Having second thoughts here.....

If the cartridge I'm looking for is a long one...like the STW or 300 H&H or even the 300 Weatherby series of rounds I'm going with the Montana 1999 as it's available standard in that length. A bit rough but totally adequate and if one wants to smooth them up a bit you can have anything from the 7MM STW to the 404 Jeffery in that 1999 magnum action and it can be had for under $500.....This is a relative newcomer to the market but will be heard more and more as time goes on.

If the cartridge I'm considering is based on the .458 Win mag length and diameter case, then the M-70 will be used most likely. Again...a standard tried and true action and can be had...again for well under $500 on the used market. Either CRF or pushfeed.....makes no difference to me here.

If the cartridge I'm building is based on the 30-06 case then it's Mauser (VZ-24) time in the gun shop...not that it wont do the other jobs but at higher cost.....money still means something here!!!!! (7 X 57 family is included here)


Since we're talking about big game rifles the final class is the cartridges based on the 308 Win case.....Here my pick is the M-70 short action in a push feed.

Now.....maybe we should rerun this thread looking for a varmint rifle.....