Spending double rifle money on a bolt-action rifle

[Tanks]

My Heym in .500 NE and .458 B&M cost about the same.

 

[ActionBob]

If you really want to get yourself something nice I suggest you contact @GENTZ SPORTING ARMS on here. Jason is a good guy and will get you set up properly.

I'll second that. He has rifles in stock that you could wait long time for from some sources.

 

[grand veneur]

Despite everything, I would not have a big bore rifle built nowadays because there are at the moment enough used custom rifles on the market. My custom rifle caliber 12,7x70 Schüler built 1998 by Ritterbusch in Germany would cost maybe more than 25000 Euros nowadays, but things looked different in the nineties. At this point the classic big bore cartridges were gradually available again and you could still have a bolt action rifle or even a double rifle built for an acceptable price. Used big bore rifles in good shape were in short supply at the time. My custom Brevex rifle caliber 460 Weatherby Magnum built 1974 was a one-time affair in the early nineties and I was able to purchase these for a reasonable price. By the way, I went to the gunmaker to have something else built for me. Both of my old big bore double rifles are primarily collector's items. I prefer bolt action rifles for big game hunting in Africa.

 

[Rare Breed]

I've seen several comments here from those that say you should buy a quality bolt-action rifle instead of one of the entry-level double rifles.

The argument is that the quality for dollar spent is much greater on a bolt-action magazine rifle than it would be for a comparatively priced double rifle.

As someone who just picked up one of the more affordable doubles (Merkel) I can understand this argument. I love the rifle, it has grade 6 wood but is not something I would be afraid to get marked up on a hunt.

How many here ended up spending a decent sum of money on a double rifle as their first "big" gun purchase before then acquiring a bolt-action rifle priced similar to their double?

Whether we're talking $10,000 Merkel's, $20,000 Heym's or $60,000 Rigby's. Have you paired your double with an equally priced bolt gun?

I consider @rookhawk our forum expert on your question as he has shared his wise experience on this a few times

 

[Northern Shooter]

My Heym in .500 NE and .458 B&M cost about the same.

What's the barrel length on that 458? The proportions look perfect on it!

 

[Northern Shooter]

These were bolt guns that I had in mind:

ParkWest Arms SD-76 - ~12,000

Mauser M98 Magnum - ~$16,000

Rigby Highland Stalker ~$16,000

Rigby Big Game - ~$19,000

Holland & Holland Bolt Action - ~$40,000

Rigby London Best - ~$46,000

W.J. Jeffery & Co Magazine Rifle - ~$80,000

 

[rookhawk]

These were bolt guns that I had in mind:

ParkWest Arms SD-76 - ~12,000

Mauser M98 Magnum - ~$16,000

Rigby Highland Stalker ~$16,000

Rigby Big Game - ~$19,000

Holland & Holland Bolt Action - ~$40,000

Rigby London Best - ~$46,000

W.J. Jeffery & Co Magazine Rifle - ~$80,000

That's a very good list you have there.

The Parkwest SD-76 is one of my favorites, particularly if its a vintage Dakota with all the trappings. It is a finer finish and quality gun than the Rigby HS and BG, although the BG is a double square bridge which I ascribe a premium to in that regard.

The H&H I found to be the most disappointing price-for-quality item on your list. I've handled many HH bolt rifles and they are not that remarkable for their pricepoint. Missing from your list is the Westley Richards which I do think is a better rifle through and through. (Obviously many of these are bespoke and unique, I'm speaking in generalities)

The Jeffery just seems too expensive for what it is in my mind. England has a cottage industry of registering a trademark, running to an auction to buy some old ledgers, and hanging a shingle making "new sorta replicas" of their former selves. I don't think you'll find $80k in pleasure from a Jeffery.

The very, very best of the bunch you omitted: A Hartman & Weis is probably the finest bolt gun ever made. If I was going to spend your budget and I was going to buy it new, I would buy an H&W. Otherwise, I'd buy a vintage Dakota 76 Africa or a Vintage Jeffery, or a Vintage Westley.

 

[375er]

Drop the bottom 3 off the list pick one and go hunting. If you have never held a Rigby Highland Stalker you need too!!

 

[Muskox]

Oh, you live in Canada. It might be easier to go the route you are going.

https://martinigunmakers.com/for-sale/bruno-602-in-375-hh-with-custom-stock/. I would buy this to play with from Ralf.

https://martinigunmakers.com/for-sale/westley-richards-500-416-n-e/ I would also buy this Westley Richards in the 500-416. Not because it is a Classic African caliber, but because you can get ammo for it from Hornady and others.

That is how I would spend $30,000 Canadian.

 

[Muskox]

That's a very good list you have there.

The Parkwest SD-76 is one of my favorites, particularly if its a vintage Dakota with all the trappings. It is a finer finish and quality gun than the Rigby HS and BG, although the BG is a double square bridge which I ascribe a premium to in that regard.

The H&H I found to be the most disappointing price-for-quality item on your list. I've handled many HH bolt rifles and they are not that remarkable for their pricepoint. Missing from your list is the Westley Richards which I do think is a better rifle through and through. (Obviously many of these are bespoke and unique, I'm speaking in generalities)

The Jeffery just seems too expensive for what it is in my mind. England has a cottage industry of registering a trademark, running to an auction to buy some old ledgers, and hanging a shingle making "new sorta replicas" of their former selves. I don't think you'll find $80k in pleasure from a Jeffery.

The very, very best of the bunch you omitted: A Hartman & Weis is probably the finest bolt gun ever made. If I was going to spend your budget and I was going to buy it new, I would buy an H&W. Otherwise, I'd buy a vintage Dakota 76 Africa or a Vintage Jeffery, or a Vintage Westley.

