to GOOD!!!!!!!!
Four round magazine, [plus one in chamber].
Unless you want a take down rifle, this is your baby.
Get the round top action, their least costly, and put the extra money into a www.talbot.us scope mounting system, check www.answerrifles.com they are huge enthusiasts of this system. Ask retreever about them he has a rifle with this mounting system and feels it's #1

The Belgian maker :

DUMOULIN