To me, the rifle that best exemplifies Hill Country's Old World craftsmanship is the wood-stocked .416 Remington Magnum I commissioned recently. I wanted a traditionally styled rifle that was accurate and reliable to go toe-to-toe with a Cape buffalo or elephant. I knew exactly what I wanted, and based on my past experience with Hill Country, I knew it was the perfect company to build it.

In addition to building hunting rifles, Hill Country Rifles also produces super-accurate sniper rifles. The author’s rifle is capable of shooting 0.292-inch five-shot groups.

The stock is one of the most important parts of a big-bore rifle. It must be as strong as it is pretty if it is to withstand a lifetime diet of heavy magnums, and it should be designed so as to reduce recoil. Hill Country's resident stockmaker started with an exhibition-grade blank of English walnut that was as beautiful and finely figured as any I've seen and also properly laid out with a little straight grain in all the right places for strength.

The stock has a thin wrist and a fairly slim forend with an almost imperceptible bulge in the belly to accommodate the Blackburn drop-box magazine. It also features a shadow line cheekpiece, handrubbed oil finish, and 22 lines-per-inch point-pattern checkering with a mull border. A perfectly fitted ebony forend tip, skeleton grip cap, custom cross bolts, and an .8-inch-thick Pachmayr Decelerator pad completed the stock.

Hill Country's artistry is further evidenced in the finer details, like the checkered bolt knob and bolt release. Another unique twist is the prewar tang. I don't know of anyone else that takes the time to reshape the factory tang to the more pleasing prewar contour, but I really like this extra touch. Such fine details are often overlooked, but not on the rifle that Hill Country christened the Big 5 Classic.

Hill Country's craftsmen trued and squared the Model 70 action, then spent many hours grinding and stoning it to ensure smooth, reliable feeding. Once the action was perfect, they installed a 22-inch Lilja barrel before pillar bedding the barreled action into the stock.

The sight system on a rifle intended for dangerous game is extremely important. While a scope is preferable for general use, the ability to quickly switch to iron sights when following wounded game in heavy cover is desirable. The system that Hill Country came up with addresses these issues admirably. The wide field of view and battue reticle of the Swarovski 1.25-4X riflescope make it perfectly suited to hunting dangerous game. It offers enough magnification for pinpoint accuracy, yet is quick on target for close-in work. It is mounted in Talley rings, which are affixed to custom bases that were hand-sculpted to precisely match the contours of the action.

For those times when iron sights are preferable, an adjustable, gold-inlaid rear sight was mounted on a precisely fitted quarter rib, and a barrel band front sight with a flip-up ivory bead for low-light shooting was installed. The quarter rib and sights are beautifully done and perfectly regulated for Federal's 400-grain Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer solids.

Confidence Built Right In
I have carried various Hill Country rifles from Canada to South Africa and 10 countries in between. I have made some of my most difficult shots and taken some of my most important trophies with them. While the many fine memories I have certainly influence my opinion of HCR's rifles, the fact is that I would never have purchased another rifle from the company if the first one did not deliver the extreme accuracy and utter reliability I demand.

Whether you are in the market for a best-quality, wood-stocked rifle with which to pursue mbogo in the long grass, a flat-shooting flyweight to tote up the sheep mountains, or perhaps a bit of help with a fickle factory offering, get in touch with the guys at Hill Country Rifles. They will be happy to improve your factory gun or build a custom one that will help you, as their slogan says, "Shoot with confidence built right in."