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Bob Penfold's 458WMs
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posted 06 April 2006 01:30
Guys,
Anyone remember an article years ago in Sporting Shooter called "Black Max" (or something like that) on the 458WM's that Bob Penfold had put together for his NT operations? Anyone remember any details on components and the specs on these light-weight 458s?
Cheers...
Con
 
Posts: 2198 | Location: Australia | Registered: 24 August 2001Reply With Quote
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Picture of duggaboybuff
posted 06 April 2006 07:54Hide Post
All i can remember was he was useing Barnes X bullets , which at the time were un heard of, and he was raving about there performance on feral donkeys ect.
 
Posts: 411 | Location: australia | Registered: 12 November 2005Reply With Quote
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Picture of NitroX
posted 06 April 2006 08:01Hide Post
Model 70's with hacked up black synthetic stocks. The one I saw was crap and wouldn't feed properly.


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Posts: 10138 | Location: Wine Country, Barossa Valley, Australia | Registered: 06 March 2002Reply With Quote
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posted 06 April 2006 17:47Hide Post
Con, in the article they used an FN Mauser action and a Brown Precision stock (classic fibreglass sporter style) from the States. A Timney trigger with side safety was used and the bolt handle was lengthened. The 22 inch barrel was Mag-Na-Ported. I think that they went light with the barrel but don't know what the all up weight was.
 
Posts: 21 | Location: Queensland, Australia | Registered: 10 July 2004Reply With Quote
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posted 07 April 2006 00:01Hide Post
Yep, bolt handle lengthened 'about 10mm', 22" 'Victorian Arms' MagnaPorted barrel [contour/weight not stated; IIRC Vic Arms were in Lilydale], loctited Tasco World Class mounts,1.5-5x Leupy scope, no irons. Barrel band front swivel. Weight stated as 3.5kg all up! The Brown Precision stock only weighed ~750g.

Bullets used for load development: 300 and 350 gn Hornady; 500 gn cast; 500gn Bearclaw; 500gn Woodleigh RNSN [this was the working load bullet]. AR2206 powder, no mention of primer type.

Nothing wrong with your memory Con, this article was in Sept 1986!


Cheers,
Doug
 
Posts: 337 | Location: Gippsland, Victoria, Australia | Registered: 02 May 2004Reply With Quote
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posted 07 April 2006 03:33Hide Post
It was also written up in a Yank magazine not so long ago by a popular gun writer from there. He'd been here on a buff shoot with Bob and the rifle bit was a good side line.

Major point I remember is the "massive number" of rounds it had reportedly gone through without a malfunction.
 
Posts: 728 | Location: The Wimmera, Victoria, Australia | Registered: 01 August 2005Reply With Quote
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posted 07 April 2006 09:51Hide Post
Gadge,
That article traumatised me! I was blissfully reading it during a Yr8 French class when my teacher (ex-French military colonel) busted me. When he found out what I was reading his heart didnt seem to be into telling me off ... but he was a professional ... so did his duty well Big Grin.
Anyway ... been considering putting something similiar together in the future, I dont miss my CZ550 458Lott for a minute, but want another sporter weight 458WM. Never should have sold the Zastava Frowner.
Cheers...
Con
 
Posts: 2198 | Location: Australia | Registered: 24 August 2001Reply With Quote
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Picture of NitroX
posted 07 April 2006 10:14Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by GreybeardBushman:
Major point I remember is the "massive number" of rounds it had reportedly gone through without a malfunction.


Hopefully not the same rifle then I saw actually being used. Eeker
 
Posts: 10138 | Location: Wine Country, Barossa Valley, Australia | Registered: 06 March 2002Reply With Quote
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Picture of GreybeardBushman
posted 07 April 2006 15:34Hide Post
The article was a real Yank Wank, mate.

We fire a lot of rounds every year. I just wonder how many some writers in the gun mags do.
 
Posts: 728 | Location: The Wimmera, Victoria, Australia | Registered: 01 August 2005Reply With Quote
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posted 10 April 2006 19:53Hide Post
The specs that Gadge gave were correct. I know because I own five of them now.

Not Mod 70's Nitro, FN Mauser action. I dont remember a malfunction of any rifles, you will have to remind me...

The only rifle malfunction I remember from that hunt was yours mate! Smiler


A day spent in the bush is a day added to your life
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Posts: 4456 | Location: Australia | Registered: 23 January 2003Reply With Quote
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posted 11 April 2006 07:44Hide Post
Matt,
Any chance of posting some pictures? Interested in the extended bolt as I get wacked relatively easily and this is something I want done if I ever get around to building another 458WM.
Cheers...
Con
 
Posts: 2198 | Location: Australia | Registered: 24 August 2001Reply With Quote
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posted 11 April 2006 16:57Hide Post
Hi Con

They are all up in Darwin sorry mate, locked up at Marrakai's place. When I get up there I will take some piccies for you and post them.

The extended bolt looks a bit ugly but it certainly does the job. To give you an idea - they stick out (not out really but 'down and out' of course, on an angle) so far that you have trouble pushing them into a standard Kolpin gun boot, even though the rifle is quite small. They are certainly a good functional rifle, although very old - seen a lot of shots and dead buffalo but been abused by guides over the years). The Brown Precision UL is a great stock, seems to absorb a lot recoil and comfortable to shoot. Apart from the 458's I also have one of my own, very similar, 375HH in Remington KS Mountain Rifle, some stock, and it is a gem!

Cheers mate
Matt


A day spent in the bush is a day added to your life
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Posts: 4456 | Location: Australia | Registered: 23 January 2003Reply With Quote
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posted 16 April 2006 18:29Hide Post
As a matter of interest, Bob Penfold was interviewed a week or so back on the local Newcastle ABC radio station 2NC regarding his retirement from the game some 2 or so years ago.
He is holding an auction in Newcastle soon for the remaining trophies he has including buffalo, bears, plains game etc.
About 7 -8 years ago, my local gunsmith (now retired) at the time had one of Bob Penfolds .458 mags at his shop doing some work on it.
I remember it being a Mauser 98 action with black composite stock & rather shorter than the run of the mill .458 Win Mags I seen previously or since.
I`m unsure if my gunsmith actually built the rifle he was working on, but I do know he did some absolutely fantastic work on Bobs rifles at the time.
The same gunsmith built me a .308 Win on an old Israeli mauser 98, fitted a Schultz & Larsen bull barrel to it with a composite ramline stock, topped off with a Tasco 4-12 & I have to say I`m very pleased with it after 3,000 rounds.
Like all good gunsmiths though he was so snowed under with work he was a bit slow in getting the finished rifle to me, but it was well worth the wait.
It`s a bit of a shame blokes like Bob Penfold have to retire, but age catches us all I suppose & Bob stated in his interview he was finished with hunting & looking forward to spending more time with his family & pursuing his other interest, Fishing !
Well, you can`t blame a fella for that.

Cheers Morton


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Posts: 124 | Location: Newcastle Australia | Registered: 23 September 2004Reply With Quote
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