Winter is setting in, and boredom has come sneaking in with it. Time for a time-killing photo essay thread...

Let's see the "perfect rifles" you have. Not THE perfect rifle, but A perfect rifle. It is perfect for the task at hand, no matter how narrow that task might be. What might be perfect for one task could be dreadfully ill-suited for another. A perfect rifle is one that has proven up in the field, and that you would make absolutely no changes to (a high standard for a loony.) Here is one of mine:


A .416 Rem built on a LH Winchester 70 action, with a McMillan sniperfill stock in the supergrade pattern. Zeiss 1.5-8x scope. Barrel that I got from Mule Deer here on the campfire.


Heavy enough to shoot well, light enough to carry all day in heat and humidity.

Figured out a way to mount a light that is ever so handy when you are out after dark, and you are not the only/top predator in the system.

Nice rifle. If I shot left handed rifles, that one would be close to perfect for me as well.. I'm working on my "perfect" rifle as we speak. I'll be picking it up here in a little while: Cerakote is done!!!! Waiting on my Swarovski. Glass bedding is done and I started on stock paint today.... It's one of those heavy azzed pre 64's. Should top the scales at a little less than 8 pounds, hold 4 in the magazine and a 338 win mag to boot. My "perfect" elk rifle..

BSA, did you end up making a deal with davidlea on his? I thought he was at least $100 too rich.

CZ550 Premium 270 WCF, FX-3 6x42 LRD...whatever I point it at just seems to fall over and die...still in factory trim and going to stay that way.

Working on it..Task will be big muleys,near or far.



Rem 700 based of course with fixes to its weaknesses. One piece PTG bolt,M16 extraction,calvin trigger,milled follower, bartlien 5R rem mag contour,McM EDGE GS.. all of these parts are "proven" on other rifles, this will be the first time i've melded them all together tho.

Pay no attention to the red parts,i've got replacements.

Perfect parts and a perfect gun are a fair bit different. I have built a number of clunkers out of pretty good components.

you and me both,price you pay I suppose. Sorry mine aint bolted together yet.

I've been down the light,ultra-light,long/medium and short barrel,CRF/PF and hybrids of both,10 different stock patterns..You know the drill.

This one should come in around 8 pounds scoped,24" tube..Hope I get it right this time the only question I havent answered yet is glass.Hoping the new LRHS is a winner,its about the only one with all the features I want and it wont be out till next year sometime.

I've got an arm load of great rifles but when it was time to build my elk rifle it came to rest in a perfect spot.
A pre 64 M70 300 H&H, lilja barrel. echols legend stock and a swaro scope all at just under 8 lbs an it loves 180 TTSX's

Mine's a 1949 vintage Czechoslovakian Brno 22F 7x57 that has been customized a bit. The original double set triggers were removed and a single Recknagel trigger was installed by Ralf Martini, and the crown cleaned up. I had him install a three position M70 stye Dakota safety, and the original Meopta 3x scope was replaced with a clearer Leupold 2.5x in the original skeleton style QD mounts. Added another Leupold 6x compact in QD mounts for longer shooting. Slim, lively, accurate and deadly. Responsive enough to shoot coyotes on the run. Perfection in the bush for whitetail and moose.

I wouldn't call it perfect, but I would call it lucky. Nula 7mm-08. Have a Pre63 FWT .308 that fits into the same hole.


To pharaphrase: "I would rather have a good luck rifle than a perfect one any day."

A simple hunting rifle in .308 Winchester!


Hunting Rifle by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

It collected this for me last Thursday morning! Never fails!

KanBuc1 by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

Damn handwerk. I swear I didn't copy your "perfect rifle", but it's looking an awful lot like yours . Nice rifle there buddy...

My "perfect" rifle is based on a Husqvarna 1900 action with a Hart barrel, bedded into a McMillan stock chambered in 30/06. Action and trigger work done by Griffin & Howe. Fits me great and shoots like a house on fire.



5 shots @ 100 yards.

Nothing wrong with a rifle with good mojo

All are perfect for their various intended purposes, antelope thru moose, at least for me, they are.

