Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Extreme -Hard use factory rifle

When I was growing up we had a Savage model 110 manufactured in the early 1980s in 7 Rem Mag that had a plastic mim part in the bolt. That part broke on a mountainside when we were packing out a moose shot about 3/4 mile from the road. The rifle was non-functional and we had spend a night with a big fire and a coleman lantern cranked up to the max as we were cutting up the moose and hauling pieces out.

Tikkas are very accurate rifles. They retain zero and are very rain and moisture resistant. Many hunters use them with great affect. I have never had a Tikka but have some Sako 85s and they seem very dependable. However, I would be concerned that some MIM part might go sideways in the worst possible conditions.

I have two Nosler Model 48s. One in 26 Nosler and one in 338 Winchester Mag. In my mind, while they are push feed construction, they are extremely well suited for terrrible conditions. They are both very accurate and would perform in arctic or desert conditions well. Both guns have microslick coating on the inside of the action that reduces gunk build up.

I also have two Winchester Model 70 NH Classics in 338 Win mag and 375 HH. The 338 is wood stocked and the 375 is plastic stocked with stainless action and barrel.
The nod would go to the 375 HH Winchester. They were basically designed to be a bomb proof rifle with a simple trigger. It would be easy to make that gun into a rifle that could be used every day forever.

I'm curious on this as well. I've held a few 85s and like the way they fit but the issue seems to be the extractor and kicking shells into the bottom of the scope.

I've been using Kimber Montanas for the better part of 10 years - with zero issues. Rain, snow, mud, dust, mtn laurel, sage brush, everything I've dragged them through, they've worked fine. I also really liked the early M70 SS Classics with the simple open trigger but they weighed a bit much.

1939 K98. Mine's a Russian capture.

kwg

For my hunting use, I will take a stainless Ruger Mark II / Hawkeyes or M70 Classic. Or similar Mauser derivative. I definitely prefer the stainless rifles, blade ejectors, and open style triggers. And synthetic stock.

The Hawkeyes from the past couple of years are back to a mostly-polished finish. So they're good again, if you can find them or buy a new config like the Hawkeye Hunter edition.

This is your best move. If you are content with a 30-06 or 270, you can find them reasonably on Gunbroker.

WDM Bell wrote how M98 mausers failed him under extreme use conditions.

such Rigby rifles were not 'futzed' with mechanically, since Rigby essentially sourced military spec. barreled actions
direct from Mauser under contract.

When his life and livelyhood depended on it in remote colonial Africa, he found the Lee Enfield rough and unrefined,
but superior in reliabilty to all his other much more costly bolt trash and double rifles.

The Savage 340, whether in A,B,C,D or E series was never available in 7mm Rem. mag.

Check out Savage, they have some open sighted models

I like the 18.7" bbl version of the GSR in SS. I changed to a synthetic stock to get the weight down. I also went with an XS sight rail for scope flexibility while retainjin the iron sight. Great rifle!

Tikka with quick detach mounts and carry a zeroed spare scope in quick detach mounts in your day pack.

The CZ550. It's predecessor the ZB ZKK has been exported all over the world. The Magnum is particularly impressive. The ZKK 602 came in .300magnum but was very heavy due to heavy profile barrel (about 9lb empty). Some where made with plastic stocks. I would pick up one of those.

How about the Kimber 84L Hunter

I don't have any thing against a Kimber at all, but the plastic trigger guard on the hunter & slim barrel profile don't spell extreme - hard use to me.

Others will need to step in & discuss how the action & trigger deals with snow or sand.

Yep. Stainless boat paddle, chambered in good all American fashion: 30-06 springfield.

Thats the ticket.

I wanted to add a no-worries, rough-use gun to my safe this year and wound up with a SS Ruger 77 Hawkeye .308win.

The m1917 is extremely robust, but not really a "factory" rifle. They are a little on the heavy side too, but when you build them right, they are a thing of beauty.

My version of the Wilderness Wandering Rifle, SS M70 Fwt 30-06, 21" bbl., Bansner Stock, NECG Rear Sight, Ashley Front, Leupold 2-7x33 LRD in Burris Zee's. I'd make a couple changes now, but I think it's about as good as it gets.