Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only YOUR preferred action?

what is your prefered action for a big bore?...

I only have two, and one is not a big bore in the African sense. My .458 WIN MAG is a M70 African (post-64) and feeds slick as glass - hard to beat a Model 70 action. My 45/70 is a Marlin M1895 - it amazes me how smoothly it can feed those large cases out of a tube mag, onto a lifter, and up into the chamber. If I was building a classic African rifle I would go for a pre-64 Winchester (unless it was to be a H&H length cartridge).

Winch. M70.. First, last, always...

My prefered action is a Mauser that has been worked over extensively. The M-21 and 22 Brno actions are fine without modification..Most of my guns are modified mausers..I also like the pre 64 M-70 action...As you can tell I am adament about the control feed feature, mostly because I hunt a lot of dangerous game.

lever

I'm full tilt into my double rifle lunacy at the moment but I have to say I really like the CZ 550 (with a little work). I anxiously await the possibility of a lefty. It's a little too big for a 375, IMO, but is well suited to the larger cases (think 416 Rigby up to 505).

I have two single shots, both big bores, and I like them both, but if I had to choose, I'd have to say the falling block #1 Ruger is it. Slick as owl snot on a door knob. (405 Winchester)

Modern commercial Mauser 98 - Dumoulin, Hartmann & Weiss, Prechtl, and Recknagel - for bolt guns.

Martini-Hagn action for single-shot.

McKay-Brown action for doubles.

Winchester 1886 or Winchester 95.

Jim

Pinot: What are they getting for a Prechtl mauser these days,if you know?

Yup; Mauser or M70 IMHO

I like the bolt action for big bores, in particular...I like the Weatherby Mark V action. I like the lever action on the Marlin 1895 also...for the .45-70. I think that I would like a really good 'double rifle' also...I hear they are addicting...and super expensive.

Bob,

It depends on what size action. The standard length/bolt-face run $3800 and the magnum size goes for around $4300. These prices are just for the action. Barreled actions and complete rifles will be considerably more. They also have five different sizes of bottom metal to match with the cartridge you want. (One of these will accommodate 4+1 for the 500 Jeff. :o)

i beleive a cz for about 700 will do the same...(grin)...lol

For some reason I always liked the enfield action for the big boys. It can cost alot to do it right but to me its worth it.

Pinot: Thanks for the info. I think New England Custom Guns near Lebanon, NH has them; about 2 hours from my house....this is not good .I may have to go see them

yup, doesn't get any better. jorge

I have a couple in Ruger #1, and would like a little more weight. I just got a CZ550 Safari Classic in 375 H&H and am delighted with it. It has more length of pull, overall weight and bulk to make shooting a large caliber more pleasurable.

If I could get a Pre 64, or a later controlled feed Win 70 at a good price it would be fine. I just saw a nice 458 Win 70, used on consignment for $1800, I paid 899 for my CZ, so no contest after spending a few nights cycling the action, and using some Flitz for about 50 cycles it really slicked up. Not quite as smooth as my old Pre 64 Mod 70 featherweight 30-06 but for $1000 difference it's great.

Prechtl

Being left-handed really limits a persons options. Here's my favorite .375 H&H Model 70.