I'm looking hard at buying a NULA for use as my major hunting rifle, due to the weight issue, age and BC terrain. I would really appreciate comments, especially based actual ownership/use by all of you. Good/bad/neutral...like/dislike, the whole magilla.

Giv'er guys!

Dewey,

Boy did you come to drink at the right fountain!

Just got my ULA 30-06 about 3 months ago. It is a model 24 with 22" No.1 profile barrel, topped with Leupold Vari XII 3-9 x 40. On my wife's kitchen scales she weighs exactly 5lb 8oz. Yes, the weight is correct because I double checked. Even for an ULA it seemed light.

There is a good article by John Barness in rifle magazine issue 228.

My advice to you is order one! It will make all the rest of your armoury look superflous. I wish they were available here in Australia, I'd order another in a flash.

There are plenty of light rifles out there but the balance of this rifle has to be felt to be believed. (Fokelore has it that it was designed around the front action screw) The action is so well machined it does not need teflon like some "custom" rifles do to be smooth. The trigger is just a Timney but is adjusted just right. Crisp like breaking glass. The trigger is just a Douglas but boy is it accurate.

It is a rifle that like fine wine you appreciate more with time! It is that good.

It's the package that is so impressive. Outwardly you question why you are paying a premium over a Kimber or a Remington Ti. But once you own one you'll realise as Barness puts it that "the ULA or NULA is one of the few bargains in the custom gun world".

Downside is of course recoil being so light. But they have done clever things to dissipate it. Of course the stock that Melvin Forbes makes is legendary in strength. But it also dissipates recoil rather well. I compared it to a HS precision stock last night & the surface area of the butt is significantly larger than that on the HS. (and the HS even with fluted barrel just does not balance). It is straight so recoils straight back. Also it has a nice thick recoil pad which is very effective.

If you can shoot the calibre in a std hunting rifle then you can shoot it in a NULA.

Here is a target I shot in developing my Hunting load.



Regards,
JohnT

My ULA rifle was build in 1989 model 24 and if I didn't like it, it would of been gone long time ago. One thing about Mel's rifles they are a truly build light rifle from action to stock he has each model action for certain calibers.

NULA is a sponsor on http://www.24hourcampfire.com/

John T,

How did you manage to find a ULA or NULA rifle in Australia, i have heard of a couple but havnt seen one in the flesh, did you import it yourself from the US, sounds like a fantastic rifle, cheers David

the article that John T recommends is a very good article. it would pay for you to find it if possible. Dewey, did you rec your package ok.

Sapper,

Before all the restrictions came in after 9/11 there were a lot of interesting guns imported into Australia quite freely.

My ULA was manufactured in 1995. I bought it 3rd hand but fortunately the previous owners took great care of it and it was like new. I heard through some gun dealers in the Blue Mountains that one may be for sale, arranged an inspection at St. Mary's & even fired it before I put my money down there & then. Recoil was a concern initially.

The guy I bought it off was obviously a connoisseur of fine firearms and was extremely knowledgeable about the ULA/NULA - and a heck of a nice guy to boot. So the deal was easy.

After showing it to my friends I tell you I could have sold it 3 times over.

There is a new gunshop called Magnum Sports on the northside in Sydney. If you are interested give Andrew a call. He may be interested in importing them, but you have to get in the queue behind me. I want to get another one in 6.5 x 55. It'd be terrific for everything except Sambar.

Regards,
JohnT

John T,
Thanks for the info, i have heard of Magnum Sports in Sydney and it would be great if they were importing them i will have to check them out, cheers David

I am now thinking .30-06-24"tube, Recknagel banded ramp front sight, Talley Lever rings and I have a Tally peep sight here in my parts boxes. I also want two Leupy 1.75x6 MHD scopes, pre-sighted in the rings and this is for most of the hunting I will do in BC, Yukon and NWT for the remainder of my hunting life.

