It's finally under way!

Duane is working on a 375 H&H for me based on a GMA action and half octagon / half round barrel with full length rib by Ralf Martini.

The raw materials:






Barrel installed:


Duane shortened the bolt handle and added extended tangs:



Action and bottom metal inlet:




Close up of the extended tangs:




Installing crossbolts:




Matching the sling studs:




Sneak peek:

Very nice.

Extended tangs....the hallmark of a "Best Gun" !

That is OUTSTANDING!

Charley,
I'm concerned about that piece of wood on a 375H&H. It is probably better suited to my in work 250-3000.
You are going to have a beautiful rifle.
Butch

CAS, thanks for the pics, what a wonderful project you have going there...please keep us updated with lots of pictures.

That stock blank is SICK!!! Great find.

That is gonna be awesome. Please keep us updated.

That is beautiful wood. If there are any scraps left from that blank large enough for a set of grips for a Ruger revolver, I'd sure like to have enough for one set.

That's beautiful. Hope you post more pics.

A couple people have asked about the scope mounts. They are made by Joe Smithson. The fine folks at Granite Mountain were kind enough to handle getting the action to Joe for the install before sending it on to Duane.

Wow Charlie, that's nice! I hope we get a few pics of that beautiful blank going under the knife. 1st class all the way.


Terry

Impressive beginnings to a timeless classic, both caliber and maker. Congratulations!

WOW, got the makeing of a very nice rifle...
This will demand more photos!

Charley,

I like everything about it. What scope are you planning on using?

Mike

Mike,

At this point I am leaning towards a Leupold 2.5-8x36. Haven't bought it yet, so it's subject to change.

Charley,
Since you are going first class on the rifle, go first class on the scope. Get a 1x-10x March.
Butch

1" scope rings negate that possibility.

I'm thinking hard about having another set of rings made in 30mm to hold a backup scope. The only thing holding me back is the fact that the rifle will already have a backup sighting system.

How close, dimension wise, is that action to an original oberndorf magnum length action?

Just a fine point...this is not a Vector action, it is a GMA with the "preamble" removed from the R. side

quote:

Originally posted by ColoradoMatt:
How close, dimension wise, is that action to an original oberndorf magnum length action?

Sorry, I couldn't tell you. Maybe Duane will chime in.

quote:

Originally posted by Duane Wiebe:
Just a fine point...this is not a Vector action, it is a GMA with the "preamble" removed from the R. side

Duane, hopefully you removed the Novel from the "Left" side. I'd hate to think they sent me a left handed action.

quote:

Originally posted by CAS II:

quote:

Originally posted by Duane Wiebe:
Just a fine point...this is not a Vector action, it is a GMA with the "preamble" removed from the R. side

Duane, hopefully you removed the Novel from the "Left" side. I'd hate to think they sent me a left handed action.

Ahh..guess I was looking in the mirror

Huge kudos for the extended tangs.
It was partially the functionality and beauty of the extended tangs that made me love this royal paradox rifle by Holland and Holland so much.

quote:

Originally posted by CAS II:

quote:

Originally posted by ColoradoMatt:
How close, dimension wise, is that action to an original oberndorf magnum length action?

Sorry, I couldn't tell you. Maybe Duane will chime in.

Don't have an original to compare....but you can look up dimensions on he GMA website...I do know they made the guard screw spacing longer.

quote:

Originally posted by G.Hansen:
While I appreciate the aesthetics and the skill required to make and flawlessly inlet an extended and over-the-comb tang, is there really a true element of 'functionality' to this feature?

I was thinking about how much strength this adds but I guess that depends a lot on the wood to metal fit. Correct me if I am wrong but would this not help spread the recoil out over a greater area? If the stock cracked I would guess this could help keep the rifle functional.

Very nice Boomstick, I'm intrigued by the little bit I see. Can you give us a full-length photo and more details on this...
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Forrest,

Proof enough, you gotta be my brother from another mother.

HBH

P.S. Charlie, will be nice!

I was wearing sport sandals
I changed my avatar to show me shooting that 12 bore HH Royal Paradox.


We did have some female shooters at the west coast hoot and shoot.

Here is the person connected to that foot holding a Rigby single shot 450 NE

Most interesting parts of this picture are not single, but these are doubles!

Looks good-it should turn out really nice.I really like the one you did on the Vector action.Why didn't you go with the claw mounts on this?

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
Why didn't you go with the claw mounts on this?

Because I wanted to use a scope with a little more magnification, like the 2.5-8x36 Leupold. With claw mounts, such an objective would require that the front scope ring be mounted on the objective bell with the front base mounted on the barrel. I did not want that look on this rifle.

Plus, I think the Smithson mounts are cool as hell and I wanted to use them.

Updated with a couple more pictures

I hope Duane saved the wood from the pistol grip he cut off to short... .7TH picture down...
I do enjoy these picture posts...Thanks!

All very nice choices and features. Can hardly wait to see the progress and final product. You picked a great Q/R mount and Joe Smithson is one of the great craftsmen as well as Ralf Martini. Should be a masterpiece.

Charley,

I really like the Smithson mounts and was thinking about using them on my custom build. How long did it take to get them installed?

Clint

Nice Rigbys!

Only possible thinking point with the Smithson mounts is it takes both hands to remove. Still, the precision and looks make the minor inconvenince worth their use.

Vapo
No those are Boomies
She is a sweetheart too!
Thanks for the updated pics!

The benefits of having lived in Southern California.

What memories.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis