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.

 

[Surgeon1]

Very comprehensive list. However it causes smoke to be emitted from the ears of the traditionalists!

Philip:
You are correct. As a "traditionalist" the smoke long ago cleared from around me. I have a Blazer R8 3 barrel set with Grade 7+ wood. An amazing engineering piece that is accurate as a proper rifle should be if I'm going to own it! Tried a Heym SR30 and even though I love Heym Double Rifles, I could find no love in the SR30 and it went down the road. Got the R8 in a trade with a close friend and even took it to Africa once and it served its purpose, but still no love.
After almost 60 years of hunting on 6 continents, I remain a traditionalist.
I do agree the 375 Ruger is a great cartridge and works well in a standard mag action. Only reason I don't use one for Africa is I have found fewer that 3 PH ammo boxes with more than a couple rounds of it. Every other ammo box I've explored (I make a point to look as I always leave some of mine) will have a couple handfuls of 375H&H. Get separated from your ammo can ruin a trip.

 

[Paulrhenderson]

I had several bolt rifles and sold them all and bought an R8. I love that my bolt handle won’t hit my scope or throw lever.

My 9yr old son and I can use the same rifle with the same trigger and ergonomics for squirrels that I can use for buffalo.

 

[Miletic]

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)

Greetings Frontmen.
Direct action carbines are excellent and I think they will dominate in the future. The BRX is an excellent, modular rifle. You can adjust left/right hand and it is quite accurate. The bolt in cal.3006 has 6 nuts and locks perfectly. The Maral has the function of inserting the bullet into the barrel and it is interesting, but I think it is less accurate than the BRX.
Merkel Helix is next to Blaser the top, but it is also expensive.
Maybe you could look at the Mauser M25. It works fantastically, I've used it a lot in the last 2 months.

 

[BeeMaa]

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.

I will say that I'm glad I got into the R8 when I did because of the price increases over the years. Done some adding and subtracting, but have it down to what I need, so unlikely to make a change.

Your comment about the BRX initially surprised me, but at the same time I can't blame you with the current market trend.

If you get out of the R8 game, keep me in mind. My needs have the potential to expand. All the best my friend.

 

[Rafiki]

Wait - he actually kills Nilgai with a 30-06 ? According to the people in Texas I talk to anything less than a 338 Win Mag just bounces off them. Yes, I'm being sarcastic. Probably the same people who think a .243 is only good for ground squirrels.

You can kill a squirrel with a .243?

 

[Hyena]

Greetings Frontmen.
Direct action carbines are excellent and I think they will dominate in the future. The BRX is an excellent, modular rifle. You can adjust left/right hand and it is quite accurate. The bolt in cal.3006 has 6 nuts and locks perfectly. The Maral has the function of inserting the bullet into the barrel and it is interesting, but I think it is less accurate than the BRX.
Merkel Helix is next to Blaser the top, but it is also expensive.
Maybe you could look at the Mauser M25. It works fantastically, I've used it a lot in the last 2 months.

I have owned and still own all action types for rifles. I feel antiquated because I prefer the Blaser R93 over the R8. Personal preference. Once I started using the Blaser regularly, everything seemed second nature to cock and decock without failure as long as you don’t cut corners. Had a Tikka bolt rifle that came out of battery because I cut corners. Follow the manual of arms for each and they will become your favorite.

You can’t go wrong with a quality rifle you practice with.

 

[ZG47]

Hunting at night you don’t really see the rifle.
Hunting with a Savage Impulse is like riding a Moped. It is fun but nobody admits to it.

You ride a moped i.e., a bicycle with a petrol engine by the back wheel?

 

[Philip Glass]

Philip:
You are correct. As a "traditionalist" the smoke long ago cleared from around me. I have a Blazer R8 3 barrel set with Grade 7+ wood. An amazing engineering piece that is accurate as a proper rifle should be if I'm going to own it! Tried a Heym SR30 and even though I love Heym Double Rifles, I could find no love in the SR30 and it went down the road. Got the R8 in a trade with a close friend and even took it to Africa once and it served its purpose, but still no love.
After almost 60 years of hunting on 6 continents, I remain a traditionalist.
I do agree the 375 Ruger is a great cartridge and works well in a standard mag action. Only reason I don't use one for Africa is I have found fewer that 3 PH ammo boxes with more than a couple rounds of it. Every other ammo box I've explored (I make a point to look as I always leave some of mine) will have a couple handfuls of 375H&H. Get separated from your ammo can ruin a trip.

I like to poo poo the losing your ammo thing because It's so rare. Maybe we could take a poll. If you don't have ammo you don't have any underwear! Sharing ammo ok but sharing underwear?
The other side of this story is that many on this forum are dedicated reloaders with special recipes. How can you replace that?
As a travel nerd it drives me insane when someone posts "we went to Africa and they lost our luggage". They never tell the back story. Come to find out they had three different tickets on three different airlines they booked in Expedia and maybe one of which doesn't carry guns!
We all love our guns and calibers and that is part of the fun! Kinda like arguing who's going to win the football games this weekend.

 

[Miletic]

The squirrel is too dangerous for 243

 

[Muskox]

I'm sorry but that thing is butt ugly.

It doesn't actually look any different than the plastic version of the Heym SR30 or Steel Action.

I had a first run version and the firing pin broke on the 30th round. Sent it back and it's as perfect. I'll buy another one in 30-06 in the Hog Hunter for sure.

 

[Surgeon1]

I like to poo poo the losing your ammo thing because It's so rare. Maybe we could take a poll. If you don't have ammo you don't have any underwear! Sharing ammo ok but sharing underwear?
The other side of this story is that many on this forum are dedicated reloaders with special recipes. How can you replace that?
As a travel nerd it drives me insane when someone posts "we went to Africa and they lost our luggage". They never tell the back story. Come to find out they had three different tickets on three different airlines they booked in Expedia and maybe one of which doesn't carry guns!
We all love our guns and calibers and that is part of the fun! Kinda like arguing who's going to win the football games this weekend.

Agree lost luggage is not a common problem but I personally had it happen just this year in TZ.
Fortunately I had planned a 36hr layover in Dar and My bag showed up 24hr later. Bit of an issue
with the gun and ammo clearance but fortunately PHs connection with local police Captain resolved it.
Turkish Air and AirTags immediately found a resolution even though a bit of a delay, didn't even need to call Patrick at PWP to ask for help. And as you probably know Dar in TZ is a pain in the ass airport when it comes to guns. In the future I won't use Dar only Kilimanjaro and then figure my in country travel from there.