Best US made Africa Rifle

Ruger RSM'S WERE MADE IN THE FIRST DECADE IN 2000. ALL PARTS MADE IN AMERICA. THE QUESTION WAS FOR AMERICAN MADE. THAT IS ALL. THERE ARE LOT OF GOOD RIFLES MADE ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Major Khan said:

A very fair argument . But is not the word " Best " subject to personal interpretation , Mr. AES ?

And yes . They are not flawless if that is what you mean . The pre 64 Winchester Model 70 bolt rifles had their flaws to be sure . The stocks were prone to splitting , due to the lack of a 2nd recoil lug . They needed to be reinforced with cross bolts .Many of them would not feed soft point round nose cartridges flawlessly ... Unless the operator took a file to the feeding rails . The stocks would need to be re bedded with fibre glass from auto body shops .

Fellow forum member , @Captain Nwz recently purchased a brand new .458 Winchester magnum calibre Safari Express bolt rifle ... Which has a ridiculous amount of bolt play in it .
He was having to bring the rifle down to his hip ... every time that he wanted to cycle the bolt . If he tried to cycle the bolt , while keeping the rifle raised to his shoulder ... Then , the bolt was " Locking Up " . This could potentially lead to an extremely disconcerting outcome , in contexts where dangerous game is involved .

Yet , I still like them . I firmly believe that hunting is not something , which should be restricted to elitists ... But rather some thing which the ordinary working class gentle man can afford . A hunter can purchase a great control round feed action rifle for not a great deal of money , have a few modifications made to it and then .... he has a rifle which will provide him with years of hard service in the bush . To me ... That is " Best " .

Of course , as I 1st noted ... " Best " is a matter of what each hunter interprets the definition of " Best " to be .

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I could sit by the fire and visit with you for hours I believe, your reply was well spoken!

Bignut said:

I could sit by the fire and visit with you for hours I believe, your reply was well spoken!

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Why thank you so much for your kind words , Bignut . I would consider it an utmost privilege to be able to dialogue with you , as well . Perhaps grill a magnificent 28 day dry aged beef porterhouse steak or 2 , as well ... on my new 35,000 BPU gas grill . And share a few cans of Stout beer .

Major Khan said:

I firmly believe that hunting is not something , which should be restricted to elitists ... But rather some thing which the ordinary working class gentle man can afford . A hunter can purchase a great control round feed action rifle for not a great deal of money , have a few modifications made to it and then .... he has a rifle which will provide him with years of hard service in the bush .

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+1 I like this a lot!

Ridgewalker said:

+1 I like this a lot!

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Why thank you so much , Ridge Walker.

MRBlack said:

My vote has to go to the Winchester Model 70 Safari Express.

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Second that. Best of the best.

I have and have had Winchester 70s made in New Haven, North Carolina, and Portugal. The only ones I have left now are all the newer models not made in New Haven. I can assure you, the new rifles, no matter where they're made, are excellent. Machining is impeccable. Accuracy is very good, and fit and finish is as good or better than it's ever been.

If we are talking made in the U.S.at any time, Pre 64 model 70. Are there any being made in the U.S.?

TOBY458 said:

I have and have had Winchester 70s made in New Haven, North Carolina, and Portugal. The only ones I have left now are all the newer models not made in New Haven. I can assure you, the new rifles, no matter where they're made, are excellent. Machining is impeccable. Accuracy is very good, and fit and finish is as good or better than it's ever been.

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My Portuguese model 70 has been back to the factory for a weird dent the bolt handle was putting in the receiver. The safety broke and I replaced it. And I had to replace the firing pin spring. All of these reasons, plus the new and improved MOA trigger, made me buy one that said New Haven CT.

Wyatt Smith said:

My Portuguese model 70 has been back to the factory

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Wyatt, this is the first issues I have read about those made in Portugal! I’m shocked! Possibly one of the earliest production runs? Sorry to read of your issues!

Ridgewalker said:

Wyatt, this is the first issues I have read about those made in Portugal! I’m shocked! Possibly one of the earliest production runs? Sorry to read of your issues!

