Grail Guns

[43.6N]

For you cultured and discerning Roksliders, what is your grail gun and why?
Doesn’t have to be practical, we know the heart wants what the heart wants. But we want to hear the stories about why it’s special to you.
Bonus points awarded if you own it.
Double XL bonus points for pictures.

 

[Deere_Man]

Ruger M77 Mark II stainless with boat paddle stock in 223 or 222 or 22-250.

I ran across one once and passed on it, and now the prices have more than doubled.

I did get into a similar rifle, a M77 Mark II Ultra Light in 223. Having it soothes the bad memory of passing on the other…

 

[WeiserBucks]

Ruger #1 Stainless, black/grey laminate 7 STW. Had it over 20 years and we've made a lot of memories.

 

[JBradley500]

I don't have a need but...

Beretta 686 for trap and skeet. Currently use semi-autos, but would like the option for over/under.

Stainless model 70 in 375 H&H or Ruger, just in case I win a trip to Africa.

 

[43.6N]

Ha @Deere_Man you beat me to my own post. Awesome choice of GG BTW.

I recently was able to get one of my grail guns. Opportunity presented itself, so I traded away some lesser used guns, and picked up the following:
Dan Wesson specialist 9mm. Have been carrying daily after proving it out over the last month. Can’t wait to put some miles on it!

 

[surfr716]

Either a Dragunov or a TIGR. Ive owned every variant of the PSL but never the genuine article Dragunov. impractical, not super accurate; still my Unicorn.

 

[UnckleBob]

Winchester 1885 in 6.5 Creedmoor with a custom threading job and thread protector that is impossible to see without looking closely. Gorgeous walnut is a must.

 

[43.6N]

Either a Dragunov or a TIGR. Ive owned every variant of the PSL but never the genuine article Dragunov. impractical, not super accurate; still my Unicorn.

Oh absolutely agree!!
An SVD with bonafide Soviet provenance would 100% be on my list of “investment guns.”

 

[naked wombats]

LC Smith featherweight 20ga. 2-5/8 shells.
Hand fitted double triggers.

I didn't know that's what was missing from my life until I saw it.

Edit: with pictures

 

[RockAndSage]

This was my first grail gun, but it never quite made it to the level of reliability I needed for EDC. Had it made for me when I was a young guy, in the 1990s. Para-Ordnance P-14 frame, Colt national match slide, all sorts of other premium bells and whistles. Absolute best, full-house build the smith could do, no holds barred. The only thing that wasn't done that would have been good is front cocking serrations, but at the time we were still doing the overhand charging, palming the gun over the back sights in a full grip, so it wasn't much of a thing then.

I pulled it out not too long ago to see if I could actually get it tuned up to where I'd always wanted it, with properly made extractor, new mec-gar mags with enhanced-power mag springs, and better-tuned recoil and main springs. I've had some others, but this was the first, and the best. Still working on the extractor. Goal is 1500-2000 rounds without a malfunction.

 

[43.6N]

This was my first grail gun, but it never quite made it to the level of reliability I needed for EDC. Had it made for me when I was a young guy, in the 1990s. Para-Ordnance P-14 frame, Colt national match slide, all sorts of other premium bells and whistles. Absolute best, full-house build the smith could do, no holds barred. The only thing that wasn't done that would have been good is front cocking serrations, but at the time we were still doing the overhand charging, palming the gun over the back sights in a full grip, so it wasn't much of a thing then.

I pulled it out not too long ago to see if I could actually get it tuned up to where I'd always wanted it, with properly made extractor, new mec-gar mags with enhanced-power mag springs, and better-tuned recoil and main springs. I've had some others, but this was the first, and the best. Still working on the extractor. Goal is 1500-2000 rounds without a malfunction.



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I was secretly hoping you’d put up photos of one of your old warhorses! What a gem.

 

[Jack321]

I used to work at one of the "Big 3" box stores at the gun counter.

One day, a gently used Browning Silver Madalion in 30-06 came in with a Leupold VX-3 silver scope on it. Wood was gorgeous matte.

I didnt buy it.

But too this day, I still think about that as "the one that got away."

Also, one yr I bought a 26" plane jane Browning Citori for $800 and I went out and out shot a limit of doves in only a box of shells.

I then traded it in for a 28" Citori with a forearm stock I liked the look of better than the 26" inch....but dont shoot NEARLY as well.....still have it. Its a safe queen.

I think the last time I used it, I was on pheasant hunt, and a bird flushed at my feet, flew straight out from me. EASY CHIP SHOT. And I wiffed on both shots. As my heart sank as I watched it fly away
.....when it EXOLODED in feathers as my oldest brother 10 yds to my right smokes it and saved my @$$. It was like in slow motion after I missed watching it fly away and my brother crushing it.

From then on, I realized the importance of a 3rs shot. And also put thay gun in the safe and she's been there ever since.

That was probably 15 yrs ago.....dont know why I havent used it or sold it since.....

But i sure made me miss that 26" Citori.

 

[RockAndSage]

This one hit grail-gun status for me recently, passing 5000 rounds without a malfunction, and only lubing it once at the 2500rd mark. Something I just gave up on decades ago: a double-stack 1911/2011 with absolutely bombproof reliability, and match-grade accuracy. Bought one with the threaded barrel to give the Parker Mountain Machine compensator a shot if things worked out, along with bigger light. Looking forward to those experiments.

Unlike the Para above, I didn't buy it thinking it would be a grail gun. It actually earned that.

Staccato C24:

 

[RockAndSage]

I was secretly hoping you’d put up photos of one of your old warhorses! What a gem.

It really is a gem. That Dan Wesson you posted looks like a hell of a gun too.

 

[RockAndSage]

Ruger M77 Mark II stainless with boat paddle stock in 223 or 222 or 22-250.

I ran across one once and passed on it, and now the prices have more than doubled.

I did get into a similar rifle, a M77 Mark II Ultra Light in 223. Having it soothes the bad memory of passing on the other…

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I love this photo - I don't think someone could intentionally make a guy's bench more authentically 100% all American than this if they tried.