Tough, all weather rifle--blued vs. stainless vs. stainless plus

Here are my thoughts for a mountain or bad weather rifle you cant go wrong with a stainless action/barrel mounted in a synthetic stock. On a gun lik this there are many action choices but the rem 700 seems to be the small block chevy of the action world.

For climates like Africa or moderate climates you cant beat a blued gun in a pretty piece of wood something about silver and plastic that dont look right in Africa :D For a dangerous game rifle I would shy away from the Rem 700 and go with something with controlled feed Win, Ruger, CZ (Mauser)

Here is my idea of a mountain or all weather Rifle

Skelotinized Rem 700 action MPI stock Leija barrel I built this rifle for sheep but it has killed Moose ,deer ,elk hell you name it

It is chambered 300WBY Mag weights in at about 7 pounds scoped

Reason I went with 300 WBY is long time family tradition wanted a little flater trajectory than 06 but in this weight any more is to much of a pain to shoot well

Handload is 180 triple shock at 3143 fps

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The Accu-stock is worth the extra $$ and weight. It's much stiffer than the regular polymer stock and that contributes to accuracy.

I have had 3 Tikka T3 rifles, all in synthetic stocks. Two were stainless and one was blued. I liked that the Tikka barrels were a thicker contour than the Savage ones, but that's where it ended. I sold all three. Their synthetic stocks suck, IMO. I actually had the molded checkering on one of them rub off from riding in a rubber coated rack on a quad. That was odd, so say the least.

I have to say that I love the Savage three position tang safety as well. Easy to use, even with gloves on. You can work the bolt with the safety on or you can lock the bolt completely.

If I were buying a bolt action gun right now, here's what I'd get:

ER SHAW MKVII rifle
synthetic accu stock
23" varmint contour barrel with straight flutes
matte blue finish on the entire gun
I'd have to choose between 6.5x55, .260, and .308.
.308 would probably win, due to availability of ammo and the immense variety of choices.

Weight would be around 8lbs, maybe a bit less, before I scope it and load it.

The only reason I'd get the Shaw over the regular Savage is because I can't get a Savage with a 23" fluted heavy barrel.

Dicks Sporting Goods used to have a Savage package gun in .308 with a 22" heavy fluted barrel, matte blue, synthetic stock (not the Accu stock), and cheapie scope for $700. They may still have it, I haven't been in there in months. I loved that gun. Felt good in the hands and was just a tad muzzle heavy when holding it off hand, just like I prefer.
 
That's a beaut JP, definitely a mountain rifle. I can't believe it is only 7 lbs with the scope...

Guess I am leaning towards a savage in stainless with the accu-stock and accu-trigger. Does anyone have any opinions on detachable magazines vs. internal box vs. this hinge thing they have (not even sure how the hinge thing works). I kind of like the idea of a detachable for some reason, but I have never used one in a hunting rifle, so not sure if there are any drawbacks.
 
If you lose your magazine you have a expensive single shot rifle for your hunt. I've lost a mag for a sako 75 some years ago on an elk hunt. It sucked as it was a week long affair I now only have hinged plate magazines. Blind mags are the safest but I don't like having to work the bolt each time to unload it. If you crawl brought the bush or are in deep snow and are using a DM I would duck tape it to ur stock to be sure u don't lose it. Just my 0.2.
 
I like the bling magazine the myself. The hinged floor plate it the best compromise. The only time I find detachable mags useful is during hunts when I'm in and out of a vehicle often. You can't carry a loaded gun in a vehicle in KY, so popping out the mag is much easier and more convenient than dumping a floor plate or cycling the action to unload.

Like others have said though, misplace the mag and you've turned your gun into a single shot. I did that a couple of years ago with my Remington 7400. Nothing is as cool as hunting with a single shot semi auto rifle. :rolleyes::grumpy:
 
Kirk, we shoot everything you listed, blued, stainless and stainless with some verison of protective coating depending on brand. Best luck we have had and we hunt in the palmetto hardwood bottoms in South Louisiana where rain, mud and very high humidity most of the time over 90% reigns supreme, RUST is a big factor on equipment unless you want to spend all your time maitaininig gear as opposed to using and enjoying it.

The best luck we have had is with blued rifles that have been parkerized and then dura coated over the parkerized finished. They come out a dull matte black no shine even better for deer hunting and they don't rust, just wipe em down with a wet rag at the end of the season let dry and then wipe down with Sentry Solutions tough cloth. Your done, one time once a year and we scarp mud off our guns at the end of the season.

Best of luck
 
If you are concerned with losing a magazine, and the rifle you really want comes with one, carry a spare :D
 
I'm in the pre-64 winchester group also the mauser type action is very reliable. Also wood stocks are warmer on your face and less noisey in the brush.
 
d762nato said:
I'm in the pre-64 winchester group also the mauser type action is very reliable. Also wood stocks are warmer on your face and less noisey in the brush.
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They are good actions, and I'm a little biased, but in all honesty Remington and others make a good action too.
If I ever get another Rem, I'll have a Sako extractor installed, just because :D

The claw extractor is great when they are tuned properly. I wouldn't use anything else on dangerous game, especially Cape Buffs or Griz bears, but I haven't hunted dangerous game:( Yet...

I do like the 3 position safety too. Its nice to be able to cycle the bolt with the safety on.
For those that aren't use to them though, it can cause some confusion st first.