I have minimal problem with recoil, I have a .458WM, two hotloaded .45-70s, four 9.3 rifles, five .338WM rifles and two .375H&H rifles, so, can handle this fine. It's the constant drag of an 8,5-9 lb rifle in mountain backpack hunting that is beginning to really wear me down.

I am thinking 168 TSXs and maybe 220 NPs for packing meat in Grizzly country.

Thanks all, sounds like I AM on the right path.

Buff, sent you an envelope with extra $$$ to make up for the high shipping costs, bullets arrived just fine, Thx.

I have a LH model 24 in 30-06 with 24" SS tube topped with a Leupy VXIII 3-9x40. It's a great rifle. Very accurate and a joy to carry. It loves 180 gr Accubonds with 55gr IMR 4350.

I originally had the Timney trigger but didn't like it. Mel replaced it with a Jewel and the rifle has been perfect since.

Recoil is a bit sharper than a standard weight rifle. I wouldn't want a caliber larger than 30-06 in the NULA because of this. Its perceived recoil seems to be more than my 338 WM.

The package works great as a mountain rifle. I still do use my 338 WM LH Remmy 700 mountain KS for elk. Having just turned 40 and still able to climb the hills the extra pound of weight doesn't bother me much. As I get older and slower, the NULA will get the nod.

Dewey,

For a lot less money the Kimber Montana's are also light and in fact have CRF which the nula does not have and a M70 type safety also.

True the Kimbers in 30-06 are on that long action 8400 and are not as light as the nula.

I bought a Kimber Montana in 308 in the 84M when they announced the 30-06 in that big 8400 and I reach for it a lot. Its good gun and I have saved a lot a money.

With respect Savage_99

That's like saying for a lot less money get a Ford instead of a Ferrari. They both go fast!

Such a statement is ignorant of the refinements in a NULA over a Kimber. If you have real experience with a NULA you just would not even bother to compare it with a Kimber. Just not in the same league.

Not saying a Kimber is bad and the Montana probably draws its inspiration from a NULA. Just that a Kimber is appropriately priced for what you get.

Regards
JohnT

I've owned four NULAs (270, 308, 257 Roberts and a 22RF). Have also owned Kimber Montana, Remington Ti, Rifles, Inc. and Weatherby UL rifles. For the money, I think the old version Remington Ti has a lot to offer, with the Weatherby UL next.
The NULA rifles are VERY good rifles. But, for me, I prefer the Remington Ti and Weatherby UL.

I have closely inspected at least 20 different Kimber 84-8400 rifles, Montanas and the wood/blue versions. Kimber will NOT honour their warrantee here in Canada and Remington will avoid this, as well.

My opinion of the Kimbers is that they are crap and I would not have one as a gift. I am not wild about Remington quality, so, did not buy a Ti, although I was sorely tempted....

I AM looking hard at the Weatherby ULs, but, the NULA seems like a better made rifle, to me and I want quality. I do not care what an item of my hunting gear costs, I care about how it functions/performs and NULA simply HAS the reputation and I DO NOT want a short action cartridge or any type of compromise, this is to be my "last"rifle.

Dewey you got class mate!

Regards
JohnT

quote:

Originally posted by Dewey:
... Good/bad/neutral...like/dislike, the whole magilla. ...

Hey Dewey, Unless things have changed a good bit with Mr. Forbes, he is not open to modifications on his rifles. It is simply a very well made, light-weight, accurate rifle. That pleases the desires of most folks. For the kind of money Mr. Forbes gets, you can actually have a Custom Built(to your Specs) rifle of your choice, and possibly at less expense.

The first time Mr. Forbes was in business(prior to the Colt fiasco) when it was ULA, I tried my best to buy one of his rifles. I wanted one very much, but he only offered Blue Steel at that time. Tried to talk him into making one in Stainless but he wasn't interested in doing that. Thanked him and hung up.

