What's the best rifle platform for hunting large game?

the buffalo in my avatare was shot with a 9.3x62 and died pretty quick. I have a 35 whelen in the Remington 7600, in a ruger # 1 and in a custom 98 mauser. and its like a twin to the 9.3x62, both will shoot a 250 gr bullet at 2500 fps.

If we're talking about BIG game, I mean really BiiiGGGGGG, as in elephant and cape buffalo, I prefer a good bolt action rifle. Double rifles are nice, and I've hunted with a double, but a well -built bolt rifle in a dependable caliber gets the job done without a lot of fuss and excitement. All three rifles here are .458 Win mags. Bottom rifle has been taken lion, a few elephant and a bunch of buffalo over the past 40+ years. It's built on surplus Mauser action with quick detachable scope mount in case I ever needed to use open sights. The scope has yet to be removed.. Top rifle in old tang safety Ruger 77 used on one buffalo hunt with a scope at the time. Rifle in middle is built around a Pre-64 M-70, with some pretty trimmings, hasn't gone hunting yet.

Offfhand said:

Bottom rifle has been taken lion, a few elephant and a bunch of buffalo over the past 40+ years. It's built on surplus Mauser action with quick detachable scope mount in case I ever needed to use open sights. The scope has yet to be removed..

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Nice rifles! What kind of scope did you put on the mauser? 1-4x power?

...if needed there is no difference in speed of "AIMED" shots between a bolt gun and anything else.

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Never seen a bolt action in a 3 gun match

Absolutely as others have mentioned the context matters. I don’t hunt dangerous game, and I never plan to. I am prepared though.

Currently this would be my do all ‘big game’ rifle. It’s a sako L61R from the 90s back when they were made really solid, sports a 23” barrel, canjar trigger, and McMillan stock as well. It’s in 375h&h. I am also in the process of building a 9.3x62 on a vz-24

Whatever you have it really should have back up iron sights if you plan in hunting very far away places. Winchester model 70 safari or Alaskan models cover that. Bolt rifles are easiest to clean in the field, excluding maybe doubles or single shots in the event mud or other filth gets on the inside. Bolts also have the most leverage by a long shot for extraction, or for closing on a really dirty chamber; not that you should be forcing that, but perhaps in an emergency.

Alaskan Ironworker said:

Whatever you have it really should have back up iron sights if you plan in hunting very far away places. Winchester model 70 safari or Alaskan models cover that. Bolt rifles are easiest to clean in the field, excluding maybe doubles or single shots in the event mud or other filth gets on the inside. Bolts also have the most leverage by a long shot for extraction, or for closing on a really dirty chamber; not that you should be forcing that, but perhaps in an emergency.

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Shopping for some express sights currently for the above rifle.

What you mentioned about leverage and extraction is one thing I have always wondered about the R8. It has been touted as of the best dangerous game rifles for its speed, but even with a camming-style straight pull, wouldn’t the leverage not hold a candle to a classic two or three lug rotating bolt?

a few of the animals I took with a CZ 550 in .375 H&H, as you have to pay for a wounded animal that is not found. I relied on the .375 keep that from happening.

jmr40 said:

The need for rapid repeat shots are over rated. And if needed there is no difference in speed of "AIMED" shots between a bolt gun and anything else.

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I’ll bite on this one... I had hunted coyotes for over a decade before switching to an AR. Doubling was rare, and I never put together a triple with a bolt gun, even when 4-6, sometimes more coyotes might come to the call. Switching to an AR, I started tripling as often as I had doubled in the past, and doubles were a frequent occurrence.

I shot 3 gun for several years, and shoot precision rifle competition now, and have shot precision rifle matches with a gas gun multiple times - the same speed advantage remains in comparing these.

If this isn’t the same question as, “what’s the ideal hunting rifle,” then I’d say the “ideal large game rifle platform” for me is a Ruger M77 Hawkeye All-Weather, wrapped in a new stock and swallowing new barrels. 300win mag and 458win mag.

Mosin Nagants do just fine.......

Bfh_auto said:

I meant type of platform... Semi, bolt, single, double, etc.

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Then bolt gun. Not for any specific virtue, but rather for a balanced diet of availability, capability, and cost.

Funny Story: Why I don't feel too under-gunned with a bolt-action.

Several years ago, I attended an informal running deer shoot at Monmouth F &G, (between Lewiston and Gardiner, ME), using my Rem 700 BDL, .270 Win. I made it fairly late, just before lunch and they broke for lunch just as I was ready to sign up. I asked the guy running it about where to aim at the deer for each shooting lane, since the 'deer' slowed down quite a bit as it "ran". Fortunately, he gave me aiming point hints.

When they re-started, I was signed up 3rd. The first guy had a Rem 742, 30-06. He got ready, loading the rifle at the shooting station. When the deer got to the first opening, he tried to shoot, but hadn't chambered a round. Score Zero!

The next guy, his buddy, had a Rem 760 pump in .308 or .30-06. He got ready and chambered a round. The deer started down and the guy fired. Then, he took the rifle down to pump the action. As the result, he only got two shots off and poor hits.

When it was my turn, I loaded up my Rem 700 bolt-action and managed to get three shots off, 1 in each lane. About 8 more shooters fired and when the smoke cleared, I'd won!!! I also won the next shoot, then I was "limited-out".

If you have rifle "Turkey Shoots" in the area where you live, I recommend trying them. They give great practice, especially when a little nervous about shooting in front of others. It can somewhat simulate nervousness (if there is any) when shooting deer or other animals. Besides, you can win frozen turkeys and have plenty of meat, even before fall hunting seasons. Unlike game, you don't even have to clean them. We brought coolers and ice when we went to turkey shoots, especially the ones more than a half-hour away from home. Boothbay, ME had a great shoot that I liked because they shot .22 rifle, centerfire rifle and shotgun events. After a few seasons, they didn't let me shoot my .22-250.

MistWolf said:

I'd say one about 20 feet off the ground, walls to keep out the wind, a roof to keep out rain and snow with a heater and a comfy recliner to nap in.

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You sir, win the internet today.

Boattale said:

You sir, win the internet today.

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Thank you! Winning this award wouldn't be possible without the support of my adoring fans. I'd like to personally thank all three of them from the bottom of my heart...!

MistWolf said:

Thank you! Winning this award wouldn't be possible without the support of my adoring fans. I'd like to personally thank all three of them from the bottom of my heart...!

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The two I hunt from are only about 10' above the ground but fit all the rest of your criteria. Not much better than sitting in a shooting house with a 40 degree middling rain, the sun coming up with a nice cup of coffee going on the shelf, watching a doe or two walk in. Wondering what comes next.

To my way of thinking the answer to best rifle platform for large game is a bolt action CRF internal box magazine in appropriate chambering. Mid and small game is bolt action rifle, with or without CRF and with internal box, removable or tube magazine.

Bfh_auto said:

Pumps are cool, but I have a tendency to forget to rack the slide. This would be changed by practice.

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That and if I do remember to rack the slide I’m bad about short stroking. So I don’t own pumps, rifle or shotgun.

One that you can shoot accurately, comfortable with and can kill game with. Single shot. Bolt, Lever or Pump can get it done. For me I like the 06 in a bolt, 30-30 and 444 in a lever. Not a pump guy. For Single Shot I like the 45-70.
All will kill anything in the lower 48. 30-30 is on the right side of the margin for some critters just barely. But if you can shoot it and shoot it well. It will get the job done.

my favorite single shot, a browning low wall in .260.