I'm in the final stages of completing a double square bridge mauser action. It is a good copy so the bolt is not set up for a scope.

I am also completing a 458 winmag and a .411 Ultra on two columbian mauser actions. Don't ask? I got a deal on the .411 barrel.

I originally saw a 416 Rigby when I started the square bridge project. The .411 is the balistic equivalent and makes the Rigby seem redundant.

It is unlikely that I could ever afford to hunt anything that would require a big bore other than buffalo, but I'm not ruling out .510 as a choice.

I'm looking for suggestions please.

I'll be Ray to the punch here; how about a 404 Jeff. In a lighter caliber maybe a 318 WR or a 7X57. In any event, a classic round of some sort that really doesn't require a scope to get the most of it's ballistics.

I'd love to see a pic once your metal work is complete.

Whadda mean "completing a square bridged Mauser"..? Are you milling these from billets? Restoring an old one?

If it's done right, I think the action is begging for something severely classic such a the .375 H&H with a drop belly magazine in a straight grained stick of English Walnut or maybe some of Ray's Turkish wonderwood...

That's me though. I always consider resale value when designing a rifle and try to avoid wildcats unless I'm playing around for my own indulgences...

Its new, magnum length, and not heat treated yet.
I have a .375 but that's another story.

Before I'd go small I'd do the Rigby.

I know this may seem wrong but I have a very nice piece of maple that's been cut for at least 60 years. The stock will have an ebony tip and ebony crossbolts, but it will be the wrong color.

Then this will be "wrong" too:

I saw a maple stock dyed deep rich red with a black tip and black pad. It was glossy and monte carlo- not my style but the visual impact of the gun remains with me... Somehow the fiddleback of the maple was made significantly darker... Maybe another dye or suigi? Very striking.

Debee

Interesting thought, I've not tried staining this. I had three blanks from the same place. They are pretty good looking "as is".

This one is the one I did for my wife a couple of years ago. No ebony, crossbolts etc.
http://home.salmoninternet.com/rtippett/cmau2.JPG
Its a vz-24 action. I'll try to come up with a picture of the more traditional stock on the Columbian. Picture this one with a hand grip and a bit more wood in proportion bigger cheekpiece etc.

RussT,

You can consider a .375 family .375 H&H, .375 RUM, .375 Saturn, .378 Weatherby. This caliber will fill in the "gap" of your other calibers. This caliber is great for plainsgame animals till dangerous game animals.

If you want something a little bit less powerful but useful, you can consider a .338 family .338 Win Mag, .340 Weatherby, .338-06, .338-378 Weatherby.

These two choices are very usefule for hunting, very accurate and Most of cartridges listed work in standard action Magnum.

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BER007
Keep the faith in any circumstances
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