Im 75 years old and an avid life time Rifle Shooter and Hunter. I still seek out Larrys videos before I do anything to any one of my rifles. He is the very best, or should I say he is " A Nearly Perfect Rifle Guru"!!!

Ive watched the "Nearly Perfect Safari Rifle" series multiple times. His attention to what he wants, why he wants it and how he acheives the end product is just awesome.

I really like Larry's style, smart, confident and seems like a very nice guy...and I agree with his nearly perfect rifle except for the action which for me would be either Winchester Model 70 or a Mauser 98.

Started drinking every time Larry said "Nearly Perfect Safari Rifle" - completely smashed by the time he starts tracking Elephants

Winchester Model 70 Capstick 470 ! Drop dead gorgeous , killer bolt action. The rem 700 is as Larry says "nearly perfect for me" If you just starting to look for an amazing bolt action rifle the Winchest model 70 WILL NOT DISSAPOINT! They call it the rifleman rifle for a reason! From big game safari to sniper rifle the Model 70 has been assigned to both jobs and succeeded big time !

In the age of snap on parts, nylon holsters and Kevlar stocks MIDWAYS attention to real wood and smooth actions and attention to details is GREAT!!!

I learned a hell of a lot about how to customize rifles for hunting big game. This guy is smart,unpretentious and articulate, speaks to the point calmly yet convincingly. Very enjoyable video.

I've got massive respect for Larry. It's too bad there were not more gentlemen like himself.

50 years ago we had hunting family discussions about best all-around versatile cartridges and special range cartridges, and then targeted species cartridges. The conversation still lives on after 5 decades, and amazingly, without the internet, we got it right way back then. The 30.06 was the choice for power with a broad range of bullet weights, even at that time. For moving up to dangerous game, we went with the .375H&H. Both of these we got in the Mod 70 Winchester. Done deal. Nice advantage of this pair was that the mid-range trajectory was the same for the heavy rounds. We got many more rifles for special shooting through the years, like 300mag and 7MM for sheep and long range. Even a 460 crept in later. But with the 30.06 & .375H&H we could target anything on the planet and not be under-gunned.

All the important things inside and out. A truly fine example of the art of the gunsmith.

Personally, I would never go big game hunting for animals like lions or elephants and nor would the majority of you guys (judging from the comments section), but please don't get all pissy about him doing it. He does it legally with proper licenses and clearly enjoys it. There is are certain restrictions on hunting exotic big game just like there are deer or elk here in the US. Just because you don't agree with it doesn't mean he's a bad person.

This was one of the most interesting videos I have seen about the building of a particular rifle. I like Larry Potterfields howe to tutorials.

My "Nearly Perfect Safari Rifle" was purchased second or third hand, about 35 years ago. It's a Remington 700 BDL Safari Grade in .375 H&H. It came with a compact 2-7 power scope. I got it for grizzly hunting. Back then, you could do that in north central BC. I worked up a load using 300 Gr. Nosler Partitions, 72.0 Gr. of IMR 4350 (love that stuff!!) and CCI large rifle magnum primers. At about 2450 fps, that's about 4000 foot pounds of muzzle energy. I could have gone up a bit in powder weight but this load is accurate and has zero sign of pressure issues. That said, because it's a heavy rifle, perceived recoil is manageable. And it seems to go 'Boooommm' with a hard push rather than 'CRACK' with a stiff jolt. My lighter weight .300 Win Mag feels like it kicks a lot harder. Of course, on game the .375 has never needed a follow up shot. A 300 Gr. Partition through the boiler room is always fatal and usually rapidly so. (Okay, any proper hunting bullet through the boiler room on any animal is fatal.) All this said, if I was going to have a custom .375 H&H made up, this one by Larry would be hard to beat. All together, a well thought out functional as well as beautiful rifle.

Enjoyed the description and the detail of what was done with the rifle .Very well presented in a laid back way!Thanks👌

My nearly perfect safari rifle would be a modern Winchester 70 with CRF in 458 win mag. That’s as much recoil as I can handle without massive flinch, and in a gun I’ve spent a good portion of my life shooting, the model 70. For sights, I would use a Nightforce 1-8x24. I trust Nightforce durability more than any other brand, and 1-8 power is plenty for 10 yards up to 800 yards. Not that I’d shoot at game that far, but I practice shooting at up to double the distance I intend to take game at, so I know I can make the shot at the game. For a trigger, I’d just get a Timney MOA trigger set to 1.5-2 pound range. Scope would be on quick detach on the off chance something manages to damage a Nightforce, with iron sight backup. For the stock, I have a rather bad right wrist, so I’d get something with a pistol grip so my right wrist doesn’t have to be at a painful angle like it is on a standard “hunting” profile. It’s not as pretty, but that’s why it’s “nearly” perfect. It’s functional for my health. I have no intention of ever going on a safari, but it’s fun to dream.

