found this gun for sale was a 30.06 do you think it is a good shooter i would like to buy you can see it on gunbroker thanks mike

Nice vintage rifle, has the step contour barrel which has enough meat on it for 35 caliber. I don't like the swing mount scope base which requires holes in the side of the receiver for mounting, but some folks don't mind.

yea the gun was built before my time. does anyone know the smith Van Patten. is that mauser a good one?

quote:

mike61:is that mauser a good one?

That rifle is a commercial FN Deluxe sporter, the best. The only thing that would make it bad is if the rebore job was done poorly.

I have a 35 Whelen and if you go that route I strongly suggest you have it made with a 1 in 12 or even 1 in 10 twist. The traditional 1 in 16 is too slow for many of the top flight hunting bullets in the 250 gr or heavier weights. I picked up a nice older 30-06 that I'm having recut to 9.3X62 with a 1 in 12 twist. I suggest you look into that caliber. If I didn't like my Whelen so much I might have had it rebarreled to 9.3x62, now I can have both! The 9.3 is probably more versitile if you are going to hunt Africa and will match or better the Whelen with 250 gr. slugs if you like. Have fun!

Mike 61 do consider reboreing that FN to 9.3x62.
A fine classic cartridge if there ever was one.