We took our inspiration for this limited production of dangerous game rifles from the Zimbabawe Professional Hunters' proficiency examination. Each year, seasoned examiners put those who have served their apprenticeship and passed the requisite theory examination, through a grueling series of field tests. This practical examination covers all aspects of professional hunting, including riflemanship. Recruits must pass a timed practical firing test that tests not only the shooter but also his rifle. Year after year, the same conclusion can be drawn from this test: the two most reliable, problem-free actions are the Mauser 98, and the Steyr. All others suffer from intermittent feeding problems, sticky bolts, uncooperative safety catches, magazines flying open under recoil, and other maladies. We were fortunate to acquire a small number of new commercial Mauser actions, mated these up with barrels, bottom metal with hinged floorplates Timney triggers, and Hogue full-rail Overmolded stocks. The Mauser lends itself to standard length cartridges such as the proven 9.3x62 and the 458 Win Mag, the 375 and 416 Taylor, and the new Rugers. We offer these as kits that customers can sight and finish as they see fit. We designed an oversized magazine box that works with the Hogue stock and allows us to offer H&H length cartridges (375, 416, 458 and 470) on this action. Despite its virtues, the Mauser suffers from a 3 round magazine, something that is hard to remedy without going to great expense. Steyr overcomes this in their new Safebolt action, via an adaptor that allows the use of a 7 round detachable clip. Unfortunately, the factory does not see fit to offer this rifle in the appropriate calibers for dangerous game. However, we can fill that void as the rifle is capable of accommodating a H&H length cartridge, with minor modification. Thus the Bad Boy VIII was born, and it has proven itself in the Jesse on elephant and buffalo. Since we must purchase a complete factory rifle as a donor, the BB VIII is sold as a finished rifle with or without iron sights, in blackened stainless, white stainless, blued or coated finishes. (We favor a ghost ring paired with a banded front sight). Click on the pictures below for full-sized images, and feel free to contact us by email or by telephone at (503) 263 3787 business hours Pacific for further details.
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