Most Handsome Bolt Action Hunting Rifle?

Re: OP. In current production, the Ruger M-77 w/ open sights is a beautiful rifle. As well I like the lines of the FN made Winchester M-70.

Here are a few: A first year 1937 winchester model 70 in 22 K-hornet.

Custom commercial mauser action in 270 win

Early 1970s Browning Safari in 308 win

Ruger model 77 in 7X57

1953 Winchester model 70 in 300 H&H mag.

I'm with T-Star on this one. Winchester Model 70 Featherweight has my vote, and the Model 70 Super Grades are beauties. I've got a Model 70 Featherweight, but not the Super Grade, maybe some day...

I think Weatherby rifles are pretty darn nice, too. I also like the Ruger M77, and Remington 700s and Model Sevens. I hunt with the Winchesters, Rugers, and Remington's, and have great luck with them all. A little trigger work makes those Rugers really come around, pretty hard to beat for a hunting rifle. I share the love when it comes to rifle manufacturers.

Browning makes a pretty rifle, but I've never been inclined to buy one. I do have a couple of beautiful Browning shotguns, but I suppose that's another thread...

Pre '64 Model 70 Featherweight Winchester , all the way

For many the clean lines offered by the classic Model 70 make it an obvious choice.

I'm a fan of the handcrafted rifles of old, but the modern Dixie manufactured Winchester's offered by FN are outstanding examples of modern metallurgy and quality cad/cam production.

Out of the box performance makes the new Model 70 my choice for the classic American sporting turnbolt.

Their beauty is in their plainness , so I vote for the original Ruger 77 , Remington 700 Classic , and any other blued steel and plain unadorned walnut stocked rifle. No Monte Carlo combs , no contrasting forend tips , no white line spacers.

Custom Pre-64 Model 70s

The first is a Winchester Custom Shop pre-64 Super Grade Model 70 built in 1950. This is a truly one of a kind rifle in exceptional condition and unique in several respects. George Stumpf was Winchester's Senior Sales Rep in the Mid-Atlantic area for many years after World War II. In 1950 he commissioned the Winchester Custom Shop to build him a special Super Grade rifle. He chose 270 Winchester as his caliber then had the Custom Shop install a custom stock using exhibition grade Walnut with a special checkering pattern. He also had them use a Griffin and Howe side mount so he could continue to use the Lyman iron sights when it suited him. The quality of the work by the Winchester Custom shop is truly astounding. The side mount is fit so precisely how it's attached is invisible to the naked eye, even with my loop. The gun came with both the original sight blank (shown in the ad's pictures) and the original Lyman windage arm. It also comes with the original sling swivels. I mounted a Weaver 80th Anniversary K4 scope to complete the package. The K4 is a one piece steel body scope like the original, but with all modern internals. The adjustments for elevation and windage are 1/4 MOA clicks and very distinct. The gun has been back to Griffin and Howe for a thorough cleaning and the stock finish has been polished and brought back to its original luster. The metal is in its original factory condition with only the slightest amount of wear visible. Points and edges are not worn, no blemishes are visible and it looks about as fresh as a 62 year old rifle can look. The best thing about this rifle is the provenance. Mr. Stumpf is alive and well and able to verify the history of this rifle first hand. I've also researched this through Winchester and the Cody Center and found that all the records for the Winchester Custom Shop are now with the ATF for long term storage and not available for research. They have yet to automate them.

To see photographs go to Winchester Custom Shop Model 70 Super Grade for sale (995508350) for the now closed ad on Gunsamerica.com The photographs are spectacular.

The second is a custom pre-64 Model 70 custom built by Sid Goodling of Spring Grove, PA in 2009. 280 Remington, with a 24” Schneider medium sporter weight barrel with a 1-9" twist, McMillan Winchester Super Grade fiberglass stock with magnum fill in action area for extra durability, Warne Maxima rings and bases (mounted to the action with 8X40 screws), Williams one-piece bottom metal, Leupold 3.5-10X40 scope with Boone & Crocket reticle and Leupold Alumina Scope Caps. Using 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets, the bullet drop matches the B&C reticle very closely. Sid Goodling did all the barrel and action work to include blueprinting the action, chambering the barrel and tuning the trigger. Robar gave the stock a camouflage paint scheme and applied satin Rogard (black) and matte NP3 (silver) finish to the metal. McMillan provided and fitted the stock to include pillar glass bedding the action and chamber area of the barrel channel. The gun weighs exactly 10 pounds empty with sling. With the two loads developed for it, the rifle shot less than 1/2 MOA.