A good friend had that happen with a new Winchester. He was use to two position safeties, and when he went to shoot at a bull elk, he couldn't figure out why it wouldn't fire :D
Fortunately he had time, and was still able to make the shot..

BTW JP, thats a sweet lookin rifle. I like the color of the stock. I had an HS precision stock the same color on a SS Winchester model 70 338
 
I'd also say the Bruno's or Cz's make a good one. I love my CZ-602 in 375 h&h mag i had customized with the wing safety and a bunch of other additions. CZ makes a good gun for the price too you may want to check them out. They are very accurate my 375 is a one holer.
 
d762nato said:
I'd also say the Bruno's or Cz's make a good one. I love my CZ-602 in 375 h&h mag i had customized with the wing safety and a bunch of other additions. CZ makes a good gun for the price too you may want to check them out. They are very accurate my 375 is a one holer.
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I've never owned one, but they do make a nice rifle. A good friend had one, and his was a shooter too. It had nice express iron sights on it as well :thumbup:
 
Don't overlook Ruger. They make some mighty fine rifles---now that they've cured their trigger problems.

BTW, stainless will also corrode/rust if left lacking TLC long enough. Stainless is nothing more than steel with chromium added to the molten mix. The resultant steel is 'rust resistant' and not rust proof. There are also non stainless parts inside the action.

Years ago when I hunted the Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico mountains in cold weather and snow, I always kept my rifle inside a large black plastic garbage bag. It takes only a second to shed the bag when preparing to shoot. At other times it keeps the sleet, rain, and snow off the rifle especially when navigating through brush, high weeds, etc. I also recommend a small square of masking or electrician's tape over the muzzle. It keeps out the rain or snow and is instantly blown off by the pressure of the bullet travelling down the barrel when fired. It has no effect on overall pressure or accuracy. However, gradual moisture buildup in the barrel and freezing to form a blockage could lead to disaster....
 
Ruger makes a fine rifle, and used ones can still be picked up fairly cheaply.

I'm a little out of the loop Larry, what did they change on their triggers ?
 
Mike Here's a couple of pics of a custom CZ-602 375h&h mag cz's are very accurate. It's not a mountain rifle but cz makes some nice rifles that are'nt too expensive in fiberglass or wood.

Doug

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JParanee said:
Here are my thoughts for a mountain or bad weather rifle you cant go wrong with a stainless action/barrel mounted in a synthetic stock. On a gun lik this there are many action choices but the rem 700 seems to be the small block chevy of the action world.

For climates like Africa or moderate climates you cant beat a blued gun in a pretty piece of wood something about silver and plastic that dont look right in Africa :D For a dangerous game rifle I would shy away from the Rem 700 and go with something with controlled feed Win, Ruger, CZ (Mauser)

Here is my idea of a mountain or all weather Rifle

Skelotinized Rem 700 action MPI stock Leija barrel I built this rifle for sheep but it has killed Moose ,deer ,elk hell you name it

It is chambered 300WBY Mag weights in at about 7 pounds scoped

Reason I went with 300 WBY is long time family tradition wanted a little flater trajectory than 06 but in this weight any more is to much of a pain to shoot well

Handload is 180 triple shock at 3143 fps

L1020169.jpg


L1020167.jpg
Click to expand...

J thats one sweet rifle and i've always loved the 300 weatherby caliber. I used to have a german lefty weatherby years ago. Thats one awesome custom rifle.

Doug
 
Re Ruger triggers, about 99 and early 2000 era during the high cap mag ban, multiple law suits, etc. I had several folks bring new Ruger rifles into my shop with 14 and 15 lb triggers! And there was a sheet metal box completely enclosing the trigger assemblies with stern warnings in the manuals that any tampering would void the warranty. I know it was all PC nonsense and wiser heads at Ruger soon fixed it but it took a while. I hated to turn those folks away but I wasn't about to futz with the trigger box enclosures. I had to tell them to send their rifles back to Ruger for factory repairs. It was ridiculous!
 
d762nato said:
Mike Here's a couple of pics of a custom CZ-602 375h&h mag cz's are very accurate. It's not a mountain rifle but cz makes some nice rifles that are'nt too expensive in fiberglass or wood.

Doug

DadsPictures010.jpg


DadsPictures001.jpg


DadsPictures003.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks for the pics Doug. Thats a beauty... Love the stock. Looks to be the same express sights my friends rifle had on it. Nice choice on the scope too..
To my eyes, thats how a 375 should look.

You are right, its no mountain rifle, but in a 375, light weight is not your friend :D

Old CW4 said:
Re Ruger triggers, about 99 and early 2000 era during the high cap mag ban, multiple law suits, etc. I had several folks bring new Ruger rifles into my shop with 14 and 15 lb triggers! And there was a sheet metal box completely enclosing the trigger assemblies with stern warnings in the manuals that any tampering would void the warranty. I know it was all PC nonsense and wiser heads at Ruger soon fixed it but it took a while. I hated to turn those folks away but I wasn't about to futz with the trigger box enclosures. I had to tell them to send their rifles back to Ruger for factory repairs. It was ridiculous!
Click to expand...

Thanks Larry. Now I remember reading what they had done. It may have been in one of your earlier posts
 
joe paranee that 300 is a beauty. the load is really stepping out, i have to say that [myself shooting that gun] one shot would bring a headache. i used a sako 270 weatherby for years but i guess your rifle would have a recoil of 35% increase. not critiquing your rifle but congradulating your dedication & concentration in being able to handle this monster.--dennis
 
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