Hunting & Fishing One top tier all around hunting rifle

[Southbreeze]

So much for one all around rifle.

Dude, I love it. I followed this thread for some great advice. But in the end, you are your own worst enemy! I know this as if I stood in front of a mirror and looked at myself. I have the same affliction "Gun A.D.D" and my next favorite rifle is probably one of the last three that I just looked at .

I think Bohem stated it clearly: "Hi my name is _________ _________ and I'm addicted to guns"

this is my safe......

 

[45.308]

The stock is Tupperware, the trigger guard is Tupperware, and I don't have confidence in the bolt handle. I greatly prefer a one piece bolt or one with a welded (not soldered) handle. They shoot good but they are economy rifles with really no options to fix what I consider flaws. I could run a CDI metal but I don't want a big latch hanging down on a hunting rifle, and I'm pretty sure you can only use them for short action rounds.

I agree on the 338, I just don't need one now because I don't foresee myself going to Alaska any time soon unless I win the lottery.

Valid but have any of them ever failed? Toted a few and sold quit a few and never had one come back that failed. Cannot say that about any other firearm. Selling firearms for decade, never ever had a single Tikka with a quality control issue, the only firearm I can say that about. Granted did not sell as many as others but some firearms when you open the box you just shake your head.

Economy rifle? Well, my rifle has to be light and easy to tote so I can place the bullet in the kill box, price has nothing to do with that. Having both off the shelf and built rifles, I do not see the fuss, if a rifle will allow me to easily carry it and go bang so the bullet fly's, I need nothing more and more money does not necessarily make that perimeter easier or more better. I think the Tikka does it all in a light package that performs better or just as well as custom rifles. I do prefer my Wby light weight hunter better but I have had it for decades and many memories, I guess I had too many clients show up with top tier kit trying to impress and not focusing on their skills and physical ability, Had clients show up with kit in a paper sack that out worked me. Too much time, energy and money put into what kit. Its a tool. Not preaching just saying!

If you used your store bought rifles, maybe you could afford to hunt Alaska!

Can hunt Africa cheaper than Ak!

good luck and have fun

 

[bohem]

338-06 is extremely under appreciated. You can shoot 180gr bullets at 3000+ fps and load big bullets for bear.

I have a Tikka inbound and I will be rebarreling it and building out a light, lefty, hunting rifle...

I had all but decided to go 280 Rem AI but now you two have brought up the 338-06 which has been really high on my "want" list for at least a decade...

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Dude, I love it. I followed this thread for some great advice. But in the end, you are your own worst enemy! I know this as if I stood in front of a mirror and looked at myself. I have the same affliction "Gun A.D.D" and my next favorite rifle is probably one of the last three that I just looked at .

I think Bohem stated it clearly: "Hi my name is _________ _________ and I'm addicted to guns"

this is my safe......

Its a problem but a good problem to have. Just be glad your problem fits into one safe, I'm up to three one of which is a double door diebold and if have to sell a rifle in order to have room for a new one.

Valid but have any of them ever failed? Toted a few and sold quit a few and never had one come back that failed. Cannot say that about any other firearm. Selling firearms for decade, never ever had a single Tikka with a quality control issue, the only firearm I can say that about. Granted did not sell as many as others but some firearms when you open the box you just shake your head.

Economy rifle? Well, my rifle has to be light and easy to tote so I can place the bullet in the kill box, price has nothing to do with that. Having both off the shelf and built rifles, I do not see the fuss, if a rifle will allow me to easily carry it and go bang so the bullet fly's, I need nothing more and more money does not necessarily make that perimeter easier or more better. I think the Tikka does it all in a light package that performs better or just as well as custom rifles. I do prefer my Wby light weight hunter better but I have had it for decades and many memories, I guess I had too many clients show up with top tier kit trying to impress and not focusing on their skills and physical ability, Had clients show up with kit in a paper sack that out worked me. Too much time, energy and money put into what kit. Its a tool. Not preaching just saying!

If you used your store bought rifles, maybe you could afford to hunt Alaska!

Can hunt Africa cheaper than Ak!

good luck and have fun

They haven't failed but they don't give me great confidence which is why my 223AI gets shot at the range only and I haven't shot the 25-06 except for a few rounds after I got it .

 

[Smcarroll]

I have a Tikka inbound and I will be rebarreling it and building out a light, lefty, hunting rifle...

I had all but decided to go 280 Rem AI but now you two have brought up the 338-06 which has been really high on my "want" list for at least a decade...

One of my favorite hunting rifles is a m98 with a green mountain barrel in 338-06. Its a zapper.

