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

It's probably not a "true" big bore, in the classic sense, but the smoothest and fastest big bore that I own, or have ever used, is my Ruger 96/44. Nothing comes close.

Is it my favorite "big bore"? Though it is an all-time favorite carry-around rifle, my favorite actions for true big bores are two: My Marlin in 45-70 and my Ruger No.1 in the same cartridge.

The only reason my CZ550 in 458 Win doesn't top the list is because I shoot from the left side.

Bought a CZ 550 in 9,3x62 and have another CZ 550 Medium Magnum that wants to be a lot of things! Probably a 375 Ruger or 358 Norma Mag. Once fitted with a 3-position safety, the CZ 550 is perfect to me for a big bore build.

My preferred choices for big bores are:

Bolt action- Mauser style with CRF and M70 safety

Break open- Side by side double, sidelocks, two triggers

Single shot- Falling block- Ruger #1 is suitable

Lever action- Winchester 1886

Handgun- Smith & Wesson X-frame "500"

Those are my personal choices for action types in order of preference. Rodney.

In the range of 2,000.00 bucks, the Dakota M-76 is to me the best of the best. I know it's a lot of money. It has the gas problems of the M-70 fixed for ever. You don't have to spend any more money on the action, it's already where you want and action to be.

Yes a guy can spend a lot more for a good action, but for that much money the M-76 is awfully hard to beat. And there is no wait for years, spend money and two years of BS phone calls while you wait.

Frank DeHaas claimed the BRNO ZKK Mauser actions were the finest bolt actions ever made. My experience agrees with his statements.

That ought to give us CZ550 fans some confidence!

I have had 416 Remingtons on a Rem 700 and a CZ 550 Safari. My current 416 Rem is on an SS M-70 Classic. I like my M-70 the best. The CZ was good, but you don't really need a 10.5 lb 416 Rem that holds 5 rounds in the magazine. I think the CZ would really shine in the larger chamberings, like 505 Gibbs, 475 Capstick, etc. My M-70 weighs 9.25 lbs scope in it's McMillan stock. That's perfect for me.

Sako L 61 R

Lever action Marlin......... I have 2.

I have never seen a BRNO ZKK 602 action in the flesh, wonder how many years ago they stopped building them?

In big bore dangerous game rifles, I prefer a highly customized Mauser, double rifle or a Pre 64 Win. and in that order. Other than DG rifles I like a lot of different actions.

The best Mauser ever is the Brno 21 and 22 small ring double square bridge IMO..

In all seriousness, my preferred big-bore action would be the Garand.

With the McCann Industries .458WM Garand, and either a standard M1 or a McCann Industries 338WM Garand, you'd have an excellent combo for Africa and wouldn't really need anything more anywhere else.

It might seem an odd choice, but I like shooting in John C. Garand matches. If I could hunt everything from prairie dogs (accurized Ruger mini-14) to elephants (458WM McCann M1) with rifles that functioned exactly like my match rifles, I wouldn't use any other action. Plus, I've read favorable reviews of the .458WM Garand in Zimbabwe. A rugged battle-rifle-based semi-auto stopping rifle with a stout aperture sighting system has virtues that help it shine entirely in its own lights, even if you're not a Garand fan (if such a thing is possible).

Unfortunately, a semi-auto hunting rifle battery isn't even a viable 50 state option, let alone a world wide option, anymore. So my second choice, but the mandated choice courtesy of the legislatures of some of the states/countries I've hunted in, would have to be a variant of the M98 Mauser.