MM

280 Rem MR in a Ti stock, metal cerrokoted, 7 lb even as shown.









Rem 700 KS, 270 Win, cerrokoted, also shoots 1/2" groups



Rem 700 1st Gen Ti, 7-08, bone stock but bedded well, shoots 1/2" all day



Win M-70 SG Classic, 30-06, in a McM Edge Classic, 7lb 14oz as shown, shoots 3/4"

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About perfect for what we do with it. Sorta fitting today...Mickey Coleman built 22-250AI vanguard Douglas sako Classic. Just a good go to gun.

Nice rifle Roy. I'll bet it's wearing an elite 4200 2.5-10x40 too. Pretty nice set-up..

I agree with you on two levels. First, a perfect gun is a bit of luck--it just happens. It seems to be the interplay of a whole bunch of small details. Second, the Legend stock gets you a fair bit of the way to "a perfect spot," if you are building a mid- to large-caliber gun.

I love your stock paint jobs. Nice work!!

You'd be betting correctly too. I'm sure it's not as "reliable" as a 4 pound tactical scope, but so far it works perfectly all the time.

A rifle without the mojo ain't much more than a loud tire iron.

Them pre63's have extra mojo.

I've yet to find the "perfect rifle"....

....but I'm still looking!

I guess

Yep...

I'll bet I have built 30 guns, and had five times than number pass through my hands. Maybe 4 among them are perfect--a .22lr, a .270 that belongs to my son, a 7 mag, and the .416. A lot of the others are close, but not quite there.

If any find "the" one, it should be you.

These are two of my current favorite deer rifles.

Top is a CLR/NULA in 7x57,

Bottom is a NULA in 7-08;





My favorite elk rifle is a Kimber Montana in 300 WSM. (Not pictured.)

donsm70

This one has been the one that I have reached for the most over the last 20+ years:



Commercial Mauser action, side-swing safety, Douglas premium grade barrel, Larry Caudill stock, Leupold 2-7X compact in Buehler mounts. .270 Winchester, of course.

I'm almost tired of looking Harry!

I have 2 if that's OK, one short and one long action.

Long action would be a KS .280 with a little added bling from Karl Feldkamp


Short action 7MM-08 built by Jon Beanland

You're sandbaggin--you've only showed us one of the "perfect" ones. I'd be interested in the 270 and 7mag specs.

Remington M7, Pacnor #1 223AI, built by Mickey Coleman.



Works on beaches chasing wuffs in Alaska



In the snow running a trapline



Shooting cans at 500 yards




Killing deer in Alaska



and Texas



Even coyotes in Tennessee




And it blends...

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I too own an azzload that I have used successfully but this simple POS M700 rebored 338-06 I bedded in a KS takeoff in 1995 would be it.













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That 7mm-08 is not quite perfect sir.

If it was in MY safe then it would be perfect!!

Sako AII in 308 Winchester
Leupold VariX-II 2x7x33

Perfect for me and I've killed a lot of things with it.

376 Steyr Prohunter. Leupold VX-R 2-7X33 in QRW rings. Ballistic firedog reticle shot out to 300 on steel.
Pushes 270 gr SP @ 2500 into one hole groups.

Here is one of mine, a modern relic. This is my 1st year using it but so far it fits the roll. Not too heavy or light, built like a tank, shoots just a little over MOA with the green box Remington core-lokts and while I am careful with it I won't worry if it gets a scratch. The rifle has a nice balance, carries easy but still has enough weight to hold steady.

It's a J.C. Higgins model 50 in .30-06. It still wears the factory chrome lined barrel and has the left side wing safety. The only modifications are a Timney trigger, McMillan stock and green CeraKote paint.

While it's not much to look at it has a functional beauty that makes up for it. It's a great Mississippi white tail rifle.

I don't have a picture handy, but I have a bunch of rifles..... the favorite (perfect) one is a Remington 721 30-06 from 1959 that is in outstanding original factory condition, even though it has been hunted quite a bit. Nice gun that does the job, and of course its even more perfect since its a 30-06.

Ok, dad is calling BS on that one!

Dat grizzly is uber COOL lookin'!

Like most of us, Ive owned a couple dozen "perfect" rifles ( at least I thought they were at the time...... )

The closest Ive come was my Ingwe Special 7x57...


Ive killed stuff with it for so long I was skinny when I started!




Nowadays the fave for deer on down is a Campfire rifle...223AI 1 in 8 twist 22" inch barrel with a 2-7 Redfield...on talley lightweights of course .Bought everything except the action here on the fire and its one of those rifles that just 'feels right'...


