I am curious. What was the finest custom rifle you ever actually took out in the woods hunting. who made it, what were its components, was it engraved, and what was its approximate cost, or did you inheret it or receive it as a gift.

Easy for me. A 7mag based on an Argetine with a stock by Customstox. Has been to Africa and the Middle fork of the Salmon.

A 338 Win Mag built on a 1903 Springfield action. Action has a three position m-70 type safety, custom Kimber scope bases and a hinged floorplate built on the original triggerguard. Barrel has a quarter rib, swivel eye, and front ramp which is all milled from a blank in a round configuration. All metalwork was done by an un-named gunsmith.



Stock is in the Europeon classic tradition from a very nice piece of Bastogne walnut by my most reasonably priced custom stocker, my brother grandview. His prices to me are fabulous, delivery time is something else!! In the past he has had some rifles so long I ended up trading them to him because I forgot what they looked like.



He may even say this was his finest rifle he hunted with as I traded him out of it for something, I don't even remember what anymore.

Yes, I think I done good!!

Idared, glad you are sticking up for the 1903. As to what is in second place, remember what Queen Victoria was told at Cowes when the America won the big yacht race, she asked which boat was second and the equerry replied, Madame, there is no second.

Vince Lombardi always said tying a game or finishing second was like kissing your sister.

1903 Springfield stocked by Alvin Linden.....Kornbrath engraved.....circa 1932.

The large form behind the rifle is alvinmack.



GV

http://www.hunt101.com/img/025599.jpg

PS Idared......I'm working on the mannlicher.....honest.

The finest custom rifle I ever hunted with is a Sako L461 in .222. It had a half octagon, half round 16.5" barrel with a full integral rib and three tapers.....I spent two hundred hours milling that barrel.....never again. It was on a fine piece of Fajen wood and still to this day holds my all time prairie dog shooting record of 39 consecutive hits.

The finest custom I've hunted with was a new Dakota 76 in .330 Dakota. I've since ended up getting a McMillan supergrade green/black swirley for the rougher hunts so I won't worry about my stock getting nicked so much. I also have a Montana Rifleman/acrabond stocked .375 coming this year for the Moose/Grizzly combo in September. It will be tefloned, achieving the appearance I hope of blued/walnut, while actually being stainless/laminated.
Don

Ruger No1 - 28" octoganal barrel, XXX grade French circassian walnut stock with ebony forend tip, action refinished internally with all good bits and chambered for 45RCBS 3.25". Simply eats 458 Lotts for breakfast! Cost to build $3000 + original rifle.

Finest that *I* took hunting?
My 376 steyr, XXX english walnut, matte blue finish, (now) matte leupold, mexican 1936 action....

scratchs and bumps?

oh yeah, that's what i built it for.

jeffe

The best I've hunted with is a set of rifles I've had D'Arcy Echols build for me over the years in .300 Win. Mag., .338 Win. Mag., .375 H&H, and .416 Remington. I've hunted with all of them, have taken game with all of them, and I've used them from Alaska to Mexico, from Oregon to Texas, and from British Columbia to Zimbabwe.



These are all in his "Legend" configuration with Echols' own McMillan fiberglass stock and superb, extensive metalwork, plus extras such as bottom metal from Tom Burgess, built-up and checkered bolt releases from Tom Burgess, and in the case of the .375 H&H, D'Arcy built special, heat-treated scope bases from scratch for Burgess detachable rings, and this rifle also has special open sights.



In a lot of ways, that .375 is the neatest rifle of this set, but the .300 Win. Mag. is my favorite, and I've taken the most game with it.



No fancy wood, no skeleton buttplates, no engraving, no case-colored parts, no rust bluing - but for sheer accuracy, stability, reliablity, durability, balance, handling, and minimal recoil effect, these are the best and finest rifles I've ever hunted with. No one gave me them to me either, nor did I ask D'Arcy for a discount. I paid for them the old fashioned way, as I have since I bought my first .30-06 at age fifteen.





AD

I hunt Elk each year with a .358 STA built by the Winchester Custom shop. They built 58 STA's designated for A-Square and I was lucky enouth to get one at a bargain. It is Stainless Steel and I put a silver Leupold 4.5 X 14 Vari-X III scope on it and had it wax sealed inside and out. The rifle has the most beautiful red walnut stock I have ever seen. I have taken it to Alaska, Alberta and take it to Colorado yearly. Yep I have put some scratchs on the stock and will put more because it is a hunter not a wall hanger. This years scratch identifies 2003 as the year my grandson, son, and I, each got our Elk together and will never be forgotten. Good shooting.

I can't bring myself to carry fine guns and then fall with them. We all know what happens once in a while. Neither do I have a fancy custom rifle.

I did get a Sauer drilling in trade however about 1968. It already had wear on it but it shot well and still does. This gun came with a 1X and 4X scopes. I use this combination gun for bird hunting and game at the same time.

I know how hard it is to finish a fine gun and I can't bring myself to damage one. I know one could say they are made to hunt with and go ahead, it's your property.

This opinion of mine has not stopped me from doing anything in the shooting sports. It did stop me from a auto racing hobby however. I just cannot see going around smashing stuff up.

A 375/404 I built myself on a Dakota 76 action.

It has a 27 inch stainless steel, fluted, Dan Lilja barrel, and an MPI stock. I made brass pillars to bed it on.

Has been to Africa many times, shot hundreds of game animals with it. Ranging from elephants down to an African wild cat.

Shoots good too, as you can see here.

My best is a custom rifle built by Maurice Ottmar. It is a pre 64 Winchester and was rebarrelled by Maurice to .300 Winchester Magnum. The stock is english walnut and is checkered in fluer-de-leis. It was engraved by Frank Horst. I bought it used from the man who was Maurice's customer for a small fraction of what it cost new. I do know that replacement cost at that time I bought it would have around $8,000. I have hunted elk with it and I took it to Africa. It is probably my most prized posession and I have not hunted with it since Africa 2002. I am sure I will again more to remember the friend who built it.

Saeed ----- WOW what a group for that size bullet. What is your speed on that load. I like your barrel too, I have a STA with a Dan Lilja barrel that shoots the same one holers with 270 grain North Fork bullets. Good shooting.