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When I gave browning the serial number on the phone, they told me it was made in 2018. Mine says made in Portugal, not assembled.

Major Khan said:

A very fair argument . But is not the word " Best " subject to personal interpretation , Mr. AES ?

And yes . They are not flawless if that is what you mean . The pre 64 Winchester Model 70 bolt rifles had their flaws to be sure . The stocks were prone to splitting , due to the lack of a 2nd recoil lug . They needed to be reinforced with cross bolts .Many of them would not feed soft point round nose cartridges flawlessly ... Unless the operator took a file to the feeding rails . The stocks would need to be re bedded with fibre glass from auto body shops .

Fellow forum member , @Captain Nwz recently purchased a brand new .458 Winchester magnum calibre Safari Express bolt rifle ... Which has a ridiculous amount of bolt play in it .
He was having to bring the rifle down to his hip ... every time that he wanted to cycle the bolt . If he tried to cycle the bolt , while keeping the rifle raised to his shoulder ... Then , the bolt was " Locking Up " . This could potentially lead to an extremely disconcerting outcome , in contexts where dangerous game is involved .

Yet , I still like them . I firmly believe that hunting is not something , which should be restricted to elitists ... But rather some thing which the ordinary working class gentle man can afford . A hunter can purchase a great control round feed action rifle for not a great deal of money , have a few modifications made to it and then .... he has a rifle which will provide him with years of hard service in the bush . To me ... That is " Best " .

Of course , as I 1st noted ... " Best " is a matter of what each hunter interprets the definition of " Best " to be .

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Major Khan I too believe strongly in a tradition of game management based upon the notion that game is a property of the people and not some feudal elite. That concept has sustained a large middle and working class hunting community in this country as a consumer base for firearms priced affordably for those customers. Some, such as the Model 70 in pre-1964 and later post- 64 CRF versions. were very good rifles, other offerings were merely cheap. I think of the Model 70 as a solidly made and largely dependable rifle. Jack O’Conner loved them - though his were highly customized by some of the finest stock makers and action tuners of his day. However, I do not believe it is the “best” American made rifle regardless of where it is actually assembled these days. The Dakota 76 and the Kimber Caprivi are as finely made as any production rifles in the world - especially the Dakota. That in no says anything negative about the Model 70. I have a Beretta 686 that is as dependable a shotgun as I am ever likely to own, but it isn’t Holland & Holland. The OP asked a question about the “best”. A discussion like this inevitably generates a lot of answers like the “Model X“ is good enough for me and therefore is the best. The Model whatever may very well be the best value on the planet for that individual, but it doesn’t make it the “best”. For those who haven’t seen or held one, a trip to Dakota’s booth at DSC or SCI to fondle a 76 African will be an enlightening experience. The Kimber, which costs a third as much, is also far superior in fit and finish to the Winchester. None of which means the Winchester is neither a good rifle nor a good buy. But it also is definitely not a Dakota 76.

Red Leg said:

Major Khan I too believe strongly in a tradition of game management based upon the notion that game is a property of the people and not some feudal elite. That concept has sustained a large middle and working class hunting community in this country as a consumer base for firearms priced affordably for those customers. Some, such as the Model 70 in pre-1964 and later post- 64 CRF versions. were very good rifles, other offerings were merely cheap. I think of the Model 70 as a solidly made and largely dependable rifle. Jack O’Conner loved them - though his were highly customized by some of the finest stock makers and action tuners of his day. However, I do not believe it is the “best” American made rifle regardless of where it is actually assembled these days. The Dakota 76 and the Kimber Caprivi are as finely made as any production rifles in the world - especially the Dakota. That in no says anything negative about the Model 70. I have a Beretta 686 that is as dependable a shotgun as I am ever likely to own, but it isn’t Holland & Holland. The OP asked a question about the “best”. A discussion like this inevitably generates a lot of answers like the “Model X“ is good enough for me and therefore is the best. The Model whatever may very well be the best value on the planet for that individual, but it doesn’t make it the “best”. For those who haven’t seen or held one, a trip to Dakota’s booth at DSC or SCI to fondle a 76 African will be an enlightening experience. The Kimber, which costs a third as much, is also far superior in fit and finish to the Winchester. None of which means the Winchester is neither a good rifle nor a good buy. But it also is definitely not a Dakota 76.

