I've always just chased local whitetails, and never flown to hunt. I hope to be able to afford a few airborn hunts to both South Africa and various parts of North America in the future. For the North American hunts where ranges can be long I've been thinking of a .338 Win. Mag. For air travel a takedown makes a lot of sense. Who offers the best value in a quality CRF takedown turnbolt? What are my options and how much do I need to plan on spending?

Brazos_Jack

Blaser! Go to BlaserPro.com and hang around on their "Sell board". Don't know why you need a CRF though.
Peter.

Some just take the stock off of the action to effect the same end. Requires decent bedding, but is simpler than having a takedown built.

I also recommend you take a look at the Blaser R 93.

go to www.blaserpro.com

Since I might hunt something that bites, like large bears, some day, I’d like to stay with CRF. I’ve read a few of N E 450 No2’s posts on the Blaser before. I can’t access the Blaser site right now as it is blocked in Saudi Arabia, where I work. I’ll have to check it out on my next Stateside leave unless someone has an electronic copy of the catalog they can email me.

I’ll be retiring in about 6 year, and by then plan to have built my retirement battery. The backbone of the battery to be used on all NA game within its range capability, African plains game, and cats, will be a 9.3x74R double. This I will probably be ordered before year end so that I can start using it for whitetail hunting, etc. over the next few years. For other African DG I plan to get a .450-.400 3†DR.

The .338 Win Mag takedown would be carried on any NA hunt where there was a chance that ranges might exceed 200 yards. I might also get a .416 Rem Mag takedown “just becauseâ€. (do we really need a legitimate excuse to buy another rifle?).

If anyone can send me more information on Heym Express or Express Light takedowns, Dakota Travelers, Sauer 202 takedowns or any others not costing 5 figures, please do.

Brazos Jack

I have a neat m70 taketown in 300 win mag made here in New Zealand.I love how take downs can be broken down, chucked in a pack or canoe. Makes for very versatile transporting. I can't figure out how to post pictures so if any one can, I can email them the photo's so they can post some "takedown" porn

For a CRF in a current production rifle, I think you're gonna be limited to a custom of some sort. Factory rigs that are pretty damn cool, but are pushfeeds, that are worth mentioning are the Sauer 202's and the HS precision offerings. I'm not a fan of the HS precision gang--customer service--especially, but their products are very good quality.

Fordnutter,
Great looking rifle, who was the gunsmith in NZ that did the work.

my SBS steyr prohunters take down w/ 2 #5 hex head action bolts. i just pull the buttpad off, take out the alan wrench, remove 2 screws and the rifle stock comes right off.
I have NEVER had an impact shift.

Yeah it's a really neat rig. It was made by little known gunsmith Brian Hare - some time in the future I'm going to get a second barrel in 416 Taylor

Dakota makes a take-down, but you will pay, likely more than the rifle is worth.

The Blaser R93 is not cheap either. One just has to get over paying a new rifle price for only a barrel, but they do shoot!
Peter.

The man wants CRF fella's.

I've seen several customs on a Mauser action, maybe where you need to go, having said that, one of the new SC made Win turned into a takedown would be really cool.

fordnutter,

Other than that I prefer wood stocks and blued steel, that looks perfect. It appears to be a CRF "Classic" model 70 from the cone breach and extractor cut in Win300takedown.jpg and what appears to be a non-rotating extractor in Win300takedown2.jpg. Is it?

That in .338 WM would be just the ticket. Is there anyone in the U.S. who does one like that for a reasonable price?

I don't think I'd go swap barrel with it. I'd just get a second one in .416 Rem Mag.

How did what Brian Hare charged you compare to the price of a Dakota Traveler?

Brazos_Jack

B J

My recommendation from what I can gather from what you say you want and in the price frame I am guessing is.

www.z-hat.com/takedown70.htm I hope the link works but if not just look under z-hat.com for Model 70 takedown.

If you would want one built I would recommend Duane Wiebe. In my opinion he is the top of the line but his cost reflects this.

fornnutter

You have a great looking rifle. It looks well built. I would like to see a picture of the receiver face if possible. How is the forend attached?

Thanks, James

J Bennett,

I'm working in Saudi right now and the Gov't here has weapons related sites like z-hat.com blocked. I plan to be home on short leave in late August and check it out then and maybe give them a call.

In the means time, if anyone has anything emailable on the z-hat take-downs, please send it to me.

