I would have trouble choosing between 2.

First is an original Ruger M77. My father bought it sometime in the mid 70’s ( he died in 1979). It was chambered in 7x57, my mother always told me that that gun always frustrated him because he could not ever get it to shoot accurately no matter what bullet or powder he tried. When I was 18 I started handloading, I poured through all my fathers notes about that rifle, and re-tried some things he had tried and some things that he hadn’t tried. No luck. Some time in the late 90’s I bought a cheap-o Adams and Bennett barrel, on sale for $65, and had it chambered in 6.5-284. It doesn’t shoot bug hole groups, but I do have several loads that shoot under an inch. My favorite is 140gr hornady spire point with H4831 going right at 2850fps. It has a Nikon Monarch Gold 2.5-10x50 scope. The rifle has minimal recoil and is a pleasure to shoot. I don’t know if I love it because of what it is or for nostalgias sake.

My second is an old nazi ‘98 Mauser, chambered in 257 Roberts with high luster blue steel and an oil finished walnut stock. It wears a 3-9x40 zeiss conquest scope. I shoot 117gr hornady spire points with H4350 2850fps or H414 2950fps. It’s a very accurate, and beautiful rifle and a dream to shoot.


JTD