Input Wanted for Ultimate "One Rifle" for North American Game - $10k Including Optics

mjs · #36 07-15-2009, 05:46 PM

I've read the comments. They certainly have merit. Calibers, well, that's something to fight over. For my nickel, my advice would be for you to buy a Blaser R-93 rifle. You have your pick of calibers - magnum or standard, on the same platform. I have hunted in different countries, let alone states. Rule number one is to have your rifle meet you upon arrival. I've been to Africa a number of times and seen "pain" in the eyes of hunters who did not get their gun upon arrival. Seen it at Yellowknife and Texas. Sometimes I think the airlines go out of their way to ruin a guy. With a Blaser, the rifle breaks down into a nice package and goes into the bottom of your duffle. It doesn't look like a rifle box, so it goes un-noticed through the terminals. Blasers' are very accurate rifles. I have not been disappointed.

Wachsmann · #37 07-25-2009, 06:32 PM

Well not to sound like a smart AXX but if I was spending 10K on a rifle I would by one of the 1000yrd Best of the West shooting systems which would kill about 6.5K to 7K. and then go buy me a 243 for my yote hutting. Then I would take the other 1k and buy alot of ammo for the 243 and get the some of the BEST OF THE WEST AMMO for the 7mm. Ok I like the 7mmRmag. If any thing is left which there would be I would go to a professional shooting class. This is just my 2 cents.

X3MHunter · #38 07-25-2009, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wachsmann

Well not to sound like a smart AXX but if I was spending 10K on a rifle I would by one of the 1000yrd Best of the West shooting systems which would kill about 6.5K to 7K. and then go buy me a 243 for my yote hutting. Then I would take the other 1k and buy alot of ammo for the 243 and get the some of the BEST OF THE WEST AMMO for the 7mm. Ok I like the 7mmRmag. If any thing is left which there would be I would go to a professional shooting class. This is just my 2 cents.

Actually for 10K you can get a reputable gunsmith (many on this site) to build you two rifles just like the ones from "The Best of the West", (a long range one and a short range one) for less money and if you don't handload you could buy top of the line reloading equipment and turn out loads as good or better to the ones from "BOTW" and then use the rest of the money to pay for a few hunting trips. Also join a club and go shoot F-Class matches, you can learn alot there and meet alot of knowledgeble people, no need for a professional shooting class.

Just my $0.02

-X3M

eaglesnester · #39 08-09-2009, 10:43 AM

Em, one rifle eh? Well there is only one answer for you. Now you said, "one rifle for EVERYTHING in NORTH AMERICA". North America is one big place and the types of game encountered goes from bunney wabbits, to polar bears and huge Alaska Grizz. When you show up with a 340 mag in Alaska, and you are going after coastal grizz, it kinda makes some guides feel a little concerned, they would much rather have you packing a 375H&H. Now before we go too much further a 375 H&H is not going to have the recoil that everybody talks about that has never shot one.
The powder loads are very similar to a 300 Weatherby Mag in the 375, only diff is the bullet dia and bullet weight you can shoot. Your first thought is too much gun for North America. I can assure you it is not too much gun. When you want to go for mule deer, moose, elk white tail. You load up your ouch&ouch with a 235grain bullet and 70gr of H4350 and you have a tame MV of 2715fps with much less meat damage than if you had shot the same game with a 300 Weatherby. If you ever decide to go after D.G. in Alaska or Africa you load up the old ouch&ouch with 300gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw SP and 81gr of H414 and you can harvest anything that walks on planet earth. The old ouch&ouch is a very good caliber. You can load er up and reach out and touch an elk at long, long range and still have the MV and energy to make a clean one shot kill.
Next question is which gun? Take a look at the CZ550 African Safari. They are accurate, hold 5 rounds, has controled round feeding, a 25inch barrel, not a lot of recoil because of design, and the best thing is they do not cost an arm and a leg. The CZ550 is the weapon of choice for more guides in Africa than any other brand. That has to tell you something. I am going to purchase one this November, I live and hunt in north centeral interior of B.C. Canada. I normaly carry a 308 Norma or a 300 Weatherby. I can hardly wait to get my hands on the CZ550 in 375H&H.

Cheers & Tighter Groups: Eaglesnester

angus-5024 · #40 08-09-2009, 03:09 PM

i wouldnt say that a .340 is light for Grizz. in fact Im pretty sure that the .340 has more energy at any range that the 375 HH simply due to greater velocity (dependant on bullet wight of course). But that being said, I think I would rather shoot a 375 for Grizz anyway simply because greater frontal area. The old "ouch and ouch" is one heck of a game getter.

Skimbleshanks · #41 01-11-2011, 09:03 AM

One rifle. I don't like that thought but I have no doubt that if I were restricted to that it would be one of 2 calibers. 375 H&H or 375WBY. I would much rather have too much lead for the smaller game on my list than not enough for the big game on that same list. With your budget I would strongly suggest a 6.5 or 7mm, not necessarily a magnum but something with some poop to it, and a 338 to 375 of some kind. Have them built in tandem and make the switch between the 2 as natural as possible. Just make sure that the ammo for them do not chamber in each other and a visual clue like a different color stock would be good too. These are just my opinion given the budget you have suggested.

ubettcha13 · #42 01-12-2011, 11:11 AM

Order Len's demo 243ai, and a 300 wsm or 338 edge Buy one of his scopes and swap it between rifles.