 

[Rediculous]

the Weatherby "range certified" line is probably the best factory you can get

 

[Chris@InterstateGuns]

I have a finnish fetish so sako and tikka are my go to production rifles of choice. The finnlight is my personal favorite.

 

[BigTex]

Anyone have any experience with Cooper Rifles of Montana? I am considering a model 54 Excalibur, but can't find much info.

 

[cjgemm]

Just got a New Win Md70 Ultimate Shadow SS in 7mm RM. Manners MCS-T on order as well as a PTG Win Md70 LA DBM system. Hoping for a good all around performer. If it's as nice as my SPR action it should be great.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Anyone have any experience with Cooper Rifles of Montana? I am considering a model 54 Excalibur, but can't find much info.

They're great rifles and scary accurate. I had two model 21's when I was heavy in varmint hunting. One was a 20 tactical and the other was in 6PPC. They were both true one hole guns which is tiny in those calibers.

Just got a New Win Md70 Ultimate Shadow SS in 7mm RM. Manners MCS-T on order as well as a PTG Win Md70 LA DBM system. Hoping for a good all around performer. If it's as nice as my SPR action in should great.

I've been considering that exact gun as well. I'm dead set on a featherweight in 264 (would buy the SS if they made it) but I'm considering that for #2. It's not top tier per se but in a good stock its up there and perfectly reliable. For #2 I've narrowed it down to the sako grey wolf, weatherby accumark, weatherby ultra light, or Winchester ultimate shadow SS.

 

[Hookturnr]

My "new to me" personal production favorite is a used but not abused Sako AV Fiberclass in 7mm Mag. It was built in the eighties but looked to be hardly shot when i picked it up. A little handloading magic and it shoots 5/8" consistently, it's got a great trigger, fit and finish is great and it was parked in a McMillan stock from the factory...what's not to like? If I run across another one in a different caliber, it will be coming home with me!

 

[45.308]

338-06 is extremely under appreciated. You can shoot 180gr bullets at 3000+ fps and load big bullets for bear.

I agree with one exception, standing to a coastal brownie at 4+ feet at the hump, 1500 plus pounds, long white chiseled down claws, there is a reason 416s come into the conversation especially after you have to go into a thicket after a wounded brownie that is ripping arm sized alders out of the ground like a human does tooth picks, fling a bowling ball sized rock 50 yards while roaring and biting at its wound. I took a long hard look at my 340 in my hands and I did question its fire power at the time.

Its one thing I would do all over again if I had the chance, 338.06 for pure performance and the other is a 375HH for what is was and is.

I still haven't decided on a 'one top tier all around rifle' but I couldn't resist the temptation of a 264 win mag. I had been searching for brass and looked on gunbroker and a dealer had just listed. 5 boxes of Winchester power point for $25/box ($40+ a box everywhere else) so I snagged it. I'm going to pick up a Winchester featherweight and set it up after the holidays.

Considering this will be a blued gun and is in a somewhat oddball round whatever I choose for the other rifle will need to be in a common general purpose round (270, 30-06, 7mmRM, 308) and all weather. I'll have about $1500 for it.

So much for one all around rifle.

Why isnt a blued gun not an all weather? My Wby are wood blued, rain hunted, snow hunted, coastal hunted, boat hunted, for some odd reason no rust and it always hit where I aimed, not necessary one shot kills but it did hit where I aimed touched off the trigger.

I have many but I settle on just one, 340Wby for hunting rig. I do not understand those around me that use a different rifle, different caliber, different load for hunting, even know those who bring more than one on a single hunt.

Play time a different story.

Anyone have any experience with Cooper Rifles of Montana? I am considering a model 54 Excalibur, but can't find much info.

They got into a bit of a snaggle with their political views 2008 and many gun lovers soured on them. Never owned one but the supplied target at the time was not 100 yards, it was 25 I think and another discovered issue with them that tainted them. I know very few guys who swear by them, not many though, but countless that swear at them. For you to decide.

 

[Smcarroll]

I agree with you there. Even with a 300 or a 7mm magnum I would feel much better having a medium bore magnum as a backup gun. I have a mauser 98 action I bought 4 years ago as a start for a magnum bear gun. I am thinking either 375 h&h or 416 rem. Heard a lot of bear guys flat out love 416.

 

[105amatt]

My vote would be for a GAP Non Typical. I don't have that exact rifle, but I do have a close version. My hunting rifle is a Rem 700 action, #3 Bartlein fluted, HS Precision stock. It handles nicely, light enough it doesn't start to feel heavy after a bit of walking. As far as accuracy, amazing. GA Precision does top shelf work! So no matter what caliber you would pick, that is the platform I would go with, hands down.