I'll post a quick reply as I'm between work, but oh boy do I like these threads!
1. What big bores do you own?
I own a "mid bore" Sauer 90 in 9.3x64 Brenneke, a Ralf Martini-built Santa-Barbara Mauser 98 in 416 Ruger, and a Steve Holborn-built Ruger RSM in 505 Gibbs.
2. Which are your favourite?
I very much like the 416 Ruger, but if I could only keep one, it would be the Ruger in 505 for the sheer novelty and not leaving myself wanting more for a big bore. The Ruger is also a real working gun --- it's got some "character" marks.
3. Which do you plan on adding to your collection?
I had no plan when I picked up any of my rifles; they were "luck of the moment" impulse purchases as I knew I'd not have the funds (and quite frankly the inclination) to have them built or sourced for myself. That's not to say I don't really like owning them, it's just that of my priorities for purchase, they are not at the top of my list.
4. Do you hunt Canadian game with them?
Not yet, but that's simply because I haven't had an opportunity to use them in a hunt where they might make sense, and I don't get out hunting enough to want to be experimental and try something unusual for our small Island blacktail.
5. Any African Safari's under your belt or planned for the future?
None at the moment, but I did lend out the Ruger 505 to our CGN member Ardent for IIRC an elephant or rhino hunt that he'd planned, but unfortunately fell through.
6. What's the cheapest you can get your ammo costs down to with reloading? (Yikes at those retail prices).
I'm lucky in that I bought 6 boxes of factory 416 Ruger on closeout for about $1.50/round and picked up quite a few factory rounds of 505 Gibbs for ~ $4/piece. I have all the dies and brass and moulds to reload my own for a reasonable cost, but again, haven't had the need yet.
I posted about my rifles in this thread:
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...amily-portrait?highlight=Bore+Family+Portrait
... but will re-show the pictures here because who doesn't like pictures of rifles?
Hi all,
I was doing a safe cleaning/inspection today, and thought I'd post up some pictures of three rifles that I feel very fortunate to own. I've been lucky over the years to find some interesting and beautiful custom rifles on the used market that I would have never been able to entertain purchasing at bespoke prices. I'm also a collector and reloader, so I have troubles turning down a reason for getting into yet another cartridge.
From left-to-right is a Sauer 90 in 9.3x64 Brenneke, which I believe was built by Ed LaPour in Washington State, a Santa Barbara Mauser 98 in 416 Ruger built by Martini and Hagn in BC, and a Ruger Safari Magnum in 505 Gibbs built by Steve Holborn in Ontario. The 9.3x64 Brenneke came with a Zeiss 1-4x20 scope in Warne QD mounts and the 416 Ruger came with 2-7x32 Kahles scope in Recknagel pivot mounts.
There are inlayed silver markers on the 9.3x64 Brenneke's rear sight leaves and the Ruger 416 has has some very tasteful (IMO) engraving and timed screws. The 505 Gibbs has an extended magazine and is a working rifle, but it's got character!
I hope you enjoy the pictures!
