Ultimate rifle

redneck2 · Jan 9, 2021

We always get the “what’s the cheapest........” threads.

So, you come into a very significant amount of money. You want an ultimate all around rifle. Maybe some deer/elk. Some target, longer range like 600-1,000 yards. Budget maybe $10,000. Dunno.

What’s you’re ultimate set up?

wiscoaster · Jan 9, 2021

Oh, that's easy, already picked out if I'm ever that rich: Desert Tech MDR bullpup: https://www.deserttech.com/mdr.php

It's $2K MSRP, so I could really afford to trick it out very well, indeed. And buy a lot of ammo.

JShirley · Jan 9, 2021

Desert Techs are sweet. :thumbup:

Once upon a time, I thought it was possible to have an ultimate/do everything rifle, one that could hit targets at 600 meters or more, take deer, and engage the Soviets or threat du jour. A former member here who was an engineer, 3 gunner, and a friend of mine, sold a lightly used, accurized FN Fal heavy barrel with some other modifications. I sold something like 7 of my firearms to be able to buy it.

It's a beautiful rifle, accurate, and capable of taking 20 round mags of hard-hitting 7.62x51mm. It's also very heavy, and not optimal for clearing houses or hunting deer on the ground, or at short ranges. I've shot 10 rounds through it, in the 16 years I've had it.

I would suggest that a dedicated long range rifle, a dedicated defensive rifle (or braced "pistol"), and a dedicated general purpose/hunting rifle would be a better way to go. Something like a 5.56x45mm 16" barrel carbine with good RDS, a sporterized 1903, Mauser, P14 or 1917, and a Remington 700 PSS, or Ruger Precision Rifle or similar. Your budget would let you get good to great optics on all.

IMO, that would be a solution you'd be happier with, instead of chasing an elusive "1 gun" rifle.

NIGHTLORD40K · Jan 9, 2021

Man, I dunno, my P308 does pretty much everything really well-

CapnMac · Jan 9, 2021

My first reflex would be to drop by Accuracy International, or Sako, and see what they'd fit to me and only me.
Mind, Desert Tech in a creedmore caliber would catch my eye, too.

Vern Humphrey · Jan 9, 2021

Already got it -- Winchester Model 70 .30-06 made in 1939 with a Leupold 4X scope. Like all other pre-WWII Model 70s, this one has a clip slot. It also has a Lyman peep sight snuggled up against the rear scope base.

taliv · Jan 9, 2021

I posted this 2 years ago. Nothing has changed since then.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/best-rifle-i’ve-owned.836725/

You can get accurate rifles pretty cheap.
A quality rifle will also have a smooth action that gets much smoother by the time you’ve put your Fourth or fifth barrel on it.
But what really costs a lot of coin and takes experienced people to put together, is a rifle that is DURABLE.

probably nothing beats the AIAW or maybe AIAX for that. However, I’m not a fan of their stocks so I shoot the foundation stock a bit better and the setup in the attached link is about as reliable as i can imagine.

btw the desert tech is an excellent choice. However it’s downside is if you shoot from buildings or vehicles etc (or matches) you will eventually need to shoot weak side and that’s unnecessarily challenging. The short OAL is awesome though.

Dibbs · Jan 9, 2021

Can't say it would change things much. Already got that Ruger M77, in 30.06.

Walkalong · Jan 9, 2021

A really nice double rifle.

Hog huntin Harry · Jan 9, 2021

New production Mauser model 98 Magnum chambered in 9.3x62 Mauser.

bannockburn · Jan 9, 2021

I could be extremely happy with a Desert Tech MDRX in 6.5 Creedmoor!

WisBorn · Jan 9, 2021

I think it would have to be a Blaser R8 left hand. The interchangeable barrels and bolts would be great. I would probably start with 300 Win Mag, but the cartridge is not as important as the other features. Wood stock or synthetic? Model?

Never handled one, but the engineering of the rifle is cool!!!

LoonWulf · Jan 9, 2021

Cooper 52 Western Classic 7mm remington magnum.
A 28" barrel long throat, 1-8 twist, profiled a little heavier than sporter, say .75 at the muzzle.
All the nice add ons they offer, except i want a squishy pad, and lop set at 14"

Other wise ill have it fully custom built, but along the same lines....Fine wood, 7 mag, and blacked stainless steel are the requirements there.