Went through a lot of trouble to build the "nearly" perfect rifle, and Larry Potterfield deserves loads of respect and admiration. Meanwhile there are some "very close to perfect" rifles readily available from: Montana Rifle Co., Christensen Arms, Fury, Cooper, Winchester, Weatherby, H&S Precision, Nosler as well as many custom makers. IMO: the rifle should have carbon fiber stock [never warp, rot or split], carbon wrapped or fluted SS barrel for less weight and rigidity, integral scope mounts [see Christensen Arms PH rifles or Ruger ] which eliminates scope base while eliminating holes drilled & tapped into receiver. Understanding that Larry Potterfield wanted to build a traditional looking rifle, he unfortunately cast aside modern materials without considering that a laminated stock would not require piece of all-thread epoxied into the stock. Also, could easily make carbon fiber with wood grain or beautiful camo finish. Mostly though, it goes unexplained how he gravitates toward the 700 Remington action and then mucks it up with 3 position safety ? Keeps talking about how he is familiar with 700 action and then creates hermaphrodite. Makes no sense whatsoever. Does working a push feed vs. controlled feed bolt differ so much that he has to have the push feed ? What is it about the 700 action that he is so familiar with ? The ejector / extractor ? It would seem that the real distinguishing feature between 700 action and Winchester 70 or Mauser is the safety, and yet he goes ahead and puts the 3 position safety on the 700 action without really ever making the case for the advantage of the push feed bolt .... Is the 700 action more efficient, smoother, better, more elegant, more rugged ? Again, this just doesn't make any sense and goes unexplained.

to all people who say "Larry you could've just got a Winchester model 70 and it has all the things you wanted in your videos" well the reason he got a Remington is because he is used to it (the action etc.)

Mr. Potterfield i bet ive watched this video about 20 times... i can't tell you how much i like what you have made. if you offered a rifle like this for sale on midwayusa i couldn't imagine how many you would sell. its exactly what a nearly perfect safari rifle should be. thanks for sharing this build with us

I really enjoyed your video, learned a lot about rifles in general. Thanks for a job well done.

He appears to be a great guy, he’s very knowledgeable,he does a lot for gun owners and gun enthusiasts

Thank you for bringing up the fact that it's the action that someone is more familiar with. I own a couple mausers and a few Remingtons,my preference is also the 700 push feed action.

This is a nearly perfect gun for me too, I enjoyed every detail and insight. This gun has been loved from start to finish. This could only serve to add in abundance to any hunt. I would enjoy seeing you hunt with your nearly perfect gun.

The Master ! So much knowledge with this man I try to watch ALL of his videos and I buy from him also !

Larry Potterfield for President !!!

"KARAMOJO" Bell killed a load of Elephants with the 275 Rigby. About 1,000 of thm [back befor they became endangered. The Rigby is the same as the 7X57mm Mauser. Jack O Conners wife got hers with a 30/06. Bullet placement and type is the key.

I'm 70 yrs. old and have always esteemed the Remington 700 action and the Remington 788!

I read a story of Sit Baker of the Nile . It was during black powder era and he had a 4 bore rifle build and had to reinforce the stock at the wrist because it broke on the first shot . It's good reading . His guides carried his guns and were right behind him to hand him a rifle in a hurry . He carried one and his helper carried more .

Very cool video Larry. A rifle very thoughtfully put together. I especially like the fact that you brought the ebony wood back from Africa.

The best I have handled is a pre-war .416 Rigby that belonged to my father in India in the 1950s. To me the ideal battery is a .416 Rigby for dangerous game and .300 Winchester Magnum for plains game.

Never wanted to do it, but I'm fascinated by the subject.

Loved it and love Midway. The products they sell has made many of my dreams and ideas come true.

