Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Your most reliable biggame hunting rifle

My most reliable hunting rifle?

In my case it's the only big game hunting rifle I have and used for the past 20 years or so:

A Ruger M77 SKII (stainless/boat paddle stock) in .338WM-caliber. I replaced both the stock and trigger, and mounted it with a matte Leupold Vary-X III 2.5-8x scope. Never had a single malfunction, and has brought moose meat to the table since I bought it.

While I sometimes load a few rounds with 300-grain bullets, I have settle down to the 225-grain TSX as the all around one.

I have a VZ-24 Mauser chambered in 358 Norma Mag. that is pretty much the cat's azz.

It will shoot 250 gr Nosler Partition into an inch, consistantly.

donsm70

My no.1 goto rifle is a pushfeed Model 70 300 Win Mag that has been bedded and modified by Red Morton of Chickaloon. The barrel is about shot out and needs to be replaced but it weighs north of 9 lbs so I use lighter rifles for mountain hunting. I have a SC fn model 70 fwt 30/06 that I presently take.


I also have a wood stalked 458 Win Mag Whitworth Express from 70s. That bugger might provide greatest level of confidence if ever lost in the underbrush of Afognak in the dark. It flatly states I am a mean sob and I mean business.

Model 70 30-06. I feel like I could fling it down a cliff, it would smash into the ground, fire, and drop a caribou in the next valley. Might not be as pretty as she was when she was 18. But she gets better with age. Like wine.

Sako L61R STW

Funny question?
If it wasn't reliable it wouldn't be in the rack?

Rem model 700 bdl stainless in .300SAUM. I had a vx2 3-9x40 on it but I just upgraded to a vx3 6.5-20x40 with a 30mm tube. I have a love affair with that rifle and after using it for a walking stick going up two mountains, it was still dead on accurate. Can't ask for more than that.

sako av

Early Steyr Professional in 9.3X62.
Accurate, totally reliable and light enough.

I really like my .444 Marlin but also use a Rem.700BL in .338RUM.
Years ago, I used a .35 Whelan and have nothing bad to say about that cartridge. Gosh, I do like the .444 Marlin. Good luck in your search.

Ruger #1 in .300 win mag

Here is mine
No surprise here
It's a Mk X 458 in a modified Brown Prec stock
I have carried it now for almost 30 years and never had an issue with it.

You need to be careful where you set that down!

My most reliable is also my favorite, and has been for more than a decade; the Ruger No.1 in .45-70 Improved (long throat).

It shoots everything I feed it very well... from 350gr Hornadys, 350gr Speers and 350gr TSX's through 400gr Speers, Hawks and Barnes, 405 Rems, 450 A-Frames to 500gr Hornadys.

In ballistics it can equal a mild .45-70 BP load to a 500gr .458 WM load. The pic is on the header of my website.

With scope it's light at 8.2 lbs. And handy at 38.25".

Think I'll keep it for another decade

That is, if the LORD is willing of course!

Bob

www.bigbores.ca

I like my CZ 550 in 500 Jeffery best. It's also been very reliable over the past 4 years since I got it's feeding fixed. It is heavy at 11.25 lbs without scope, but it feels light and lively when pointing or swinging on game.

270 WIN, ALWAYS hits poa, every load, every first shot, every time. Three different scopes, since '94. Same ole same ole. Would love one in 358 Norma.

Too heavy? Maybe a trailer would help.

(just kidding with you)

Most reliable? Any pre 64 M70 chambered for anything.

+1

+1....+another . Good post Bob