The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores Interarms Mk X Alaskan .458 WMGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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Hello, I thought I would run a few things by you as I picked up a NIB unfired Mk X alaskan .458 from an estate auction. I got it cheap and want to dump some cash in it to make it a usable DG rifle. Overall the fit and finish look good (enough). The stock looks nice. I have the adjustable trigger which I immediatley put down to a usable weight. I pulled the stock to see how it was lugged, and it had a barrel lug and a receiver lug, all very tightly glass bedded. (nice surprise). It is very tight. It has one stock crossbolt on the forward lug. I cannot tell if it is real or fake, as there are no holes or hex's in the caps. I cannot tell how they are fitted. The recoil pad sucks, thinking decelerator. It does not have a barrel band swivel mount. Sights are OK, decent, not worried about them. It has 6x32 holes tapped for a scope. The action is not smooth, I would like that worked over. Also I was considering a M70 winged safety and new trigger, but that is not top of the list. What I am looking for is what do I have? What do I need to do to make it a good rifle, or can I just shoot it as is and not worry about it> )(except maybe truing the bolt lugs and smoothing the action) ? Thanks! White Mountains Arizona | ||
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buy some dies, powder, primers, etc. and shoot the h*ll out of it before you do any work to it. 150-300 rounds will let it settle in and show you what YOU need to make it perfect for you. good buy! | |||
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Those are good rifles. You might replace the pad, possibly the safety with a M70-type that locks the firing pin, trigger should be fine. For cosmetics, you can slim the stock, remove the comb and shape a pancake cheekpiece, steel grip cap, barrel band swivel, express sights, ebony tip, new checkering, but not necessary. NRA Life Member, Band of Bubbas Charter Member, PGCA, DRSS. Shoot & hunt with vintage classics. | |||
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That rifle has most of what you need already. Hand cycle the action a bunch and it should smooth out some. Put together the stuff required to reload for it and shoot it a bunch. Decide if you really want an M70 style three position side-swing safely and (I would) have that done and the trigger changed to a Timney and adjusted to a reliable 2.5 to 3 pounds if that is safe for you. At the same time, have the pad changed. Good working rifle. Enjoy it@ Mike -------------- DRSS, Womper's Club, NRA Life Member/Charter Member NRA Golden Eagles ... Knifemaker, http://www.mstarling.com | |||
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Thanks for the input. Good stuff here. Sounds like shoot it first and go from there. Winged safety and trigger sound like a good option if and when I get some work done. What about enlarging the scope mount holes? Decelarator or the like pad will be tops, and maybe lapping the bolt. Should be a nice thumper! White Mountains Arizona | |||
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No need to enlarge scope base holes, Decelerator pad good idea, bolt will lap itself with use. NRA Life Member, Band of Bubbas Charter Member, PGCA, DRSS. Shoot & hunt with vintage classics. | |||
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I used my MkX 458 hard for over twenty years with the little Leupold 2 1/2 compact scope mounted with the original size 6 screws and never had a problem. They make a great rifle. Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either not tried one, or is unwittingly commenting on their own marksmanship Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master guide FAA Master pilot NRA Benefactor www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com | |||
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If you change the safety you will have a large gap where the old safety is unless you leave it as a sort of stalking safety. I think you will find with use the thumb safe is better anyway. You can unload by dropping the floor-plate and cycle any loaded round carefully. I agree with the above, don't do anything till you shoot it some. These are very accurate for big bore rifles. Be sure to test some 350 grain loads as well which opens it up to a great bear and elk rifle besides DG should you go to Africa. If you decide to add the Decelerator, I will buy your old pad. Depending on the work done you may want to keep it in case you wanted to sell the rifle later.  Frank | |||
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Thanks for the info. Sounds like it is a good rifle. Should I leave it alone for collectibility? White Mountains Arizona | |||
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It is not exactly a collectable at this time but I guess it could be some day . They are certainly useable as designed. Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either not tried one, or is unwittingly commenting on their own marksmanship Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master guide FAA Master pilot NRA Benefactor www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com | |||
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If you find that you really like the slide lever safety, you can replace the somewhat complicated Mark X trigger with a Bold trigger that also has the side safety. Almost exactly the same quality of trigger pull as the Timney. Mike -------------- DRSS, Womper's Club, NRA Life Member/Charter Member NRA Golden Eagles ... Knifemaker, http://www.mstarling.com | |||
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Frank, roger that on the pad. 458 I didn'[t really think so, I just need some excuses to shoot it! As for the trigger, timney is in town and install while you wait, so that is a tempting offer. I'll check the other trigger out though. Got the stock one to 4 lbs, but I like them lighter than that. Question: Barrel band sling mount? yes no, doesn't matter? Thanks again! White Mountains Arizona | |||
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I did a Bold and found that the angle of the stem is greater than the original. I did not find it to be better and if you have already been able to adjust it I would not fiddle with it yet. As far as collectible, you would need to find the English imports which really only add a couple hundred in value. They had a few nice additions but overall I have found them all to be great shooters and the best value for price in the express rifle lineup. If you leave it unfired it may be more valuable to a purist collector but won't do you any good in enjoyment. Most of the early Whitworth imports came with Ebony forends so check carefully before you replace. Frank | |||
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The MkX trigger is a steel copy of the older Sako trigger and I have used them on the 458 as well as numerous other rifles here in Alaska and never had a problem with them. I have had two position safeties put on most of my rifles along with the Mk X triggers. Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either not tried one, or is unwittingly commenting on their own marksmanship Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master guide FAA Master pilot NRA Benefactor www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com | |||
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Barrel band on 458, yes. As far as the trigger goes it's a good trigger and IMO a crisp 4 lb trigger on a big bore is spot on. "An individual with experience is never at the mercies of an individual with an argument" | |||
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I have two whitworths in .375 & .458. I love them. Used both in Zim this year. I bought them to hunt not collect and changed them as follows: Full length glass bedded, timney trigger ( 3 lbs)with the safety (which I like much better than the original), double cross bolted (one of the cross bolts was fake), decelerator recoil pad, changed front sight to bigger white bead, talley QD mounts. Both handle and shoot great. BUTCH C'est Tout Bon (It is all good) | |||
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well - only if you use a sling... I never do in Africa.. | |||
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Well welcome to the big boars. You will get good infomation here. | |||
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Thanks, I thought the crossbolt looked fake, as there are no means to actually turn them (smooth circles). Were yours glued in or something? What type of front sight? The bedding job looks pretty good. Looks like decelerator, crossbolts, possibly trigger and winged safety and maybe a front sight and barrel band. The first two for sure.
