User Panel
Posted: 6/23/2024 5:34:12 PM EDT
Hi,
I booked a Safari a couple years out in the future and I’m looking for what’s hopefully a “one and done” heirloom bolt action in 30-06. I really want it to be sub-MOA. I was looking at the Anchutz 1782 D as one option (they are $3k), but part of me wonders if there are equal or better alternatives. Any suggestions? Thank you… |
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Honestly when matched with its favorite load a simple Tikka would do that but I understand that’s not what it’s all about. A rifle to match the once in a lifetime trophy. I’ll defer to my betters.
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-History will remember Snark as the language of ignorance.
-All the fiction novels I once loved I now fear. FJB Our tax $$$ payed for a Pandemic and I didn’t even get swag. |
For a trip like that and given your requirements and time frame I would have one custom built.
Plenty of good custom rifle builders out there. |
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“Once, men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.”
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Maybe not as sexy as OP wants, but my Browning A-Bolt Hunter in 30-06 was so accurate that it was boring. With moderately tuned reloads it shot 5/8" at 100 all day long. The Medallion version is a prettier.
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30 years ago I took a Remington 700RS (early synthetic stocks) in 30-06 to Zimbabwe. Used factory 180gr Nosler Partition/Federal Premium ammo and had no issues with Kudu, Reedbuk, Impala, Warthog, etc. I think a Tikka Hunter in 30-06 would be fine. A used CZ550 in .30-06 would be fitting.
Practicing in various shooting and being prepared to walk for the good stuff helped. May not need to worry about walking if you are hunting from a Land Rover/Land Cruiser. |
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Any Sako. Done.
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Magadonia
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Originally Posted By Uys: 30 years ago I took a Remington 700RS (early synthetic stocks) in 30-06 to Zimbabwe. Used factory 180gr Nosler Partition/Federal Premium ammo and had no issues with Kudu, Reedbuk, Impala, Warthog, etc. I think a Tikka Hunter in 30-06 would be fine. A used CZ550 in .30-06 would be fitting. Practicing in various shooting and being prepared to walk for the good stuff helped. May not need to worry about walking if you are hunting from a Land Rover/Land Cruiser. View Quote I didn’t think of CZ, but I do love CZ. I’ll check out Sako, also. Everything will be off shooting sticks. |
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Buy a Big Horn Origin Action, PVA Pre-Fit Barrel, Timney trigger, MDT Chassis and have your gunsmith slap it together. It will be under $2500 and shoot laser beam straight.
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Dang it....double tap
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When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.
PA, USA
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Whoever double-crosses me and leaves me alive, he understands nothing about Tuco. Nothing!
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Potentate plenipotentiary sans portfolio
USA
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African plains hunt?
Custom Mauser. Any other answer is wrong. |
" If govt parsimony is economic madness, and debt-fuelled govt spending a recipe for riches, why aren't the Greeks bailing out the Germans?"
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Mausingfield action, Bartlein barrel, Woox stock, Triggertech Trigger, Leupold MK5 scope, AICS pattern magazine, rings of your choice. It will be beautiful and work very well.
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Sako model 85. I have a Sako model 75 in .375 H&H which I used for moose in Alaska, it would be right at home in Africa.
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America is at that awkward stage, it’s too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards....Claire Wolfe
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Originally Posted By Dessert_Eagle: Hi, I booked a Safari a couple years out in the future and I’m looking for what’s hopefully a “one and done” heirloom bolt action in 30-06. I really want it to be sub-MOA. I was looking at the Anchutz 1782 D as one option (they are $3k), but part of me wonders if there are equal or better alternatives. Any suggestions? Thank you… View Quote So im gonna make it short and sweet. If money is no object a custom build, on a mauser action. Personally I like either a pre or post 64 winchester. With a good 1X4,3X9 or 4X12 scope depending on the game and weather your stalking or shooting from a truck. And premium ammo. I tend to like my rifles to have iron sights, thats why I like my post 64 Winchester. |
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So there appear to be a few requirements, and a baseline:
1) 30-06 bolt action 2) One & done heirloom quality 3) African safari 4) Sub-MOA With the Anschutz 1782, we have a baseline of performance, beauty, and cost ($3kish). The Anschutz is great, and a factory gun. Having a few years out gives the time for a custom rifle. The classic action in this case would be a Mauser-derived controlled feed, mechanical ejector action. The pre-64 Winchesters are always beautiful, there are various commercial Mauser out there. My own choice in a commercial. Mauser would be a Beretta Mato. Recent production will be important to getting the accuracy. A mini-chassis DBM gun with a top-quality trigger would give great accuracy with a variety of stocks, but Mauser and Model 70s will be a challenge to set up that way. I second the Mausingfield- great looks, controlled feed with an inertial ejector, and it’ll also take all the R700 accessories out there like mini-chassis and aftermarket triggers. |
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Wow these are great responses.
