I just made the trade of the century. I bought a Bernelli Nova NIB (including a padded soft case) off the net for $275. It's the camo model. A friend came by to see it and told me he'd trade his NIB Model 70 in .416 for it. (He won the rifle at an SCI drawing, but is left-handed).

So... now I have the rifle and am contemplating what to do with it. It feeds flawlessley, has nice wood and comes to my shoulder just fine.

Fooling with rifles is my habit, but I can't figure out quite what to do with this one. I kind of like it like it is. Any comments or suggestions? (Besides selling it for my investment! )

Seriously, if I decide to keep the rifle, do I need to have it bedded (do these rifles crack stocks like some other heavy recoilers?). Any other incipient problems?

[ 12-06-2003, 16:54: Message edited by: JudgeG ]

Judge,
couple questions...

what NAME is on the barrel or floorplate "Super Express, Safari Express" etc

is it a 2 piece bottom metal or a 1 piece (it's a williams if it's a 1 piece)

you'll have to take the action out of the stock for this... does it have a recoil lug on the barrel? Rusty's 375 does.

What changes?

While you have the barrel out of the action, look at the "bedding" compound.... if the house is warm, hook your pink fingernail into it... don't be surprised if you can pull it out... that needs to GO so bedding is a must.

secondly, those mod 70 are LIGHT for a 416 with full house load, and SHORT for me in LOP (rubs scarred brow). at 8.8, they are a full pound lighter than the ruger 416 rigby...

if the lop is fine, have a ball.

you got a great deal, i am jealous

jeffe

The gun's still in the truck. As soon as my wife goes to the grocery store, I'll sneak out and bring it inside, hide the box, and investigate re: the inquiries you made. I'm not quite ready to make a dress purchase at Talbot's Ladies Fashions, this close to Christmas, if you know what I mean.

I can't figure any downside on bedding/rebedding any DGR, but I'm the kind of guy who wears braces and a belt.

How about Tally QD's and a 1x4 Leupold. I've got an old, but not abused, one in the safe. It has a Post & Crosshair reticle and is really quick.

[ 12-06-2003, 19:50: Message edited by: JudgeG ]

JudgeG,

I thought I had a bad case of the "I wants" every time I saw a different big bore rifle, but I think you are a strong competitor .

If this is the Super Express it is just like my 416. I used Talleys on it with a 1.5x5 Vari X III, and it worked fine until it shook loose the erector assembly in the scope. I changed to a 1.75x6 for better light gathering, and it is still going strong. Mine does not have a barrel lug, and I did not bed it, but I do also use a synthetic stock from a 375 Model 70 most of the time. It is one of the most consistently accurate big bores that I have ever seen. It loves Reloader 15 and any bullet that I stick in it, from 300 grains to 400 grains, soft, solid, or monometal.

If you do decide to get rid of it at a "reasonable" profit keep me in mind .

Enjoy,
Jim

Ern,
Just do it!! put the 1x4 on it..if it feeds and shoots good what more can you ask.

I just bought a Whitworth 458, and it has the nicest piece of European walnut on it that I have ever seen, simply exihibition stuff and its damn near black and I like that...the big surprise is when it arrived it had a M-70 3 pos Gentry Safty, magnaported, and has had the action worked over to feed smooth and slick, all work by Gentry and he knows Mauser as well as anyone, it is a gem of a rifle...

I also won another on Gunbroker, an FN 270 WCF with Buehler rings and basis, clean as a pin, I have a Lother-Walther 404 barrel, Hmmmmmmm

I have a fine pre 64 M-70 Win 270 WCF that shoots 1/2" all day long with Fed ammo...that I picked up a few months back...

I would be interrested in a CZ 375 if someone was interrested in one of the 270s, that would be a heck of a trade gun for gun, for somone..