True. Classic British manufactured provenance.

Rigby is a perfect example of manufactured provenance.

It makes sense that Blaser/Mauser/Sauer should own Rigby.

Even though I didn't care for the Paso Robles situation, he was an absolute crook in his own right. To me the Rigby name is pretty soiled over it.

 

[rookhawk]

An example of why I say Hartman & Weis is probably the finest rifle available today:

P.S. - And they are very rare. You just do not see them come up for sale very often whereas a vintage Rigby, H&H, or Westley can be located with a flick of the wrist to take out your credit card. All the more reason if you're buying something new, buy exactly what you want. I doubt more than another 20-30 H&Ws will ever be made. They'll hold or increase in value due to scarcity and quality.

 

[Muskox]

Scheming, Hartman and Weiss, and Peter Hofer.

Hofer is one of those companies making presidential and king guns.

Maybe not necessarily the most important thing for something to kill a few buffalo with.

If you need a rifle that cost as much as a house, any of those 3 could do it.

 

[rookhawk]

Scheming, Hartman and Weiss, and Peter Hofer.

Hofer is one of those companies making presidential and king guns.

Maybe not necessarily the most important thing for something to kill a few buffalo with.

If you need a rifle that cost as much as a house, any of those 3 could do it.

I think you could get a well equipped H&W with all the trimmings in that $50ish area. A takedown two barrel or three barrel set for probably $80k.

A member of this forum got one in 9.3x62 and 7x57, one heck of a take down bolt gun for certain. (I think it was 7x57...might be wrong on second caliber)

I see them sell used for $45-$60k ever so infrequently. A spectacular 4 barrel set hit Holts about ten years ago. I think it fetched hundreds of thousands of dollars.

 

[Muskox]

Schierring would be the same. Hofer would be way more. They don't make guns for middle class folks though.

I would never buy a take down Orth pattern bolt gun. I shoot too much for something like that and it is a novelty to me. I like that feature in my Blaser R8, but I don't really shoot more than a couple of calibers no matter how many barrels I have.

 

[John Telford]

My friend Botswana based white hunter Jeff Rann currently uses two rifles for elephant hunting purposes:

A .500 Nitro Express 3” Holland & Holland sidelock ejector
A .505 Gibbs built by John Boliger on a Granite Mountain Arms African Magnum Mauser action

As top quality a pairing as they come.

Jeff’s bolt guns are lefties.

 

[John Telford]

These were bolt guns that I had in mind:

ParkWest Arms SD-76 - ~12,000

Mauser M98 Magnum - ~$16,000

Rigby Highland Stalker ~$16,000

Rigby Big Game - ~$19,000

Holland & Holland Bolt Action - ~$40,000

Rigby London Best - ~$46,000

W.J. Jeffery & Co Magazine Rifle - ~$80,000

If you can find one consider a Vektor in .416 , 450 Rigby or 500 Jeffery. I’m of the opinion that genuine Vektor made rifles are of the best magnum Mausers ever produced. You can then upgrade the wood if you really have to.

 

[KJE81]

If you can find one consider a Vektor in .416 , 450 Rigby or 500 Jeffery. I’m of the opinion that genuine Vektor made rifles are of the best magnum Mausers ever produced. You can then upgrade the wood if you really have to.

This one looks really nice I think: https://www.henrykrank.com/vektor-bolt-action-rifle-375hh-cat00636/

 

[Muskox]

If you can find one consider a Vektor in .416 , 450 Rigby or 500 Jeffery. I’m of the opinion that genuine Vektor made rifles are of the best magnum Mausers ever produced. You can then upgrade the wood if you really have to.

I have seen them listed many times, but never seen one in person.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Jeff’s bolt guns are lefties.

I know. I’m left handed too, but learnt how to cycle a right handed bolt with my left hand during my wartime service (when I was first issued a .303 British Lee Enfield). Nothing of course, compares to the comfort of being left handed and operating a left handed bolt designed for you. This is Jeff’s John Boliger .505 Gibbs (far right). The Holland & Holland .500 Nitro Express is in the center. To the far left, is his William Evans .500 Nitro Express.

 

[ingwe500nitroexpress]

I've seen several comments here from those that say you should buy a quality bolt-action rifle instead of one of the entry-level double rifles.

The argument is that the quality for dollar spent is much greater on a bolt-action magazine rifle than it would be for a comparatively priced double rifle.

As someone who just picked up one of the more affordable doubles (Merkel) I can understand this argument. I love the rifle, it has grade 6 wood but is not something I would be afraid to get marked up on a hunt.

How many here ended up spending a decent sum of money on a double rifle as their first "big" gun purchase before then acquiring a bolt-action rifle priced similar to their double?

Whether we're talking $10,000 Merkel's, $20,000 Heym's or $60,000 Rigby's. Have you paired your double with an equally priced bolt gun?

Haven’t you and I had this exact conversation a few weeks ago? I’m happy to elaborate on both the doubles and bolt rifles across the entire spectrum of cost from personal ownership and experience shooting many many thick skinned dangerous animals with them all. Yes, long story short, I would much sooner put 12 grand into a nice bolt rifle than I would a questionable double rifle, any day of the week. In fact I have about 6 of my 8 sheep rifles going off to a friend to is week in exchange for 2 nice bolt .416s for guest/management rifles, instead of taking the 60 grand the sheep rifles are worth and putting that into an 8th or 9th London double. There are some fantastic bolt rifles out there for fantastic prices that I would trust my life with much more than I would a Sabatti or Rizzini or (cringe) Searcy.