As a postscript to my hunt report I posted the other day I thought I would post a few pictures of the two Mark X rifles I had along for the trip.

My .375 H&H "McSwirly" (Interams Mark X action, originally an Alaskan, McMillan stock in three-color swirl -- it was off the shelf, not what I would have ordered, three-position safety from PME parts via Jim Kobe, sight blade replaced with shallow v, gunsmithing by Tip Burns, Leupold 1.5-5x20 VXIII and Talley rings and bases from SWFA):





Along for the ride but not used, my Whitworth Safari Express in .458 Win Mag (same Interarms Mark X action, same three-position safety, scope and rings as the .375, new orignal-style Pachmayr recoil pad added, fore end replaced with ebony and stock lightly refinished, gunsmithing by Tip Burns and stock work by John Valicek):






The .375 and .458 together -- they are essentially the same rifle set up the same way:




[Click pictures for larger images.]

quote:

Originally posted by Charles_Helm:
The .375 and .458 together -- they are essentially the same rifle set up the same way:

Yes but it is hard to love something called a "McSwirly". Just doesn't roll off of the tongue like Whitworth.

quote:

Originally posted by ElCaballero:

Yes but it is hard to love something called a "McSwirly". Just doesn't roll off of the tongue like Whitworth.

True, but since you and Frank Martinez bought up all the .375's you could find it priced me out of the market! At least I do not have to worry about dinging up the stock...

Nice stick on the 458. I guess that's not original. Damn near too purty to drag through the jess and such.

quote:

Originally posted by 475Guy:
Nice stick on the 458. I guess that's not original. Damn near too purty to drag through the jess and such.

It is original so far as I know. I think I paid a $100 premium for it!

Worth every penny, dude. When I got mine from another poster, I was too late for the good looking one. Besides, having good stick is the best selling point on any rifle that I know of.

I assure you that you won't find anything that nice being imported from Zastava by the current importer!!!!!

Charles,
Does the wood stock have any crossbolts that I cannot see? I would think it might need them being a 458. Beautiful rifle though. Nicely done.

quote:

Originally posted by Magnum Hunter1:
Charles,
Does the wood stock have any crossbolts that I cannot see? I would think it might need them being a 458. Beautiful rifle though. Nicely done.

It was reinforced when it was bedded. You can see circles under the front receiver ring where the factory crossbolt is supposed to be if you click and view the larger picture, but in fact in that location it would be bolted though the mag box if there were one there. It appears there are crossbolt covers only from the factory on this one! I discussed it at length with Tip Burns and he with John Valicek and they think the way it is set up now, after internal reinforcement in the weak area and bedding, is fine.

A guy I know got a 458 Alaskan , 20 some years ago,,took it out and put a box of shells thru it and it split the stock lengthways.......It had looked like there were cross bolts in the stock but when they pried off one of the caps they discovered they were just caps with no bolt what so ever.......My wife just brought me home a 458 win Interarms Alaskan { I,ve got a GOOD wife }}.. It has 1 cross bolt just aft of the action recoil lug ... I have run over 100 rounds thru this rifle , a long time ago.. and the stock is still fine......It does have the extra lug under the barrel , and its bedded with a dab of glass or epoxy