Ray, I'll trade my Mossberg 146B .22 for that Whitworth and I'll throw in the 1" rings and 1000 rounds of Remington Hollowpoint ammo and a custom .22 Guncase from the Montgomery-Ward Collection. This is truly "a man's .22", with a horizontal, lathe-turned cylindrical bolt knob. Only 35,000 rounds fired and I have all the brass, should you want to reload them. Also comes with a side-mount target peep site ... hard to find.

Darn! I told my 15 year-old to go sit in my truck for 30 minutes to get used to the gauges, gear shift positions, brake petal, etc. She's just had her birthday and has a brand new learner's license. She wanted to learn how to drive a truck, so the direction from me before we began the lesson.... MISTAKE!

The darling did her stationary practice and after the 30 minutes of getting comfortable in the driver's seat, came in the house and announced it was time to go drive... and.. being the great girl she is, brought in the rifle box that had been in the passenger seat... Right in front of Mama.

We'll, we had the lesson while my wife and my younger daughter went to Talbot's...
Can't tell you yet what my $275 rifle cost me, but I'll know when the credit card bill comes in.

Anyway... the rifle has no "pink" bedding, just some black stuff that is hard, but not very effective looking, considering the little bit there. "Safari Express" is stamped on the barrel.

I can't see any reason not to bed it better, as simple a job that is.. Unless someone wants to give me an "as is" offer. I gotta pay for some dresses before long.

[ 12-07-2003, 00:14: Message edited by: JudgeG ]

I am not going to cushion your Talbot's bill!

JudgeG,

You do have the darnest luck ... extraordinary trade followed by a revenge Talbot's bill! Wow ... some times you can't win more than half the time ;>

If you REALLY can't figure out what to do with the M70, just remember that there are those out here that would be all to happy to make you a little profit on your original investment!

Seriously, have a very nice Holiday Season, Judge! Your posts have brought a good many smiles this year. Thank you!

Ray:

As you know, I owe Pierre a rifle for his fledging PH son. I e-mailed him and offered the "bargin" rifle to the young 'un. I think the young man really wants a CZ in the new .458 Lott, but a bird in the hand might sway him. (CZ has promised me two Lotts from the first batch they receive.) I'm going to await the reply from Pierre before I do anything more than bed the action, which I think can only help strengthen the stock (not that it necessarily needs it.)

BTW, my wife came in and showed me the dress. Black and simple, boxed neck line to show off the pearls she wants for Christmas, she said... Darn if this gun isn't a curse! But if you saw how good my wife looked in the dress, you'd think that maybe I still had the best of the deal!

And, besides looking darn good, she lets me go to Africa once a year! I do think I'll keep her.

[ 12-07-2003, 04:50: Message edited by: JudgeG ]

Judge, the only thing left to do is sneak the rifle into your home in the dead of night, then sneak it out again at some point in time and shoot it. If it shoots well you have yourself a keeper. If not, sell it, trade it, rework it, or turn the basic action into a good custom .416.

Personally, I always announce new and innovative gun plans, hunting plans, and new gun acquisitions to my wife right up front. I like to get that part over with as soon as possible....

AD

Judge..
Partner, you missed it...

You should said "honey, remember that shotgun you went to talbot's over"

"ah, yeah.. i got this nice thign over it"....

"yeah, okay, i traded that even for this this one <voala> -out comes the 416"

"you really didnt buy that, you traded for it"

"yep.. and if you can trade in ONE of your dresses from talbot's for another one, I'll take you myself"

jeffe

You guys amaze me, now take some advise from an old gun trader.

If you want to have lots of guns and no problems with your storm and strif then do a lot of trading, all the time, have a lot of guns in your inventory and keep her confused...She will soon just give up and ask no more questions.

Also never lie, just be evasive, forgetfull and use age as an excuse as soon as possible, let your hearing be selective and you can always say its a gift from some broad down the street....Stick with me and you'll wear diamonds as big as horse terds, trust me!

Nick,
I have noticed your offers are getting better all the time, you got my attention this time,sounds pretty good, how about two $50.00 cats tossed in on the deal...

