Gentlemen,

I think I have my ideal woods rifle for use back home in Oregon. It's an SMLE No.MkIII*, barrel shortened to 21", Synthetic buttstock, wooden forestock (painted black to match), Simmons 1.5-5x scope, 5 rd. Magazine.

My preferred load is the 215 gr. Woodleigh Weldcore about about 2100 fps. Penetrates all day long.

The gun is nice and ugly too, so I don't feel bad about getting it dirty, wet, muddy, etc..

Just put a 358 Win bbl on a 7600 with an 18 inch bbl and call it a day.

My personal woods rifle is a Puma 10 shot lever gun in 454 Casull with 20 inch bbl. In addition to the 45 cal bullets it pushes 180 gr 358 Speers to 2700 fps using muzzleloader sabots, but the 358 Winnie in a pump is a better idea.

What is your definition of woods rifle? I guess that is different for all of us. "brush gun" like under 100yds, with tight shots and such. If I didn't go with a lever gun I would go with a sporterized 30-40 krag probably, put a peep sight on it, leave the original safety. they are the smoothest feeling action in the world.

Whatever I was going to get though i personally would not go with the double set triggers, unless you are meaning something like the cz where it is actually one trigger that you can set if you want to get a lighter weight. but for me having two triggers in that trigger guard would be a hassle, as it is I can't fit my gloved finger inside the triggerguard of most of my rifles. (yes, I walk around with one cold hand a lot of the time :-)

I think for a bolt action I would go with a 20" barrel and a 350 rem. mag. maybe a model 600 or 660 action. lightweight barrel.

My current mountain gun that works out very well is a Sears mauser (fabrique national receiver) in 270 win with a 24" barrel, open sights. gun shoots like a dream and isn't too heavy (although over 8lbs I am sure).

Red