Classic stalking rifles - today

JPbowhunter · Saturday at 4:50 PM

If you wanted a true classic stalking rifle in a standard calibre like 7x57 of days gone by where would you turn today?
This is my current dilemma and there doesn’t seem to be many modern options.

For those of us that appreciate iron sight and off hand shooting a light, slim stocked rifle with some drop at the heel of the stock makes for a much nicer and more comfortable weapon.

Having the option for QR systems is also great allowing me to bush stalk for shots up to 150m with my irons and chuck on a scope for mountain or plains hunting where shots extend further.

What are the real options for a rifle such as this these days? Particularly if you want to keep it under $10k.

I can only really think of some heym sr21 models, Steyr MS12 or to just look backward to a Mannlicher schoenauer, early Mauser 98, Brno 21 or zg47 etc.

I am a little bit of a stickler for top loading, not essential but I prefer it, that’s one of the only knocks against heym I can think of.

migrabill · Saturday at 4:55 PM

This one’s easy. Rigby Highland Stalker in .275 Rigby (which is the same as 7x57). But….not under 10K. It can be had for 15.

farmer_john · Saturday at 4:56 PM

Single/kipplauf shot rifles of various makes
Something like this Come to mind

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/blaser-rifles/blaser-k95-luxus-stutzen-7x57r.cfm?gun_id=103684809

JPbowhunter · Saturday at 4:57 PM

migrabill said:
This one’s easy. Rigby Highland Stalker in .275 Rigby (which is the same as 7x57). But….not under 10K. It can be had for 15.

I disagree, I have a highland stalker and while a beautiful rifle if you put it up against the types of rifles I’m talking about they’re different beasts.

JPbowhunter · Saturday at 4:57 PM

farmer_john said:
Single/kipplauf shot rifles of various makes
Come to mind

Fair point, I should have specified bolt guns.

I did look at going that direction for a while.

Tintin · Saturday at 5:08 PM

Jack - If you have plenty of patience, I reckon you'd get a very nice custom 7x57 built to your specs and preferences for under AU$10k on a 98, or MS action.

Tdsmith517 · Saturday at 5:34 PM

Rj Renner. Buy a 7mm Mauser of your choice and send it off to him. This started life off as a bine stock Ruger M77 tang safety. Rj worked his magic on it. It is in 7x57 too.

farmer_john · Saturday at 5:50 PM

JPbowhunter said:
Fair point, I should have specified bolt guns.

I did look at going that direction for a while.

All good when i think stalking i think more bavarian forrests than longer ranges
Think mannlicher schoenauer 1903 carbine type guns

yamoon · Saturday at 6:03 PM

I bought 2 Mauser 98 sporters a few years ago, paid less than a $1000 each. One pre WW1 and the other proofed in 1933. They are 8x57 and in fine shape. The Rigbys are beautiful, but you can buy a lot of gun for less if you look on the internet sales sights or well established auction houses. The old Suhl builders put a lot of thought into the rifles they built. If I could afford one I probably would have a highland stalker.
Mike

RootballExpress · Saturday at 6:17 PM

Buy a GMA action in 275 Rigby and build exactly what you want and it’ll last a lifetime and function perfectly.

pc3 · Saturday at 6:34 PM

What would Rigby charge to order the Highland stalker barreled action in .275 and make one change, a stock in the traditional stalking format like they have on their London Best I wonder ?

I had heard someone mention that Rigby were coming out with traditional London "look" rifle without the London Best price...not sure.

odonata · Saturday at 6:38 PM

Do the Ruger RSI models have any appeal? Taking a quick look out on GunBroker, there was a 275 Rigby...

...a 30-06...

...and a 250 Savage for example.

There was also a Sako 85 Carbine in 308 Win...

...as well as an older Finnbear in 270 Win.

As you can tell, when I think of "stalking rifle", I often think of rifles with full stocks as the prototypical example. I know the OP said he wasn't interested in kipplaufs & single-shots, but I really like the short compact size & slender forearm of my Ruger No. 1 RSI in 275 Rigby for the woods I hunt in.

For a light slender rifle, I also like my Uberti Courteney Stalking Rifle in 303 British. I took the factory quarter rib with a Weaver base off & replaced it with the optional iron sights only base.

JPbowhunter · Saturday at 6:41 PM

pc3 said:
What would Rigby charge to order the Highland stalker barreled action in .275 and make one change, a stock in the traditional stalking format like they have on their London Best I wonder ?

I had heard someone mention that Rigby were coming out with traditional London "look" rifle without the London Best price...not sure.

Too much would be my guess.

