Classic stalking rifles - today

I agree wholeheartedly with Rookhawk…

rookhawk said:

I have really, really enjoyed my Dakota Model 10s in 7x57. They are perfect stalking rifles. Built on a single shot falling block action, they weigh nothing, the full length 23" barrel still carries like a carbine due to the shorter action size. I've killed everything from bears to elk, kudu to impala, warthog to waterbuck with mine. Oh, and plenty of whitetail deer.

You will not find a better option for quality and attributes.

Other honorable mentions would be a bespoke/vintage Scottish/British rifle built on a 1904 Mannlicher in 256 gibbs or 6.5MS. Lovely stalking rifles. Be very careful about buying one in 7x57 because changing calibers on MS actions usually results in feed issues due to their caliber-specific rotary magazines and their tuning for round nose bullets from the early 20th century.

If money were no object, I would buy a Parkwest Model 10 in 7x57 as a traveler option, with a second barrel in 9.3x62 or 375 Flanged. The recoil is miserable on the latter due to the lightweight design, but then you can hunt Moose, Eland, Lion, and Buffalo as well.

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Thank you for the feedback.

I don’t dislike single shots, I enjoy hunting with flintlocks but I’m pretty set on a bolt rifle. It’ll be one my kids hunt deer with so I’d like them to learn on a bolt gun in a deer calibre.

I have often thought a 6.5x54ms would be a beautiful gun, unfortunately it wouldn’t be legal for hunting red deer here which would be a bummer.

I’ve had the opportunity to buy a ms 1952 Gk in 7x57 but still undecided on that styling or a Mauser. I do love the latter.

A parkwest is outside my budget, by the time I paid the conversion and shipping to Aus it’d be no less and probably more than a Rigby.

JPbowhunter said:

Thank you for the feedback.

I don’t dislike single shots, I enjoy hunting with flintlocks but I’m pretty set on a bolt rifle. It’ll be one my kids hunt deer with so I’d like them to learn on a bolt gun in a deer calibre.

I have often thought a 6.5x54ms would be a beautiful gun, unfortunately it wouldn’t be legal for hunting red deer here which would be a bummer.

I’ve had the opportunity to buy a ms 1952 Gk in 7x57 but still undecided on that styling or a Mauser. I do love the latter.

A parkwest is outside my budget, by the time I paid the conversion and shipping to Aus it’d be no less and probably more than a Rigby.

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A used Dakota 10 or Parkwest 10 (same thing, same people, different corporation) can be found on the used market for around $7500-$8500 USD. Obviously, caliber can vary the price dramatically as can the quality of wood, whether case colored, and whether it has a quarter rib and iron sights.

Bargains can be found. I know someone that found a 257 Roberts with a very ugly stock that was screwed up by a tinkerer throwing linseed oil all over it. He paid around $3000 for it and got it refinished and recheckered by parkwest to 100% as-new condition for a paltry $700. That is an incredible deal for an incredible stalking rifle.

A more affordable option that would be a bolt gun you could check into is a 7x57 Ruger Hawkeye 77 with a mannlicher stock. Those were made in reasonable numbers and are an excellent stalking rifle for less than $2000 as-new in box. They also made them in 6.5x55SE which won't suit your need for a stag rifle, but is yet another great caliber.

JRanum said:

I agree wholeheartedly with Rookhawk…
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I'm in love. Cite your calibers! I love the pairing.

257 Roberts and 22LR

pjaln said:

o no in did not mean it like that I wanted to make sure I understood the question ,,yes I will send you more pics or maybe do a thread on them here

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That would a Thread I'd certainly be interested in.

yamoon said:

Tang safety
Mike

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Misunderstood your question, the side lever is a take down pin. It allows the block assembly to be removed.
Mike

JRanum said:

257 Roberts and 22LR

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So a falling block 22lr?!! Lovely, but I just have to ask, and no disrespect intended....does it shoot consistently to point of aim. 22's can be quirky in some actions. Consistent first cold shot is my requirement. Eye popping pretty, though. Congratulations, and great taste to boot.

Full disclosure: I am actually asking for an accurate answer because it might just tempt me to buy one myself!!!!

I need to stop opening this thread.

I have the itch to buy or trade into another “stalking” rifle.

Altitude sickness said:

I need to stop opening this thread.

I have the itch to buy or trade into another “stalking” rifle.

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a Dakota 10 in 257 Roberts is about the perfect "Michigan Gentleman's Rifle".

Where Pray Tell would I find one.

Altitude sickness said:

Where Pray Tell would I find one.

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Watch GI and GB like a hawk. Cabelas too.

I finally got this Bass Pro Gun Library "hidden gem" out to my range this past weekend; and with cheap PPU 139 grain ammo, it turned about a 1 3/4 MOA group, which looks promising to me. Next step is to work up a handload with some Speer DeepCurl 160 grain bullets from Raven Rocks and IMR 4350.

cash_tx said:

I finally got this Bass Pro Gun Library "hidden gem" out to my range this past weekend; and with cheap PPU 139 grain ammo, it turned about a 1 3/4 MOA group, which looks promising to me. Next step is to work up a handload with some Speer DeepCurl 160 grain bullets from Raven Rocks and IMR 4350.