If someone was going to take the path of a custom rifle, where should they go to find a builder? My primary desire with anything custom would be that the stock is fitted to me. I assume this means it would need to be wood. If it matters I’m in the VA/MD area. |
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Originally Posted By Dessert_Eagle: Wow these are great responses. If someone was going to take the path of a custom rifle, where should they go to find a builder? My primary desire with anything custom would be that the stock is fitted to me. I assume this means it would need to be wood. If it matters I’m in the VA/MD area. View Quote What is your price range for this build?. I apologize if its been asked before. Because iv been kind of thinking about this post. So when you go on a hunt, weather it’s grizzly in the north. To elk in the west or to the dark continent. Yes everybody wants that heirloom rifle. But the things I remember the most about my hunts is just being in the moment. Glassing or stalking the animal, sitting around the fire at night with a good drink and talking and swapping stories with the PHs and other hunters. When it comes to the shot I remember them all. But to behonest everybody gets caught up in the rifle. A 12-30K rifle will shoot just as straight and true as a nice $1200 Sako fin bear or a Winchester. My Winchester M70 was glass and pillar beaded and I took a nice moose in AK two years ago with no issues from 225yds. |
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Use a rifle supplied by the outfitter. They will have the proper rifle and save you a lot of time going thru Customs after the long flight to Joberg. Plus, it won't get stolen like from the Texas guy I talked to before the flight on the way over on 6/17.
Also, don't bring ammo. Same reasoning. Good luck. |
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Originally Posted By hardcase: Use a rifle supplied by the outfitter. They will have the proper rifle and save you a lot of time going thru Customs after the long flight to Joberg. Plus, it won't get stolen like from the Texas guy I talked to before the flight on the way over on 6/17. Also, don't bring ammo. Same reasoning. Good luck. View Quote That, right there.^ Save yourself some cash and a lot of hassle. |
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"What is socialism? The most difficult and tortuous way to progress from capitalism to capitalism." -Stated at an intel conference, East Berlin, Oct. 1988
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken |
Ruger M77 Guide Gun
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Lots of good custom gun builders out there, it would be difficult to recommend one- but I might check in with Short Action Customs to price out a build.
I can also recommend Briley in Houston as people who know how to fit a custom wood stick to a rifle. I would decide on an action-mini chassis before getting the stick fitted. Sounds like it’ll be a lovely gun! Also-also, for a barrel, if you use a Mausingfield, there are multiple options for shouldered, pre-fit barrels that will probably strike a very desirable cost-ease-performance balance for the project. |
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To the everlasting glory of the Infantry!
USA
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RESIST
“Chaos liberates not only the evil, but the good.” —Billy Spears |
If you’re spending that kind of coin perhaps a fine Mauser would be the ticket. They still make some upscale rifles.
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Originally Posted By Dessert_Eagle: Wow these are great responses. If someone was going to take the path of a custom rifle, where should they go to find a builder? My primary desire with anything custom would be that the stock is fitted to me. I assume this means it would need to be wood. If it matters I’m in the VA/MD area. View Quote Not necessarily. McMillan et al make fiberglas stocks adjusted in a few parameters, I like stocks between a standard and youth size. |
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Potentate plenipotentiary sans portfolio
USA
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" If govt parsimony is economic madness, and debt-fuelled govt spending a recipe for riches, why aren't the Greeks bailing out the Germans?"
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Originally Posted By Dessert_Eagle: Wow these are great responses. If someone was going to take the path of a custom rifle, where should they go to find a builder? My primary desire with anything custom would be that the stock is fitted to me. I assume this means it would need to be wood. If it matters I'm in the VA/MD area. View Quote |
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Potentate plenipotentiary sans portfolio
USA
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" If govt parsimony is economic madness, and debt-fuelled govt spending a recipe for riches, why aren't the Greeks bailing out the Germans?"
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Originally Posted By wvfarrier: Buy a Big Horn Origin Action, PVA Pre-Fit Barrel, Timney trigger, MDT Chassis and have your gunsmith slap it together. It will be under $2500 and shoot laser beam straight. View Quote This. I built mine. If you're doing shouldered prefit barrels as long as you've got a barrel vice and wrench you can build it yourself. Attached File |
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We're living in an episode of Who's Line is it Anyway.
