Umshiniwam,

Really what you are describing is pretty much the 300 or 338 Ruger Compact Magnums. Don't know how available they are in SA but it'd be ready to go opensights and all and pretty cheap. They are about $1000 A$ here. Shoot & handle very well too.

regards,
JohnT

sounds like a marlin or winchester big bore lever gun to me!

I live in Alaska; in Large Brown Bear territory with many Black Bear around as well. Around means occasionally in our yard... Wilderness is out our back door.

I have a .338-06 with 22" #5 contour barrel for woods walkabout. This is a model 70 and I load it with 250gr bullets. Also have a couple of .338-300win mags 24" & 26" bbls on Sako M995 actions for more power and longrange precision. Another great ctg.

Due to bullet selection and weight variety, I determined the .338-06 offered more flexibility and potential. Sierra's 250gr Gameking delivers ballistic performance that only match bullets will improve upon. Neck up a .30-06 case and you are in business.

Probably the 200 to 225gr bullets offer better performance for African or other AO employment, but here I will trade velocity for bullet weight. The .338-06 is also a great candidate for use with cast bullets. Nice, long neck which none of the magnums have.

Much the same concept but I call it my "travel rifle". When I am doing cross country trips or trips to remote areas when I am not hunting I wanted something versatile to take long that would look more like a "hunting" rifle than something "tactical"....

Started with a Remington 700 Youth/Synthetic in .308, 20" barrel, short synthetic stock. Added:

B-Square Scout Mount
Leupold 2.5 power IER scope
QD rings
Weaver rear base with New England Custom Gun peesight
XS white line ramp front blade
Limbsaver slip-on recoil pad (comes off when heavy hunting clothes are worn)
Uncle Mike's Mountain sling.
Redfield Widefield 3-9 as a long range backup scope












The only thing I didn't like is that it wasn't stainless...so when Ruger came out with the Frontier I also built the same gun on that platform...



The Frontier is a little handier but both are accurate...

I chose .308 for the simple reason no matter where in the world you land you can beg, borrow or steal ammo....

The Uncle Mike's scabbard keeps the gun from getting dinged up and it is quick to get out...

Bob

Here's two of my bush rifles:

I started this one in 1992, and sort of finished it about ten years later. I got so tired of waiting for gunsmiths to finish it up, after going through about three, that I finally put it in a Butler Creek stock just to get it out and shooting. I have meant to re-stock it sometime, but just never got around to it.

It's a 35 Whelen, 19" Shilen #3 stainless barrel on a Mauser 98 military action that has been upgraded with Blackburn trigger, Dakota three-position safety, FN bottom metal, FN bolt. The action is Black T coated. It had sights on it but I got tired of them and had them removed. 1x4 Leupold with German # someorother retical. It cronographs 2,340 + or - fps with 250 gr bullets.






And another: It's a 9.3x62 on a FN action, Mcmillan stock, Blackburn trigger, Dakota Safety, Black T. This is a real good thumper.
It also took years to get finished. It has a Leupold 2x7 VXII shotgun scope.

Lovely working rifles. Thanks for sharing!

I own two rifles i would consider perfect "woods" rifle's- #1 is a Browning BLR chambered in .358 winchester, first off, yeah i know its ugly, but its light, very quick to the shoulder, a natural pointer. Its compact, 20" barrel, and its lever doesnt have as much throw as a winchester or marlin, so fast follow up shots are quick. With its box magazine spitzer bullets can be used, and its rotating bolt locks up like a bank vault.

#2 is a Remington Model Seven chambered in 7mm SAUM, while i know its a dead cartridge i handload so thats a mute point. The rifle has a 22" barrel and its stainless/synthetic composition is real nice for a true hunting rifle. I can push 175gr bullets to around 2,850fps and 120gr bullets to around 3,350fps so it can be the best of both worlds. With the 7SAUM think 280AI in a short action, that aint a bad thing. This rifle carries real nice, and is accurate enough for shots well past 250yds, although thats not a reality where i hunt, it s nice to know you have the reach.

I would just pick up a Ruger Frontier in 338 Federal or 358 win. Seems like the perfect bolt action woods gun.

quote:

Love the peep and front sight.

20" barreled 9.3x62 Mauser commercial, Gentry 3 position, FN bottom metal, Timney trigger, detachable peep sight, Warne quick release rings. Cheapo Butler Creek stock to get it shooting (black) and the paint job same stock. The rifle now has a 2-7 Nikon Monarch on it in the black stock pictures it had a 3-9 on it. With the 2-7 scope on it the rifle weighs 7 pounds 14 ounces.
This rifle shoots .6" three shot groups at 100 yards. This same rifle would be easy to build in a variety of calibers/ cartridges. .308, 6.5 Swede, 257 Roberts, you name it.

quote:

Originally posted by Snellstrom:
20" barreled 9.3x62 Mauser commercial, Gentry 3 position, FN bottom metal, Timney trigger, detachable peep sight, Warne quick release rings. Cheapo Butler Creek stock to get it shooting (black) and the paint job same stock. The rifle now has a 2-7 Nikon Monarch on it in the black stock pictures it had a 3-9 on it. With the 2-7 scope on it the rifle weighs 7 pounds 14 ounces.
This rifle shoots .6" three shot groups at 100 yards. This same rifle would be easy to build in a variety of calibers/ cartridges. .308, 6.5 Swede, 257 Roberts, you name it.

Now that's a fine looking brush rifle.....

Nice job!

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Originally posted by Snellstrom:
20" barreled 9.3x62 Mauser commercial, Gentry 3 position, FN bottom metal, Timney trigger, detachable peep sight, Warne quick release rings. Cheapo Butler Creek stock to get it shooting (black) and the paint job same stock. The rifle now has a 2-7 Nikon Monarch on it in the black stock pictures it had a 3-9 on it. With the 2-7 scope on it the rifle weighs 7 pounds 14 ounces.
This rifle shoots .6" three shot groups at 100 yards. This same rifle would be easy to build in a variety of calibers/ cartridges. .308, 6.5 Swede, 257 Roberts, you name it.

Now that's a fine looking brush rifle.....

Nice job!

Yup, That rifle is definitive!