quote:

Originally posted by Charles_Helm:


Given the cost of some of these options, this is probably a thought exercise. A full custom is likely the answer but out of reach even for a thought exercise!

I would vote for a Ruger 375 or 416. My experience with custom rifles leaves a lot to be desired. Of the custom rifles I have owned, handled, or friends have owned customs are way worse than factory rifles in reguard to feeding large rounds well. Kinda sad, but usually the more money a rifle costs the less likely it is to feed correctly.

Other...

Merkel KR-1 bolt rifle.

The virtues of a Blaser minus the percieved vices.

Wayne at AHR might not toot his own horn here, but having shot both his 600OK and 700 AHR full customs built on the CZ 550 Magnum actions, I will. Last year at the Helena shoot, I monkeyed around with both, playing the "will it feed upside down, sideways", etc drill and they worked flawlessly. I like to think of AHR in the same context as the Shelby VS stock Ford Mustang comparison. When a CZ leaves Wayne's shop it is as close to perfect as man can make it! At a working man's affordability!!

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by tiggertate:
I picked "other" because the Sauer 202 and Sauer 90 were left off. Both have single-stack magazines and both feed reliably in any position or with any bullet profile you can imagine. The 202 comes in 375, 416 Remingon and 458 Lott. I'm not sure the 90 is still made but they and the Colt Sauer are essentially the same gun and available on the used market.

Ditto and especially for a straight case calibre with blunt bullets like 458 Lott.

Stagger feed CRF looks nice but too critical. Can't even come close to an in line feed push feed.

I would go with either M70 Classic or pre 64. Lou

Ruger 77 Magnum in 375 H&H. Very accurate & well built with features found on high end rifles. Reliable & factory service is exceptional from my experience.

Ruger RSM.

My last two Rugers were good to go right out of the box

I already own all that I'll ever need. As far as big bores go I have the CZ American Safari
458 Lott, Model 700 Rem 416, a Sako 375 H&H, &
the Rem Ultra Mag 338.

Under the circumstances described, my choice would fall on my Cogswell & Harrison .404 Jeffery. It has all the attributes of a '98 Mauser service rifle, and NONE of the "improvements" visited upon the Mauser by latter-day 'experts'....except for the magazine system.

That is, it has the original 180-degree safety, the original two-stage trigger pull, and NO added "features". The mag box is a replacement, to accommodate the .404 cartridge, and the floorplate is now hinged. The barrel is just 21" long, and it has English (of course!) Express three-leaf sights. Factory-level loads shoot PRECISELY to the sights if I do my part.

The rifle works perfectly in any conditions, including DEEP sub-zero cold. If ever there was a stone-reliable rifle, this one is IT. Therefore, it's my nominee for the perfect .375-.458 category set out in the original post on this thread.

Ooops...I just caught the "new-to-you" requirement. Well, if I was setting out to get a new rifle in this category, it would surely look a lot like this one. It'd have to be a custom job, but a reasonably-priced one, I think.

With the custom in there that is not fair, Out of the box Blaser R93 or Mauser M03!

Ed

I think it was an oversight not to have Ruger as an option. RSM is a great rifle. Dr.C

Here is a (not necessaeily THE) correct answer:
1, Cal George, at Empire Rifles.
Tell him EXACTLY what bullet you want to use.
3. Send George A WHOLE LOT of money.
4. Problem solved forever.

Next price range down, just find a Dakota 76 made before Don Allen died.

Oh? You wanted reasonable money? Sorry. My bad. M70 Classic, made in the late 90's. Or any Ruger that blows your skirt up.

Cliche time: just my two cents worth.

I have two picks. My 416 Ruger Alaskan has performed flawlessly, feeds the Hornady DGS slick, and packs as much punch as I'll ever need. My Ruger No. 1 in 450/400 backs the other one up perfectly.

The only one I kept is Heym SR20 'Classic Safari' in .375. It has excellent fit/finish, express sights, nice walnut stock and handles like typical .30-06. Much better handling piece then CZ550 'Medium' 9.3x62 I used to own. Wanted to nix it long ago but every time I handle it I simply can't bring myself to sell it. There will be no other.

I would suggest a semi custom to lower medium priced custom rifle would meet the criteria.

What I have in mind ranges from:

something assembled with good quality components by a competent 'smith on a Brno 600 series action, CZ action or FN Browning / Mark X action along the lines of an AHR through to

Empire Arms Mauser and the smaller, provincial German gun makers.

Surprisingly, well surprisingly to this Englishman anyway, these medium sized German town gunsmiths build good rifles still within the working man's price range. They do not call the UK "Rip off Britain" for no reason.

quote:

Originally posted by 465H&H:
There is no way that you can guarantee that any factory rifle will feed FN solids. You will just have to try it and if it doesn't send it to a good gunsmith to make it feed them. But be warned that it may not then feed RN solids. Any of the ecustom guns you mentioned will feed FN bullets if you tell the gunsmith that is what you want.

465H&H

My Model 70 fed North Fork FN solids perfectly. You used to could buy a 6-round sample pack to verify this befoe shelling out a lot of dough for 50. I left my surplus ammo in Africa and my PH later told me that they would not feed in his Model 70.