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Ah , I wholeheartedly concede that you are 100 % correct , Sir. While I certainly admire the Pre 64 Winchester Model 70 bolt rifle ... they certainly cannot be described as , " flawless " ( for my aforementioned reasons ) .

My fondness for the pre 64 Winchester Model 70 bolt rifles ... Stems largely out of sentimental reasons . You see , during the very 1st successful royal Bengal tiger shikar , which I had ever guided in my life ( in 1961 ) ... The client was an American gentle man who was armed with a pre 64 Winchester Model 70 , chambered in .375 Holland & Holland magnum calibre .Some thing about that rifle had left a lasting impact on me . Even after 1964 ( Despite all of Winchester's marketing to the contrary ) ... the pre 64 variants were a hot item on the market . But these are sentimental reasons ... On my part.

I am certain that from a practical stand point , the Dakota Model 76 is indeed superior to the Winchester Model 70 . It's stock shall probably require neither re bedding , nor reinforcing ( by cross bolts ) . It shall probably also not need to have it's feed rails modified ( to properly feed soft point round nose cartridges ) .

However , I have very limited 1st hand experience with the Dakota Model 76 bolt rifle ( They were introduced long after I had retired from being a professional shikaree ) . I have only shot a friend's 7 mm Remington magnum calibre Dakota Model 76 bolt rifle a few years ago . He imported it in to Bangladesh in 2017 . It is an excellent rifle . That is predominantly why I opted to name the Winchester Model 70 ... Because I personally make it a point to only recommend fire arms or ammunition , which have extensive 1st hand personal experience with .

Many of my choices are admittedly ... a little dated .During the time of my career ( 1961 to 1970 ) ... Good control round feed rifles were getting extremely difficult to come by . The 1960s was the decade of the push feed ... So to speak . The pre 64 Winchester Model 70 was the last " production " control round feed rifle , which was widely available around that time .

>Birmingham Small Arms ( BSA ) had replaced their control round feed " Emperor " line with their push feed " Majestic " line .
> Winchester had replaced their control round feed pre 64 variants with the push feed post 64 variants .
> Fabrique Nationale / Browning had replaced their control round feed Mauser 98 action bolt rifles with push feed action bolt rifles ( lacking bolt guides ) .
> Remington had introduced their push feed Model 700 bolt rifles.
> Schultz & Larsen had introduced their push feed action bolt rifles .
> Colt had just introduced it's " Sauer " line of push feed bolt rifles .
> Roy Weatherby had introduced his Mark 5 line of bolt rifles .

Custom rifle makers were the only source of acquiring decent control round feed action rifles ... During those days . Brands like Griffin & Howe and Fred Wells were building bolt rifles on salvaged Springfield Model 1903 actions or Enfield Model 1917 actions or salvaged pre war Mauser 98 actions .

Today , by Grace Of God ... the modern sports man has a much wider selection available to him . Indeed , Dakota Model 76 bolt rifles are exceptional rifles and I suspect that with the CZ 550 line of bolt rifles now being discontinued ... The Dakota Model 76 bolt rifles may well continue to rise in popularity .

A small feature in the Dakota Model 76 bolt rifle , which I have ( personally ) found to be a little undesirable ( for me ) ... is the magazine floor plate release catch . It is located on the INSIDE of the trigger guard ... Similar to traditional Mauser Oberndorf bolt rifles . I personally prefer the magazine floor plate release catch of the Winchester Model 70 . Granted , most people will never have a reason to complain ... but I have had a few negative experiences in the shikar field , with bolt rifles where the magazine floor plate release catch was located inside the bow of the trigger guard .

I can shamefully admit that I have absolutely no experience with Kimber Caprivi line of bolt rifles ... Other than what I have read about them , on the internet . However ( like most fire arms matters ) ... I have utmost confidence in your judgement that they are exceptional rifles .

