Good news, I think! Spoke with DAn this morning, and he believes he is going to "cave in" to the suggestion of the 1 1/8" barrel shank and 1:10 square threads. He also is going to "look very hard" at making sure that a 600OK loaded round will fit in the box, and that the boltface is big enough for it.

Good news Indeed!!!!!!

Rich

Rich- An 1 1/8 thread would be a great help
for what I want. And for our bigger case
single stack would do for magazine. A
16v thread would do for easier machining.
I like the enfield square thread but takes
more work machining. One thing about v thread
is most guys with lathe like it better.Ed.

One more down
I put in my order the other day

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Good news, I think! Spoke with DAn this morning, and he believes he is going to "cave in" to the suggestion of the 1 1/8" barrel shank and 1:10 square threads. He also is going to "look very hard" at making sure that a 600OK loaded round will fit in the box, and that the boltface is big enough for it.

Good news Indeed!!!!!!

Rich

Rich,
I don't have much of a perspective on all this you write about. I'm hoping that the action isn't designed so big that it's out of proportion for the 470 Mbogo, 416 Rigby, etc., which are huge cases from my perspective. I’m hoping this action will actually be useful for some cartridge, which can be shot from the shoulder.

I mean, really an action designed for something bigger than 50 caliber (not BMG), like the various 60 or 70 calibers, in my imagination, looks like some kind of 20 pound ( or heavier) monstrosity. Somewhere this big bore stuff goes beyond the concept of “sporting rifleâ€. Like mountain climbing – just because?

We all have some concept of "enough". Previously, my "enough" was at .458 something. Regarding this action, I stepped it up to .475, to maybe include the 470 Mgobo. I can see why some folk's want something in 50 caliber (again not BMG) However, I can see from the postings, that even a four bore is not too big for some.

So, all I'm saying is that if this action turnes out to be big enough to satisfy those few who's concept of "enough" is way out there, then I'm concerned that it will just be too big.

My thinking on this was that this Montana PH action would be something in the class of the big CZ action, used for the 416 Rigby and the 505 Gibbs, offering some features the CZ is missing, such as stainless steel, and three position safety. But, I was not hoping for BIGGER.

That brings up an issue. When MRC makes the initial run of these actions, I presume the first production will all be the same casting. Which means all right hand, and all CM rather than stainless. They will later machine the bolt faces, and attach the various magazines, according to the intended chambering. Am I presuming correctly?

Someone, please enlighten me on this subject of action size.

KB

KB,
let's frame this, as it may help...
the PH is designed for 4" long rounds.. and at least gibbs width.. Since the gibbs is a MONSTER to fit in any action, including the CZ, this is a niche product. The numbers make that clear... it's been 2 years, and we are barely at 400 TOTAL actions...

Basically, IMnsHO, this action is for 460 weatherby/rigby sized cases and up. It would make little sense to do a 458 win or 470 AR on this..

so, start with .585 rim diameter, and 3.8" long rounds.. START there, not stretch it to get there.. that does include the 30-378, but I would also say at least .375 caliber... and at elast 3.65 OAL

so, to me, the rounds suitable for this action are, but there's more
378 weatherby
416 rigby
416 weatherby
450 Rigby
450/338 lapua/ripoff
460 Weatherby
470 Mbogo
470 Royale (gibbs to .475)
510wells/500A2 (and variants)
500 KE/500Mbogo
505 Gibbs
550 magnum
585 trex
600 OK
550 Gibbs
700 DA

Once you start shooting "over 50" calibers, everything else feels, well, small...

jeffe

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Good news, I think! Spoke with DAn this morning, and he believes he is going to "cave in" to the suggestion of the 1 1/8" barrel shank and 1:10 square threads. He also is going to "look very hard" at making sure that a 600OK loaded round will fit in the box, and that the boltface is big enough for it.

Good news Indeed!!!!!!

Rich

heck, i would be happy with 1.1x12!!!

Thanks Jeffeosso, that info helped some. What do you think - will the initial run of 400 or so, likely all be the same metal - either all CM or all SS? Which?

all I know is what Dan told me yesterday...both metals will be used. I really have given a lot of thought to building one in stainless/synthetic stock for Alaska...someday. A 470M'bogo would be rather potent bear medicine. Little 20" bull barrelled rifle with one fixed sight leaf on a short quarter-rib...like dead on at 50 yards.

just an errant thought.

