I posted it in big bores, so you can check the posting for the data, but in short, it's a Jerry Pedersen cut-rifled 22" barrel mated to a Ruger Hawkeye action, originally a .375. Everything is coated with Robar's NP3. NECG banded white fiber optic front with a NECG rear adjustable peep. All work up until now was done by dirklawyer, who made me a sweet deal because he has a soft spot for us lefites. He's a great guy to do business with.

It's a project rifle and I still have work to do on it, but it should be up and running for Zim in 2011. I could take it as it is now, if I wanted to. Shoots great.

Nice looking rig.

What exactly is Robars NP3? I'm guessing some sort of electroless Nickel?

Hard to find(make) a better rifle for Zim, keep us updated on the progress.

Why do these really big guns use the barrel band? What's wrong with screwing a sling swivel into the forestock like us .30-caliber shooters do?

quote:

Originally posted by homebrewer:
Why do these really big guns use the barrel band? What's wrong with screwing a sling swivel into the forestock like us .30-caliber shooters do?

Recoil often drives the sling swivels and attaching hardware into the shooter's hand.

The higher the sling attaching point the lower that the gun carries while on the sling and it keeps the end of the muzzle below head height and keeps you from catching as many branches.

Because with the big fat barrels sling tension doesn't disturb the point of impact much

The real reason though is that it looks cool.

What he said

quote:

The real reason, though, is that it looks cool.

Yeah, I hear ya...

NP3 is electroless nickel and Teflon. Check out Robar's website for a complete explanation. Good stuff.

BTW JetDrvr that's a good looking rifle. I want to rebarrel a 7 Mag and I'm torn between a 416 Ruger and a 458.

I have the 375 H&H so I think that I should step up to 458 but if Ruger would have chambered their bigger cartridge in 423 instead of 416 it would have solved all my problems.

The thing I've discovered is that .458 Win ammo is almost universally available in Africa. I say almost. And with the current powder selection, functional velocities on heavy bullets are available in that caliber.

There are obviously no flies on a .416, either. It's just a matter of personal choice.

I was going to buy a Ruger 7mm and rebarrel it to .458 and along came dirklawyer with a rebarreled .375 and my problem was solved.

jetdrvr,

Got a couple of questions for ya...

1. Was the Ruger, an African in 375 Ruger?

2. Was it a blued action?

3. Is that the original stock that came with the Ruger? If so, did you have any work done on the stock to beef it up for the recoil?

4.Last but not least, if you don't mind, what has this set you back, up to this point?

I've been setting on one for over a year and have had it up for sale for some time. If I don't get what's it's worth I might just do a 458 in it.

BTW, I also bought a Ruger MK11, stainless in 300 Win. and it will cycle dummy 458's like butter.

Might just go that route also.

Thanks,

Roger QSL

The action says Mark 77 Hawkeye. A .375 Ruger, I would guess, and I don't know if it was blued or stainelss. Don't know much at all about Ruger rifles. The NP3 coating on all parts really makes it run smooth for a new rifle. The Teflon is the factor, I would guess.

Only put about twenty rounds through it and no stock wear visible. It has the single Ruger throughbolt which I assume is a recoil lug. I would rather have two, a la Winchester, and Remington RUM's.

It came with a McMillan fiber stock, which needs the full treatment to be fitted. Haven't decided if I'm going to do that or not.

Dirk lost money on the deal. I won't say what I paid for it, but I couldn't turn it down, and he's a great guy to do business with. He has a Heym double 500 NE for sale, BTW, if anyone's interested. The bolt handle channel in the McMillan stock has to be cut and the ejection port area has to be finished. May send it to McMillan or just use local talent. There are some good smiths around here.

The wood had a ding in it, but the balance is perfect. Don't know how it would feel with the galss stock on it. It's perfect right now.

quote:

Originally posted by homebrewer:

quote:

The real reason, though, is that it looks cool.

Yeah, I hear ya...

It's an African rifle. Gotta have a barrel band sight and sling mount...

Roger,

I checked with Dirk and did some research. The rifle is an African and had a blued receiver and the Pedersen barrel is stainless. So the NP3 serves a cosmetic as well as a practical function.

quote:

Originally posted by jetdrvr:
Roger,

I checked with Dirk and did some research. The rifle is an African and had a blued receiver and the Pedersen barrel is stainless. So the NP3 serves a cosmetic as well as a practical function.

Thnks,

I suspected it was an African by the way the stock looked in comparison to the one I own...

If yours is as light as mine, it must really thump when you let a 458 off...

I use to own a Ruger that was done in 358 Norma with the same finish as yours..

It to had a stainless barrel with the blued receiver, finished with probably the same type of treatment to cosmetically match action and barrel...

Another mistaken sale on my part...

Thanks for the retort on your gun, it's a nice looking buff gun...

Roger QSL

It weighs it at 8.5 lbs with irons. You know you've fired it when you bang off a 450 A Frame at 2111, or a 510 grain Winchester. Just lean into it a bit and it's no problem. By the time I scope it, it'll be up to almost ten pounds, which is plenty. I don't mind it now because I have shot my .375 H&H so much. You'd probably enjoy shooting it. It's a tack driver at fifty yards with the irons.

Nice looking rifle.

And with 350 Hornady Round Nose bullets at @1800 to 2000fps it will be a good deer/pig/blackbear over bait/elk in the thick rifle.

The 458 with proper loads has has plenty enough "thump" for cape buff/elephant IMHO.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Nice looking rifle.

And with 350 Hornady Round Nose bullets at @1800 to 2000fps it will be a good deer/pig/blackbear over bait/elk in the thick rifle.

The 458 with proper loads has has plenty enough "thump" for cape buff/elephant IMHO.

Thanks. I'm beginning to really like it.

My PH on my last buff hunt has been carrying a 22" Douglas barrel/Husqvarna actioned .458 Win for twenty years. He loads 74 grs. of 2230 behind old Hornady solids and 500 A Frames and has never had a problem stopping anything. This rifle is almost identical in design as his, but with the Ruger CRF action. He swears by it. I won't have a bit of a problem going up against buff using either 450 or 500 A Frames and Hornady solids, particularly with a rifle this accurate. I'd like to hunt it in irons.

I have a bunch of 405 gr. Remingtons that I'll load to 1900 fps using 4064. Those should be good for hawgs, too. I'll try the Hornady 350's as well.

If the 405 Remingtons feed 100% in your rifle you are good to go..

If they do not, try the 350 RN Hornadys...

They have fed 100% in several 458.s.

They work great on game as well.

Dirk sent me six or seven he had loaded up and they worked great. I'm getting ready to load a few of my own. I just moved, so I still have to get my bench set up. The ones I tested seemed to be suitably accurate.

I'll still try the 350's, though. They should work well on hogs and deer, as you mentioned, and are a good plinker, as well.

The Hornady 500 grn solid also feeds well. I have a lifetime supply of those. I bought 98 from Dirk, along with about 200 405's, 49 450 A Frames, and 50 400 A Frames. All I need for buff is some 500 A Frames, although the accuracy of the 450's has been excellent. They would suffice for buff.

I finally took it to the range yesterday for a bench session. First round was one of the 405's at 1900 fps. That one went very high and left.

The next two were the 450 A Frames Dirk had loaded for me. With irons only from a dead rest, those two made one ragged hole about 1.5 inches from the bull at four o'clock. It kicked the willies out of me, but I didn't hurt my back. That was the end of the 450's Dirk had sent, so I quit, feeling very satisfied. That Pedersen barrel is a fine piece of work.