.

Simplicity and hunting rifle in the same sentence...great concept Ed!!!!! and it kills elk and bear without the word "magnum" attached to it ....who would have thunk!!!!

Model 94 made in 1906. It was my Grandfather's and my Father's before me. If rifles could tell stories, I'd love to hear the one's this rifle could tell.


It will go to my Grandson some day.

Cool rifle bBear!

It took me many years of farting around, but I finally have the perfect hunting rifle (for my own needs/preferences). Remington 700 (blue printed), 22" 1/9.4 twist 338-06 Benchmark barrel, and S&B Zenith 1.5-6x42 A8. Took three deer with it this year and it hasn't disappointed me yet. Actually, I haven't hunted with any of my other guns since this one has been in this configuration.

I am lucky, I have 5, all Sakos in 222 magnum...

I am kind of surprised you didn't spring for the brand with the melted diamon coating. Oh well

Betting a lot of Mickey's rifles will never leave their new homes

Mines the Model 70 Alaskan. Pulled it from the wood stock and put it in the McMillan. Swaro 2.5x10 and Talleys. Runs about 9lbs all loaded out.

I wouldn't call it perfect for all hunting, but this was the perfect rifle for this particular hunt a couple months ago:



I've owned it for years but haven't hunted with it much - I see it getting more use in the future now that it's been properly broken in...

dis one

Rattler, what is that? Inquiring minds.....

its a 303 British double rifle by Rodda for Indian market....belongs to gunner500 and is the only gun ive ever fallen in love with he let me use it on the Tennessee hog hunt 2 years ago....unfortunately its worth more than ill ever be able to offer Jerry though he would never sell it anyway

Gorgeous! Do you remember how old it is? Thinking about 100 years old or so with the exposed hammers there....?

no i dont....would guess gunner does, IIRC he has had pretty extensive research done on the rifle...

I'll throw in a couple.

BPCR



big bore smokeless single



a .270



and a .300 win mag

JGray, that looks like a perfect rifle for the job at hand. Kind of reminds me of a #5 Pacific Ballard. What Caliber?

Through the late 70's & early 80's I used a #10 Ballard in 38-55 on a lot of deer. It always worked fine although a tad on the heavy side.

Just didn't see that coming wih that rifle.

I would have to agree that for all things in NA with a single rifle, that just may be perfect.

Mudhen,

Very beautiful rifle with perfect styling.

Here's another similar "perfect" one that in a moment of weakness, I sold...............I hope the current owner doesn't mind me posting it.

Keith Stegall Pre-64 Model 70 with a featherweight barrel, 270 Win, of course.

MM

I think this one has some sort of rare earth pixie dust........

Model 70 Featherweight in .270 Win. Just about perfect for all things 'deer'.

Mudhen/MM: Those are two beautiful and classy rifles!

20" Barreled .308 Win
Handy - Accurate - Deadly - Fun

Perfect for sidelock only seasons in some areas.

It isn't a hi-dollar custom, and it may not be "perfect", but my Ruger M77R MkII in 7x57 is mighty close. It is my favorite deer rifle. It has a Timney, and I floated the barrel, and it hits exactly where it's pointed every time. Leupold 2-7x33 in Ruger lows. Don't have any photos of her, but you guys know what she looks like.

These two will never leave, as I have grown very fond of both. Both were rescues, with a lot of help from the 'fire!

As purchased:

after:

early 80's RMR, .270win
original stock refinished by Karnis w/ 1" Decelerator, 1" Montana
2.5-8x VX-III in Talley lows... I still need to have the bolt re-jeweled.
I killed my first whitetail with it shortly after putting it together.

As purchased:


after:

New Haven M70 Classic Stainless, .300WSM, refinished factory stock.
3-9x VX1 in Talley lows, 1-1/4" Montana, will probably add a Decelerator pad
I have yet to blood this one.

Nice transformations.

Took a few previous builds to really figure out what I liked and what I didn't. This one is perfect and certainly wouldn't change one thing.

Remington 700ss SA
Rock #2 contour 1-8" 243 win @ 22"
Micky Edge MR pattern
Meopta Meopro 3-9x42BDC


Don't mind those sick knives...

Nice rifle. What does it weigh? considering "it's not too heavy and not too light"..

I love that one.. You have excellent taste

I'm pretty fond of my Sako 75 Finnlight in 7mm08.......

Bunch of nice rifles posted, especially the 270's...grin

You said a mouthful. As much as I would love to own one that pretty, I probably couldn't bring myself to beat it up in the field. Guess that's the "beauty" of owning a spray painted McMillan that's easily fixed with a Sharpie !

Sako AV .25-06, Leupold 3-9X in Leupold rings. Not THE perfect rifle, but a perfect rifle, with nothing I'd want to change. It's zeroed with 100 grain TTSX Barnes factory.
Bob

My Ruger in 300 WM, Timney trigger, Mickey stock and a Leupy VX-2 3-9. Also have a NEGC peep for it. Most reliable and consistent rifle I own.

This is a #4 Perfection in 45-70 - has a standard weight 28" barrel and weighs just over 9lbs. It's never felt too heavy and is trim enough I just grab it at at the balance point and it carries great - haven't felt any need for a sling. As I recall, the #5 Pacific had a wiping rod under the barrel.

Jerry

OH, ok, you asked for it....:



Where would I be without my 30-06 though:

JGray, The Perfections were a little more stream lined than the Pacifics I think. Yes, the Pacific had the wiping rod but also had the double sets and ring lever. The Perfections usually had a single trigger. However with Ballards they were what ever the customer ordered. The No.10 weighs a little closer to 13 lbs.

You have a very nice looking Ballard there in a great caliber!

BSA, what open sights are those?

Factory irons..

The day before was one a bit larger but uglier, if a grizz can ever be ugly.

Remington Model SEVEN KS... .350 Rem Mag with Leupold 1.75-6 and GrovTec sling...7# even

Nice mount!

7.1 LB for just the rifle. It's 8.2 LB like pictured.

My perfect rifles are like Utah's with the bolts on the udder side...and like BSA's.

I like it buddy. Damn near "perfect" as far as I'm concerned. Good weight and probably great balance and excellent no nonsense/geterdone hunting rifle right there.

Love my 270s, but I will admit that the 30-06 just may be the perfect 'all-round' rifle for things in NA.

I want to see your rifle but the pics aren't working in the thread..

Here's a bit of an unusual entry- a BSA featherweight, an early one with CRF, basically a lightened mauser. When Dwayne at the pawn shop put it in my hand my first thought was, "this feels like my BRNO 21h.", (but without the antique scope, weird safety and butterknife bolt handle, which by the way is all worth it for the way they feel) It's super slender and light, handles like a dream. It has some cool hand checkering and a tight little schnabel. In has a snappy kick in 30-06, the factory muzzle break may help, hard to know for sure. It weighs 7.5# scoped and loaded. But's accurate. I have resolved myself to putting some hard wear on this thing before the fire goes out.







Here she is posing with her boyfriend the 44 special.







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My take. Couple of Remington Model 7s bought in the late 80's.

Top is a FS model in .243, perfect "walking around" rifle, perfect for any critter up to and including a whitetail. 6 pounds 4 oz loaded as shown.

Bottom is a KS model in .350 mag, perfect "break both shoulders and anchor them right there" rifle, perfect for whitetail and anything on up. 6 pounds 14 oz loaded as shown.

This one....I'm a little partial though, as I helped design it.

GA Precision built 6.5 SAUM, soon to be re-named 6.5 GAP as that will be the headstamp on the brass.

This rifle/barrel has 3000+ rounds through it, and will see a brand new barrel sometime this winter. During two hunting seasons it has racked up 16 one shot kills on big game including elk, mule deer, antelope, and black bears. shots have been from 40 to 613 meters. It likes 139gr scenars at 3100fps.

The one I've had the longest:

Kampfled Custom 250AI - 6.5lbs as you see it.

That's an interesting cartridge and rifle. Pat is that a Defiance action? What GAP model is it? Thanks.

GA has their own actions that are made for them by Defiance Bob. Looks like a Bushnell LRHS on that rig as well.

RD: Thanks! I can't find anything on the GAP website about the 6.5 SAUM.....maybe not looking correctly.

Seems Pat's rifle is the Non-Typical?

The model I don't know

I think BSA nailed it...a perfect rifle, in .30-06. Where would I be without one (or ten).
Bob

Customized Ruger Hawkeye, .30-06. 24" custom Benchmark barrel. Perfect.


Red Decellerator, straight-grain, nice-colored walnut.

