The Perfect Stalking Rifle

[Klenchblaize]

Southern

This is a Ron Wharton Rigby .275 custom rifle built on a commercial Obendorf action with a Border barrel and Timney trigger with 3 position flag safety. Sadly Ron, a safari rifle legend, died a couple of years ago. Marcus, son of the famous Ken Hunt did the engraving. I wanted Scotland meets Africa. It has Celtic engraving and a gold Springbok inlaid into the floorplate. Classic safari barrel band and no sights or front stud - I use a rucksack in Scotland instead of bipod

It has taken all 6 UK deer with 150g bullets and African antelope from Springbok to Eland and Croc using 175g partitions You get a better feel for the engraving on attached pic

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That looks nothing like a roe deer!

K

 

[John Gryphon]

Its not perfect because it is, as some opine a 'lowly' PH.
.308 Norma mag in a fiddleback maple stock (US) she wears a Swarovski suited for laying over a log at the end of the day and perhaps that 26" barrel helps too.
Shown here in this old pic before getting a cerakote. and then with my hunt mates boys after the shot.
I actually have to take her out a bit more or for the next Pom to have a crack.
I cant afford a Rigby!

 

[Greener Jim]

...perhaps that 26" barrel helps too.

I do love a proper length barrel

 

[John Gryphon]

I do love a proper length barrel

And in conjunction with the Norma calibre that makes it a hammer,i have often stalked with it in bush country. The extra two inches is sfa.

 

[VSS]

Its not perfect because it is, as some opine a 'lowly' PH.
.308 Norma mag in a fiddleback maple stock (US) she wears a Swarovski suited for laying over a log at the end of the day and perhaps that 26" barrel helps too.
Shown here in this old pic before getting a cerakote. and then with my hunt mates boys after the shot.
I actually have to take her out a bit more or for the next Pom to have a crack.
I cant afford a Rigby!

I was just going to say that if there is a perfect stalking rifle it was probably made by Parker-Hale, but you beat me to it!
(btw, I include affordability in my "perfect rifle" criteria. I'm also possibly a bit biased towards P-H).

 

[John Gryphon]

VSS the left one is another of my old PH`s in .358 Norma mag,old 7mm on right.
If the 308 Norma is a hammer the .358 is Thor's Hammer.
I have to add that the perfect stalking rifle should and MUST be used....often.

 

[VSS]

I have to add that the perfect stalking rifle should and MUST be used....often.

Couldn't agree more
I'm only a novice at this stalking malarkey, but it's not taken me long to realise that a reliable old workhorse will drop plenty of deer, but a fancy "cabinet queen" won't.

 

[alberta boy]

Finally here is the perfect rifle. Ron Wharton and Marcus Hunt at their best

S

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Wow , a gorgeous rifle ........ your dog even looks impressed . Rifle makers art at it's best , thanks for posting .

AB

 

[alberta boy]

VSS the left one is another of my old PH`s in .358 Norma mag,old 7mm on right.
If the 308 Norma is a hammer the .358 is Thor's Hammer.
I have to add that the perfect stalking rifle should and MUST be used....often.

Nice , I've never hunted much with a 358 NM , every other 35 , but that is a very capable rifle ............ I have a spare 358 barrel , and a buddy has the reamer , hmmm .

AB

 

[Donnachaidh]

Finally here is the perfect rifle. Ron Wharton and Marcus Hunt at their best

S

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The rifle looks great, but that's a good high head on that buck.....nice combination, not to mention the Labrador.

 

[John Gryphon]

I have a spare 358 barrel , and a buddy has the reamer , hmmm .

Over to you AB,great bear stopper..anything stopper.

I only sold this rifle today,.300 Win mag,my mate left 10 mins ago with his new prize under his arm.
Sunlight was a bit glary,it has a handy walnut stock on it.

 

[Steff]

(PGWDTI Coyote)

Ronin, is the picatinny rail an integral part of the action or is it bolted on?
Where did you get this action? Great piece of kit!

 

[Ronin]

Action was purchased within the UK from some parts from the previous PGWDTI importer who sold all to another RFD

One action was available - I bought it and went from there

I have (many years ago) tried without success to purchase a Timberwolf action from the then PGW pre military contracts

The Coyote is a smaller version of that action

The rail is held in place with five countersunk set screws within a sectioned (make and female) slot in the action and rail - it’s rok solid

 

[alberta boy]

Over to you AB,great bear stopper..anything stopper.

I only sold this rifle today,.300 Win mag,my mate left 10 mins ago with his new prize under his arm.
Sunlight was a bit glary,it has a handy walnut stock on it.

That's a really nice piece of wood and a great stock design , I like an open grip on a hunting rifle . Is it built on a PH , or did you just use the PH bolt shroud and trigger/safety from one ?
I see you used Leopold front extension rings on it . I use them a lot these days as the newer scopes seem to be a little short for long actions , very nice .

AB

 

[John Gryphon]

AB you are an astute old boy aren't you

Well afaik mate PH

The stock is an original pattern/build by one of the good names down here,unfortunately he succumbed to cancer. Geoff Slee is the name.
That bare rifle weighed barely six pounds with the steel butt plate,it got the limbsaver/scope/mounts and the mate and I were hefting the mod 70 and her yesterday noting a huge difference.

The same mate took my lovely wooded .338WM off me also..baastard! I regret selling it but at least he takes her sambar hunting.

 

[alberta boy]

Another nice rifle , I do like a M-70 . You have a knack for finding good looking walnut brother . As for a six pound 300WM with a steel butt plate , I'm out , my shoulder hurts just thinking about it lol .

AB

 

[Donnachaidh]

I had mine and stupidly sold it; a Sako 75 Deluxe in 6.5x55. I've recently moved to the dark side and only own stainless synthetic rifles, but this thread is starting to tempt me.

 

[John Gryphon]

I'm out , my shoulder hurts just thinking about it lol .

Thats why it got the limbsaver lol.

 

[John Gryphon]

You have a knack for finding good looking walnut brother

Thats a FACTORY stock AB

 

[alberta boy]

Thats a FACTORY stock AB

No sh!t , goes to show how times have changed , sometimes I forget . Regardless , nice pipe .

AB