ZGunner · Jan 9, 2021

I’d call GA Precision and tell them what I’m wanting to do with it. I’d have it custom built for me, for my needs. I guess I’d top it with a Nightforce or Schmidt and Bender.
And with the money left over I guess I’d buy another custom or a couple off the shelf.

Robert · Jan 9, 2021

$10k would leave me a little shy of being able to pick up a brand new Chapuis 9.3x74R double rifle. Suppose I could get a used one...

Or, a nice Model 70 in 300 H&H.

Steve S. · Jan 9, 2021

A Shiloh Sharps 45-70 with all the gingerbread (inclusive of a 4x or 6x MVA scope/ mounts) - $10k should just about do it.

rayatphonix · Jan 9, 2021

I’d probably take a Bergara and put a AAA walnut stock on it. Caliber either 284 Win or 6.5 Norma. I shoot to get ready for hunting and this rifle could do everything I’d ever need.

DocRock · Jan 9, 2021

I don't know about "ultimate rifle" but it is certainly one for which I lust and cannot financially justify: Blaser K95 Baronesse Stutzen in 6.6x55

BreechFace · Jan 9, 2021

Tuned, blueprinted, lapped, Winchester M70 in 280ai carbon barrel, fiberglass stock with premium glass in the 3-18x42-50mm range.

If the shooter has skills and the right shot presents itself it’ll put meat on the table out to 1,000 yards.

Going to be well under $10k even with top tier glass.

Micro · Jan 9, 2021

If money were no object, easy. Westley Richards magazine rifle. Unfortunately, it's a bit over the $10K budget. Starting at about $50,000.

https://www.westleyrichards.com/new-guns/guns/bolt-action-rifle/

In the $10K range, probably a Dakota 76 African.

JBradley500 · Jan 9, 2021

AI action, J Allen chassis, Hart barrel, TT Diamond, Seekins hardware, Atlas bipod, and a 7-35 ATACR I guess. Never had a custom rifle, but if the parts go together I think I would be happy with that.

db_tanker · Jan 9, 2021

The rifle my dad carried in Korea.
An M3 Grease gun (he was a tanker) but it would be my ultimate.

now..the 2nd most ultimate...Blaser R93 300 WinMag with a Schmidt Bender scope.

3Crows · Jan 9, 2021

I am easy to please, maybe a boat paddle Ruger M77 in .338 Win Mag? Okay a matching set, the other being .270 Winchester, both of course stainless steel. Okay, okay, I got $10,000, throw in a stainless steel Marlin Guide Gun. Basically, there is no one gun I could be happy with. Or I could take my $99 Remington 700 7mm Rem Mag and hand it to the best gunsmith I can find and tell him the limit is $10,000, go to work! Or keep the $10,000 in the bank and go some place to hunt or feed the homeless or ------- .

Frostbite · Jan 9, 2021

I fear ten thousand is a little short for a Holland and Holland

In that price range, including a proper optical aiming device (Nightforce or higher end Leupold?) and some good ammo, I might be tempted by a Model 70 Super Grade in French Walnut .30-06 Springfield.

My real joy, I guess, would be an over and under rifle, scoped with a Trijicon Accupoint, set trigger (don't know if feasible on a double with only one trigger), 26" barrels, in .270 Winchester. It should be within the then thousand dollars range (which I don't have right now). Blued steel and very nice wood, oil finish, excellent recoil pad included, fit to me by someone who knows what he is doing. Add a nice leather sling to that, attached to a barrel band, and I could be very happy.

I tend to agree with those who think one rifle to do everything is not the preferable way to go, at least when one can envision the possibility of owning more. I used to believe one could be enough, then I became a member here.

WestKentucky · Jan 9, 2021

Sig cross in 277 weatherby magnum would be very high on the list. Add to it a solid thermal imaging scope with rangefinder, and a carbon fiber bipod. No, it’s not the most expensive rifle or really the most or best at anything, but it’s a good mix without any notable sacrifices.

Ultimate rifle

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