I have spoken to Rigby about the new upcoming gun, it’ll probably be exactly what I’m after but it’s also probably going to be $25-30k haha

pc3 · Saturday at 6:46 PM

JPbowhunter said:
Too much would be my guess.

I have spoken to Rigby about the new upcoming gun, it’ll probably be exactly what I’m after but it’s also probably going to be $25-30k haha

Will be up there in price with the "Big Game Lightweight" it seems.

But if its the kit your going "terminal" with you have to get it right and do it once.....methodology I'm following at the moment, selling a few off, but things are not moving $$ tight for people here in Oz as you are aware.

JPbowhunter · Saturday at 6:48 PM

odonata said:
Do the Ruger RSI models have any appeal? Taking a quick look out on GunBroker, there was a 275 Rigby...

View attachment 793533

...a 30-06...
View attachment 793534

...and a 250 Savage for example.
View attachment 793535

There was also a Sako 85 Carbine in 308 Win...
View attachment 793536

...as well as an older Finnbear in 270 Win.
View attachment 793537

As you can tell, when I think of "stalking rifle", I often think of rifles with full stocks as the prototypical example. I know the OP said he wasn't interested in kipplaufs & single-shots, but I really like the short compact size & slender forearm of my Ruger No. 1 RSI in 275 Rigby for the woods I hunt in.

For a light slender rifle, I also like my Uberti Courteney Stalking Rifle in 303 British. I took the factory quarter rib with a Weaver base off & replaced it with the optional iron sights only base.

View attachment 793538

Some beautiful rifles there mate.

I did have an 85 Bavarian in half stock, loved that gun and wish I didn’t have to sell it.

That 303 is a beauty too, really like that!

My main two stalking rifles currently are my Rigby HS 9.3x62 and my Lee Speed 303 done by William Garden of Scotland. The latter is my preference in terms of handling, it might be 130 years old but geez they had rifle making down pat then.

I’d like a 7x57 effectively shaped like the 303 but with the ability to QR mount it and a barrel between 24-26” long. I prefer the low profile sights over a quarter rib where it suits the stock.

ARHinAK · Saturday at 6:48 PM

Not a Rigby nor the Rigby price tag.
Ruger African chambered for .275 Rigby. I’ve had it for sale for a while. Just a thought.

JPbowhunter · Saturday at 6:51 PM

pc3 said:
Will be up there in price with the "Big Game Lightweight" it seems.

But if its the kit your going "terminal" with you have to get it right and do it once.....methodology I'm following at the moment, selling a few off, but things are not moving $$ tight for people here in Oz as you are aware.

Yeah I hear you there, nothing high end but I’ve tried moving a rifle or two and it’s hard work.

If you were a Blaser fan it’d be prime buying time! Not my style though.

txtrout75218 · Saturday at 7:45 PM

I picked this up about a year ago. While it's in 8x57, and I need to have a new recoil pad put on it, I hope to take it to Africa in a couple of years. It was made in Suhl between the wars. It was not expensive, and very well made.

Issue is I need a scope anymore, and I haven't been willing to drill and tap it...

odonata · Saturday at 7:56 PM

In his original post, the OP mentioned the Steyr SM12. I do have to say I really like my LH Stery CL II in 30-06. I would have been just as happy with it in 6.5x55 or 7x64:

Taking a look at Cabela's used rifles, there was a Champlin Arms 7x57 on sale:

They also had a Griffin & Howe 1903 in 7x57 that reminded me somewhat of the rifles the OP already owned:

Of course you can always buy a new Mauser 98 Standard Expert in 7x57 but that's a noticeably more expensive option.

A Dakota 76 would be a nice find if another one in 7x57 like this one ever pops up again.

JPbowhunter · Saturday at 8:01 PM

odonata said:
In his original post, the OP mentioned the Steyr SM12. I do have to say I really like my LH Stery CL II in 30-06. I would have been just as happy with it in 6.5x55 or 7x64:

Taking a look at Cabela's used rifles, there was a Champlin Arms 7x57 on sale:

View attachment 793563

They also had a Griffin & Howe 1903 in 7x57 that reminded me somewhat of the rifles the OP already owned:

View attachment 793564

Of course you can always buy a new Mauser 98 Standard Expert in 7x57 but that's a noticeably more expensive option.

View attachment 793568

I just realised Steyr don’t offer 7x57 as an option which is a bummer.

The standard expert, like the highland stalker has a straight stock. You can make it work but it’s not really that well suited to open sight shooting in my experience. Also on the pricier side being around $24k here.

Classic stalking rifles - today

JPbowhunter

migrabill

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JPbowhunter

JPbowhunter

Tintin

Tdsmith517

farmer_john

yamoon

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odonata

JPbowhunter

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