A lot of you guys are going to hate me for this, but here goes nevertheless...

A lot of rifles that are labelled as "CRF", really feed no different than your regular push feed rifle. It may be possible to make them do so, but from the factory a lot of socalled CRF rifles don't. Case in point my M70s (of which I have had 3, all made after USRA re-introduced CRF with the M70 Super Grade in the early nineties, or so). They all push along the cartridge in the magazine, and it only pops out when quite far along. There is hardly any distance (if any) where the feeding cartridge is controlled by the extractor. This does not always have to be the case, I'm aware of that. I also have an Enfield where the cartridge pops out of the magazine almost immediately, sits under the extractor, and is inserted into the chamber in a straight line. But as I said, most factory "CRF" guns are more CRF on paper than in reality.

Besides, there are many more attributes to an action and its suitability for dangerous game hunting than merely the feeding system. Here are a few
- extraction
- ejection
- safety
- trigger
- ability to work in adverse (dirty/dusty) conditions
plus, naturally, - feeding.

A failure in any of the above areas could cause a dangerous game rifle to be out of action, and surely a non-rotating Mauser extractor is not the answer to all those issues...

So, in conclusion, I like Mauser extractors, but this "CRF is the only way to go" thing is to a large degree "firearms fashion". In the eighties, apart from custom rifles built on pre-64 M70s or Mausers, CRF factory offerings were few and far between. People happily went big game hunting with the rifles offered at the time, and I doubt if more trouble ensued because of the feeding systems.

So enjoy your CRF rifles, but be realistic about whether CRF is a MUST HAVE feature. It is a "can have" feature, as far as I'm concerned.

OK, turn on the hate postings... This is a good "around the campfire" topic, well suited to terminate more than a few friendships
- mike

I'm not beating that dead horse 375. Suffice to say the overwhelming majority of PHs and professional clients prefer DGRs and that's enough for me. Bottom line is that we BOTH like Weatherbys and let's leave it at that. jorge

The advantage with CRFs is also with EXTRACTION,

But you have to get the cartridge chambered before extraction comes into the equation

Actually, the ideal would be in line feed with CRF which would also make it easier for the case rim to slide under the CRF extractor.

Mike

IF ya'll are interested in adding to you Weatherby battery I have a few listed in Classifieds. All are american made.

http://www.accuratereloading.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=749167&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=21&fpart=1

MLG: 375 comments notwithstanding, I also prefer CRFs for DG. The advantage with CRFs is also with EXTRACTION, much more reliable than no CRF rifles. I would have NO problems taking a WBY DGR rifle afield, no problems at all. I just prefer CRFs. jorge