Blaser made in Germany makes a nice rifle. Balance, easy caliber changer outs, mag fed and it can be locked in by an internal switch, faster action with the linear bolt lock and unlock, trigger that breaks like glass, composite stock with internal metal block, perfection all the way around. Super accuracy and can be broke down to fit in a short case in 2 mins. It's a modular built rifle and when the safety is on, it actually takes the tension off the firing pin spring so if something let loose internally by dropping it or whatever it wont fire. Putting the safety on preloads the firing pin spring and it's ready to fire. Mines in .375 and while I wont go to Africa, I do like it in Montana for Grizzly protection.

This should be called The Nearly Perfect Safari Rifle for Larry. Really, a push feed action? Great choice on the cartridge.

Good video ,I'm not surprised to see you've put a rod in the stock I did this to my model 700 bdl in 300 win mag way back in 1978 when I noticed it warping a little to the left it solved the problem I also glass bedded the action ,then floated the barrel it will shoot one inch groups at 200 yds useing 72 grains of imr 4350 and Hornady 180 grain spire pts,buy the way Hornady bulletts seem to always shoot extremely accurate for me in every call shoot ,I've had great success with outher brands too but Hornady never let me down,ever !Somif I'm looking to check for accuracy in a rifle they are my go to bullet!

Absolutely loved this. I'm planning on building two "Nearly Perfect Safari Rifles" in the near future. One for myself, and one for my dad. Hoping to bring him on a trip to Alaska. That's the dream at least, this video got me a little bit closer. Thanks, Mr. Potterfield.

We need more Larry stories.

I love Larry and everything he stands for. I think he's an inspiration to us all as a business man; I read a lot into his "nearly perfect" saying and his pursuit of excellence. I share the passion for the wild; I have family who own safari operations and I hunt Springbok, Warthog and other game. I have friends who I fish Tuna and Kingfish, Snoek etc with, too. I eat or share what I hunt; make biltong, droerwors Salamis; Kudu fillet steak over a rooikraans braai finished in thyme and butter is hard to beat! I'm not vegan so I accept that my life means death for others; one day their children will eat from the energy my death adds to; even Whales eat the Krill. In saying that, the thought of hunting the likes of Elephant, Lion, Leopard Rhino etc is abhorrent to me; I'd hunt politicians before I'd hunt those animals. We could argue validity if their populations were excessive. Some of the Springbok I hunt are on farms where the numbers must periodically be culled to ensure the success of the herd. But Elephant and such? I struggle to accept it as ethically justifiable. I just don't understand why would you even want to. Breaks my heart.

Excellent video Larry!

I like this guy. He is a critical thinker and credentialed in matters he professes

Thank you for sharing with us. I wish we could tie the uninformed to a chair and educate them about things like "carrying capacity" , healthy populations. disease, habitat destruction, human population, conservation...Pittman Robertson act in our own country. And so much more.

TO ME I already have that rifle. It's my new Model 70 Safari Express. There is nothing I would change on it. But to each their own.

The perfect rifle for me is the one I can afford.

Likeable and knowledgeable fella. Thanks for the video..

Larry, I was able to predict each aspect of your nearly perfect rifle, not because you are predictable but because we MUST be kindred spirits. I love yours and I’m very confident you would love mine. I love your choices, I love your company, I love your products and I love hunting.

Remington has not been up to their prior standards in quite some time. I've sworn off their products completely, after unpleasent QC and CS issues which are all too common. Mr. Potterfield gets his result here by using the 700 action as raw material for extensive custom work. For most of us, buying a well built factory rifle for $3-6K is far more attainable. A excellent, informative video covering what's possible in a full custom with unlimited resources and no regard to cost. Mr. Potterfield is obviously very knowledgeable in all things firearms, as he should be to operate a large sporting concern like Midway USA. Thanks for the great video.

Even though this video is 24 minutes long it felt like 10. Mr. Potterfield is a true master!

Very interesting Larry thanks

Very good information so if I purchase a .375 H&H rifle do I have to disassemble it to support the barrel like you did on the Remington 700.

Big game hunting is on my bucket list. Great video.

Just look how happy he is about the gun, good for him.

Thank you for sharing, Larry.

Great Video Larry and what a sweet looking gun thanks

I always wondered who's fine firearms these modifications were made to, makes perfect sense now

The 375 H&H magnum will kill anything that breathes in the universe! including alien mutants. You can go bigger but not better.

