I want to build a safari rifle for a trip I'm hoping to make in the summer of '14.

I guess the first place to start would be figuring out which action to build on.

So which action should I go with for a safari rifle? The caliber on this will be a .375 H&H.

The Mauser is what I was thinking of going with. Where should I look for a Mauser action?

CZ 550--great solid action can be made an awesome action with Duane's bottom metal and a top notch builder like Duane, Lon Paul or a host of other talented guys out there... have fun with your build.

Ed

Cz 550, or even better the older ZKK602

M

Rich, you don't have a lot of time to build a full custom. Keep that in mind as you do your planning and get delivery assurances from reputable builders before you set yourself up for heartache.

My first question is always, "What's your budget?" With that number in mind, it's much easier to steer you towards the proper action.

Good luck with your project and your safari plans.

What is your recoil tolerance as well? If you're not too fond of recoil a light Whitworth Mauser may not be your thing, while the heavier CZ may be more to your liking.

You might want to see if there are any customs for sale that fit your needs too. That saves you the time of waiting for one to be built and usually some cash.

quote:

Originally posted by silvertip1:
What do you want to spend on the action and the cost to get it ready for a custom rifle? You might do well to look for a really fine example of a Whitworth in .375 and go hunting.

I don't have a set budget.

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:
Rich, you don't have a lot of time to build a full custom. Keep that in mind as you do your planning and get delivery assurances from reputable builders before you set yourself up for heartache.

My first question is always, "What's your budget?" With that number in mind, it's much easier to steer you towards the proper action.

Good luck with your project and your safari plans.

I'm planning to do the work myself, aside from the stock which I may have a local friend do. I don't have a set budget.

Looking at your timeframe, I recommend the following…

1st: Browning FN Safari Grade .375 H&H Magnum (Guns International - $1199 US).
http://www.gunsinternational.c...cfm?gun_id=100314518

2nd: Winchester M70 Safari Express .375 H&H Magnum (MSRP - $1420 US). Or,

3rd: CZ 550 Magnum Express Rifle .375 H&H Magnum (MSRP - $2642 US).

Go with #1 or #2 and just spend sufficient monies to have a reputable gunsmith check the rifle for 100% feeding and smooth the action if any issues exist then start shooting to become 100% familiar with the rifle. Do the same with #3 – your just starting at higher purchase price.

If you don’t like the stock on any of the above three rifles – make your own as you’ve noted and sell the factory stock to recover some of your expenses…

quote:

Originally posted by Rich-:
The Mauser is what I was thinking of going with. Where should I look for a Mauser action?

If you want a magnum length mauser clone
Granite Mountain
Golmatic/Prechtl
Johannsen

quote:

3rd: CZ 550 Magnum Express Rifle .375 H&H Magnum (MSRP - $2642 US).

Jim, where are you buying your CZ from? You can get a new one for half that.

A couple of observations: 1) summer of 2014 is only 18 months away -- good luck getting a rifle built, back to you, scoped, loads worked up, etc. If you can, more power to you -- but I did note you had no budget and that might help; 2) All suggestions are good, but I would go with a '98 Mauser or a M70 Winchester -- or one of it's clones.

quote:

Originally posted by Sevens:

quote:

3rd: CZ 550 Magnum Express Rifle .375 H&H Magnum (MSRP - $2642 US).

Jim, where are you buying your CZ from? You can get a new one for half that.

Did you notice the MSRP? That's directly from CZ's USA website... I personally don't own a CZ but have nothing against them. The Winchester should also sell for less than its MSRP...

quote:

Originally posted by Rich-:

I'm planning to do the work myself, aside from the stock which I may have a local friend do. I don't have a set budget.

Please don't take this as being mean spirited or derogatory. I see a disconnect between having enough experience in opening Mausers to 375 length that I would want to potentially hunt DG with and asking basic advice on which Mauser to use and where to source one.

You may be better served by going the Whitworth or CZ route and just doing some cosmetic metal work.

That's meant to be helpful not hurtful.

i agree with everyone above....paul

I would look for a pre-64 375 Winchester rifle. I have seen many listed for 1500 to 2000 and in very good condition. You can do a minimal restoration and have a great rifle and a investment too.

and of course there's always cream puffs floating around.

http://www.cabelas.com/product...6y%3D0&Ntt=pre64+375

quote:

Originally posted by FAST996:
I would look for a pre-64 375 Winchester rifle. I have seen many listed for 1500 to 2000 and in very good condition. You can do a minimal restoration and have a great rifle and a investment too.
...

Best Idea here.

Also if you want to do more work a Dakota action is an option:
http://www.brownells.com/rifle...rod6755.aspx?ttver=1

.

quote:

Originally posted by Rich-:
I want to build a safari rifle for a trip I'm hoping to make in the summer of '14.

I guess the first place to start would be figuring out which action to build on.

So which action should I go with for a safari rifle? The caliber on this will be a .375 H&H.

There are lots of used custom Mausers (my favorite) and Winchester M70's with the controlled round feed action from which to build a dandy rifle from. Other actions can be dandy as well like the ones already mentioned. To find one in .375H&H might be a bit more of a chore. My advice is to visit as many gun shops as you can as soon as you can and work the action on as many as you can. Some bolts work smoothly and some are not so hot. This is most important. Don't miss that shot of a lifetime messing with a rickety bolt on a follow up shot! When you find the one that feels tight and butter smooth, then you have your basis for a dandy Safari gun. You might even get lucky and find the action and caliber that suits your needs. I'm still kicking myself in the posterior for not buying a custom 1909 Argentine Mauser rifle with the smoothest action I've even handled because I didn't care for the caliber or the stock. It was well worth the $600 it sold for. It's all about the feel brother. Barrels and/or stocks can be changed. Have fun.

