Do you have your ideal rifle or are you still looking for it?

[hoytcanon]

@Green Chile
Had this full size made to match my big bores, 22LR with steel magazine and holds 5 down
View attachment 744441

That's cute....

 

[Green Chile]

it is a great for flinch control. Shoot the big bores, then this... weight is 7.4lbs unloaded.

Yes, I shoot about a box of rimfire for every big bore shot I practice. I start and end with rimfire to make sure I'm not learning bad habits. Most of the muscle memory and process has come from rimfire practice.

 

[BJH65]

Since this thread started, as far as African DG rifles go, I believed I found the perfect rifle, my BRNO ZKK-602 458 Lott, initially built by Jack Lott for an editor of Peterson’s Hunting then subsequently customized by Robar with a rustproof finish, McMillian fiberglass stock, 22.5 inch barrel, new iron sights.

Then it was further customized by Wayne with the AHR #2 upgrade plus pop up peep sights installed. With the rugged Nikon Monarch 1-4 African scope and Warne QD rings, it came in at 10.8 lbs total weight.

After taking elephant and buffalo with it last year, it further cemented my feelings, it feels like an extension of my arm, hits what I aim at, instills utter confidence in my hands, the perfect African DG rifle for me!

Once I entertained thoughts that I previously posted on AH awhile ago after selling a bunch of guns, of finally buying a high quality bolt action rifle in 375 H&H or larger caliber, like a Rigby Big Bore, Heym, Mauser Diplomat, vintage H&H, or maybe a custom Parkwest. I even reached out to some of our very experienced AH members for advice.

But alas, the money went towards our last two African hunts instead and an upcoming one. My goal is to hunt DG in Africa as much as possible, although financially improbable every year, yet I’ll be going again for buffalo later this year for the 3rd straight time. I figure I have my health, ability and desire with the perfect rifle too! There will come a day when I won’t be able to so I’m taking full advantage now!

Well, circumstances have changed due to the unselfish and generous sharing of information by a fellow AH member, I will be picking up a Heym Martini Express 416 Rigby tomorrow! Honestly, thoughts of owning rifles like this Heym or a Rigby Big Bore, I put behind me. I figured I’d just live vicariously through others, reading about their exploits with high quality rifles while being perfectly content with what I have for my own personal use.

So perhaps my thoughts on the “perfect DG rifle” may change?

 

[woodsrunner]

It's occurred to me in contemplating this thread that many is the modern hunter who's probably seen any number of ideal rifles - even dozens it would seem in some cases - come and go through their hands but never committed to a single arm long enough to even realize it. The dopamine hit of acquisition being so much more the focus now than it used to be. As compared to the golden age of safari, say, when the hunting was good enough and abundant enough that we were too busy accumulating authentic experiences to obsess over accumulating/'needing' more 'things'. Whatever the case, it seems there are not near so many men with "just one gun" to "beware" of as there used to be.

 

[hoytcanon]

It's occurred to me in contemplating this thread that many is the modern hunter who's probably seen any number of ideal rifles - even dozens it would seem in some cases - come and go through their hands but never committed to a single arm long enough to even realize it. The dopamine hit of acquisition being so much more the focus now than it used to be. As compared to the golden age of safari, say, when the hunting was good enough and abundant enough that we were too busy accumulating authentic experiences to obsess over accumulating/'needing' more 'things'. Whatever the case, it seems there are not near so many men with "just one gun" to "beware" of as there used to be.

That may be the case, but we also have much more access to a broad range of experiences, and new equipment and powders and bullets to expand possibilities, while on the other hand, the basics of DG hunting remain the same. Sure, you can still do it all with a .375 or .416 or .458... but these are hardly ideal, except in specific scenarios. This is why I maintain, that there is no "one" ideal rifle... you might get close with two, but more likely three or four, and at that, they are only sufficient or even "great," but not "ideal." For my own uses, I have arrived at six, from a horde of triple digits. I could whittle that down to four... it would be painful, but I could do it. I don't need to, or want to, so I won't... at least for the foreseeable future.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

That may be the case, but we also have much more access to a broad range of experiences, and new equipment and powders and bullets to expand possibilities, while on the other hand, the basics of DG hunting remain the same. Sure, you can still do it all with a .375 or .416 or .458... but these are hardly ideal, except in specific scenarios. This is why I maintain, that there is no "one" ideal rifle... you might get close with two, but more likely three or four, and at that, they are only sufficient or even "great," but not "ideal." For my own uses, I have arrived at six, from a horde of triple digits. I could whittle that down to four... it would be painful, but I could do it. I don't need to, or want to, so I won't... at least for the foreseeable future.