Where everything's made up and the points don't matter. |
I’d call bugholes and order a custom barreled action with a origin action and Bartleins #3 or #3B barrel and then drop it in a good hunting style stock from Manners or McMillan if you’re set on a 30-06.
Personally though I’d choose a different cartridge and get a Seekins Element. |
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Might want to make sure it’s legal where you hunt. Many African countries have a minimum caliber and most start with a 375 H&H.
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17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
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CZ550 in .375 HH
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BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles. People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird. |
IF your shooting from sticks then why do you demand such accuracy? 1-1.5 MOA is perfectly adequate for most real world shooting scenarios. If it were me I would look around for some second hand customs. You will get the nostalgia of shooting a custom mauser for less than half the price of new.
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Gee, I'd just like to know WTF are you going to be shooting at?
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Originally Posted By JimmyAR: Gee, I'd just like to know WTF are you going to be shooting at? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By JimmyAR: Gee, I'd just like to know WTF are you going to be shooting at? Plains game? https://biggamehuntingadventures.com/best-caliber-for-an-african-safari-hunt/ Best Caliber For Hunting Plains Game Generally speaking, the .270 Winchester is the minimum caliber suitable (and legal) for most species of plains game like impala and springbok, though some countries have a 7mm minimum caliber. When using good quality bullets, the .270 (and similar cartridges like the 7mm Remington Magnum) is perfectly capable of taking some larger antelope as well. However, the .30-06 Springfield is probably the best all-around caliber for hunting plains game in Africa. When using premium 180gr (or heavier) bullets, the .30-06 is powerful enough to ethically take virtually every species of plains game proper shot placement. It is also an excellent choice for hunting thin skinned dangerous game like leopard. At the same time, the .30-06 Springfield has a relatively mild recoil, has a trajectory suitable for taking shots out to several hundred yards, and most hunters can shoot it accurately. The same could be said about the .308 Winchester. |
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BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles. People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird. |
Are you gonna have to carry it a long ways? I’ve heard a number of tales of stalking game for miles in the hot African plains. If you plan to carry it, might want to think about weight, too. Some of those beautiful wood-stocked rifles are heavy.
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Potentate plenipotentiary sans portfolio
USA
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Originally Posted By peachy: Are you gonna have to carry it a long ways? I’ve heard a number of tales of stalking game for miles in the hot African plains. If you plan to carry it, might want to think about weight, too. Some of those beautiful wood-stocked rifles are heavy. View Quote Not anywhere near as heavy as some of the chassis' suggested above. I looked d up one of those above and the chassis is almost 5lbs. |
" If govt parsimony is economic madness, and debt-fuelled govt spending a recipe for riches, why aren't the Greeks bailing out the Germans?"
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I am taking my CZ600 Lux in .30-06 next year. Seems to like 180gr Barnes TTSX just fine and I did get a custom dial for it.
Nice Bavarian stock and mine has good enough wood. I am only going after plains game on this hunt and wanted a nice rifle. My boy wants to use it for local hunting too. WHen I do DG in a couple of years I am just going to do a camp rifle and save the hassle of having a .375 or .416 for only one time unless I hit the lottery and then it will be a double rifle. |
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Tikka, Sako and CZ would be all worth looking at. A used CZ is a traditional Mauser action and I have yet to see one that was not a shooter. I own a .308 and a .375 H&H
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RIP Jeff Reed. Tennessee Squire, Ga. Carry member, NRA,Non-puking 72 ounce drinker 2 of 6 Norcal call sign, Forgotten.
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Ruger m77 express safari 30/06
Good luck finding one!!! |
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We are living in a Tom Clancy novel
Over 50 and reputed to be a formidable brigand https://hr1871.com/ |
We are living in a Tom Clancy novel
Over 50 and reputed to be a formidable brigand https://hr1871.com/ |
Originally Posted By mgwantob: I have a Sako L61R for this: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/73019/IMG_3218_jpeg-3269670.JPG View Quote Beautiful! I have an L579, which is a medium length action version. Its chambered in 6mm Rem, a bit light for African plains, though. |
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Not near as exotic as some of the guns mentioned but I've got a safari in South Africa coming up, I'm taking a Ruger Hawkeye stainless in .308. Shoots 1/2 groups with any bullet and is very reliable.
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