Ideal Jungle Rifle

[Clodo Ferreira]

One thing I firmly believe is that a well balanced rifle with a 24” barrel that points exceptionally well is not a hindrance in thick bush or coastal forest.

If I had to choose between what I currently own, it would either be my 9,3x62 Type A Oberndorf Mauser, or if elephant and perhaps hippo in thick reeds were present my .416 Ruger Alaskan.
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Regarding the Ruger Alaskans, I have a lot of time for them, but like almost any factory rifle they need some work before being ready for action. I do the following to mine before they are hunting ready:

1. Hard Pachmayr Old English recoil pad to replace the soft rubbish hogue pad that snags on your shirt if you bring the rifle up quickly.
2. Filler foam in the hollow stock to prevent it making a clunking noise.
3. Clean the bead-blasted finish of the stainless barrel and action with 0000 steel wool so it doest show every thorn scratch.
4. Cycle the bolt a thousand times with burnishing compound in to get the action smooth as butter.
5. Adjust the lawyer trigger of over 10 lbs to two pounds.
6. Add a 1-6 scope with Alaska Arms QD mounts.
7. Make sure your 400gr softs and solids regulate at the same point of impact both with the scope and open sights.
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Hi Dewald,

I make mine your comments! Agree! Love your 9,3x62 Original Sporting Mauser. My dream!!!

 

[Bonefish2150]

I would buy a Zastava or a Winchester M70 in .458 Win Mag and put it in a Hogue stock (with the full aluminium bedding block) and cut the barrel down to 22"
I would then load either 480gn Woodleigh's or 450gn Hydro's at 2100 - 2250fps and feel confident hunting anything.

Absolutely perfect

 

[uplander01]

I have a 4 down one in the pipe Ed Brown 704 , 458 Lott for sale on gi right now. It would be hard to beat for a hard use jungle rifle. Stainless, cerakote, open sights, Talley bases, McMillan stock. Bought for jungly type deals but probably not going to use it with the 1-2 trips I have left and what I’ll be after. Check it out…

 

[PCC600]

Amongst bolt action rifles:
A Westley Richards Mauser (with the extended drop box magazine) in .425 Nitro Express with wide V backsights and an uncovered ivory bead foresight.

Amongst double rifles: A Heym Model 89B in .500/416 Nitro Express with 26” barrels, a non-automatic safety, wide V backsights and an uncovered ivory bead foresight.

Assuming that we’re talking about real jungle shooting, a telescopic sight is your worst enemy.

I share your sentiments . A 425WR with extended magazine is a fabulous piece of kit . My double for poor light conditions is a 500NE with a diamond mounted on the front sight . This feature was quite common on Indian rifles used in poor light conditions . The little diamond will pick up any light available .

 

[Philip Glass]

Mine is an alloy receiver Blaser R8 with synthetic stock carrying the standard .375 barrel. Configure it as a .416 if that is preferred. I consider it the ultimate "beater" rifle. Because of the action design, it has the compactness of a double, and of course is far more versatile if that buffalo or bongo is across a salt pan or marsh, or you are having to place a bullet through a tiny window. The Blaser nitride coating is considered superior to stainless steel making the rifle almost indestructible. Top it with a quality scope with illuminated reticle and a low power setting of 1 or 1.5. Because it is a Blaser R8 it will carry like a 30-06. I haven't taken it to the rain forests of West Africa, but mine worked perfectly in the Zambezi Delta of Mozambique.

I like @Red Leg answer!

 

[BJH65]

I’m biased after recently back from a successful elephant & buffalo hunt where I used my custom AHR/Robar Brno 458 Lott. It’s 22 inch barrel made it very handy,

It’s rustproof Robar finish and synthetic McMillion stock make it almost indestructible plus backup pop up peep and iron sights.

Personally, I’d like a “jungle rifle” to have CRF.

 

[Franco]

Amongst double rifles: A Heym Model 89B in .500/416 Nitro Express with 26” barrels, a non-automatic safety, wide V backsights and an uncovered ivory bead foresight.

Assuming that we’re talking about real jungle shooting, a telescopic sight is your worst enemy.

For jungle use, most shots are taken at close range because of low visibility situations in the dense foliage. Game present themselves in such scenarios that you need a rifle setup which you can simply snap up to your shoulder, instinctively line up your sights and pull the trigger.

My Heym 89B in 450/400NE fits the criteria described above. My Heym 89B in 500NE would as well, but I've only fired 2 rounds through it.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

A stainless Ruger M77 Scout in 416 Ruger would be sweet if they had the guts to make it

 

[WI-2021]

Mine would have to be my "budget build" .375 Ruger. It's a collection of Black Friday deals from last year. Pure Precision Summit action, B&C stock, 20" stainless McGowan #6 barrel, Triggertech Primary, and Redhawk Rifles bottom metal. I got it assembled and shot it some first, but now it's back at the gunsmith to get the LOP extended, NECG express sights and barrel band installed, and a cerakote job on the metal, all of which should bust the budget. I hope to have it back soon.

It's kind of porky with the fat barrel, but it balances very well due to the length. For me it's one of those rare rifles that comes to the shoulder pointing exactly where I'm looking; like a well fitting, albeit heavy, bird gun.

It's wearing a GPO 1.5-9x44 in QD rings, but I'd probably swap to a 1-6, also in QD's, for jungle use. I give up CRF when compared to my Ruger Alaskan, which would also be an option, but I like the custom build better in every other way.