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Curio & Relic/Black Powder Curio & Relics and Black Powder Firearms, Old School shooting fun! |
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#81
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I almost gave up on this rifle. It was on consignment and the lady at the LGS never sold to a 03 & COE holder. I got the ATF and DOJ on the phone to get her to follow guidelines. After an hour or so it was released and I left happier than when I arrived. |
#82
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#83
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It was light (not super light, but not horrible) and surprisingly handy, and even the ~24" barrel and garbage scope mounted way too high, worked OK, and got me more interested in the potential of a more developed Scout type rifle. (That rifle now sits in a full military Yugo rework stock). With that idea in mind, last year I picked up a Israeli surplus, Czech/BRNO contract K98 Mauser action, and started gathering parts, trying to hit as many Cooper defined "Scout" features as possible. I ordered a short-chambered .308 barrel from Brownells: https://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...531-48630.aspx I debated installing and finish chambering it myself, but decided it would be better to let a pro do it, and had a local gunsmith install the barrel, finish the chamber and cut it down to 17.5", and a friend parkerized it for me. For backup sights I cut a dovetail in a Warne rear Weaver base and used a Mini-14 folding rear sight, that is butt-ugly but functional, and leaves the stripper clip guides intact. For the front I used a sight from Nodak Spud made for a Ruger 10-22: https://www.nodakspud.com/NDS-22.htm The gunsmith turned down the barrel near the muzzle and around the base to the correct OD for the front sight and the scope mount. I used the same old pre-bubbafied WW1 Gewehr-98 stock I already had, figured I would start with that and see how it turned out. I sanded the hell out of the stock, narrowed it from end to end, cut it down further on both ends, added a Hogue recoil pad, some Grovetec sockets and finished it up with a old-school Linseed Oil finish. I replaced the original Czech stamped steel bottom metal and magazine for a Parker Hale Aluminum flip-open one to save weight. Installed the Clifton Scout ring and a Burris 2-7X Scout scope. Ended up with this: I made a simple 1" nylon web Rhodesian sling, with twist lock swivels, and put a nylon butt-cuff to carry spare ammo. All-in it tips the scales at 7lb 8 oz, slung with the butt cuff but no ammo. Jeff Cooper's target for a Scout Rifle was 7 Lbs, so just missed, but that was kind of expected. I used it in the field for the first time Monday, and shot a nice ~250 lb wild pig with it. It is very handy, points really well, and is very nice to carry. It was in my hand more than it was slung, balanced well and was just a lovely little rifle to carry around all day. Other random thoughts, lessons learned, etc: The ~17" barrel doesn't seem to hurt anything, I can still drive a 150gr Sierra to ~2700 FPS. It is not as accurate as I would like. I admit I didn't expect much for a $90 barrel, and I got what I paid for. The barrel is fully floated, and the action is bedded to the stock. I know some people advocate a pressure point at the front of the stock, and I may try that at some point. As it is, I have full stocked military Mausers with original barrels that shoot better than this rifle. It is about a 2 MOA rifle with handloads, which is still plenty for any hunting I would do with it at a range I would take a shot. I am able to hit a 12" steel plate at 300 yards at will, which is farther than I would be willing to take a shot at game. The trigger is quite workable, but it retains the original military two-stage trigger, that scales around 5.5 lbs. I don't know that improving the trigger will help the accuracy, but it certainly can't hurt. It also retains the original three position Mauser flag safety on the rear of the bolt. For a hunting rifle, this is not optimal, it can't be operated without moving your hand from firing position, and makes more noise than other types where the safety mechanism is enclosed within the stock. On Monday I found myself going off safe earlier than I would were I using say a Remington 700, simply because I wanted my hand back where it needed to be if a quick shot presented itself. This part is an advantage of the military trigger, I have faith that it won't go off unless I want it to. I am religious about muzzle awareness and keeping my booger-hook of the bang button. I could have trimmed some more weight with a thinner contour barrel. The Brownells barrel is similar to a Douglas #1 profile, which is not horrible, could be thinner. I don't think I could get below 7 lbs, but would be closer. I could also save weight by going to a fiberglass stock. The Stock with pad installed, bottom metal & screws was 1 lb 14.8 oz, but I hollowed out the butt a bit more since I weighted it last, but then added bedding compound, so it is probably a wash. I expect a good lightweight fiberglass stock would get me to the 7 lb mark as well. With that said, I don't have any intention of replacing the stock, I am partial to oiled wood, even though it has downsides compared to modern composites (I smile every time I open the safe and the linseed oil smell hits me). I also like the fact that the stock is at minimum 100 years old. Germany stopped making the Gewehr 98 when WW1 ended, so the stock is anywhere between 100 and 120 years old. The Czech contract for Israel K98s was in 1948, so the action is 50 years old. All in all, I am pretty pleased with how it turned out. It doesn't make the 7 lb weight, but I knew making weight was unlikely going in. It has most of the features Cooper advocated, and is a wonderful handy little rifle. I get why he liked the concept so much. |
#84
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One of my rarest is my German Walther G43 rifle. It was made in 1944 and is a GI bring back from after the war. It has a repaired duffle-cut mid forearm. No Import marks. It has had the gas system upgraded so as to not damage it but I still have the original parts. It is a lot of fun to shoot. The story that came with it is that it was taken from a dead SS Officer with a Luger pistol and some German medals. I am not sure I believe the story completely. But it does make you wander what it has seen in its time.
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#85
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Last edited by metalcruncher; 11-25-2018 at 10:03 AM.. Reason: Added photo |
#86
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Single Shot BP Carbines
Some interesting ones here. Top to bottom, .50 cal CW Maynard, .50/70 Sharps conversion, .45/70 Trapdoor, .577 Portuguese Snider, .50/70 Rolling Block, 1871 11mm Mauser, 1873 11mm Gras
All are shooters though the bottom two are almost too nice, almost. Skirmisher |
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