Best hunting rifle? (In your experience and opinion)

[DeepSouth]

Opinion: Blaser R8, it's my dream hunting rifle.
Experience: For now I make do with a Remington 700 BDL, despite all the haters it's a very fine rifle for the money.

 

[I6turbo]

I would like for it to reflect the days of old when guns showed craftsmanship in the wood grain and blue steel.

The CZ 550 fits that bill with it's true Mauser style action and a build quality like the proverbial tank. And they are very accurate. The only possible downside that I can think of with regard to your stated objective is that they aren't made in the USA. If you require US manufacture for this heirloom I'd be looking at something more along the lines of an old 700 or Model 70.

The 550s are made in several styles including the Lux with a conventional stock and iron sights, and an American which is a conventional stock and no sights. Here's another style, the FS.



CZs often come with some beautiful wood hiding under the factory finish. I've refinished the stocks on the above guns because I like how wood looks without stain. Here's one of the above prior to the refinish.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

I'd go with a pre-64 Winchester Model 70 in .30-06.

You beat me on this. I bought my 1951 M70 30-06 in 1977 and have shot deer, moose and caribou with it and it never has failed me under any conditions. And yeah it would be a good hand down gun but I will be buried with that rifle.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I bought my 1951 M70 30-06 in 1977 and have shot deer, moose and caribou with it and it never has failed me under any conditions

How can you go wrong with the best production sporting rifle ever made, in the best cartridge?

 

[Hangingrock]

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I've got several that come close, but to pick one, I'd have to say my one of my Win M70 Extreme Weathers. I've got two: one in .30-06 and one in 7mm Rem Mag. Both are sub-MOA shooters with bullets ranging from 150 gr to 180gr and 175gr respectively. Both are scoped with Zeiss Conquest RapidZ scopes, the -06 has a 3-9x40 RapidZ600, the 7mmRM has a 3.5-10x44 RapidZ800. I'm hard pressed to pick between them. Both rifles come free-floated in Bell&Carlson stocks with full Aluminum bedding block and, with controlled round feed, have been 100% reliable through hundreds of rounds.

My third choice is my .375 H&H Mag Rem 700 XCR II glass-bedded and free-floated in B&C Medalist Sporter stock in Weatherby design scoped with a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 with Z-Plex reticle. I have replaced the X-Mark Pro trigger with a 3.5# Timney 510 trigger. Fully set up, it weighs 8.5# and shoots to <1MOA. I'd trust it against anything on this planet with 300 gr solids & softs and it is a ballistic twin to the .30-06 (with 180gr bullets) with my 260gr Nosler AcccuBonds at 2,700 fps MV.

YMMV, but those three are my top choices.

FH

 

[d2wing]

I would stick with a brand popular in the states and a very common cartridge like 30-06 or .308 if it is to be an heirloom. Your grand kids may not want to keep an oddball or obsolete weapon or cartridge. I have seen what happens when kids inherit stuff that isn't popular or easy for ammo or service. It gets sold or given away. It only has value if it perceived to have value. And Old model 70's are great if they are in fine shape but not everyone remembers or cares about the old days when they were special. In other words it should be nice so that it's value is readily apparent.