You want to buy something special, you want to treat yourself, what rifle do you buy?

I always thought a 404J in the semi-weight (19mm) barrel would be a great addition to the Blaser catalog. Also having the 416RM available in the lighter profile would be nice.
My barrel is in 19mm, open sights and prepared for a silencer. This is so far my starting point for a custom built R8 entirely to my own specifications. In the long term, there will be major changes.
 
Mauser M98 in 375HH. Mauser because of steel protection, no need to wrap the barrel, 5 rounds in the magazine. 375HH it's a perfect companion for a future double rifle in 450/400 3".

But a Blaser R8 with a lot of barrels is the perfect rifle, same steel protection as the Mauser, easy to travel with and sights are on target when you arrive at the hunting ground.
 

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Think I would look for a Norwegian built Vektor Magnum action with much Vektor parts in . .450 Rigby would be nice , and modest price to load for .
 
Rigby Big Game Rifle in .416 Rigby paired with a Highland Stalker in .30-06

Both are at Matt Roberts, MNR Custom Guns. They are killing me.....
 
What would your “special occasion” rifle purchase be?

I don’t mean mean unlimited budget but something that would be realistically within your means.

You have a special anniversary, a significant accomplishment or milestone hunt coming up; which rifle do you buy?

I’m currently leaning towards a quality, semi bespoke CRF magazine rifle for this goal.

A Mauser M98 Magnum Diplomat in 416 Rigby is what comes to mind.

Classic Mauser name and legendary CRF action, full length magnum cartridge, 4+1 capacity, nitrided finish, no frills utilitarian prestige vs some of its British counterparts, single square bridge with express sights, attainable price point…

What about you?
Why not build one and get exactly what you want?
 
Rigby Big Game Rifle in .416 Rigby paired with a Highland Stalker in .30-06

Both are at Matt Roberts, MNR Custom Guns. They are killing me.....
A perfect pairing. We think alike. Mount Swarovski glass of course. Sell off more of my gun collection and it’s doable. It’s a thought.
 
Currently, that would be a Fanzoj Kipplauf Petite in 22 hornet
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I would like a classic big game rifle in .375 H&H like those made by Westley Richards, Holland & Holland, however due to budgetary constraints I ended up ordering a custom rifle in the same style as that of the above mentioned makers instead.
 
I am currently walking this same path. I already have a reasonable battery for Africa, but I wanted something special when I am hunting in BC, mostly for deer and elk. I settled on a Krieghoff Huburtus, to match an Optima double rifle drilling I built up last year.
Pictured below is it in its current state. I am still sourcing wood and a barrel, and aim to put as much of it together myself as I can.

One of the things that give me great joy is knowing that some small part of the rifle was completed by myself. It can be building the stock, or making the sling, even sourcing the parts for the build is satisfying. So were I going to offer advice, consider doing even a small part of the work yourself.

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What would your “special occasion” rifle purchase be?
I don’t mean mean unlimited budget but something that would be realistically within your means.

I tend to favor Ruger No. 1's and 1885's a lot because I like their ambidextrous design. None of my left-handed bolt actions are bespoke or impressive but with an assortment of Cooper, Sako, Steyr & Winchester, I think it's a dependable selection of quality rifles. I've enjoyed hunting with them so much, there hasn't been much of an urge to buy something customized. Since I stretch my modest budget to purchase each one of them, they all feel kind of "special" to me already.

If I wanted to treat myself to another one, then a left-handed Steyr SM12 with open sights in 9.3x62 would be a welcome addition to the collection.

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A Blaser K95 or a Merkel K5 with a left-handed or neutral stock in something like 7x57r would also be really nice to own.

AH_Merkel_K5.jpg
 

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Over my lifetime, I've pretty much gotten everything that I had a hankering for..........there are only a few that I never got (and at this stage of my life, probably wont).
I always wanted a British SMLE military rifle in .303 British; a .410 shotgun (either a pump or SxS double); and a Browning 9mm Hi-power.
 

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#plainsgame #hunting #africahunting ##LimpopoNorthSafaris ##africa
Grz63 wrote on roklok's profile.
Hi Roklok
I read your post on Caprivi. Congratulations.
I plan to hunt there for buff in 2026 oct.
How was the land, very dry ? But à lot of buffs ?
Thank you / merci
Philippe
Fire Dog wrote on AfricaHunting.com's profile.
Chopped up the whole thing as I kept hitting the 240 character limit...
Found out the trigger word in the end... It was muzzle or velocity. dropped them and it posted.:)
 
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