As a few of you may have gleamed, I've been on the hunt to build a rifle that would be my finest ever. I was offered a chance to buy basically what I was looking for in a Bob. Please tell me what you think. I'll show just a few of the 38 the owner sent me today.
















Here are the specs:

1-1/2 yr old.

Krieger #2ish (.605" muzzle) 24" CM, 1:10 twist.
Pre 64 M70 Ser 244,ish range
Calif English walnut, LOP 13-5/8"

Krieger chambered, installed, crowned, full blueprint.

Glen Morovitz of Newell, SD did the rest to include rust blue of all metal to include bases/rings, etc. Glassed up the action and insured 100% reliability. Sunnyhill BM. Full glass bed. Not free floated. Re-contoured tang.

Vari-X III 4.5-14x40 in S&K Sculptured bases/rings.

Some cast off.

It's in the range of what I was willing to pay for a custom build. I had a list of potential calibers and the 257 Roberts was on my list. Owner is the original owner, post custom build by Glen and he's only shot is 20-40 rds. He has several other Bob's and is only selling this to fund another custom build in a much larger caliber.

Opinions?

Alan

Wow, they don't get much better than that! Beautiful English Marblecake...my favorite. If it's what you want in a rifle, go for it. It's neat to have one made for yourself, but that can lead to delays, disappointments, cost overruns, and a LONG wait. If this is what you were hoping to wind up with anyway, it's a nice shortcut to happiness!

You DO know what this one is going to cost, and how long it will take to be delivered.
Right?

Rich
DRSS

Rich,

Yeah, I have a pretty good idea about the cost and time. I'm saving a boat load of money and time.

I'm 99.99% sure I'm going to buy it. Just trying to cover my bases in case their is a reason "NOT" to buy it.

Have never owned a 25 cal. Always thought I'd own a 25-06 first if I did. The owner mentioned that I should not Ackley "this rifle" and I agree.

Alan

Cross the Rubicon and buy it! This is an absolutely elegant rifle in a great caliber!

The .257 is a great caliber, and that's one beautiful rifle! I wouldn't hesitate.

In fact, I'd buy it if you didn't, except that I already have a similar .257 built on a 1909 Argentine action with a Douglas featherweight barrel. The wood isn't anywhere near that nice, though.

Clarence

I have commissioned one of our AR smiths to build a light wt for me and hope it turns out as nice as this rifle. Beautiful lines and the wood alone is reason enough.
I've been a 25-06 man for years, but the build will be a Bob.

I have a Remmie M7MS in .257 Roberts and one heckuva nice round. It might just be the perfect Deer cartridge. Recoil is light, accuracy is superb - it's the kind of cartridge you can be proud of shooting late into life and not worry about it beating you up.

100gr. bullest at 3000-3100 fps gives you a great trajectory to play with out to 300 and even 400 yards.

There's a reason why the Bob has survived in the face of the 25-'06: it just plain works.

Beautiful rifle. I think that it would look better with a smaller VX3 2.5x8 scope installed.

100% elegance and superb execution. Wood is a knockout. I think the odds are very good that you would not be as pleased with the custom you commission. I'd like the extra mag that scope offers for bench work and possible varmints.

Wood appears to be quite a bit cross-grain through the grip so rough mountain hunts would be a concern.
If you are looking for something that won't see such duty I think this is opportunity knocking at your door.

Does it fit you? Is the LOP good for you? Is the comb ok for the scope? If so buy it is a very nice looking rifle IMHO!

I agree with this. If it fits, go for it!

quote:

Originally posted by EDMHUNTER:
Does it fit you? Is the LOP good for you? Is the comb ok for the scope? If so buy it is a very nice looking rifle IMHO!

My pockets will only be deep enough on a temporary basis so I've decided to buy it sans the scope. I'd like something a skootch smaller in optics.

As far as fit, my Cooper 57M in 22LR has the same length stock. It's a skootch short when wearing a t-shirt but just fine when wearing more clothes during our Oct Utah elk and deer hunts. If it was a heavier recoiling rifle, I'd rethink my decision but feel comfortable as is.

Check will go out tomorrow. Thanks for the prompting questions and statements.

Alan

WOW,

I'm into mine for around 2K so far (not including the donor rifle), and I haven't seen it in over 2 years. I'm sure yours is prettier. Very, very nice. Mine's AI and a fwt bbl though.