Iver Henriksen 416 Rigby built on a single square bridge magnum Mauser action. That's my favorite with many to chose from.

Larry Potterfield/ Midway Arms is a class act and he has done much for supporting the 2A. I respectfully submit, a nearly perfect Safari Rifle mandates a controlled feed action like a Winchester Model 70 pre64, vintage Browning High Powers with the FN commercial 98 action(both standard(good for 9.3x62,and magnum Mauser for 375 H&H,etc) Ruger M77MarkII, CZ550, etc, vintage Husqvarna's etc all with the long mauser extractor. The extractor on the Remington Model 700 both current and former with the rivet, are notoriously weak and prone to catastrophic failure especially if the action is dirty. It is also susceptible to double feeding and jamming. Not so a controlled round feed action. It is my understanding the Remingtion custom shop will not currently sell a Model 700 in a heavy recoiling,dangerous game caliber with the stock,standard pathetic extractor. Modifying the Remington 700 extractor to a more robust Sako style or M16 type is a cottage industry both by Remington and gunsmiths around the world. Going on Safari in Africa or hunting in Alaska where a charge from a dangerous animal might cost you your life? Leave the Remington Model 700 and most push feed bolt actions in your safe. I'll take a controlled round, drop forged Model 70 pre 64 actioned rifle or magnum Mauser length FN 98 action everytime. YMMV. Happy Trails and good luck.

People forget that weapons differ for EVERY persons shooting style. So don't get pissy if you disagree. This works for him.

Having watched this for the first time ; Excellent. I think the .375 Holland is the best of all , from Deer on up. Mine is a Browning A-Bolt , 26" Bl. Perfect for me. Most if not all deer you hit with the .375 HH don't run far if at all....

Mr. Potterfield, I thoroughly enjoyed your video and thoughts on what makes the perfect rifle for Africa, but I and many others would like to know what was the final cost of making this rifle? Thank you

Nice rifle! Thanks for sharing the specs!

I can appreciate this rifle, but the perfect rifle for me is the one I use competently and consistently. For DG it's my custom stocked, bolt action, Mauser MkX that's taken numerous buff and hippo, and suits me just fine. 👍

watched it all, from concept to finish --- amazing work indeed -- thank you for sharing may i ask if you have time to do a build like this for hire?

Just perfect !

You're a wizard Larry!

375 H&H and a nine pound gun weight bolt action with cera-kote finish of black on stainless. A barrel-band sling swivel. A 1 -5 power adjustable scope and you are set. Add a 24 inch barrel length and Browning X-bolt action. The larger screws for the scope mount and detachable scope mount are necessary too.

Great video . I was wondering if you're interrupting the harmonics of the barrel with the slingmount attached to the barrel like that ? I have my sling on my 700 , 30-06 pump like that and seems fine but really had no other option on it

Larry Potterfeild Should have Purchased Winchester! He would be a Wonderful President and CEO!By the sound of things Larry has the Nuts to take a Remington to Africa and Prescribes it ! I have mostly Remigtons too Larry!

30-06 is good for northern hemisphere hunting, but in the Africa its good only for the medium game. for the big and for the dangerous game its not enough - hunters use the big bore guns there for reason.

The ebony that you brought back from africa is a super cool touch! Any cool memories from when you got that to add to the story?

Larry beautiful package! Your company as did Brownell's, use to carry a mercury recoil reducer (Graco brand) that would replace the steel rod in the for end it helped with balance and recoil I can no longer find them. WHY

3 position safety aka Mauser or Winchester, Bolt handle from a Mauser , trigger aftermarket ........ but the near perfect safari gun for Larry is a remington ?

Since what I've seen of African Safari hunts start about $40G. So I don't think I'm going to have to worry about this too much.

Nice video. I wonder why he chose the Remington 700 action over Mauser M98 action for a big game/dangerous game rifle.

Ahhh the beauty

Larry please do a video on pillow and glass bedding a Sako 75 and 85 thanks

Obtaining a riffle seems very difficult in my place. Doesnt need to be picky, i would grab one whenever i see one. I really wish to have one🤞

Can someone explain why people relocated to a different region of the world and decide a sling is not necessary?

Do you hunt bounty? or just what ever you find?

A remarkable piece indeed! Now I want one in .416 Rem Mag! Wondering if you accept orders

My perfect Safari Rifle would be based off the Mauser Sporter Model B built between the two wars. A narrow and short fore end. The Model B to me epitomizes what I consider as all the great things you need in a Safari. No scope.