@hoytcanon
Unless you move to NSW AUSTRALIA. Then you wouldn't have an option.
Fortunately after 59 years I've whittled my needs down to four
22lr fun and small game
22 Hornet small game and smaller medium game like small pigs and goats.
Fast 25 for general hunting medium to big game
The Whelen for stuff that's to big for my frying pan, general purpose for small to bloody big.
The journey to arrive at this selection has been enjoyable tho
Bob

 

[hoytcanon]

@hoytcanon
Unless you move to NSW AUSTRALIA. Then you wouldn't have an option.
Fortunately after 59 years I've whittled my needs down to four
22lr fun and small game
22 Hornet small game and smaller medium game like small pigs and goats.
Fast 25 for general hunting medium to big game
The Whelen for stuff that's to big for my frying pan, general purpose for small to bloody big.
The journey to arrive at this selection has been enjoyable tho
Bob

Yeah, that sucks, Bob... governments should not mess with their citizens ability to earn and own property... but we can see globally how tyrannical governments have become under the guise of safety, when it is simply about power and control. All the best.

 

[BJH65]

It's occurred to me in contemplating this thread that many is the modern hunter who's probably seen any number of ideal rifles - even dozens it would seem in some cases - come and go through their hands but never committed to a single arm long enough to even realize it. The dopamine hit of acquisition being so much more the focus now than it used to be. As compared to the golden age of safari, say, when the hunting was good enough and abundant enough that we were too busy accumulating authentic experiences to obsess over accumulating/'needing' more 'things'. Whatever the case, it seems there are not near so many men with "just one gun" to "beware" of as there used to be.

I’ve always had a fascination with guns from as early as I can remember. As a little boy in the 60’s, I was mesmerized by my grandfather’s open wood gun rack next to the fireplace that held a pre 64 Winchester M70 30-06, Savage 99, 250-3000, one of my uncles Remington 760, 270, a Stevens 22 single shot and Stevens 12 ga double s/s. He was a lumberjack, outdoorsman, trapper, hunter and fisherman in western Oregon.

My grandfather, his hunting companions and all my uncles predominantly used one rifle for hunting big game, for purposes here consisting of blacktail deer, elk and black bear plus their annual excursions to eastern Oregon for mule deer and occasionally pronghorn.

Grandpa Charles “Pat” Dougherty used his pre 64 Winchester 30-06 for everything and my youngest uncle, Jim Dougherty, a federal trapper who killed hundreds of bear, cougars and successfully hunted countless deer and took around 40 elk in his lifetime, used an early Remington 700 BDL 7mm Rem Mag for everything, until the finish wore off the barrel exposing the stainless steel underneath.

In fact I have my grandfathers pre 64 30-06. They are gone now but I learned a lot from them. In my early years, I too used only one rifle for everything in North America, which consisted of my dad’s pre 64 M70 270 then later my stainless Winchester Classic 300 win mag, which was my only centerfire rifle for awhile.

Over the years, as I accrued a little more wealth, I collected more guns, to the point where I couldn’t possibly use all of them but lately I began to downsize and it had the added benefit of financing my last two African hunts.

I still have more rifles than I “need” but my pre 64 30-06’s and 270 have sentimental value to me because they were my grandfathers, uncles and dad’s rifles. I’m also a sucker for a good deal which makes it hard to pass up a nice rifle too!

Guns are more than just “tools” to me, although admittedly the Sig Sauer and later Glock duty pistol I carried on my Sam Browne for 25 years as a deputy sheriff pretty much were. I’m fascinated by the history, background and technical aspects of guns and the stories of hunters who used them successfully.

I could confine myself to just a few rifles that would absolutely cover all of my hunting needs from North America to Africa but there’s no fun in that!

My maternal grandfather Charles “Pat” Dougherty with an eastern Oregon mule deer taken in the 50’s.

My Grandpa Dougherty’s pre 64 M70, 30-06 with Leupold Vari XII. It has taken countless deer, black bear and quite a few elk. I still take it hunting occasionally.

My late uncle Jim Dougherty with his only center fire rifle, an early Remington 700 BDL 7mm Rem Mag. It accounted for 35 elk, hundreds of deer and bear. Dad gave it to him as a gift in the mid 70’s after uncle Jim lost everything in a fire.

 

[BruceS]

For the sake of this discussion, I will focus on a practical working African rifle in .375 caliber. I've got a great .300 win mag for PG that is my Blaser R8. It's killed a lot of stuff and I'm very comfortable with it. It needs no changes at all. I've got bigger calibers than .416 for DG but I've really settled on my Dakota African model in 416 Rigby. It too has killed a lot of DG. Between me and the previous owner it has several rounds of Big 5 accounted for. It really is perfect and needs nothing. Here it is...

View attachment 736227

The thing that stirs me up is that I've owned and sold at least 2 perfect 375s...past tense. I still have an older Sako 375 and a 375 barrel for my Blaser R8 but I just don't think they are everything I'm looking for. They are great mechanically and I can't even hold the accuracy of the R8 barrels in the field...but I still miss what I think were the ideal working 375 rifles that I used to have. One was a Champlin Arms custom build and the other was actually sold to another forum member and is being used in Africa...a custom Zkk-602 in .375 that is pictured here on what was a perfect one gun safari a few years ago...
View attachment 736229

How many of you have that rifle that really covers you well or are you still looking? It feels like I'm still looking for the perfect .375 and remembering fondly the TWO that I sold and are being enjoyed by others. By the way, I've got the perfect scopes for the .375 but that's another subject!

