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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 109
Campfire Member
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OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 109 |
Here's a thought. If you were setting out to build a rifle as good as it could be built, with the expectation that it could be the last one you ever had, and wanted it to handle any big game hunting you might do in North America, what would it be? CRF or not? Lightweight or anvil weight? All of us want a rifle that weighs a pound or less, shoots to point of aim out to infinity, and kicks like a bull-barreled .22LR, but if you were to have only one rifle for the rest of your days, what would you need? Super reliable, supremely sturdy, and as accurate as possible are my criteria.
I have gotten the old idea of "beware the man with one gun" in my head, and can't get it out. Figured I'd share the misery and let you guys twist your minds up trying to come up with the perfect all-around rifle, too. Right now, I am leaning toward a CRF action, with sporter weight barrel, synthetic stock, iron sights and fixed power scope. I want reliability first, shootability a close second, and the sturdiest setup I can build. Weight comes dead last, behind accuracy, which needs to be 1.5moa or less. I'd still like to keep the weight under 8.5 lbs. all up, if possible. What would you do? Caliber, action, barrel, stock, scope? What's your idea of the ultimate all-around hunting rifle for this continent?
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 22,737
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 22,737 |
Kimber Montana 84L in 30-06. End of story.
Last edited by bigwhoop; 03/20/10.
My home is the "sanctuary residence" for my firearms.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,735
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,735 |
One of three choices:
Marlin 1895GBL with some custom work 45/70. This is on my short list of rifles to buy.
Currently at the smith: Remington ADL in 30-06 in a take off stock from a Ti has the iron sights on it and is being bedded. It will wear a leupold FXII 6x with Post/duplex in a set of talleys or Warne QR.
Third choice is a BLR in 358 wearing a VX3 2.5x8x36 again in some sort of QR. I really want this rifle, but it will be a while before funds allow for that one.
The first two on my list could do it all with no problem with no worry on reliability. The BLR might not be the best one rifle choice, but its one I'd sure like to have.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,513 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,513 Likes: 1 |
imo, any decent bolt 30-06 would work (ditto the 7remmag).
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 14,104
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 14,104 |
If I had to go back to one factory rifle, I would go back to the one that I started with: a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in .30-06. These days, it would probably be the Extreme Weather version. If I were doing a build, it would be a Model 70 action, Featherweight contour barrel, cerakoted, in a McMillan Edge classic stock. FWIW...
Ben
Some days it takes most of the day for me to do practically nothing...
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15,775 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 15,775 Likes: 1 |
encore, light weight, packable, accurate, reliable, affordable, and can carry an extra barrel if needed.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,168
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,168 |
m70 CRF, McMillan edge stock, 22" barrel with sights, fairly light contour, Cerkoted, Talley QDs I might do 300wsm but about any cartridge between 7mag and 338wm would do fine. Scope wise maybe a 2.5-8 or 3.5-10 VX3 withe B&C reticle.
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,408
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,408 |
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,406 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,406 Likes: 1 |
Good Walnut, polished blue, maybe a 7x57? I like classics, any flavor would really work for me.
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 Likes: 1 |
Something stainless in a McMillan.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 28,277
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 28,277 |
My G33/40, in my old Brown or an Edge, with a Lilja #2 cut to 23" on it, Talley's, Uncle Mikes mtn sling and a 2-8 Leo with dotz in it.
Dober
Last edited by Mark R Dobrenski; 03/20/10.
"True respect starts with the way you treat others, and it is earned over a lifetime of demonstrating kindness, honor and dignity"....Tony Dungy
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 109
Campfire Member
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OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 109 |
Mudhen, noknees, Blargon, we think somewhat alike.
As to the remington 700 folks, I have a Mountain Guide in .308, which would be almost perfect, were it not for the tiny extractor. For an all-around rifle, I like the CRF rifles as much for the beefy extractor as for the minute possibility that they might be needed during a rough-and-tumble with an angry carnivore. In a rifle that I intend to have as an only rifle in remote areas and over a lifetime, parts failure is to be avoided at all costs. The simple, open trigger mechanism of the Model 70 and Mauser actions, as well as that giant claw extractor, go a long way toward this goal. Less parts to break, and what parts there are being designed to be tough and not give the elements or dirt any way to cause damage is important. For this reason, I personally do not like the 700 with its small extractor and closed trigger mechanism(for this job). By the same token, I want follow-up shot capability, so the single-shots, as nice as they are, are out for me.
Last edited by countryboy73; 03/20/10.
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,291 Likes: 2
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,291 Likes: 2 |
My G33/40, in my old Brown or an Edge, with a Lilja #2 cut to 23" on it, Talley's, Uncle Mikes mtn sling and a 2-8 Leo with dotz in it.
Dober Dober, I notice there's no reference to a chambering... not surprising as it's the rifleman, not the cartridge, that makes the difference.
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,239
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,239 |
Tikka Lam/SS, or Sako Grey Wolf 7MM Rem Mag Zeiss Conquest 3-9X40MC
I should have just bought a [bleep] T3...
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,836
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,836 |
I already have it. It is an Interarms Mark X with a 26" barrel chambered in .375 H&H. Wears a 3X9 Leupold & a Bell & Carlson stock. Pobably goes 10-10.5 lbs. The only thing I would change on this rifle is getting it sooner.
There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor polite, nor popular -- but one must ask, "Is it right?"
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,584
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,584 |
More of the same here. I would take my pet Pre-64 M70 fwt 30-06 and put it in a Hunter's EDGE. On top a VX-3 2.5-8 with B&C reticle in low rings. To do this I would have the bolt bent down and reblued so it would clear the ocular.
Load up some 150TSX's to 2950 or 165TSX's to 2875 and I'm good to go.
Last edited by RickF; 03/21/10.
Anybody who seriously concerns themselves with the adequacy of a Big 7mm for anything we hunt here short of brown bear, is a dufus. They are mostly making shidt up. Crunch! Nite-nite!
Stolen from an erudite CF member.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,213
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,213 |
M70 CRF stainless action fitted with 24 inch stainless barrel of medium contour. Cerakoted matte black on all parts that would normally be blued. NECG barrel band front sight with Talley bases with built-in rear aperture on rear mount. QD Talley steel rings. Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36 with standard duplex. All in an olive McMillan Edge stock.
Caliber: 338 Winchester Magnum.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,944
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,944 |
For me, it'd be a M70 pre-64 or classic in a McMillan, chambered in 300 Wby. That round is just very versatile. Can load down to '06 velocity with ease and push to beast level without breaking a sweat. Plenty, but not too much for everything. I'd want it to come in around 8lbs. flat.
David
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 959
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 959 |
Mine is in the gun safe. Kimber Montana in 300 WsM Leupold 1.75x6 in talley lightweight rings Barnes TSX 200 gr at 2750 fps I could use this rig the rest of my hunting career here in AK.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900 |
The 280 Remington is overbore.
The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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