Went to Canyon Lake yesterday to pick up my .458 Win Mag that Tip Burns (Burns Gun Repair) built on a 1903 Springfield action. Rifle exceeded my expectations in every way. Tip did a great job. Shilen barrel, NECG sights, Warne rings and bases. Believe it or not, stock is a Boyds stock. Target was shot at 50 yards open sights with two different loads. I am sure that with the Leupold 1.5.x5 on it the shots will all be touching. Enjoy . . . I sure am.

Mike

That's about the best sporterization of a Springfield I've ever seen...pretty wood and the metalwork is superb.

Very well done I must say.....Send my congratulations to your smith.....and to you of course for commissioning it.

Congrat Mike! That has got to be best looking Boyd's stock I've ever seen. Did Tip turn one of his blanks copying a Boyd's JRS or did this come from Boyd's like that? Also, is it parkerized?

I'd say you have a very practical African critter killer and one to be proud of!

Mike, that's a nice rig, unusual but none-the-less appropriate. I never thought of doing a Springfield in 458 but no reason why not.

Mike, it turned out to be a nice "working rifle", I like it. Will be looking forward to shooting it too.

Hog Killer

Jason,

It is a stock that came from Boyds. Tip and I were both surprised. It was a wood upgrade but still the stock was a couple hundred dollar stock. I elected to have it parkerized. More in keeping with the notion that this is intended to be a working, haul in the field rifle. Also seemed more fitting to parkerize given the 1903 action.

All, thanks for the nice comments.

Mike

Mike, what a great piece of wood! Very nice indeed!

Looks good!

Mike,
EXCELLENT!! nice springfield!! and a nice 458.

any idea who did the parc?

jeffe

Thanks. No, but Tip did the smithing work so he could tell you.

A beautiful rifle!
Thank God you got your rifle! My projects should be shipped to Tip on Monday. I was afraid that I was going to have to ask him to set yours aside to work on mine?

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
A beautiful rifle!
Thank God you got your rifle! My porjects should be shipped to Tip on Monday. I was afraid that I was going to have to ask him to set yours aside to work on mine?

You lost your spot in line when you sent yours off to be engraved! My .458 is up next.

Rusty, I asked to see the .404's but they were off at the stock guy's. I wanted to see them up close, the pics are beautiful.

By the way have checked my ticket and Tip did the parkerizing. He also does blueing.

For anyone interested in contacting Tip:

Tip Burns
Burns Gun Repair and Refinishing
225 Neal Lane
Canyon Lake, Texas 78133
www.burnsgunrepair.com
830-935-3338

Very Nice !! it's a pity not many of those springfields are seen in Australia they have a classic look to them and make greta customs.

I really like the Springfield action. Very strong and smoooth. Sort of like a nice single malt.

Very nice.... but wipe some of that oil off of it

Mike,

That is one incredibly beautiful rifle! Are you planning a safari soon? Good hunting!

Thanks.

Tanzania in September for buffalo. Counting the days.

Just AWESOME....!

Nice wood!

Nice piece.
I stared at it for quite a while.

wow! very nice rifle indeed! congrats!

Mike: Super rifle and target! Congrats! M

Very high cool factor. I love this idea on a Springfield! I have a good action and need a neat project. Something like this might be it! Thanks.

Sure hope that action didn't belong to a rifle in good original condition before the project got started. That said, beautifull rifle.

Be careful dealing with Tip Burns. He told me that this rifle would shoot tight groups. The results speak for themselves, in neither group did all the shots go in the same hole. I should have gotten his statement in writing.

Hello,
Noticed your load data on the target and curious how is the "recoil factor???" I bought a new Parker Hale Mauser 98 in 458 some few months ago and have only shot a few times using the 350 grain w/ 78 grains of Varget and may well move up to your load soon if I keep the rifle. My load/bullet combo gives right at some 2500 fps and you know it when it goes off and does a tad over an inch at 100 yards and would only hope mine would do as well as yours with the 500 grain bullets. Anyway, just curious as to recoil before I take the plunge!

Probably not the best guy to ask about recoil, it really does not bother me much (other than the occasional detached retina and the fact that my IQ goes down 10 points after every trip to the range). Also, I was shooting the .458 WM after shooting the .500 NE! I have a Limbsaver pad on the rifle and a mercury recoil reducer in the stock. It is actually not bad at all to shoot. I would be surprised if you can tell that much difference between 350 grains at 2500 fps and 500 grains at 2100. Go for it. I am convinced that beating recoil is about 2/3 mental, you cannot let the rifle scare you.

Did Tip do all of the iron sight installation for you? It kind of cracks me up, he's right across the lake from my dad's house. We never new of him till this post. I'm sure my dad will be happy to know he's got a gunsmith around the corner from him. He waits to bring his stuff to Michigan now. Have you guys ever shot over at Cedar Ridge range?

Tip did all the work on the barrel, the sights, the barrel band, cut and crown, etc.

We went to shoot the rifle but we went to some place in New Braunsfels as I recall.

Mike,

A beautiful rifle that shoots even better = Marilyn Monroe with Einstein's brains. Congratulations again!

I love a nice springfield. Too bad that sporterizing them is almost a lost art.

That is one damn fine looking rifle and it looks like it shoots as good as it looks. Congrats!!!

Mike,
I spoke with Tip today and he mentioned your problems with the groups.

He said that the groups His wife, Donna fired, with your rifle were all one big ragged hole. Perhaps, it is just your technique?

Sad truth is that Dona was shooting with open sights and I was using a scope. I think Dona has had plenty of practice shooting trying to keep Tip in line.

Mike that is one nice looking rifle. Tip does
very good work and the one I send my work to.

Deans

Nice rifle.
One thing I would check... If the magazine cutoff "switch" is pushed away from the action does it effect the functioning of the rifle. I realize there is not a stock cut out for it to go to the fully off position, but can it be moved "downward" and if so will it cause problems?

PS. For Smaller big game try the Hornady 350gr Round Nose at a velocity from 1800 to 2300 depending on the recoil you want. They have always fed very well in my 458 Bolt rifles.

It's the only kind of sporterizing that I can appreciate... fresh stock, flip sights mounted on the barrel, and the original parts (even if not realy needed) left untouched. Except for, perhaps, a nicer trigger guard/floorplate.