Brazos_Jack

Brazos Jack,
Yes shes a "Classic" model. I'm not sure if Brian is still gunsmithing here in NZ. I picked the rifle up second hand from guide who frequents alaska and this was his do everything hunting rifle. I paid about $1000 US...so a bargain at least in my books. I hate to think how much a Dakota Traveller would cost.
The foreend stock locates on a short hanger and as you can see by the pictures the sling swivel goes through the stock to a barrel band. It's almost a free floating barrel...the barrel band is not a tight fit on the barrel.
I'm still trying to gauge just how much accuracy I can squeeze out of this rifle. I'm working on the load development at the moment. Good luck with your shopping

Brazos Jack,
I have a Sauer 202 and am pretty happy with it. I don't have a problem with push feed and prefer the cartridge base to be fully enclosed as I am a compulsive tinkerer and load experimenter. Strength is good!
I bought this rifle for a few reasons, first its a real left hand gun, with a left hand stock that fits me well. Second, barrels can be purchased without licencing another gun, big bonus here. Twenty three calibres offered, only twenty to go.
I have barrels in 270 Weatherby, 300 Weatherby and 375H&H and they all shoot very well. Stock design is good and the 375 with 300 gn loads is almost pleasant to shoot of the bench, still, twenty is enough.
I don't like detachable magazines and it can only be single loaded through the ejection port so I carry a spare magazine. Feeding and ejection is excellent at any speed I can generate. The safety is totally silent. With a different scope in Q/D mounts for each barrel this has been a pricey exercise, but it all works and I can change a barrel and scope in a bit over a minute and have no point of aim variation.
A high quality gun that costs but time will prove it to be something of a bargain.

Go get one.

Flamethrower

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Fish30114:
The man wants CRF fella's.

Dakota is CRF.

Jetdrvr, true, and if you look at my post (second one in line) I questioned why, seeing as he just wanted a 338, not exactly a DG caliber. Typically the CRF crowd are into DG hunting.
Peter

As I said in my previous posts, this is for NA game. That includes the NA great bears. The largest predators on the planet. In NA .338 WM's are DG rifles.

Brazos Jack

I have a 100% perfect....modified take-down WW2 Arisaka paratrooper carbine.....in 30-06 with new barrel and stocks made by a US marine armourer in CA some years ago. It's gorgeous, and an instant take-down/re-assmble-able rifle.

Brazos Jack,

I've e-mailed you PDF files showing some of the best stuff of the web sites listed below. Let me know if they come through OK.

http://www.randyscustomrifles.com/take_down_rifles.html

http://www.z-hat.com/Takedown70.htm

James Bennet has been very generous with information on all sorts of takedown bolt action rifles and you might, if you haven't already, search AR threads for posts by him on this and other subjects. You will learn a tremendous amount about a fascinating firearm and how much fine gunsmithing is required to make them tick.

Enjoy the journey!

Matt

fornnutter,

That is one beautiful rifle, and at the price you mention, quite a bargain indeed. Good luck with that second barrel.

Peter,

How is that Blaser working out for you? I remember how excited you were when you took the plunge.

hnts4fun, I lOVE it! I have a 375 H&H barrel and a 300WM barrel and they both shoot very accurately. I have scope mounts on both (not the QD) with Zeiss Conquest scopes. When I bought it, it came with a 7mm Mag barrel which I have been trying unsuccessfully to sell, so, I did the next best thing. I bought 7mm Mag dies!
Thanks for asking. It is one of my favorite rifles!
Peter.

Thanks Matt,

The documents you sent came through great. Both of those gunsmiths make some very nice eye candy.

Brazos_Jack

anyone have a rifle from this guy I am thinking about it http://www.randyscustomrifles.com/take_down_rifles.html

anyone have any exp. with randy selby rifles exp takedowns

CRUSHER,

You might also talk with Dave Viers of Viersco. I have not handled his guns but he was a pleasure to talk with over the phone.

http://www.Viersco.com/

emailed you some info.

Matt

Break down 308 rifle - Viersco light pack rifle

Jack:

I KNOW that you said you wanted a CRF rifle but if you are looking for a takedown rifle, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND LISTEN TO THE GUYS THAT ARE TRYING TO POINT YOU TOWARDS THE BLASER R93. I am engaged in the same project that you are, putting together a rifle that will "travel". I bought a Blaser in 9.3x62 and I am going to pick up a 30-06 barrel for it. These things are really slick and break down for packing into a compact case in a matter of seconds. My 9.3 also has a Leupold 1.5X6 scope in a set of Blaser's QD mounts. You can take it all apart, put it all back together, and it's right back to zero again. I don't care a bit that it is a push feed. It feeds like a dream and the cartridges are held firmly in the interchangeable magazines by a spring so they can't jump out on their own. The trigger is excellent right out of the box and most of them shoot like they had eyes. I figure with the 9.3 and a 30-06, I can hunt the world. The Blaser is pricey but not when you compare it to a high dollar take down like a Dakota. IMHO, it is the best takedown option out there right now.

Dave

I don't see the point of a takedown bolt rifle, kind of a solution to a non-problem IMO. I have flown 12000 miles at a time with a pair of rifles not broken down with the stock on them and scopes as well. Save your money to go hunting.

Having spent a lifetime admiring takedown rifles and the craftsmen who build them, I'd like to say they are plain cool rifles. I gave up trying to justify chasing down new guns based on need a long time ago. That said, a Blaser is probably a flat out better mousetrap and a better value. As many have written, non-takedown rifles have been getting the job done!

Matt