Rifle Actions (Ranked)

[PAUL_MAUSER]

Weatherby MK5
M98's
Winchester M70

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Farrow, then WR Deeley and Edge, probably Ferguson next
gumpy

 

[Gangsterofboats]

I really like my Mauser 98 sporter made by Hambrusch.

I also really like my Sakos, especially my M995 in 338 Lapua Magnum. It’s a shame they stopped making them, they are one of the better modern magnum CRF actions.

 

[Randy Bo]

The brass cartridge case is the weakest link in the chain. Lots of actions are "strong" enough up to the point of a ruptured case.

@Dirtdart and @PAUL_MAUSER
I’m thinking that many years ago the late Chuck Hawks wrote that in the event of a ruptured case the Weatherby MK5 action would be the safest.

 

[Tex .416]

Accuracy International
Surgeon
Current Heym
Current Mauser 98
Mayfair
Granite Mountain
Tentatively, the new Montana Rifle Company 2022, which looks promising.
Mauser M12

 

[baxterb]

@Dirtdart and @PAUL_MAUSER
I’m thinking that many years ago the late Chuck Hawks wrote that in the event of a ruptured case the Weatherby MK5 action would be the safest.

Did he test the Arisaka? My understanding is that they are unbelievably strong.

 

[dougfinn]

Miroku Winchester model70.
Browning xbolt
Husqvarna commercial FN98

 

[Randy Bo]

Did he test the Arisaka? My understanding is that they are unbelievably strong.

@baxterb
I am sorry but, I do not recall. I am not even sure about whether Mr. Hawks’ conclusions were based on actual testing or just theory.

 

[cajunchefray]

Brno ZKK.....

@IvW , always appreciate your insights.

Can you explain, to my simple mind, why the Brno ZKK is better than the CZ 550?
Forged steel, versus investment casts? Just don't know the differences.
Many African PH's, and custom gunmakers recommend the BRNO over the CZ 550.
I've always been intrigued by this.

I've owned a couple of CZ 500s (.416 Rigby and .500 Jeffery) . Nice but the actions as rough as a New Orleans French Quarter prostitute.

I did a lot of work smoothing the actions. (I passed on the prostitutes).

Once done, the rifles worked well.

 

[dchamp]

Blaser R8
Mauser 98
Blaser K95
Ruger #1

 

[xausa]

It so happens that the two bolt actions taken on all three of my African hunts were based on a P-14 Enfield and a Winchester Model 70 (pre-War). Their calibers were .505 SRE and .300 H&H. My multi- barrel weapons were a Krieghoff Teck O/U double rifle with interchangeable barrels in .458 WM and .375 H&H and combination barrels in 7X75R and 12 gauge, with a .222 Remington full length insert barrel added for my last hunt. There was also a set of barrels in 20 gauge 3" Magnum, which I put to good use with Guinea fowl and sand grouse, and on one occasion, ducks.

On my last trip I also brought along a Mauser sporter based on a G 33/40 action, in caliber 7X57.

If I were 30 years younger and preparing for another African trip, I would probably substitute my Granite Mountain actioned .505 Gibbs for my P 14 actioned .505 SRE.

Based on decades of experience as a competetive shooter with my action of choice, a pre-War Model 70 Winchester in caliber .308 Winchester, I was totally satisfied with my choice of hunting rifles. With them I successfully hunted a variety of game animals extending from klipspringer to elephant.

The only game I failed to take were animals I never saw, such as bongo and sitatunga. I had no interest in either hyenas nor hippos as trophies.

 

[meigsbucks]

Blaser R8
Ruger #1
CRF: Win 70, Ruger Hawkeye, Kimber, Mausers
Weatherby MK V

semi autos: HK 91

 

[colorado]

Thats a can of worms…but I’ll bite

Any Mauser 98 or modern copy that was machined from a solid billet. After that, then the same cast variations, m70, M77, etc…
I’ll second the Anson and Deeley boxlock
Also the Purdey/Beesley sidelock
Billet M700 actions or the like are robust

After a bit of tweaking by several gunsmiths, I feel my CZ 500 action in 500 Jeffery is the most solid of any rifle I own. Machined from solid billet. Wayne at AHR installed his single stage match trigger (set to 2 3/4 lbs), 3 pos M70 type safety and straightend and filled the bolt handle. It's smooth, solid as a bank vault. My favorite rifle.

 

[colorado]

@IvW , always appreciate your insights.

Can you explain, to my simple mind, why the Brno ZKK is better than the CZ 550?
Forged steel, versus investment casts? Just don't know the differences.
Many African PH's, and custom gunmakers recommend the BRNO over the CZ 550.
I've always been intrigued by this.

I've owned a couple of CZ 500s (.416 Rigby and .500 Jeffery) . Nice but the actions as rough as a New Orleans French Quarter prostitute.

I did a lot of work smoothing the actions. (I passed on the prostitutes).

Once done, the rifles worked well.

I've always wondered the same thing.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

A different perspective:

Browning BLR
Winchester 88
Modern Browning/Winchester 1895

And as much as I like my Marlins, they are sucking hind tit in this discussion, to use one of my dad's phrases...

 

[Ontario Hunter]

After a bit of tweaking by several gunsmiths, I feel my CZ 500 action in 500 Jeffery is the most solid of any rifle I own. Machined from solid billet. Wayne at AHR installed his single stage match trigger (set to 2 3/4 lbs), 3 pos M70 type safety and straightend and filled the bolt handle. It's smooth, solid as a bank vault. My favorite rifle.

That seems an awful light trigger for DGR. Aren't you concerned that it might go off prematurely in the heat of combat as a wounded angry buffalo or elephant is upon you? I actually set my DGR trigger up a bit on the heavy side. But just a bit.

 

[CoElkHunter]

PG: Browning A or X Bolt, Remington 700. Lightweight for mtn. hunting.
DG: Never hunted, but would use one of my CZ 550s. Probably the tuned .416 Rigby.

 

[Newboomer]

PG: Browning A or X Bolt, Remington 700. Lightweight for mtn. hunting.
DG: Never hunted, but would use one of my CZ 550s. Probably the tuned .416 Rigby.

Bolt guns: Win 70 in any caliber. Montana Rifle Co-same. Tactical: M1 Garand. I know, it's big, it's heavy but when you reach out and touch someone you get results. And it just feels good.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Rifles I own. Strongest actions

1917 Enfield complete action with adjustable trigger, cock on closing kit installed, filled island, drilled and tapped, bolt face opened to magnum, nice sporter bolt handle. For a .585 Nyati build

Original 1960s Bauska action in a .505 Gibbs The smoothest cycling rifle I own.

And a 1903 Remington/Springfield in .458 WM

 

[Luvthunt]

Brno 602
Pre 64 Mod 70
AHR CZ 550