[Major Dave (retired)]

Are both bolt actions. The first was a Mauser Model 93 with a sporterized stock, and a Weaver V9 3-9x40 AO scope. I bought it for $40 from a hometown friend. He bought it for $20 at a Sears store in 1964, in original military condition.

I used it to kill only one animal - a 500 pound raghorn bull elk - at 40 yards, using a 150 gr factory load by Norma. Loading data indicated the MV was 2750 fps, which is 180 gr 30-06 MV, I believe.

In 1974, when I shot the elk, Norma had only 2 loads in 7X57 - the 150 gr, and a 110 grain load at 3300 fps. Okay, I shot a prairie dog at 245 paces with it, in addition to the elk. Killed 2 animals with that rifle.

Then, in 1998 I traded my M93 military Mauser (and about $800 cash, to boot) for a custom DuBiel Arms Company bolt action in 7x57, and I still have it. In fact, I just upgraded the optics on it, a new Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x36.
I have shot 6 or 8 small Texas white tail deer with it, over the years.

Accuracy - between 1.0 and 1.5 MOA, both rifles considered.

Reliability - very good. Always goes BANG, and about 50% DRT, the other 50% within 50 yards (short "death run").

Range - to about 300 yards

Trajectory - 100 yard zero I use is 3 inches high @ 100 yards.

Ammo availability - most stores dedicated to sporting goods will have only Remington Core Lokd in 140 grain weight. Had to order 175 grain Federal load from a gunsmith shop, took a couple weeks to get it. I have handloaded several 140 grain bullets (Hornady Interlock, Hornady SST, Barnes 140 gr Triple shock X bullets), usually to 2,950 fps MV - but the Barnes bullet, being solid copper, was so long I had to seat it into the case mouth so deep that I couldn't get enough powder in the case, so had to stop with a MV of only 2,820.