A day or so passed and I called him back to see if he would consider having one Armaloyed(a slick, tough, weather-proof finish) back in the late `70s. Mr. Forbes was quite positive that I could either buy one the way he made them, or I should just look elsewhere - in a nice way. So I did what he suggested and looked elsewhere.

Ended up sending a couple I already had off for Teflon Coating which has worked much better than I expected. Never a problem with the coating and it has protected the Blue Steel of those rifles from all kinds of bad weather. However this was simply a Temporary and inexpensive quick fix to regular rifles. Still didn't have the Lighter Weight of a ULA.

Eventually the folks at Remington began making the M7 in Stainless and Synthetic(S&S) and I got one of them. Very pleasantly surprised at the accuracy with only cleaning the barrel and adjusting the excellent factory trigger. Still not as light as one of Mr. Forbes rifles, but at about 40% of his cost. I pondered sending it off to "Rifles Inc." where Lex Wieberneck(I'm sure I hosed the spelling of his name), and his cost would have still had me 20% less expense than a ULA. But I never did that.

If I was going for an extremely light-weight rifle(less than a M7), I'd get a S&S 308Win M7 and send it to "Rifles Inc" and have them do what "I wanted".
-----

The above is in no way intended as a slam against Mr. Forbes. He runs his business the way he wants and I can appreciate that. I also appreciate being able to get what I "actually want" without as much expense.

Best of luck to you with your NULA.

I have not needed to adjust my scope on my ULA 7mag in over 20 years. Joy to carry and shoot. John

To John T and Dewey,

Each of you criticize the Kimber with generalities. I own four Kimbers and have each of them performing well. In some instances an adjustment was required on the rifles which was not a big problem for me.

The ULA's that I have seen did not appeal too me all that much for just some of the reasons I gave. To each his own on this. I would give you the benefit of the doubt that the ULA/NULA's satisfy you.

Dewey and John, I worked on a new Kimber Montana last week for a customer [muzzle brk and trigger adjustment] and found it very nicley put together. What problems / complaints do you have? Did he just happen to get a good one or has the the quality come up? Just curious.

SWD,

Just the minor details. A Kimber although bedded is bedded to a reference action not the one in your gun. In the Montana the inletting although good is not to the same quality as the NULA. Work a NULA bolt & it just glides not quite the same in the Kimber.

Out of the box accuracy is definitely not in the same league as a NULA. I mean a 223 Longmaster that shoots 1 1/4 inch 5 shot groups is nothing to brag about.

Well like you said you had to adjust the trigger. Not so with the NULA. So it is just in the finessing. Whether its worth it or not depends on the individual. I used to admire HS Precision rifles but after this NULA the machining & how well it is put together as a package is even better again.

And that balance - boy it is hard to get and this one gets it right.

Regards,
JohnT

Well, there is always the poorboy way into a ULA gun. The Colt Light Rifle was a business fiasco for Colt but they are built extremely well. They are simply a CNC version of the ULA gun with a cheap injection molded copy of the ULA stock and a lawyered-up trigger.

The receiver will fit any Remington style replacement trigger and Mel Forbes (ULA) makes a drop-in version of his stock to fit the Colt.

The Colt rifles sell on the net for around $600 if you shop. Original retail was in the $1200-$1400 range 5-7 years ago. They have some sort of milspec black coating that is hell-for-tough and rust proof.

Mel's stock is around $450 when I bought mine and better trigger is anywhere from $79 to 4200 depending on your tastes. I did not change my trigger because my gun shoots in the .8 MOA as-is. Once you put one in a ULA stock, it feels and handles exactly like one of Mel's originals.

Calibers were limited to 300 Win, 7 Mag, 30-06 and 270.

I may not have been sufficiently clear in my initial query here; I am not interested in a discussion of light or mountain rifles or in possible options. I already have many hunting rifles of various types and am ONLY concerned with the NULA for what I want.

I like to hear form actual users and cost IS NOT a factor, but, any potential problems, based on experience is, as returning a rifle to a US maker is a real pita, one I would prefer to avoid.

