You want to buy something special, you want to treat yourself, what rifle do you buy?

[F. Vaccaro]

A nice rifle in .22LR flips my switch now!

 

[chashardy]

What would your “special occasion” rifle purchase be?

I don’t mean mean unlimited budget but something that would be realistically within your means.

You have a special anniversary, a significant accomplishment or milestone hunt coming up; which rifle do you buy?

I’m currently leaning towards a quality, semi bespoke CRF magazine rifle for this goal.

A Mauser M98 Magnum Diplomat in 416 Rigby is what comes to mind.

Classic Mauser name and legendary CRF action, full length magnum cartridge, 4+1 capacity, nitrided finish, no frills utilitarian prestige vs some of its British counterparts, single square bridge with express sights, attainable price point…

What about you?

Pretty hard to beat what you specified. It will cost you about $19-20,000-US--at least. I opted for the John Rigby Big Game--basically the same rifle.

 

[C.W. Richter]

'released Barbie with a dishonorable discharge back in '00. LOL "Let the Safaris Begin!" was my first quote...

And, "I'll need your sister's number" was the second....LOL

 

[C.W. Richter]

*A Psychologist/Psychiatrist would say, You mean I, not You. (Projection) In reality, this has entirely Nothing to do with Us.

When someone (other than a corp marketing person looking to line their own pockets-too) asks a crowd, what should I do??? That's when we wind up with an Obama, Clinton, Biden and Harris. Research, execute and be a Man. Do NOT Google for Life's important decisions...Besides, it takes ALL the fun out! IF it's NOT black plastic recycled from the Asian seas, you're at least on the right track...LMAO

 

[Doug3006]

Not to be piggish…..but I’d love a pair of Rigby’s. One in 416 Rigby and a twin in 300 H&H. Then a month in Tanzania.

 

[dogcat1]

Many - Rigby Highland Stalker, Parkwest anything, customs by Matt Roberts… so many options!

 

[meigsbucks]

@meigsbucks
To me it would be a K95 in 25-06 and another barrel in 35 Whelen.
Would you expect anything different.
Failing that a nice bespoke bit of walnut on a Browning 85 hiwall copy in the same calibres.
Interrupted thread barrels for easy changing.
Bob

Great choices. I have .257 Wby and 9.3x62 barrels (along with others) for my R8.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Great choices. I have .257 Wby and 9.3x62 barrels (along with others) for my R8.

@meigsbucks
As functional as the R8 is it can't hold a candle to the K95 in elegance and simplicity in a complex action.
Bob

 

[mark-hunter]

op choice but to the full hog.
Gold inlayed engraving and pearl handle or African Ebony grips. Full accurised with competition barrel, close tolerance slide and finger barrel bushing.
If you are going for a nice 1911 may as well make it accurate to start with. You could always start with a nice Wilson combat or Springfield competition 45.
I do love the 1911 and the browning Hipower.

You are bad influence Bob!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

You are bad influence Bob!

@mark-hunter
I know Mark.
A lot of people think I'm a bad effluents. You know full of shit but hey that's life.
Bob

 

[Franco]

Already did that. As you know I have the Heym 89b in 450/400 which I recently hunted with (write up to come), but there was a need and want for a PG rifle. Cost wasn't an issue, not that such a rifle would be big ticket anyway, but it meant that a Highland Stalker wasn't off the list. So I looked at one at the Rigby evening at Safari and Outdoor, the celebration Bell 275 one. Donned the gloves and handled it, very nice, no big heart flutter. But I was a little shocked at the excitement felt when the brand new Ruger No1 pitched up in a small gun shop in Johannesburg. Old stock, few here want a single shot. Love at first sight, bought, and no more cravings.
View attachment 645974View attachment 645975

Kevin,

I trust you found that Heym 450-400 to be both effective and quite delightful to shoot. I just finished a cull hunt in Australia with mine. There were actually 3 of us with Heym 450-400 doubles, the 4th guy was shooting his Heym 470 double. We all had bolt guns as well - but the doubles were a lot of fun. Pete Barnard was with us - ask him.

 

[Philip Glass]

I guess it would be the new Rigby Shikari double in .450/400. I would love to have a true custom rifle with a stock that has not had 2" of black spacers added to it!

 

[HWL]

I already did with a Blaser R8 and five barrels… so far.

This is the maximum punishment!
You are lost for all the gun porn to come.....

HWL

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Kevin,

I trust you found that Heym 450-400 to be both effective and quite delightful to shoot. I just finished a cull hunt in Australia with mine. There were actually 3 of us with Heym 450-400 doubles, the 4th guy was shooting his Heym 470 double. We all had bolt guns as well - but the doubles were a lot of fun. Pete Barnard was with us - ask him.

Kevin,

I trust you found that Heym 450-400 to be both effective and quite delightful to shoot. I just finished a cull hunt in Australia with mine. There were actually 3 of us with Heym 450-400 doubles, the 4th guy was shooting his Heym 470 double. We all had bolt guns as well - but the doubles were a lot of fun. Pete Barnard was with us - ask him.

Hi Franco, yes I am very happy with my Heym, I am part way through my latest hunt write up with it. Did you do a writeup yet?

 

[mikesheree]

Why not build one and get exactly what you want?

Sometimes that doesn’t work too well. I’ve got a BD 14 in .22 Hornet/.308/20 ga. I ordered another one in June 2023 with 9.3 in place of the .308. It STILL does not exist

 

[mdwest]

You’re going to think I’m crazy for responding with something so pedestrian…

But the next time I treat myself it will be with another Christensen Arms rifle…

I’ve got two at the moment… one in 308 and another in 300 prc… both are absolute tack drivers.. have super smooth actions.. and are perfectly balanced for me right out of the box…

I bought the first one on a bit of a whim… but after shooting it a few months I very intentionally sought out the next one..

They aren’t mutch to look at.. cerakote and Kevlar…

But man do they shoot!

 

[Altitude sickness]

I’ve heard some early Christensen Arms had quality and accuracy issues. Is there a year range to stay away from ?

 

[mdwest]

I’ve heard some early Christensen Arms had quality and accuracy issues. Is there a year range to stay away from ?

Some of their early carbon fiber barrels had some peeling problems… they seem to have that all sorted out now…

I shoot their models that have steel barrels… so no issue for me… the 300 prc is a mesa titanium… and the 308 is just a standard mesa…

 

[Altitude sickness]

I’m looking at a Mesa in .308

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

You’re going to think I’m crazy for responding with something so pedestrian…

But the next time I treat myself it will be with another Christensen Arms rifle…

I’ve got two at the moment… one in 308 and another in 300 prc… both are absolute tack drivers.. have super smooth actions.. and are perfectly balanced for me right out of the box…

I bought the first one on a bit of a whim… but after shooting it a few months I very intentionally sought out the next one..

They aren’t mutch to look at.. cerakote and Kevlar…

But man do they shoot!

When you’ve shot so many cool firearms over the years like you have, it’s the simple things that make you happy. I was expecting you to say highland stalker or something like that.