Damn near perfect hunting rifle right there buddy. I shoot lefty, so I can appreciate a rifle like that. I like it a lot: Upgraded rings, professional red decelerator recoil pad install, nice walnut, custom barrel, 2.5-8x36 leupold. Damn nice 06 right there. I could hunt something like that for the rest of my life and not look back. You have some real nice rifles...

Extreme Hunter is the name of the rifle

Sendero man: Thanks!

Pretty close in my mind. An early run Stainless Classic M70 in 30/06. A weak moment and it's gone. I miss her.

OMG! You sold that? For shame!
Bob

I was thinking I wouldn't have admitted to that... I'm sure we've all done some pretty stupid things though

It took about 6 weeks in therapy to get to where I could admit it. I'm better now...............NOT! Aw shucks. it wasn't that great a rifle. After all. It would group 180gr Hornadys in little clover leaf groups over a stiff (60gr) charge of RL22 with boring regularity. Nuttin special. Right?

Are those current Leupolds rings on there, or is that an older edition?

Those are an older set without the ugly L on the ring top.
Bob

Cowboy Tim- swap your Leupy for a Meopta 6x42 and you have my CZ.

I just like the look of that rifle.

That's a beautiful rifle.

+1. Extremely nice rifle there. I see why he grabs it..

A lot of damn nice "perfect" rifles here. I like all of them, you guys have some good taste. Here is my "perfect" rifle. I had to go back thru all the posts and make sure I hadn't already posted a picture of it. When the OP started this thread, I was working on getting this one cerakoted and found the perfect scope for it too. Now it's all put together and I'm liking it. 8 pounds all up with a 5 round capacity. Pretty good for a 338 win mag. This will be my elk hunting rig and no I don't plan on ever getting rid of it!!!

I would have to pick this one.
1987 700 ADL/FS, factory installed Brown Precision stock, 7mm Rem Mag, 4.5-14X Leupold. Weighs 8lbs 2 ounces.
The Hawkeye shows me the throat is eroded for a good quarter inch and the bore looks like alligator skin for another inch,...but it does shoot well. It loves 150 Ballistic Tips and H4350.
The lower targets were shot at 327 yards.
It works quite well on whitetails.

Lots of fine, fine rifles here.

This is as close to "perfect" as I have found in a hunting rifle.


Nothing fancy at all. Just a good solid hunting rifle that just plain hits and kills stuff.

So far it has around 20 deer to its credit and none have needed more than one bullet or taken more than two or three steps save the last forkhorn I killed that slid over the bank to the bottom of a holler on very wet leaves.


Please forgive the picture quality as the camera I had at the time was dying and I don't have any recent pictures of it.


Its a .280 AI on a 1982 vintage 700 ADL action put together by Mickey Coleman.

It has a # 3 1 -9 twist SS Matchgrade Shilen @ 23 inches. Mickey also squared the action and and glass bedded the factory stock.

Its currently topped with a 3.5-10 VX 3 in Burris Signature mounts.

It weighs 9.25 lbs field ready.





It shoots really, really well with the 120 grain Nosler BT, 162 AMAX, and 150 Nosler BT

Thus far I have 359 rounds down the bore and when and if the barrel ever gets shot out I will just retire it to a place of honor on the rack.

My Kimber Montana 7 WSM. 24" pacnor super match barrel. It's waiting for the bears to wake up.

"Waiting for the bears to wake up". What a life you folks have up that way. I can't even imagine being a hunter and living in AK. Sweet!

My Sauer 202 in 30-06 with S&B 2.5-10x56 (I also have extra barrels in 9.3x62 and 25-06)



and this is how it shoots 165 gr. Sierra GK!

Model 94 made in 1906. It was good enough for my Grandfather and it still works just fine today, more than a century later.

That a Banser stock?

WBY 416 bee Classicmark II








Shoots great

300 TSX at 3150 and .65"

Now that's pretty sweet!

That's a beauty Fotis!!!

Thank you!

and another group

Brown Precision, and he's fixing to sell it to me soon!

My perfect rifle is a stock Ruger Hawkeye 338WM.
When not hunting with a handgun, it is the only rifle I have hunted with since 2007.
The Ruger classic stocks fit me very well, and being chambered in 338WM it has hammered everything I have shot with it. Adds up to a world of confidece.

Liking your perfect rifle big time