Allen I follow your method to the letter. I get it all out in the open ASAP I reckon it causes less arguments.

I do fiddle with the truth about price on occasions.

You all married the wrong woman. The only time I ever saw mine get outa shape (she had pursey lips...that is that white scar that was two lips before they press them so hard together when they are mad at you)
It was all over a small purchase of 350 new Sako rifles one day. She ask what I did and I told her. No problem.
She asked how much I paid. No problem.
She asked where I got the money and this is where I fell by the wayside. I told her I would not write a check on her account for a few days if I was her. Big Mistake! She saw no humor in my reply. We went out to dinner that night as she did not see in a frame of mind to cook.

Smart move, Harry. Never let 'em cook for ya when they're mad.

Ray, Ain't no cat worth $50 around these parts.
How'bout a bassett hound and a top-of-the-line Tasco?

Ray

Why don't you shoot 50 rounds of full throttle 500 grainers and let us know what its like?

I had a Whitworth in 458...what a stupid move! That little 458 beat the shit out of me! The knife edge comb was a real treat.

I am disappointed Ray! There can be only one reason for you buying this gun...You are a gun Whore!
You look so trustworthy in your African hunt pictures...your Mama!

Nice gun Judge!

Jamie

trade it. the nova with max 3.5 loads will kick the living crap out of you. The 416 in the model 70 will be more comfortable than the nova with the 3.5 inchers. I had the nova and traded it. I used the nova for three years of turkey and waterfowl seasons and I don't miss it one bit. I'd rather have a side by side or a semi auto than the nova. I'd rather have the 416 rem to shoot than another 12 gauge that shoots 3.5 inch mags. 12 gauges are a dime a dozen. The 416 rem mag is something neat, something that you won't set out to buy one your own.

X man,
Actually I did go and shoot it, the 458 Win is merely a maindens carressssss! It has been magnaported and that lessens the recoil...I shoot a lot of big bores and have for many years and they don't bother me until I get to the 458 Lott and up and thats only off a bench, but I can shoot any of them off hand without trouble, just don't like them. I bought this gun because it was really tricked out and has the nicest wood I have ever seen on a factory rifle....I will probably sell it at some point or make a Lott out of it or who knows what, Yep!! I am a gun whore, always have been, always will be and I love to trade guns...

Ray, I'm beginning to wonder about you and these big-bore "maiden's caresses".

What are the maidens like where you grew up?

May you should have dated some girls what didn't grow up on the ranch, tossin' calves around...



Concerning buying guns, it helps if you don't have the wrong bunch of friends....

I went to an out-of-state handgun silhouette match with my "friends", and met a guy with an XP-100 in 7IHMSA for sale, asking $425. But I didn't carry that much cash with me.

Tommy says, "You've been looking for one, now here it is - I'll loan you $300 till we get home - if you don't buy it, I will."

I fired a few shots and hit 3 out of 3 chickens at 200 with iron sights. DANG!

So I went to work haggling with him, and after an hour or so, I had him all the way down to $422, so I grabbed it. I felt sorry for him. I guess he wasn't very experienced in negotiatin' like me.

Then we get home.

I showed it to my babe, told her the price, no surprises. She knew I was looking for one.

Then Tommy calls, and she answers first. He wades right in on her.

"Now Sandy, the first thing I want you to know is we all tried to talk him out of it!"

He had a few chuckles and then followed up with "Ahh, just teasing. It was a pretty good deal for only $600...."



Rick.

Ray

Me too!

I now have a matching set of 5 full custom identical Remington's. Everything is the same with the exception of the thump when I pull the trigger. I have shot several thousands of rounds through these guns and they are all like second nature.

Then I shot a custom 375H&H in a Granite Mountain Action that belongs to a friend....Big mistake! NICE wood too!

The only problem is that I want a set of 2.

Is there a cheaper action that compares in quality?

I will require a 33 (still undecided) and a 416 Rigby.

Jamie