I have recently spoken with Mel Forbes and he WILL build the rifle exactly as I want it, so, that is not an issue, either.

The lightest custom mountain rifles I now have and the one I have parts to build weigh aout 7 lbs. plus scoped and I want a 6-6.25 lb. rifle as I am cutting every ounce of pack-gear weight which enables me to carry more food to hunt longer.

So, the NULA seems the ideal choice from what I have seen, so far. If,I wanted to go with a full custom rifle, I would have Ralf Martini build it as he has done a few for buddies of mine and I have an action he wants as he has already cleaned out my action stash. But, the NULA just seems so "right"for serious mountain backpack hunting.

I was just reading NULA's web site, and there published weight on the "plains rifle" on the home page is 5 1/4 lbs. If you click on the "plains rifle" description, they have a published weight of 5 3/4 scoped! Can someone tell me what scope/ring combination they are using that only weighs 8oz.?

Jon,

My M24 30-06 ULA with ULA one piece rings (they look a bit different to the Talley one piece rings of nowadays) and Leupold VX II 3-9 x 40.

After I read those stats and comments of others I thought I got it wrong too but I weighed it again and dead on 5lb 8oz. These on my wife's kitchen scales so not lab std.

BTW my barrel is 22 inch & looks to be No. 1 profile.

Obviously the scope & rings are not going to be 8oz so the rifle must be lighter than quoted in certain configurations.

Regards
JohnT

quote:

Originally posted by Jon Beutler:
I was just reading NULA's web site, and there published weight on the "plains rifle" on the home page is 5 1/4 lbs. If you click on the "plains rifle" description, they have a published weight of 5 3/4 scoped! Can someone tell me what scope/ring combination they are using that only weighs 8oz.?

One of the option is selecting barrel length and contour my 280AI has a 25" long barrel and older Leupold 4x12 and weights just alittle over 6 1/4 lbs if I got a barrel lenght like John T and same scope I might be around 5 3/4 lbs. My rifle balance nice and with those new Leupold ultralight 3x9 scope I could shave 5oz off the total weigth if I want.

quote:

Originally posted by Dewey:
...I have recently spoken with Mel Forbes and he WILL build the rifle exactly as I want it, so, that is not an issue, either....

Hey Dewey, Glad to hear Mr. Forbes has come around on that. I feel sure I'd be bragging on one of his rifles if he had of had the same attitude 30 years ago.

Best of luck with your NULA. Let us know how well it shoots.

Dewey,

Once you've experienced a NULA, you can understand why Forbes turns down modifications. The action is smooth and tight - what would it be if he added an extra layer of some protectant surface coating?

One interesting aspect I haven't seen mentioned is the safety that comes with the Timney trigger. It's a "two-position" safety, in that rear is safe and forward is fire, but there's an additional position. Rear locks the bolt so that it doesn't fall out in the woods when I'm not looking. With the rifle on safe, if you press the safety lever directly along length of the safety lever, that will unlock the bolt while it's still on safe.

This is a rifle with a blind magazine, though, so I wouldn't personally carry it as a dangerous game rifle. Should it jam up, you don't have a magazine to open to clear it.

I also wouldn't expect to use an aperture sight on it. For me, anyway, there's not enough drop at comb to let me get a sight picture along the barrel. Your mileage may vary.

The Talley ringmounts are pretty securely fastened and are pretty strong. The scope will break long before the rings, IMO. Just have another scope sighted and replace the broken one and you should be good to go - the rings and ring attachments to the receiver are very accurately aligned.

Forbes did tell me he designed the balance around the front action screw. In fact, unless you tell him not to, he'll balance every rifle to that point with weights in the butt to balance any heavier-than-standard barrels.

Another aspect I haven't seen mentioned is the ability to tap the experience of the designer and builder. He's not just a customer service rep who parrots "Send it in and we'll look at it." He'll discuss it with you, and he's both informative and entertaining.

I think they're worth it.