Ruger 77 or Hawkeye

.375 Dakota 76 safari.
And they come in a lefty!

Red Leg said:

Major Khan I too believe strongly in a tradition of game management based upon the notion that game is a property of the people and not some feudal elite. That concept has sustained a large middle and working class hunting community in this country as a consumer base for firearms priced affordably for those customers. Some, such as the Model 70 in pre-1964 and later post- 64 CRF versions. were very good rifles, other offerings were merely cheap. I think of the Model 70 as a solidly made and largely dependable rifle. Jack O’Conner loved them - though his were highly customized by some of the finest stock makers and action tuners of his day. However, I do not believe it is the “best” American made rifle regardless of where it is actually assembled these days. The Dakota 76 and the Kimber Caprivi are as finely made as any production rifles in the world - especially the Dakota. That in no says anything negative about the Model 70. I have a Beretta 686 that is as dependable a shotgun as I am ever likely to own, but it isn’t Holland & Holland. The OP asked a question about the “best”. A discussion like this inevitably generates a lot of answers like the “Model X“ is good enough for me and therefore is the best. The Model whatever may very well be the best value on the planet for that individual, but it doesn’t make it the “best”. For those who haven’t seen or held one, a trip to Dakota’s booth at DSC or SCI to fondle a 76 African will be an enlightening experience. The Kimber, which costs a third as much, is also far superior in fit and finish to the Winchester. None of which means the Winchester is neither a good rifle nor a good buy. But it also is definitely not a Dakota 7

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Redleg I do not disagree that a Dakota 76 is a fine gun BUT my problem with Dakota is and always has been they are in my opinion over priced for a kinda maybe semi custom gun. I can have a full custom gun built to my specs for the same or less money that will kick the ass of a Dakota. Any barrel I want, any stock, etc. So when we say best my opinion is maybe we should keep it in a price range the average guy can pick up fine tune it some like Major says and they will have a fine serviceable gun. Probably right now in usa that's a win 70. they are not ideal but very shootable with a little work.
Best well that's going to be a full blow custom from any of several very fine rifle builders here in good old usa!

Red Leg, I agree that the 76 is a fine firearm. However Dakota is in a mess and I would be very hesitant to order from them again. I cancelled my order when it was a year overdue and there was no way they were going to make delivery in time for our planned Safari. I would buy a Dakota if used or new but already complete. I would NOT place an order to have one built.

According to their website, unfortunately it’s true. With MRC going belly up, CZ discontinuing the 550 and Kimber dropping the large calibers, it’s getting tough to find a new rifle over .375.

meigsbucks said:

According to their website, unfortunately it’s true. With MRC going belly up, CZ discontinuing the 550 and Kimber dropping the large calibers, it’s getting tough to find a new rifle over .375.

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I was hoping that 1 of you gentle men could answer this question : How does the Heym Express line of large bore bolt rifles figure in to the equation ?
From what little I have read on their web site ... they offer variants , chambered in :
> .375 Holland & Holland magnum
> .404 Jeffery
> .416 Rigby
> .458 Lott

Same league as current new production factory Mauser 98 and Rigby-finished factory Mauser 98 barreled actions. Very nice. Very expensive. Typically 5 figures $xx,xxx ...

The same can be said of Johannsen 98 magnum rifles, and other limited production rifles such as the Prechtl 98 magnum, etc.

Like the magnum Mauser 98 and Rigby-finished factory magnum Mauser 98 barreled actions, the original Heym Express and the current Heym-Martini Express use a true .416 Rigby length action manufactured by Heym.

By the way, I am not mentioning "Rigby-finished factory magnum Mauser 98 barreled actions" to imply anything, but simply to clarify that Rigby of London does not make actions or barrels.

Action length, by the way, remains a true differentiator among actions and among rifles. To the best of my knowledge both Dakota and Kimber are .375 H&H length actions, not .416 Rigby length actions.

The Montana Rifle PH action was ("is" if they emerge from Chap 11 restructuring) .416 Rigby length, and of course the best US made action of them all, the Granite Mountain action can be had in any length, including of course the .416 Rigby sized African Magnum.