Rich

chovanl

hoot murray

woodrow s

thanks guys...

ya HAVE to have ONE in stainless

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
all I know is what Dan told me yesterday...both metals will be used. I really have given a lot of thought to building one in stainless/synthetic stock for Alaska...someday. A 470M'bogo would be rather potent bear medicine. Little 20" bull barrelled rifle with one fixed sight leaf on a short quarter-rib...like dead on at 50 yards.

just an errant thought.

Rich

I ordered one in stainless with just such a thought in mind. I'll have to think some more about barrel length.

The 470 Mbogo would be impressive on Moose too, which are known to be shot but not know they are dead for some time, usually about the time they get far enough into the bog and muck to make working the carcas a REAL and very memorable Alaskan experience . The 470 at the least would convince a moose of his demise quicker, hopefully while still on firm ground.

KB

Know what you mean, a friend drew a moose tag here in 2000. Had this overweening urge to use his .54 cal muzzleloader. We find a moose, "Mangy Moose" Kelly puts a roundball behind 120gr of ffG right behind the shoulder. Moose keeps on eating grass. MMK duplicates the shot, slug goes in about 2" from the first one. Moose now grunts and gives MMK "that" look. 3rd round, ditto...moose decides MMK is pissing him off and walks towards us...from 65yds or so out. MMK fires 4th shot and moose falls over. We whoop, shout, and high-five. Moose gets up... I have had enough of this game and present moose with 547gr slug from 45-120. MV 2250fps or so. Moose goes down...stays down...decides to be dead...finally....nut deep in only swamp in Idaho. We end up going 30 miles to town and bringing a wrecker back. 3 hours later, 1400lb dead moose is taken to town by wrecker...after he winches MMK and I and MMK's once new Dodge 3/4ton diesel truck out of muck.

If I ever draw...the 510KX goes with me.

Rich

I put in for a stainless version today too. There are just too many features offered by the M1999 action to ignore. Roger on making noise about the larger thread journal.

We've got to be getting REAL close now!

After building a .450 on one of their long actions, I have still minor concerns that the PH model will need some TLC to be built into a true DGR. There's nothing unusual about that though?!?

I'm also hoping they'll aquire a .500A2 reamer and do the barrel too. The two MRC barrels I've played with have been honeys!

That's a funny story, IDShooter. There are a lot of guys running around with .45-70's up here - and getting similar results. I'm with KB, feelin' the need for a little speed with a big bullet!

I ordered two PH actions over two years ago. When the magic number is reached any idea how long it will be.
DrB

DrB,
the scheduled date to start actually shipping the first batch is fall of 2007. Dan thinks 90 days to do the run...they hope to ship the last one by Christmas if things go right. They are using Rugers' foundry for the castings. I suggested trying Boulder River (owned and operated by Shiloh Sharps in Big Timber, MT a couple hours drive away) but he says they know the scheduling and run quality of Ruger. I am planning on having my three before the 2008 SHOT Show, as it comes back to where it belongs...Las Vegas.

Rich

Over in the gunsmithing forum Dan just reported that when they recounted the orders they were down to 336 rh actions ordered.

quote:

Originally posted by micdis:
Over in the gunsmithing forum Dan just reported that when they recounted the orders they were down to 336 rh actions ordered.

Poor boom! He'll be crushed!! But alas boom won't give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!`

just got off the phone with dan...

he has more orders that have not been processed and says they have not been uploaded into the system yet but he thinks its closer to 350.

here is what we CAN do...

if you have ordered ANY actions email him and get a confirmation that you are on the list...he preffers email cuzz the phone does ring a lot he says and we want him to work as much as possible.

i will call him again and make sure the orders have been updated.

next week i hope to get a REAL number and we will keep it going.

so please email dan@montanariflecompany.com to confirm. thanks.

p.s. torque...thanks for the shot in the arm...i have to say i did not like that news

pws

thanks for ordering.

do y'all have a stainless one on order???

Boomie,

It's all part of a dream - the ultimate moutain rifle!

The idea is to eliminate the necessity of carrying any kind of camp gear because the bore of the rifle you're carrying is large enough that you just unload it and crawl inside at night