Our Forum member riflesmith John Ricks has mounted the Cutrifle Express barrel that member Bill Tompkins sent me for my M70 (out of sympathy or to shut me up - I'm not sure which!)

Here's a picture from John.

barrelled action picture

This barrel has an integral lug and quarter rib. John says that the factory barrel had the lug spot-welded on, which explains why it walked so badly as it heated up. The integral lug should prevent all that.

John will be choosing and mounting the sights in the coming days after he takes some measurements of the mounted scope to set some heights.

I will post the progress here. I'm like a kid at Christmas!

Don

[edited to put link to picture to reduce load time for those who have already seen it.]

[This message has been edited by Don G (edited 12-05-2001).]

In case you don't recall the long series of posts a few months ago about this rifle, I chambered the new barrel for 416 Remington.

I'm drooling!

The barrelled action is being steel bedded. Photo courtesy John Ricks.

bedding the barrel

[edited to replace picture with link to reduce load time.]

[This message has been edited by Don G (edited 12-05-2001).]

John,
How about giving a description of your bedding work. I can see by your picture that you have clamps on the barrel. I have never seen this done. Also how much torque are you putting on your action screws?
Thanks,
Todd

Steel bed is so viscous that is you do not pull the barrel down into it before it sets, then after it cures, you will have tremendous up thrust on the barrel, even if you apply several layers of tape for freefloat clearance. This is due to a combination of both the barrel and the stock spinging. Especially bad if you are bedding at ambient temps of less than 70 degrees.

This rifle is pillar bedded, the hand screws are pulled down hard until one can feel the receiver bottom out. On bench guns, like M700's and various custom actions, also pillar bedded, I use a different hand screw arrangement that also takes a hex wrench, and I can torque them to 100 inch pounds or so. Note this is more than the 65 inch pounds recommended for action screws. The key is good solid pillars that support the receiver. Install pillars first (and this must be done correctly, most guys do it wrong and use pillars that are too small in diameter), then bed. I make all my hand screws, they are different from the ones you buy from Brownells. And the ones used for pillars are very different!!! I make the pillars also.

Methinks I detect a subtle remonstrance here! My pillars were 3/8 inch heavywall stainless steel tubing cut to length.

They lasted 700 rounds, so I guess they weren't altogether too puny.

Don

Most think of pillars as only resistance to compression of the stock, but in the world of heavy bench guns, extreme range target rifes, 1000 yarders, etc, they also must provide stability for the receiver in a rotational direction of the receiver plus provide resistance against fore and aft tipping. I adapt the long range rifle pillar concept to hunting rifles and DGR's. Not as big and robust as the target pillars due to stock dimension limitations, but still nicely proportioned. My reasoning is any way to increase the robustness in a DGR pays out in the long run. Plus a large diameter pillar, with grooves machined in the OD, helps to lock things in the epoxy so they won't move.

John sent this photo. Said he was watching a Kilimanjaro video on TV, and Tarzan's catch-all elephant command, "Ngawa" popped into his head. This rifle makes John think "Ngawa". Me too.
Ngawa picture

Don

[This message has been edited by Don G (edited 12-06-2001).]

"Sightless near Seattle" We are still thinking about sights, they go on next.

Weighs 9-1/2 pounds, just right!

Sight setup has been decided after John's careful measurements.

Front: NECG masterpiece ramp, hood, S-4 bead
Barrel band sling swivel.
Rrear: London Guns 3 leaf express.

I'm breathing hard just thinking about it!

Don

Got the batch of GS Custom bullets I ordered one month ago (surface). That's the usual delay I experience.

I will ship some to John Ricks so he can try them in my new rifle. (It feels like I'm handing condoms to the guy who's trying out my new woman!)

Will post results soonest.

Don,

Now that is a disturbing verbal visual! I'm waiting impatiently for a delivery from Gerard also.

So far, looking real good.

Bill

Don,
Any more recent picts on this dream come true?

Bill,
That sure is a nice barrel!!! Are you and Dan planning any more "specials" for the next SCI annual convention? If so please let us know on this forum.

Regards,
Jeff P

Nope, I've been trying not to bother John too much. Thanks for nudging him for me!

Don

Don,

I just gave John a ring, but didn't ask how your rifle was going. Said he's trying to get caught up, and had finally made some progress on one of my rifles, tapering the 500 Jeffrey tube.

Your 416 looks great, will you be taking it with you to SA next year?

Paul,

I certainly hope so!!!!

I intend to shoot some GS HVs in it.

Don

Paul,

He better!
Just teasing, Don.

Jeff,

Yikes! SCI is right around the corner and no decisions yet on any specials. It looks like there will be some midnight oil burned again this year.

All,

Since Jeff brought it up, please try to make an effort to stop by the booth and say HI. You all are a terrific group of people and I would be sincerely appreciative for the chance to put faces with names. I've been twisting Don and John Rick's arms to try and get them there for at least one evening of tall tales and libations. The other maybe would be Ray if he is not off on Safari. All of you are invited to bring pictures and stories as we never get to go anywhere! Let's make it a big group and toddle off for a good evening of stories and...

Bill

Sights are installed, I will try and get a photo up later today.

