Thread: What would your ultimate Bush Pig rifle build be and what NZ gunsmith would you use?

I am looking at the option of building a true dedicated NZ bush rifle as a one off keep for a life time type rifle,mainly for Sika as well as other deer in the bush,so l am looking from input especially from you blokes who have tried a few different options over the years and have had things work and things that did not work.I am now semi retired so am finally going to be able to do some extended back country hunts and extended rafting hunts etc so the rifle needs to be able to take the knocks.I am looking at basically a accurate work gun capable of handling everything from 10mtrs to 300 which is about as long a shot as we have where l bush hunt and what l have encountered over the last 15yrs hunting where l do in the south isle.

So l am leaning towards having a good handling gun, that points well off hand and has been blue printed/free floated/pillar bedded etc,in my own mind l am looking at a stainless SA in 7/08 or 308 with a 16 inch barrel and recommendations on a good quality suppressor that will take the knocks. l am not really fussed on looks more the functioning and handing (so not sure on bolt fluting etc), my favorite go to guns for this type of work over the years have been a Rem 600 Mohawk in 308 a model 7 243 (both now sold)and my current 30/06 rem mountain rifle in stainless/laminated which has basically been my go to NZ rife for 7 years now.I have never had much to do with a NZ gunsmiths and have not had a suppressor on the 06 for the last 7 yrs so am not up on the latest suppressors designs(definitely need one that can handle bush bashing etc)so recommendations on who to do the build,fitting etc would help as well,l have been bitten hard by the Sika bug so l imagine the gun will mainly be used for hunting them for the most part and my 06MR and my old Sako 270 will handle the other hunts.So come on you blokes who have set up specific bush pig rifles over the years what would you build now from lessons you have learnt?.TIA