Tucked away inside the cloud of regrets, however, there was a silver lining of newfound wisdom to apply to the rebuilding of my collection. In the course of hunting on several continents with half a dozen different rifles, I’d learned a few things. For one, I didn’t want to hunt anything henceforth with a rifle that did not have a three-position safety, like the Model 70. I not only wanted the striker blocked, I wanted the bolt locked closed as well.
Much as I admire the .257 and .300 Weatherby cartridges, I’d played with those enough and found myself leaning toward my youthful inamorata, the .30-06. Dakota Arms was making its mark with the Dakota 76 action, and I acquired one in its plainest grade. It became my standard hunting rifle through the 1990s. With a 23inch barrel, loaded with 165-grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claws (the pre-Federal originals), I hunted in Africa and North America, from Ungava Bay in the north to deepest Natal in the south. With that rifle, I took my first Ontario whitetail, my first elk and a couple of caribou, among a raft of African game. It confirmed my belief that the .30-06, a venerable cartridge by any standard, is still our best all-around chambering.
When I returned from Africa in 1990, I’d also decided I needed a dedicated Cape buffalo rifle.
Around the time the Dakota came into my life, I turned over an FN Supreme action to my German gunmaker Siegfried Trillus and requested he build a .450 Ackley. About 18 months later I collected it, stocked with a piece of American black walnut from a tree Siegfried cut down, sawed up and carved to shape himself. It was fitted with German claw mounts and a Swarovski 1.5x steel-tube scope accompanied by rugged German-made open sights.
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Denne historien er fra May - June 2020-utgaven av Rifle.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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CIMARRON .32-20 Short Rifle & Carbine
In the heyday of Winchester Repeating Arms Company lever guns, it offered muskets, standard rifles, short rifles and saddle ring carbines.
Remington's Model 722 and .222 Cartridge
It's easy enough to define what a varmint is, those pesky critters that tear up pastures, flower beds and all kinds of expensive crops people need for various reasons - most importantly, to make a living and/or something with which to feed themselves.
Coyote Bullets
What is Best for You?
Remington's 5mm Rimfire Magnum
Shooting a Classic
Winchester's New Wildcat
The Ultralight Rimfire Varmint Rifle
.223 Remington from .30-30 Winchester?
Multitasking for Varmints
LOADS FOR A .22 TCM
The .22 TCM first appeared commercially in 2012, chambered in a Rock Island Armory 1911-style handgun.
Everybody Loves Velocity
The 4,500-fps WSSM Project
A BOLT-ACTION FRANCHI 224 VALKYRIE
Testing New Loads
.22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire
Shooting Revolvers