YeeeeeeHaaaa!

Most excellent!

John, Leave some bullets for me!

Don

Don G,
I always check this thread for progress. Most entertaining! I got the tape of Saeed's 2001 Zimbabwe "Happening." Looks like your rifle is a happening thing too. Use it like Saeed would. One shot, one kill. Thanks for the tape.

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RAB

Ron,

I get a lot of pleasure out of this thread also!

It seems that Bill giving me the barrel for this rifle was the beginning of my luck turning around after my divorce. Within a month or two Saeed has his drawing, and Chris and I are dreaming of Africa!

Of course I broke my ankle since then, but it is healing well. I now have a removable air cast, and walk around the house barefoot all the time. I'm thinking that full recovery is possible in time to get in shape for Africa next May!

I had a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Day. and a lot of it is due to good friends I've never met!

Don

Here's a picture of the rifle after sight installation.

(Photo courtesy of John Ricks.)

sights installed

My palms are sweating and I have funny dreams at night!

Don

[Edited to replace picture with link to improve load time for those who have seen it.]

[This message has been edited by Don G (edited 12-13-2001).]

AHHHH...MAGNIFIQUE!

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DaggaRon
RAB

No perhaps John can free himself to get to my 500 Jeffrey He did say he's contoured the barrel, so progress has been made.

Don, looks very, very nice, betcha can't wait to get it!

Paul,

What the heck ya gonna shoot with a 500J ? You going whaling in the ice up there?

Don

Don,

I figured the 570 gr X bullet at 2400 fps would be a dandy moose round

Truth be told, I picked up a 450 gr LBT LFN mold, and will likely be putting many of them down the tube between 1300 and 1700 fps.

It's a long story on how I ended up getting the 500 J built. I guess you could say after hanging out here, I fealt my 458 lott just wasn't big enough, nor exotic enough.

Paul,

Where did you get an LBT mold? I'd like to get an LFN or WFN 350-400 grain mold for my .416, but I've never seen an LBT for sale.

570 grains at 2400 fps would put me on the meat pole!

Don

Don,

LBT molds show up on EBay from time to time. There were a dozen or so on there about 3 weeks ago, though I can't find any tonight.

Thanks Cannon, I'll start to watch for them.

Don

Don,

I have a buddy that has an ability to come up with all sorts of stuff. I'm his casting slave (poor trading skills I my part I guess ) and was casting for his latest 500 Linebaugh. He came across the mold, and I snapped it up. It was a bargain too, only $50. I paid $100 for the LBT 390 LFN .475 mold, but I was also able to sell it to another guy for $100. If you can find a 416 LBT, it should be reasonably priced, as they aren't in the real high demand like the 357, 41, 44, 45 and 475 pistol molds.

Balisticast is offering LBT style molds, and IMHO they are made even better, cast iron, and very well made. The only problem is they currently aren't offering rifle bullets. I'd wanted a 540-560 gr for the 458, but they couldn't do it. There are others that will make custom molds. You might want to look at NEI http://www.neihandtools.com/catalog/frame.html They offer a 375 gr gc mold.

[This message has been edited by Paul H (edited 12-06-2001).]

Thanks, Paul. I will get busy on that. I liked the beartooth bullets, but he is 'way behind. I need some cheap practice!

Don

Bill,
Was wondering what kind of big bore barrel profiles you now have programmed on your machining center after 2? or so years of doing these? Last we talked you were doing that 8x68S.

Be careful though as doing this will probably cause much uncontrolled drooling around the world when this is read...I just hate it when that happens! JP

My rifle turned into a hole in the world!

Here's the picture John Ricks sent me of my barrelled action after bead blasting and hot tank bluing.

I really appreciate the fact that it's hard to make out any detail. I hope the game has similar problems! I think John was a little aghast at my original intention of using Oxpho blue on it after I got it back.

I realize the matte finish is probably a barbaric way to treat the Cutrifle barrel, (apologies to Bill Tompkins), but I can't stand shiny gear in the field.

matte barrelled action

Thanks again to John and Bill,
Don

[edited to point to picture to save loading time.]

[This message has been edited by Don G (edited 12-20-2001).]

John Ricks emailed me tonight, with this finished picture of the Cutrifle Express.

I think it is a beauty! It will be my main carry rifle for as long as I can tote the load. I expect to catch a lot of ribbing in deer and elk camp, but there's no way this fine rifle is going to spend its days in the rack!

Thanks again to Bill Tompkins for giving me the "leftover" barrel from SCI 2001, and John Ricks for all his great work.

This rifle is going to Africa in May!

Don

Come on, Don!

We need more pictures! Closeups! You can't leave all of us drooling here!

jpb

Gosh dang, whatta sweet thang!
Now you must tell her name.
She's a beauty and goes bang,
And she'll take any game!

Cheers! (hoist the eggnog)

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So many bovids! So little time and money!
RAB

Don - that is an absolutely beautiful rifle! congratulations.

Very nice rifle! You must be pleased when all the work put into the project produces such a good result.

A great looking working rifle in a great caliber. I bet you can't wait to shoot it. Let us know the details when you do.
Congratulations,
Terry