Straight Pull Rifles?

[Theleatherman]

Latest brx1 500 years limited edition looks pretty nice.

 

[MS 9x56]

I've always heard you need a howitzer for nilgai.

Only in Texas apparently.

 

[Philip Glass]

The recent Wild Sheep Podcast featured one of Beretta's engineers that worked on the BRX rifle.

EP90 500 Years of Beretta – Ricardo Olivieri

Podcast Episode · Sheep Fever · April 1 · 53m

podcasts.apple.com

 

[Canadaboy]

Honestly there are lots of good straight pull rifles. My first was a Heym SR30, it was well made and accurate but ultimately I ended up going the Blaser R8 route and am very happy.

I have a variety of stocks, barrels and scopes/red dots that I can mix and match to suit anything I might reasonably expect to do. It is also the only modular straight pull rifle that you can really expect to find components (barrels, stocks, etc) for in North America, particularly if you are like me and prefer to buy on the used market to save a few dollars.

I don’t think that Blasers or any of the other straight pulls are the best “value for your money” in any objectively measurable way. But I like mine enough that I’m willing to ignore the fact that they may be overpriced. At the end of the day if I had to choose I’d give up all of my double rifles, fancy Kipplaufs, and high end bolt guns and keep my R8s.

 

[Frontman44]

Thanks for all the input everyone, I appreciate it.

The straight pulls like the Beretta and Blaser interest me for various reasons, especially the multi-caliber capability.

I started looking at them more from an "ease of operation" standpoint vs quick operation.

Based on availability & cost it's likely going to be the Beretta that I purchase. It's good to know about the quirks others have experienced with them so I am prepared in advance.

I'll update the post once I buy one. Thanks again everyone.

 

[PerH]

To be fair, he doesn’t really have a choice. The only rifle ammunition which gets imported into India, is the Sellier & Bellot 180Gr round nosed soft point for the .30-06 Springfield. He (on average) needs around 3 body shots on a big bull, if he can’t get them with a clean neck shot.

But this is in no way the problem of the caliber. The ammunition is ill suited for such huge animals (we’re talking Asia’s heaviest antelope here), because the cup & core bullets frequently tend to break apart when striking heavy bones of male Nilgai (such as the scapula/humerus/ball-and-socket joint/shoulder bone).

I myself have successfully taken multiple Nilgai with my 7x57mm Mauser, to put matters into perspective (albeit obviously nowhere as many as Shafath does professionally).

.243 Winchester is a favorite cartridge of mine especially loaded with the venerable 100Gr Winchester Super X Power Point). Very ideal for up to Axis deer sized game and the smaller African antelopes (bushbuck, impala, reedbuck, springbok). I obviously don’t advocate it’s employment for boar shooting, although the wife of one of my white hunters has used it to down more than a few large bush pigs.

Sad he can’t get RWS EVO or Geco Plus ammo in there , they are strong and bonded .

 

[PerH]

Or Sako Hammerhead / Super Hammerhead

 

[richteb]

I've decided on 30-06 chambering for the rifle I'll take on my PG hunt. The straight pull Rifles, particularly the Beretta BRX1 have been been intriguing me lately.

For those of you who hunt with one, how do you like it compared to a standard bolt action?

Are there other makes, models I should look at?(also considering a Browning Maral 4X. A Blaser is likely going to be cost prohibitive for me)

I have the Savage Impulse 30-06. Little on the heavier side. Shoots great and seems reliable.

 

[Challer]

Found it…

Blaser Positive Points
1. Quick takedown for easy travel.
2. Magazine on top of trigger group shortening the rifle by 4".
3. Best factory trigger I've ever had at 2#.
4. QD scope mount that holds zero.
5. Scope mounted on the barrel for more consistent accuracy and return to zero.
6. Excellent factory iron sights.
7. Decocking safety mechanism that is arguably the safest in the industry.
8. One stock for any caliber from 17HMR to 500J.
9. Multiple barrel contours for the same caliber, further customizing your fit.
10. Kickstop easily added to help with felt recoil.
11. Mix and match components as you please to find the right balance for you.
12. Timber, synthetic, thumbhole, adjustable...etc stocks available.
13. Easy resale of most components you don't need along with good deals being found on the used market.
14. Incredible accuracy with factory ammo.
15. Incredibly reliable, I've shot thousands of rounds with no failures.
16. Do I need to mention how fast they reload?
17. Dealer support.
18. Aftermarket barrels, stocks, scope mounts and accessories.

The real challenge for the R8 of which I own two, is prices are now stratospheric and support for the US is not great. Tried to get a silence barrel and the price and weight made me say no.

If the BRX comes out in a Silence version I would likely get it.