If that Browning FN above is not a salt gun that is the best deal by far.

Buy it hunt & with it. If it is not your favorite you can get your money back later.

Does this look like something you would be interested in? I'm sure Mike could stock it for you and you'd be good to go.

http://www.gunsinternational.c...cfm?gun_id=100310892

i couldn't tell from the photos if the Browning Safari has the long M98 extractor or not. Looked like maybe not...

I like old model 70's. I just picked up a nice featherweight 30-06 (1961) this afternoon for $680 total.

It would be pretty easy (and cheap) to build a 375 on.

I'd consider two choices given your time frame. My first choice would not require restocking as they generally come with beautiful stocks.

1) Interarms Mark X with English style cheekpiece (stay away from the Monte Carlo stock), perhaps change out the barrel if needed, trigger job, and quick release mounts with a good low powered scope. Iron sights need to shoot true and fit your natural mounting of the rifle.

2) FN Browning or Flaigs, change out the stock for a nice fitted synthetic, trigger adjustment, quick release scope low powered. Again, true shooting iron sights that fits your natural mount.

I would like to add the Wells action to this list.

quote:

Originally posted by Kebco:

quote:

Originally posted by Rich-:
The Mauser is what I was thinking of going with. Where should I look for a Mauser action?

If you want a magnum length mauser clone
Granite Mountain
Golmatic/Prechtl
Johannsen

I am in the FN Browning (long extractor. non salt stock) camp. Great guns!
Another option is a Kimber 89 (oregon Mfg.) I have had very good luck with them.
Only issue I have with the Browning is that they typically have a LOP of 13.5" which is a tad short for me.
The Kimber 89's were 13.75"-14".
Both have 3 position safeties and control round feed.
I would follow the suggestions above. Glass them and do a trigger job.

EZ

For a non cream puff working rifle - Mod 70 or Dakota depending on rim size. No guess work for the builder.

I'm partial to the Model 70 CRF or clones of the Model 70. I prefer the newer Classic actions to a pre-64 (I've handled pre-64s but never owned one though I have come close).

I agree that Dakota's are nice, but I only handled one of them once too.

quote:

Originally posted by Rich-:
I want to build a safari rifle for a trip I'm hoping to make in the summer of '14.

As pointed out above, you are cutting it pretty short for any kind of a custom rifle. Here's my
suggestion: pick up an off the shelf rifle you can modify to suit your tastes. After your trip you will know better just what you will need in the future.

Here's a real value: http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti....aspx?Item=327609592

If you want to know more about it see: http://www.chuckhawks.com/a-bolt.htm

With a rifle like this in hand, you can order a stock blank from Richards Microfit and "customize"
it, or use it as is. http://www.rifle-stocks.com/

With the synthetic stock, you will also be set for an Alaskan trip as well.

Jump all over this and forget about it.


http://www.cabelas.com/product...y%3D6&Ntt=custom+375

http://www.prechtl-waffen.de
or
http://www.fzh-gmbh.de

Both are actually used by by leading English gunmakers.

CZ

If we're throwing out suggestions for already made rifles, these two get my vote:

Blued/Wood:
http://www.gunsinternational.c...cfm?gun_id=100297752

And For Stainless:
http://www.gunsinternational.c...cfm?gun_id=100306466

Buy the 416 Taylor Will has in the classifieds. Put a pretty wood stock on it or take it hunting with the synthetic stock.

Just buy a deluxe CZ. Scope it and you're ready to go with no messing around. Fill it with 235 Barnes for plains game and 300 for Buffs. The KISS method never fails.

A factory CZ is a great rifle. You really need to smooth the action first as they are a little clunky.

If you are building a 375 H&H a Winchester or Montana Rifle Company action would be fine.

I own a CZ 550 in the 375. It has been to Africa with me three times. It is way too heavy. It feeds every time and holds five down, but it is just too BIG for a 375, perfect for a 505 Gibbs.

Mike,
I have a Lott built on a new receiver that I bought new a few years ago. I like it but you could be right on the weight. I'll try to remember to weigh mine tomorrow.

As I learn more about big bores my views have evolved. A Lott would be about the smallest round I would build on a CZ and I would be looking for a light stock. I do have Lott in MRC action in a McMillan stock and it is slightly overweight, but still lighter than my 375 CZ.

Of course that is only my opinion and others surely prefer different options.

I would get a blue/walnut New Haven M70 in 375H&H and send it to Mark Penrod to slick up and then go enjoy your hunt.

If you like a 375 H&H or a 416 Rem you could certainly do a lot worse than an off the shelf Model 70!

Now this doesn't answer your question but it's a suggestion worth considering. If you are going on a plainsgame hunt and are not married to the 375, consider an old Husqvarna 640 (they have an FN 98 action) in 9.3x62.

They are cheap, accuarate and some of them have barrel band sling swivels and banded front sights. You know, some of the "safari goodies" we want.

Replace the trigger if it has been privately imported from Sweden.If you find one that was made for export it has an adjustable trigger. And then restock it. They have horrible stocks with awful dimensions, which is my guess why they are so cheap.

You might have to do a little searching but they are around. For little money you could have a dandy plainsgame rifle! And then splurge on a double for your next DG trip!