I'd really be interested in a few pictures of guys NULA's. I'm in serious consideration mode myself right now. Thanks.

Chuck, honestly photos of ULA's/NULA's are a real let down. The ones with the tiger striped stocks; dare I say border on ugly! You can view some pics on his web site. My stock is just jet black.

Its when you pick up the rifle & bring it to the shoulder that the magic comes out and of course the proof is in the shooting! You won't be disappointed.

Regards,
JohnT

Here's mine with the "ugly" tiger stripes. I like 'em.

jtinidaho,

What caliber?

Thanks for posting pictures.

30-06

Dewey,

www.martiniandhagngunmakers.com.
Much less painful than trying to get anything gun related out of the US. Unless you were planning on running across the line yourself.

Dean

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Nelson:
I'd really be interested in a few pictures of guys NULA's. I'm in serious consideration mode myself right now. Thanks.

Addict

Here are a couple of pics of mine:


You have to add the dirt and the blaze orange fuzz yourself, however...

Note the rear scope mount moves the scope forward in the rings. That's not standard, but it's necessary for my long neck in order for me to get a full sight picture. Otherwise, I'm too close to the scope. (I wish Talley made this design for other than NULA short-rear-bridge rifles.)

quote:

Addict

It's a problem I know. As does my wife.

Thanks JW!

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Nelson:

quote:

Addict

It's a problem I know. As does my wife.

Chuck, we need to talk!

Been so dang busy... sold the M70 30-06 and picked up one in 270 Win (SS FWT, barreled action only). I have an aluminum blind-magazine trigger guard for it that will be BB'd to silver and will put it in a Hunters Edge with 6x36 LR in Talleys on top.

BTW, nice to know Dewey (aka Kutenay) thinks the Kimbers are crap even though he's never used one... all mine have been stellar in every way.

The Kimbers I have examined had etched rings around the firing pin hole on the bolt face, VERY poor inletting and on about half of the Montanas, it was VERY difficult to open the bolt.

These retailed at about $1700.00 here in Vancouver and I will not buy something for that kind of $$$$ that I find so many flaws on when I check it out. Kimber WILL NOT honour their warrantee for Canadian customers and it is VERY difficult to return firearms from Canada to the USA for service, due to American laws that will not allow this in person and demand extensive paperwork to do it by shipping.

I did like the balance of the 8400s and seriously considered buying one for my 60th birthday. However a guy in Montana actually told me, two years ago, that HIS first KImber Montana would not feed correctly, this is not acceptable to me, but, it may be to others. I DO KNOW several guys here who bought Kimbers who CANNOT get them to shoot and are now selling them at a substantial loss, not my idea of sound gun buying practice.

Where some of the other points raised are concerned, such as a DGR, that is not a concern for me, I have custom DGRs and lots of CRF .338s and 9.3s for when I feel such is indicated. I simply am after the most practical backpack hunting rifle I can find and am gathering opinions to assist in that quest.

I know about the Mod.20-.284 at Ralf's, several of the highend consignment guns on that site belong to one of my friends and he keeps me posted on various goodies that Ralf gets. I just want a brand new rifle, built to my specs. and tend to favour an .06 for this situation.

Thanks to all for your welcome input, suggestions and experiences, I certainly appreciate the help. I am pretty sure that a Mod. 24-.30-06 will be coming my way when I have saved up the cash for it and I expect to be totally satisfied with it.

Brad, we do need to chat.

Sounds like the new project is a winner, and something you should have done long ago!

quote:

I did like the balance of the 8400s and seriously considered buying one for my 60th birthday. However a guy in Montana actually told me, two years ago, that HIS first KImber Montana would not feed correctly, this is not acceptable to me, but, it may be to others.

Yep, that was me but it was four years ago before, mostly because of my beetching, Kimber made the feed ramp shallower by ten degrees.

I've had five Kimber Montana's... all have shot lights-out, and the first fed only "OK"... the rest feed and function perfectly.

But then I've actually used them...