A theoretical excercise in the perfect stalking rifle

[Grandhubert]

Or....

...travel a bit further up the A1 to deepest North Bedfordshire (Pierre can give you directions) and try my 7mm-08 Savage stainless / synthetic with noooo trigger and put home brew 100gr, 140gr and 175gr Sierra's damn near through the same hole at 100 and 200 yards.

Does all I need

Thanks mate, that's very kind of you.

I feel a mission coming on!

 

[Grandhubert]

Thanks for the thought provoking posts gentlemen.

I've put a bit more thought into it and I think I'm finally coming to some concrete conclusions.

I'm planning a classical heresy in that I think I should do the customising work on my Tikka rather than buy another rifle.

I think it's easier if I stick with my original categories:

Calibre: I can't see anything wrong with 30.06 thinking about it, it has done everything I have asked it to do. If I do decide to go with reworking my existing rifle the calibre is a non-issue.

Weight: I have had a rethink on weight. A very experienced friend told me that he had been through this process and had an ultralight titanium, featherweight job built but found that as a stalking rifle it was very difficult to hold steady. He suggested I try my very light (Walther KKJ) .22 RF at range off sticks and compare it to my 06 or the sako varmint.

There was no question that he was right and the 6 1/2 lb .22 was much harder to hold steady than the heavier rifles. I think 8 1/2lbs is the best compromise and the lightweight zeiss on the tikka weighs almost exactly this.

Barrel length: 20" is still about right, it's a bit short for an 06 though, may as well have a 308. I could keep the existing barrel and get it chopped as it is quite accurate. On the other hand it's a little tired and if I could get one cheap a premium barrel would be nice.

Action: The Tikka is a good action (M690), only problem is that the magazines only hold 3 rounds and are as rare as rocking horse doo-doo. I'll treat it to a polish and reblue.

Refinish the wood stock for show and get a fibreglass stock of some description for real use.

What does the panel think?

 

[Muir]

If it's what you like, what fits you, and accurate enough for your needs then it is perfect. I would not change out stocks. I'd keep it in one or the other and leave it just for the sake of consistency.

I like your friends comment about light weight. I have a devil of a time with uber-light rifles. I have a 318 Mauser that is feather light. (It points like a .22, kicks like my ex-wife, and simultaneously manages to bust my cheekbone like her divorce attorney.) For close quick shooting it is fine, but for any difficult shots at distance I have a hard time holding it steady. ~Muir

 

[ezzy6.5]

I have a Tikka 595 in .223 that is my fox rifle. I had it cut to 16.5" and a T4AR fitted. Don Robinson in Halifax refinished the stock and raised the comb so it would put my eye in line with the scope (8x56) I made a new recoil lug on the surface grinder as some cock had bedded the action at some point and managed to stick the the old one in place and at least mine was flat and square. i ground out all the old bedding and re did it with Devcon. After quite a few years i shot it out (actually the crown went but because i'd had it cut so short i couldnt re crown without shortening the forend as well) so I had a Border standard weight barrel fitted. nice little rifle that is a joy to carry, well balanced with a mod on and perfect for in a vehicle. if it had been a stalking rifle i would have had to think long and hard about the length of the barrel. I considered changing it for a .223 barrel for the Blaser but could see no benefit. Good luck I hope it turns out to be perfect.
Ezzy