Yours is what I'd hoped mine would be when it was done. I'm fairly jealous...

Need some advice.

I've decided to mount a VX3 2.5-8x32 w/ B&C reticle. I'd like your opinions on either Gloss or Matte finish. The scope you see in the pics has a matte finish.

Alan

I would go wit the matte finish. The rifle appears to be rust blued and the gloss finish will not match it.

Alan,
Please go matte.
Doug

Beautiful rifle and a great cartridge.

Can someone provide some background on Glen Morovits? Thanks,

Matte!

Talked to Glen yesterday. Has done years and years of custom stocking for Dakota, searcy, and imperial besides his own shop.

Glenn worked for years under Don Allen at Dakota Arms. Then went out on his own. Then back to Dakota one or two times.

He does nice custom work.
He was also doing most all, if not all, of Butch Searcy's gun work ,sans regulation, as well.
He still lives in S.D. and is still doing stock and custom gun work from there.

Should be in the phone book for Sturgis greater area.

Very nice man and a nice rifle as well.

Very nice!

I think it's a great looking rifle, anyone should be proud to own it. However, I don't think we can give you good advice without knowing the price. Afterall, if you said 10k I would pass and build my own, but that doesn't change how nice the rifle is. I understand if you don't want to share it but that is a key piece to this.

I'm keeping the amount private.

Alan

I think you did great....If it was close enough to what you wanted to have built you would not have done if for what you paid.

Mac

I think you did great! If I had the money, I would have not hesitated.

Very nice. You like it, the seller did pretty good too IMO so everybody is pleased. You can't call that a bad deal from any angle.

Alan, Geez! That's a beautiful rifle!

I am concerned that it will make the rest of your rifles look shoddy standing next to them in your gun safe. I think you need to send it down here and let me save you the embarrassment of owning one beautiful rifle!

Here is some more of Glen Morovits' work:

Paul, VERY nice! What caliber? Looks like it has a bit of a Perch belly to it.

I would be sure it shoots as good as it looks. Anything worse than 1" MOA makes it a Remington 700 or a Savage.

This is a great photo. I love how the metal and wood have been contoured here. A subtle little artistic detail I have never seen done before.

It's tasteful, original, well executed, and even carried into the checkering pattern further forward. Very nice!!!

quote:

6b,

I couldn't agree with you more.

Alan

That is a fantastic rifle. Great cartridge and excellent choice in optics.

It arrived today.

I just want to sit and look and fondle it. What a rifle. Now I understand why my wife will never drive a cadillac; she'll want one. Now that I'vel got this thing, I'll probably compare every gun I ever look at and they'll come up short.

Here a few pics I took today.

Alan

That is one beautiful rifle. You did good! What are you going to use your ne action for now?

That's nice! Buy her a Lexus!
peter.

Beautiful gun... I love the multi panel checkering !
Congratulations !!!
Andy

A l/a Bob makes no sense to me,nor does Blued/Walnut eyecandy that can't/won't Hunt.

Though I guess it'd sluice a Doe in a fenced field,from off a padded haybale.

Nice worksmanship though.

Airgun1,

I've got a 1951 pre 64 M70 action and a D'Arcy Echols Legend stock going off to Lee Christianson of Wisconson. My 9.3mm Pacnor barrel just arrived to him this week. He will build me a 9.3x62. Once he's done with all the metal work, bedding, bolt notch and ejector cut in the stock he will then mail it off to Charley Santoni of CSS http://www.riflestockpainting.com/ to have the recoil pad installed and stock painted, then all the metal Cerakoted.

This will be my Alaska rifle for Grizzly and moose.

Then I just got a new Pierce short action (Rem 700 clone). It along with my 6.5mm #3.1 Broughton barrel and McMillian Rem Sporter stock in Edge fill will go to Chris Matthews of http://www.longshotriflesllc.com/. He will in turn do all the metal and stock work so it will be a light weight mtn rifle in 6.5x47 Lapua.

Then, I have a 1982 Rem 700 long action which was extensively lightened. It was to be matched to the Pacnor 9.3mm to become a 9.3x62 in another McMillian Rem Sporter Edge fill stock; again built by Chris Matthews. Since I'm having the Pre 64 turned into a 9.3x62, I'm not sure what to do with it. I could just leave it as is; 30-06 AI.

Decisions, decisions!

Alan