I finally got around to taking some not very good pictures of a rifle Wayne put together for me a while back.

I was looking for a .458 WM that would be lighter to carry than a CZ. I found a LNIB Winchester Model 70 Classic Super Express. I had some misgivings about buying it because my experience with factory rifles has been mixed. I talked to Wayne at AHR and he said he could go through it and make sure it ran properly. We left it that he would go through it and we would discuss exactly what upgrades I wanted when he had done that.

The Classic Super Express has the "classic" action but a different stock, bottom metal, rear sight, and front swivel attachment than the later Safari Express. It is also lighter, and my plan was to make sure we did not weight it down.

Wayne did what is essentially his "Level 3 Upgrade" to it, restocking it (with a grip cap instead of his usual wood finish at the grip), adding new sights, and adding Graphite GunKote to the metal.



We went with Williams bottom metal with the inside-the-bow release:



For the front sight, I asked for a flip-up night bead, a bevel filed on the brass bead, and a flip-over hood.







For the rear sight, I asked for just one standing leaf. Wayne had to fabricate it because the front sight was pretty high.



The rifle came in at the weight we discussed of ~8-1/2 pounds, the sights work very well, and it looks good too. Most important though is that he went though it with the different bullet profiles I expect to use. There is a lot of peace of mind I get from having a professional go though it. I know some people never have a problem with a factory rifle, but that is not how it usually goes with me...

The bottom metal, sights, and grip cap added some extra cost but are the kind of touches that make the rifle mine.

Hopefully I will get to actually hunt with it soon!

Hell of a nice rifle there. Enjoy.

Congratulations on a fine looking rifle.

Hope your dream of using it soon is a Christmas present this year!

Looks like a great rifle. Should be really.nice to hunt with at that weight.

That is a beautiful rifle

...and in a great caliber!

I like the choice of sighting. Very nice rifle and weight where it should be.

When it comes to big bores, Wayne certainly knows his stuff.

Thank you gentlemen. I really like how the sights came out on this. I shamelessly stole the idea from other rifles on here.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
When it comes to big bores, Wayne certainly knows his stuff.

Yes, and he is a pleasure to work with -- professional, timely, knowledgeable, what more can I say?

Looks great. That is just what I would want.

Who made that bottom metal?
Matt

quote:

Originally posted by ColoradoMatt:
Who made that bottom metal?
Matt

Noted in original post - made by Williams.

Nice rifle Charles! Looks like a pleasure to carry as well as pleasing to the eye!

Very nice. Needs to find an elephant and or a buff!

JPK

Nice looking rifle Charles. Time to christen that piece in Africa. Cannot be said enough in my opinion, Wayne at AHR is a pleasure to work with and does good quality work.

Very good looking rifle. I too, am a very happy customer of Wayne and AHR. Dealing with him on a Model 70 and on a CZ was a real pleasure.

Thanks gentlemen. I am working on a return to Africa -- hoping to get some details sorted out here before the end of the year and then get something booked.

quote:

Originally posted by Edod:
Very good looking rifle. I too, am a very happy customer of Wayne and AHR. Dealing with him on a Model 70 and on a CZ was a real pleasure.

I was fortunate to have him do a CZ upgrade in .375 a while back as well -- I could swear I posted these before but here it is:

I like the flip up night sight setup. Does it fold down flush? Looks like it is peeking up a bit? Just curious. I have has one good experience with AHR and hope to have more in the future.

I guess I need less rifles and more custom rifles...........

quote:

Originally posted by Charles_Helm:
Thanks gentlemen. I am working on a return to Africa -- hoping to get some details sorted out here before the end of the year and then get something booked.

quote:

Originally posted by Edod:
Very good looking rifle. I too, am a very happy customer of Wayne and AHR. Dealing with him on a Model 70 and on a CZ was a real pleasure.

I was fortunate to have him do a CZ upgrade in .375 a while back as well -- I could swear I posted these before but here it is:

From dog turd to beauty queen with one phone call! Nice looking rifle..

Well done. I like both!!!

quote:

Originally posted by gunslinger55:
I like the flip up night sight setup. Does it fold down flush? Looks like it is peeking up a bit? Just curious. I have has one good experience with AHR and hope to have more in the future.

I guess I need less rifles and more custom rifles...........

It sticks up enough to flip it out with.

Wayne is great to work with and we picked up another parcel from him this week. Need to take some pictures of that one.

Love them, Charles.

Well conceived and executed rifles, both.

Congratulations on a beautiful rifle. Wayne's work is superb!

Curious if Wayne welded or pinned the bolt handle?

quote:

Originally posted by Boxhead:
Curious if Wayne welded or pinned the bolt handle?

My understanding is that both are original. On the CZs, he fills and straightens them.

The bolt handle on the M70 is attached via a "spline" to the bolt body and they have been known to detach. D'Arcy Echols now pins them in place after experiencing such a failure. I sent mine to Accu-TIG and had if welded. Just a thought on a DG rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by Boxhead:
The bolt handle on the M70 is attached via a "spline" to the bolt body and they have been known to detach. D'Arcy Echols now pins them in place after experiencing such a failure. I sent mine to Accu-TIG and had if welded. Just a thought on a DG rifle.

I did not ask Wayne to do anything special on the bolt handle on the M70 but one can always ask.

Charles,

Congratulations on a wonderful rifle project. I did
not know AHR worked on rifles other than CZ.

Can you show a picture of the cheek piece on your
fine Winchester .458 WM please?

quote:

Originally posted by D R Hunter:

Can you show a picture of the cheek piece on your
fine Winchester .458 WM please?

I kind of rushed the pics and did not shoot both sides. Will try to do that when I get a chance.