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Looks good. Remind me @cash_tx what caliber was this? It appears to be an FN mauser action, yet it has a safari style barrel? Who made it?

If it were mine, I'd clean that checkering a bit and lay a few drops of oil on the stock thereafter. And I'd get a set of Talley QD rings on it.

Great stalking scope on it presently.

rookhawk said:

Looks good. Remind me @cash_tx what caliber was this? It appears to be an FN mauser action, yet it has a safari style barrel? Who made it?

If it were mine, I'd clean that checkering a bit and lay a few drops of oil on the stock thereafter. And I'd get a set of Talley QD rings on it.

Great stalking scope on it presently.

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@rookhawk - It is chambered in 7x57, albeit it is actually marked "M 7.0" on the barrel. It was listed as a Belgian Mauser and has Belgian proof marks, but the action does not have any markings on the left side of the action that a normal FN would have (but I suspect it is still an FN, just scrubbed of its markings). I don't see anything on it that would indicate who put it together, but I think they did a decent job. Thanks for the suggestion on touching up the stock and cleaning up the checkering; I'll probably do that at some point in the near future, as well as get some Talley QD rings.

PS - I actually swapped out that Leupold 2-7 for a similar Vari-X II 3-9x40 glossy because I need to send that 2-7 in to Leupold for servicing.

cash_tx said:

@rookhawk - It is chambered in 7x57, albeit it is actually marked "M 7.0" on the barrel. It was listed as a Belgian Mauser and has Belgian proof marks, but the action does not have any markings on the left side of the action that a normal FN would have (but I suspect it is still an FN, just scrubbed of its markings). I don't see anything on it that would indicate who put it together, but I think they did a decent job. Thanks for the suggestion on touching up the stock and cleaning up the checkering; I'll probably do that at some point in the near future, as well as get some Talley QD rings.

PS - I actually swapped out that Leupold 2-7 for a similar Vari-X II 3-9x40 glossy because I need to send that 2-7 in to Leupold for servicing.

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To start the cleanup, all you need is a small cup of warm dawn dish soap and a soft bristle tooth brush. Cut the checkering with the toothbrush, ensuring you do not saturate the wood or getting it too wet. Allow it to dry and repeat after a few days rather than doing too much at once that would swell the checkering and reduce the sharpness.

A month later, wipe some mineral spirits on the stock (not checkering) to get any surface sludge off of it. Then just add a few drops of oil to the stock and rub it in with the palm of the hand.

The stock will really pop and you removed no originality, just a bit of filth. It takes an 85% condition rifle and moves it to 92-95%.

When the rifle is out of the stock, get some kroil and fine bronze wool (not steel!) and use excessive amounts of oil while lightly wiping the metal. It will remove surface rust and stubborn greases. The bluing condition will go from excellent to near-new.

At the same time, I like to also put a very thin layer of oil finish inside the stock to prevent moisture from getting in. Nothing heavy, just a tiny amount to keep the wood stable from humidity changes while taking it afield.

For the barrel on an old rifle like that, if you want exceptional results, I do this. Get a worn out bronze brush that is slightly undersized. Wrap the old brush in a bit of fine bronze wool. Wrap flannel bore cleaning patch around that like you're rolling a cigarrette. Saturate that brush with kroil. Rub JB bore paste on the outside of the patch thoroughly. Push it through the barrel 50 passes. The kroil is so small molecularly that it falls in the rifling and under micro-rust. The JB bore paste is roughly 4000 grit so it shines the lands. You'll take away no metal, so you're not lapping whatsoever, but you are dislodging micro rust, lead, powder, and brass/bronze. Once that is complete, give it a thorough, normal barrel cleaning thereafter. The barrel will be pristine.

The action style with the safety on the side looks like an FN commercial action. If no FN markings exist, I'd wager it was made by Dumoulin but it could also be Masquelier, Bury, or Auguste Francotte.

it's a very proper stalking rifle. Congratulations on an exceptionally nice rifle for reasonable money.

Thank you for those excellent suggestions, and that will give me a chance to put to use the Timberluxe that you put me onto in your post on that topic.

cash_tx said:

Thank you for those excellent suggestions, and that will give me a chance to put to use the Timberluxe that you put me onto in your post on that topic.

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That is great stuff, but rather thick. Your rifle looks well finished. After cleaning, I think one application, maybe two of Boiled Linseed Oil is all you need. Nothing as thick or pigmented as timberluxe because the condition and finish of your rifle is so good already.

I put my m70 lightweight.270 with a low profile leupold 2-7x33 in that category @ 7lbs
Scoped and full of 150gr Norma oryx

rookhawk said:

That is great stuff, but rather thick. Your rifle looks well finished. After cleaning, I think one application, maybe two of Boiled Linseed Oil is all you need. Nothing as thick or pigmented as timberluxe because the condition and finish of your rifle is so good already.

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Thank you for that, and I just happen to have a pretty fresh bottle of BLO on hand.