To see photographs go to Sid Goodling Custom pre-64 Model 70 in 280 Rem for sale (907814220) for the now closed ad on Gunsamerica.com

Texas Star said:

David-

I had a Model 1908 8x56mm. Got some old Western ammo with it and Speer brought in some years ago. Where do you get ammo?

BTW. mine didn't have the peep sight.

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Ammo is pretty hard to find. A while ago I ordered 60 rounds from a specialty manufacturer that reloads obsolete cartridges. I would have bought more, but their entire stock at the time amounted to the three boxes I bought.

The peep sights weren't standard but could be ordered from the factory. I think the one on my 1908 was an aftermarket addition because the groove in the back of the bolt is not very precise. I had to stone the foot of the sight to make the angles match properly, and then put a shim under it to keep it tight in position. It's OK now.

For the money the Winchester70 Featherweight

Other than that a personlized Weatherby if it can be swung into the budget

Wow, I'm impressed with some of the very pretty hunting rifles pictured in this thread.

When I hit 40 I wanted to purchase my ultimate hunting rifle with cost not being the major concern. I have a number of beautiful rifles that make great wall hangers as well as shooters, but I wanted a hunting rifle.

After months of internet research and handling rifles at gun shows and local gun stores, I picked the Ruger Model 77 MKII all weather stainless in .30-06. I could not be more satisfied with the ergonomics, fit and finish, accuracy and smooth function of this rifle. This is a hunting rifle and even though walnut and blue really looks good, I like my synthetic and stainless and it's put a lot of meat in the freezer.

Faulkner said:

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Ya got good taste in knives too! I use the same Schrade Sharp Finger. Got mine many years ago with a paid subscription (2 or 3yr?) to Guns & Ammo. Back when it was good.

mkk41 said:

Ya got good taste in knives too! I use the same Schrade Sharp Finger. Got mine many years ago with a paid subscription (2 or 3yr?) to Guns & Ammo. Back when it was good.

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I've had that knife for at least 30 years. I make sure it stays in the sheath unless I'm skinning something or it's being rubbed on the Arkansas stone because this one is sharp and it will cut you in a heartbeat.

Early Mannlicher Schoenauers,,Mauser & Steyr Sporters are my favorites.
This one's a 1912 mfg M/S Model 1910 in rifle form.
Full length ribbed barrel. Retailed by H. Barella/Berlin. German (re)proofed in '13.
Standard 9.5x56 caliber.


I've only owned one M70 ever. A nice one. Pre War carbine in 300 Savage. I sold it as it was too nice to use.

A JP Sauer M98 Sporter in 8x57 quickly took it's place. DST,1/2 oct bbl, ect. More my style.
Even a well traveled Ross 1910 Sporter in 280 Ross awaits a trip to the range.
I guess that one makes it into the bolt action classification.

Lots of affection on here for the pre 64 Md 70 Featherweight. I've got
a pretty nice one in 308. I like the looks of the full length stock rifles
like the Mannlicher Schoenauers and and I think Ruger's 77 MK 2 RSI
carbine is a fine looking little rifle. Here's mine, also in 308.

Moving out of the box, and you either love 'em or you hate 'em...

I love my Post-64 Winchester Model 70 (pre-64 action) Stainless Steel Classic BOSS's. Got 'em in all the available calibers, except the .22-250 Remington and the .270 Weatherby Mag. And I'm still looking for those two. Each one also has the BOSS CR device. I have duplicates in 7mm Remington Mag and .300 Weatherby Mag, and those will be owner customized with wooden stocks and other 'treatments'. The rest stay original. Presently they are keeping my Mini-14's company:


In the front right, there is my latest Win 70. A FN built, Super Shadow Stainless, in .30-06:


I bought two of those last Christmas: One for me, one for my son. Rigged them both identical with Leupold VX-2 4x12-50 scopes.

I also have a blued version Classic BOSS in .30-06, that I mountain hunted Wyoming with. Got a nice mulie on the second day out with it. That's keeping my Marlin lever guns company in another cabinet. But that's another thread....

Had to nekropost on this one. Love them Mannlichers but for pure sexy, Ross model-10 in 280. There was one at my local Cabelas a month back but was slightly outta my price range. Oh someday!
-Jesse

I dont know but, I saw some beautiful Winchesters, Remingtons, Henrys and other, at the gun show this past weekend. I want a few of those as well.

I've always loved the look of the Ruger M77.

This one is my wife's - a .260 Compact that kills completely out of proportion to its size.



My main hunting gun is an old .300 Win Mag M77, stainless with the canoe-paddle synthetic stock. Its painted and ragged and has camo tape on it. Its so homely I've never taken a picture of it. But I've never had to shoot anything twice with it.

Savage Model 11

I'll take function over form every time.