I still have the 375 I built in 1982. Taken it to Africa multiple times for PG. Wouldn't trade it for the world.

 

[MS 9x56]

I had owned a CZ 527 FS I think it was in .223rem, took a nice buck at 200yds and carried it a little more afterwards but decided I wanted a Marlin Trapper 45-70 more and I wish I hadn’t made that mistake but it’s been a struggle finding a FS rifle. When I seen a Ruger RSI 10/22 for $350 I knew that would be my favorite squirrel gun. I’m still on the hunt for more though.

They tend to be rare as hens teeth so the time to buy one is when you see it.

 

[Choupique]

I'm not there yet but I think I'm getting closer.

I THINK a model 70 stainless classic .338 win mag cut to 20" and threaded with a fiberglass stock would be it. Currently with a BACO EWSS model 70 .338 win mag and I like it a whole lot. I would prefer the original model 70 trigger and a non-fluted barrel. I like the caliber and the bell and carlson stock a lot. The only hang up I have is the caliber. I like .338 win mag a whole lot, my gut says .375 h&H would be a better choice just in case I ever get to africa, but I like the .338 win a whole lot.

 

[Rimshot]

I'm not there yet but I think I'm getting closer.

I THINK a model 70 stainless classic .338 win mag cut to 20" and threaded with a fiberglass stock would be it. Currently with a BACO EWSS model 70 .338 win mag and I like it a whole lot. I would prefer the original model 70 trigger and a non-fluted barrel. I like the caliber and the bell and carlson stock a lot. The only hang up I have is the caliber. I like .338 win mag a whole lot, my gut says .375 h&H would be a better choice just in case I ever get to africa, but I like the .338 win a whole lot.

The medium 338s like the 338 WM, 340 Wby, and 33 Nosler are underappreciated. Big enough for almost anything, has reach with high BC bullets at meaningful velocity (without needing an 11 pound gun or deafening brake), and versatile bullet selection. In North America and anywhere that longer shots might be required, I think it beats the .375 as a "one gun" solution.

 

[Choupique]

I'd feel perfectly confident shooting anything that walks with a .338 win mag and the right bullet. I bought it vs a .375 because I knew the .338 was the more practical choice for me.

I think an Echols in .338 win mag with a 20" threaded barrel would probably be perfection for me now that I've applied some more thought to it.

 

[Green Chile]

You could hunt most of the world with an Echols .338 and do very well...besides places that require larger for DG. That was the main caliber in Alaska among professionals along with .375 for bear guides.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I'd feel perfectly confident shooting anything that walks with a .338 win mag and the right bullet. I bought it vs a .375 because I knew the .338 was the more practical choice for me.

I think an Echols in .338 win mag with a 20" threaded barrel would probably be perfection for me now that I've applied some more thought to it.

@Choupique
Compare the 338 win mag with a properly loaded 35 Whelen both out of a 20" barrel and I think you will find the 35 ha less velocity loss and be in front of the 338.
Contentious I know but I personally think the 35 will carry now authority.
Just saying the big mags need the longer barrel to burn all that powder.
Bob

 

[Green Chile]

That's true Bob but you can't find 35 Whelen in most of Alaska. You can find 338 win mag everywhere. It's just a standard caliber for Alaska. I don't think any of the rest of the US needs that kind of power for deer or elk but Alaska does for bears and it's a popular moose cartridge.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

That's true Bob but you can't find 35 Whelen in most of Alaska. You can find 338 win mag everywhere. It's just a standard caliber for Alaska. I don't think any of the rest of the US needs that kind of power for deer or elk but Alaska does for bears and it's a popular moose cartridge.

@Green Chile
True but if you reload not a problem.
I would prefer to smack something that was going to do me a mischief with a big heavy 35 call bullet than a lighter 338.
Bob

 

[Choupique]

Bob,

This is all mental masturbation, in reality I'm stuck with the M70 I've got, and I'm ok with it. I own a .35 whelen already and I like it well enough, but I prefer the .338 for my usage. It'll scoot from the 26" barrel, and I've got a pile of .338 bullets amassed.

I had thought long and hard about a .35 whelen when I bought the model 70. They weren't available at the time but I was going to rebarrel my Tikka to it. That would've been a sweet elk rifle.

 

[yamoon]

The most DG I I’ll ever hunt is a Kansas white tail
Mike

 

[MS 9x56]

The most DG I I’ll ever hunt is a Kansas white tail
Mike View attachment 745246

Well I got my screen cleaned after wiping all the drool off of it.