First off I have to say I enjoy all your videos. I watched one video of blue printing an action, and found it fascinating. It all makes sense, truing everything with but one exception made me question it. Truing the bolt face, no issue, same with breach etc, what had me was after truing the bolt face and squaring the front of the locking lugs, WHY square off the REARS of the locking lugs? As I understood it - the rears of the locking lugs were designed NOT to be square with the front of the lugs and bolt face because they exert a "camming force" to seat the round into the breach to a uniform depth every time?. If you square off the rear of the locking lugs of their angled design, you remove their ability to cam the round forward into the breach and then rely entirely on the camming angle of the machined lug follower in the breach to exert pressure now ONLY on the leading edge of the rear of the squared off locking lugs... Surely it makes more sense to LAP the rear of the locking lugs at the complementary angle to match exactly the same Lug follower race inside the breach so the lugs have full surface bearing area upon discharge? I understand that rearward thrust under discharge and 50,000CUP+ pressures exerts a force on the rear of the lugs that wants to make the bolt rotate, bu you can't have camming action and 90 degrees dead square lock at the same time... can you? Where you square off the locking lugs rear faces true to the bolt face and squared off front faces f the locking lugs - this leaves only the last few thousands of an inch of the lug on the corners - that actually locks up against the recessed / machines raceway that the lugs rotate in - under rearwards thrust upon firing the round?. It that squared off corner of the rear of the locking lugs wears or compressed don't you then increase head spacing by that amount? Squaring off the rear of the locking lugs made me cringe when watching it. Please what part of this am I not understanding correctly, because you obviously understand what your doing so I figure you got it right and I just am not understanding it correctly. Many thanks in advance if you could clear that up for me. Cheers

I think my Mauser 30 06 is the perfect big game rifle with walnut stock and stainless steel bolt with control round feed and Bushnell scope. But i do need to get a night scope

I wish I were able to hunt all over the world for all types of game. But I do have a question. Why use steel for reinforcing in the stock grip and also the forearm? With strong as steel materials, unless it's an old school thing or you wanted more weight due to the recoil, I am confused why the steel? Thanks

I would personally use a different scope but regardless very beautiful gun.

Hello Larry, I am looking for a Kodiak 260 22 magnum semi automatic Magazine clip wondering if you could help me find one i’m not having any luck

Perfect for him but not me is right, but I'd love to have Larry build a rifle that's right for me. Nice rifle Mr. Potterfield.

Legend

Which is the better big game stock. I prefer straight comb.

I love these videos but I don't really understand the attachment to starting with a Remington 700 when all you did is turn it into a push feed Winchester model 70. Why not just start with a push feed Winchester model 70?

“Stick with what you know!” 👌

BTW, a double rifle in either .470 or .500 Nitro Express, maybe with the addition of a properly mounted micro RDS like the Trijicon RMR (recessed into the rib for a lower 1/3 co-witness with the iron sights) would also be very nice, incredibly spendy, but very, very nice!!! :-)

If I found myself in the enviable position of smoking a cigar with Mr. Potterfield in Africa, you'd have a hard time convincing me I wasn't dead and already in Valhalla.

Forgive me if I'm being ignorant or miss informed however, is that ram in the background a nod to Brownells?

I've never understood why Remington chose "A"DL for the "B"lind magazine 700s, lol. My theory is the blind-magazine model came first and so when the hinged floorplate version came out the "old" rifle became the model "A" and the new rifle the model "B". The DL I have no clue about. I haven't thought about that part of it yet.

Dam I was thinking buying a rifle from walmart. That really knows what he wants and has the cash to make things happen that great.

take 'er to da next step Larry!

Im such a big fan of Larry’s almost just-right africa gun. I mean; the Pretty much alright namibian boom stick. I mean, the, goddang what does he call it? The very close but not quite flawless serengeti slinger? Idk either way cool gun, Lar.

Love this "sit down" series of videos with Larry. Keep them coming!!! :)

Can somebody tell me what i should do to make sure my rifle doesn’t rust I keep it in a safe and I’m worried it will rust is there anything I should do to make sure it doesn’t happen

My perfect safari rifle for canada of course is the 303 british no1mk3 shtle 1914. This rifle will drop anything on the canadian safari.