The Greatest Sporting Rifle of All Time

[Ardent]

No vote is wrong this is all personal opinion. With all the recent threads, hyperbole, and fun this subject comes to mind. Whatever you pick make your case, I can see cases for my own choice the Mauser 98 which laid the foundation of most bolt actions today, for the Winchester 94 which ushered in the smokeless era in the West and brought a handy repeating carbine within reach of almost anyone, the Remington 700 I love to hate for its five million units sold and introducing so many hunters to the sport, or the pre-64 Model 70 the Rifleman’s Rifle for its quality and timelessness.

My own personal pick the Mauser 98 didn’t start it all, but it was the first to really nail the formula and the use of #### on opening was an important part of that. It’s an action that still holds up against the competition a hundred and twenty two years later, and is still in production. Not the best at any single thing, but certainly one of the most reliable and durable, and to my eyes beautiful. It brought safe gas handling in the event of a case failure to the forefront, and solidified controlled round feed into firearms history. Many of the great hunting exploits also featured Mauser 98s, such as Bell, Corbett, and Selby.

From my point of view it has a position solidified in firearms history as the greatest of all time, and there doesn’t exist the game, time, or space to ever be superseded in today’s world. It’s a relic of another era anyone can afford to own, that holds its own in today’s world just the same.

 

[cody c]

Its hard to argue with those pictures.. I believe the P-14/M-17 were inspired and designed after the mauser, and they're design carried over into winchester and remington bolt actions. Would enjoy some facts on that as well, but it seems that the mauser action was the first to really get it right, and the grandfather of many other designs.

 

[GUB]

Is that your rifle Ardent???

 

[caramel]

This is a very nice rifle.

 

[cody c]

Thats two or three different rifles in the pictures

 

[Evanguy]

Yup mauser 98. Either commercial or mill surplus sporters

My case; Rigby.

That first pic you have there, where the bear paw inspired me to get out of mill surplus and into eruo sporting rifles when you had it in a thread asking about rebarrling it.

I have have my more rare LE's but mostly now if its a LE or LM its going to be a commercial build. (lee speed for the early ones)

 

[Takujualuk]

Winchester 71. The universal lever rifle in the great old 348. Now you are talking!

1) Balance
2) ergonomics
3) speed of shouldering and getting off a second shot
4) style x10
5) excellent balanced ballistics
6) smoothness of feeding....that tapered case feeds smoother than goose poop.
7) History..the end of the evolution of traditional levers. A design perfected.

The new Hornady 200 Flex-tip factory load prints into under 2" with peep sights on mine and works out to 300 yards on caribou. Loaded with 250 Woodleighs it goes through bison. Not bad.

 

[3macs1]

Christ even model 700 owners know it was the 98 mauser
Cheers

 

[nowarningshot]

Todays commercial bolt actions are on a sliding scale from Model 98 to Model 700.like.

I dont like pure 98, add a M70 style safety, and a bolt that slide over rim instead of have to feed direcly from the mag. What rifle.am i describing? LOL.

If you asked americans it would be the Ar platform. Course they have a free country.

 

[-JD-]

For a "sporting rifle" my vote would go to the ruger mkII or Hawkeye. I would also have no problems taking a Winchester m70 crf, kimber and maybe a cz550.
Now I realize these all are all m98 copies but if we're talking sporting rifle then I really pefer the 3 position safeties of ruger/win/kimber. Of course I know you could fit a m98 with a similar aftermarket unit in which case I'd have no problem carrying a '98.

 

[track]

I was forever a push-feed fan;until in recent years that I realized how great the Mauser action really is. There are many variations of the Mauser action, however ones I find to my penchant are the pre-Sako 85 accompanied by the Belgium made. A Mauser action rifle chambered with a classic European cartridge is a combination of a great flavor, like ice cream and apple pie. Yes, they are generally gravitationally challenged compared to the push feed, but worth the extra burden.

 

[Ardent]

Is that your rifle Ardent???

Yes they are though I sold the last one to a friend here. Have more, I’m a 98 and double rifle fan. It’s a sickness.

 

[kamlooky]

I think yer mistak'in lust fur sickness.
98's rule.

 

[GUB]

Wow.. Nice collection.. I was hesitant to ask ?? But glad I did.. At first I was thinking they may have been a clients??

 

[brybenn]

That last rifle was gorgeous. Case colors and figured wood. Perfect combo

 

[GUB]

I won't even ask $$$$$$ You know if you have to ask$$$$ LOL

 

[rifleman762]

I approve of the Mauser 98. I only have one right now but hopefully I can swing a few more in the future. My first moose was shot with an M98 that still had a Nazi eagle on it.

 

[dgradinaru]

I agree that the Mauser 98 is definitely greatest of all time! 122 Years and still going strong! Speaks for itself!

 

[Ardent]

That last one is also a large ring Kurz true short action, .250 Savage length, one of of only known to Jon Speed; who literally wrote the book on Mausers.

 

[Bittereinder]

For a "sporting rifle" my vote would go to the ruger mkII or Hawkeye. I would also have no problems taking a Winchester m70 crf, kimber and maybe a cz550.
Now I realize these all are all m98 copies but if we're talking sporting rifle then I really pefer the 3 position safeties of ruger/win/kimber. Of course I know you could fit a m98 with a similar aftermarket unit in which case I'd have no problem carrying a '98.

That's my vote as well. "The Ruger M77 Hawkeye is the best Model 70 ever made."
https://www.rifleshootermag.com/editorial/ruger-m77-hawkeye-vs-winchester-model-70/83497