Most satisfying cartridge and rifle combo to hunt with?

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Northern Shooter

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What's that one rifle and cartridge combination that just satisfies whenever you hunt with it? These could be set-ups for small game, medium game, large game whatever.

Right now my current preferred setup is my Model 70 Safari Express in 458 Win Mag. This fall will actually be the first season that it sees but judging by all the range time I've been putting it through in the last month, it's going to be epic.

I love the balance and feel of the Model 70, the size of the cartridges and spent casings, the anticipation leading up to each shot, the recoil that's by no way overwhelming but let's you know it's alive and the iron sights to harken back to simpler times.

I'll be using this for Moose and Bear spot and stalk hunts this fall and can't wait.

What's your combo?
 
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it certainly isn't a very romantic rifle but mostly enamoured with the cartridge and it's ability to punch seemingly above it's weight and the rifle has earned it's stripes to be well loved also, accurate, robust and reliable, enjoyed my blaser k95 .270 for awhile, more so than the stainless synthetic tikkas/sako a7, but still not as much fun and enjoyable as this little set up for some reason, but this little ruger murican ranch in 6.5 Grendel with factory 123 eld-m's has been a blast to shoot and hunt, kids have done so well with it also, we've bombed deer across valleys on dial ups, it's done half dozen different species, love shooting and hunting with it, have used same cartridge in cz, and howa, the cz 527 American was nice, have another howa in ultralight red dot mode that I'll likely give some love to this season and see if it can keep my jollies up, this ruger now wears an mdt stock and have to admit I shoot this type of configuration better than sporters, it's a thing and there's reason to the chassis trends of late, I'd like to find that more robust and classic rifle to wrap around this cartridge one day, the new Hawkeye would likely tickle my fancy but not sure anything will actually come along that will dethrone this thing in the chassis, if we get suppressors one day it will be perfect and of max versatility but it won't always satisfy the classical itch but as you suggest in thread...it satisfies highly when we hunt with it and really have enjoyed our not so typical kitchen table build modern type set up

at least for this gear junky it's hung around quite awhile now and the love affair is still very high, I have 'feeling' about this set up now and would be tough to move it down the road, can't even think of it at this point...gave me a shiver lol, maybe because the kids have done their first work with it also and proved with them too? I dunno...this little rig likely isn't going to fit the theme of this thread as expected

it still doesn't have a nickname though, maybe that will come in time?
 

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Mine seems to change with each new build. The past couple years has been my Brno .22. I’m a lefty who shoots righty, knowing this rifle was going to be mine until the end, I figured I’d build a stock to fit me.

 
Decker9 said:
Mine seems to change with each new build. The past couple years has been my Brno .22. I’m a lefty who shoots righty, knowing this rifle was going to be mine until the end, I figured I’d build a stock to fit me.

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How do you clean your birds like that? I usually step on the wings and pull. Yours looks simpler.
 
Northern Shooter said:
How do you clean your birds like that? I usually step on the wings and pull. Yours looks simpler.
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My guess is he pulls them when theyre warm and skins them. His stock is beautiful and obviously takes pride and care in both his rifles and the prep of his quarry. I salute you sir, a tribute to the hunting/shooting community.
 
my first rifle I ever bought, its a Parker Hale custom no1 in 303 British. I got a goat with it last year using its iron sights. ill take it on a vast majority my hunts along with my other Lee Enfield I'm working on. the second one is chambered in 6.5x53R

if I ever get a bison tag ill take my Winchester model 70 in 375HH or my P14 in 500 jeffery


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Franchi O/U 28GA for chickens (lightest, fastest pointing and most perfectly-balanced shotgun I've ever had), Winchester 70SG 300WSM or 1886 45/70 for Moose (strong, reliable well-built rifles. my favourites), Winchester 1894 38/55 for deer (perfect for spot and stalk hunting in the tight bush like we have up here in northern ON).
 
There are several in the safe that qualify here...and usually it is the one that I have successfully harvested my current quarry with a quick, clean kill. They each have their merits.
 
Northern Shooter said:
How do you clean your birds like that? I usually step on the wings and pull. Yours looks simpler.
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As Longstud mentioned, I step on the wings and pull but before it all pulls apart, I stick a finger in the neck V and pull the head / neck / guts and skin all at once. I believe it’s law in BC to keep a wing attached until we get home, I find keeping them both helps keep everything clean, plus trappers love the wings after too :).

Longstud said:
My guess is he pulls them when theyre warm and skins them. His stock is beautiful and obviously takes pride and care in both his rifles and the prep of his quarry. I salute you sir, a tribute to the hunting/shooting community.
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Thanks Longstud! The two most important parts, the rifle and the harvest :)

MilitaryCollectorMark said:
That's a nice one!! You built that stock?
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Thanks Mark, I did yes. That was the first rifle stock that I built from a raw blank. That particular blank, had “Herters 1952” written on it. My grandad had ordered it, but never did use it. I like to think I put it to good use.
 
Honestly, if it goes bang, it has the same amount of satisfaction... but when I am bowhunting there is something extra with regard to satisfaction... even more so with a spear, slingshot, blowgun or hatchet. I have taken game with all of those, the harder the handicap, and the more unlikely success is, the more satisfying the success.
 
I think for me it is my 9.3x62 Husqvarna 649 carbine full stock! Second one would be my Browning BAR Belgium made 30-06! Use to really enjoy my Ruger no1 RSI 30-06, but I sold it along with all my no1’s to finance a custom rifle!
 
I like like big game rifles that are not only effective but accurate and consistently accurate every time, no surprises.

I currently have two go to rifles like that in a 257Roberts (faux TI) and a 275Rigby (FN-98) Have others but am lazy to find that perfect load. Those will wait till retirement.

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