White Mountains Arizona | |||
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Thanks! Saving me a bunch of time already!
White Mountains Arizona | |||
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I would be very surprised if these were not 6 X 48's. "I ask, sir, what is the Militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effective way to enslave them" - George Mason, co-author of the Second Amendment during the Virginia convention to ratify the Constitution | |||
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yeah thats what I meant White Mountains Arizona | |||
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I bought a new Whitworth with barrel band etc. in 1982 or so intending to go slay Cape Buffalo with it. It had beautiful wood and was lovely to carry. The only bullets I ordered and loaded were the 500 Grain Hornady Solids. I shot a couple of hundred of these before moving back East where I learned it was of sufficient power to take whitetail as loaded with said solids. It sat unused until 1992 when upon shooting it a time or 10, I saw a crack in the web between the magazine and trigger. Calling Interarms, I was directed to send it back and they would replace the stock. Received it back and pulled it out of the box to the worst plain Jane wood and ultra poor bedding job you can imagine. I called Interarms and spoke to the manager of the shop and told him I would prefer the old stock back and I would fix it. He assured me that was not necessary and asked me to send it back and he would handle it personally. In about a month I had my rifle back with another beautiful piece of wood and absolutely flawless bedding. I now doubt that I will make it to Africa, so I turned it into a cast bullet gun with 425 grain GC bullets in front of SR-4759, mounted a Shotgun scope, and it is now my “antlerless” whitetail tag filler. I love to carry and shoot it across the plains of KS. It’s not too hard to turn a whitetail doe into a Cape buffalo if you get your imagination is engaged! It is also my go to gun for “elephant hunting” which is what the boy and I call the days he and I feel the need to take him out of school and wander the spring or fall prairie, reliving our minds of the burdens of book learning and walls. We have not found a 100 pounder yet but we are hopeful. Enjoy yours whatever mission you find for it. dmw "The liberty enjoyed by the people of these states of worshiping Almighty God agreeably to their conscience, is not only among the choicest of their blessings, but also of their rights." ~George Washington - 1789 | |||
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Get you some good polishing compound & work the bolt a couple hundred times while watching TV Jim fur, feathers, & meat in the freezer  "Pass it on to your kids" | |||
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Just don't close the bolt too many times (if at all) as that will wear the lugs and change the headspace. Jim, you back in town? Rocky and I are back and forth between the valley and Talkeetna helping Tia build a cabin. Give us a call. Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either not tried one, or is unwittingly commenting on their own marksmanship Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master guide FAA Master pilot NRA Benefactor www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com | |||
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I like the older pre-Speed Lock Mark X with the adjustable trigger. For a hunting trigger, it is heck for stout and well built with ample adjustment within its range of 3 1/2 to 5 pounds. The safety has more than a trigger block. It also locks the bolt and it lifts the sear off the trigger when engaged. I think it a better trigger than the Timney or Bold if running a hunting trigger pull weight.     My 35+ year old pre-Speed Lock Mark X Magnum.  Pure durable simplicity. | |||
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Great story.....Thanks!
White Mountains Arizona | |||
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What type polishing compound? I heard JB works? Should I get the lugs squared?
White Mountains Arizona | |||
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Thanks, I'll have to see what I got. What type of sights are those? Also what stock? What year did they switch to speed lock? I have that cool little manual, came with the unit, also a paper telling to be careful if you remove the stock due to the tight bedding. They weren't kidding! Any idea about the crossbolts? Are mine fake? I guess I should post a pic. Thanks!
White Mountains Arizona | |||
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There are lot of good polishing/rubbing compounds out there, I use one by Turtle Wax because it was available on Post, others swear by Mothers (found at most Auto Parts stores) Look for one with nanotechnology polishing agents You don't want one that is too abrasive for the reason Phil pointed out Jim fur, feathers, & meat in the freezer "Pass it on to your kids" | |||
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I use a Whitworth .458WM as one of my carry rifles. I removed the safety (don't trust them) and when I load it I simply hold the bolt upright and point the barrel down. To engage the firing pin one simply has to push the bolt down. Only accurate guns are interesting and this is one of them. ROYAL KAFUE LTD Email - kafueroyal@gmail.com Tel/Whatsapp (00260) 975315144 Instagram - kafueroyal | |||
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