Most aesthetically pleasing bolt action rifle....

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In your eyes, what are the most aesthetically pleasing bolt action rifles? What would you get, or is a rifle just a tool for you? I really prefer classic lines - stuff like the new Sauer 505 and Mannlichers do nothing for me.

While I really appreciate the convenience of stainless and synthetic stocked rifles, there is no denying the appeal of beautiful wood, bluing and checkering.

1. New production, reasonably attainable - Winchester 70 Super Grade French Walnut. Unfortunately it seems as accuracy is hit or miss with these - no pun intended.

2. New production, higher end - Mauser 98. Still one of the best, after all these years.

3. New production, customizable - Rigby? Westley Richards? Purdey? Maybe a Rigby Highland Stalker, or a Westley Richards. Tough call on this one!

4. Custom - John Bollinger of Mountain Riflery makes some beautiful rifles!

5. Old production - again, tough to not go with one of the English makers mentioned above or an Oberndorf Mauser (Kurz?), but I'll choose a Mannlicher Schoenauer in either M1903 carbine which is super handy, or an M1924.

Maybe you already own the one you covet - please post a picture!
 
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Well I agree with you on all you wrote. For me I really like the old German style sorting rifles, really slim stock with slander forehand, narrow wrist at the grip, prince of whale round grip, shadow line cheek piece, side panels at the action. Doesn’t have to be in fancy wood but descent wood is always good!
I have one that my dad gave me and that I refinish the stock, the wood ain’t fancy actually pretty blend but I love that rifle! It is in 8x57 and even if the bore is dark it still shoots good enough for hunting moose inside 200m.
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That's like asking a fellow who prefers blondes, which brunette he likes.

It's a personal preference.

State your likes and ask if anyone shares your opinion, but whatever you do, buy the firearm that pleases YOU most.
 
SuperCub said:
The Remington Custom Shop Model Seven MS was always a favourite as well.

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Yes, I really wanted one in .250 Savage but man oh man - was something like $3000 for a laminated stock Model Seven. I did have a Remington Custom Shop BDL 700 C Grade one, and it was nice, but I bought, and sold that for far less. Still a very pretty little rifle!
 
bearhunter said:
That's like asking a fellow who prefers blondes, which brunette he likes.

It's a personal preference.

State your likes and ask if anyone shares your opinion, but whatever you do, buy the firearm that pleases YOU most.
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For sure! It's not a contest or let's try to convince each other type of thing. Just seeing what folks like.
 
I'm always looking for the "perfect" rifle, so far I haven't found it yet.

I like the look of the older British sporting rifles, say pre- 1960. Rigby and Holland & Holland in particular made very handsome rifles. Others, like Westley Richards and Gibbs seem a little ungainly. New production rifles don't have quite the same vibe, and it's hard to put a finger on exactly why, but it's easy to spot new production vs old production after you've seen a few.

I've never been able to love Germanic style rifles, they just seem too skinny and angular. Even the original Oberndorf sporters could use a little more meat in the stock.

I was infected with a love of fine rifles at an early age, thanks to O'Connor and Carmichael. They laid out the parameters of what a good rifle should be. Clean, straight lines, full, but not overly fat forend, and comfortable grip, in a package that's not any larger than necessary considering the calibre. The old tang safety Rugers come very close to the ideal, though the grip is a little small for my hands.

I can't afford a lot of custom rifles, and you often seem to get the gunsmith's idea of the perfect rifle, rather than what you wanted, so I decided to try building my own.

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Commercial Mauser action, 21 3/4" .30/06 barrel. The grip is exactly right for my hand, and the butt has enough cast and toe-out to put my eye behind the sights without forcing it. Still a work in progress, it will have a detachable peep that will clamp on to the rear scope base.

I'm already looking for another project, so whether this will be my "ultimate", time will tell.
 
I love the look of a wood stock and some of the older or more deluxe ones have beautiful grain.

I find the ergonomics of traditional hunting rifles to be sh*t though.

I much prefer a wider forend for resting on surfaces and a more vertical grip, removeable box mag, adjustable comb height.

As far as that goes, i have never seen a modern rifle i like the look of more than my Springfield Waypoint 2020.
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SuperCub said:
I always wanted one in 35 Remington. The 358 Winchester was never listed but would have been very cool.
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It's been a decade or more now, but i can't remember if Douglas had a few of these rifles, or just one in .350 Remington Magnum.

Either way, I didn't know they existed before he posted his and I immediately fell in love with those rifles. I was a broke kid back then making 12$/hrs. But now that I'm older, and have more disposable income, I might still try to find one of those CS rifles one of these days. They just look so damn good. And I'm a sucker for full stocked carbines.
 
Dorian Gray said:
And I'm a sucker for full stocked carbines.
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Those Model Seven MS are an enigma. They fly in the face of a classic full stock European style rifle but do pull it off very well.

They're all chambered in American cartridges, in an American acton, in a laminated stock all made by an American company. Hardly a true to form classic rifle but it does seem to work.
 
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