The Accurate Reloading Forums
Customs in the field......
18 December 2007, 16:50
Bill SovernsCustoms in the field......
You guys have seen pictures of this rifle before but I always find it satisfying to see custom rifles being used as they were intended. For hunting.
18 December 2007, 19:35
gunmakerI'm glad to see he's getting some use out of it.
18 December 2007, 21:25
Marc_StokeldIs that your rifle and deer Bill? I really like the wood grain and the lines on that stock.

Hey, just realized it has fleur de lis chackering-is that SDHunter's rifle you made? Do you have any more pics of it?
Hell of a buck BTW too!!!
18 December 2007, 23:14
TBEAR99nice buck also nice to see custom guns hunted with instead of being showpieces
DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR
18 December 2007, 23:18
Bill SovernsMarc,
Yep, thats SDHunters. I posted quite a few shots of it when it was completed. I dont want to bore everyone with repeat pics. I will email you some though if you want.
Gunmaker had a hand in this rifle as well.
19 December 2007, 00:20
Marc_StokeldI'll do a search and find them-we'll save Saeed a little bandwidth. Good example of American Classic rifle.
19 December 2007, 01:52
Thomas JonesNice buck, very nice rifle bill
Good on ya !
...tj3006
freedom1st
19 December 2007, 04:13
GeoffM24That is an incredible rifle! I was reading that thread and as soon as I saw that stock I scrolled right back up to see if there was any info on it. Needless to say I was pleased to see it was Bills work, great job.
19 December 2007, 05:12
aleaddictquote:
I always find it satisfying to see custom rifles being used as they were intended. For hunting.
Indeed. Beautiful rifle, beautiful deer.
That would make this thread a +2
19 December 2007, 12:38
Mike_DettorreMy custome at work:
MikeLegistine actu quod scripsi?
Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.
What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
19 December 2007, 13:07
N E 450 No2Bill, Mike, Nice rifles, nice game.
Ya'll done good.
DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY
19 December 2007, 16:24
Bullet_.375My custom doin' what it was built for!


[/IMG]
20 December 2007, 11:24
Bullet_.375
20 December 2007, 15:37
ceweMan if that first stock isn´t EXACTLY like the one I have on my 9.3x62 -all the way down to the red recoil pad!
Beautiful!
25 December 2007, 02:03
bwanamrmMy gosh, why would anyone hunt with a custom when you can use the PH's rifle!

On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling
Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.
25 December 2007, 02:05
bwanamrmOn a serious note... one of Mr. Davenport's .416's.
And one of his .375's!
On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling
Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.
25 December 2007, 02:32
PostDriverHmmmmm .....
Funny thing how Sterling Davenport's rifles like living in Texas, and hunting in Africa

.416 Hoffman, Mauser LH action, November 2007:
Pardon the raindrops ... bit it cooled things off a bit!
25 December 2007, 03:33
skbthe first rifle I ever built, gunsmithing school project at work in New Zealand.
I've taken 4 animals with it so far.
Steve
26 December 2007, 02:49
577NitroExpress
Now that is a fine lookin' rifle in my eyes!
577NitroExpress
Double Rifle Shooters Society
Francotte .470 Nitro Express
If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming... 27 December 2007, 07:11
cmfic1Beautiful Rifle PostDriver.....
do you have more details on it for a fellow lefty?
Rod
--------------------------------
"A hunter should not choose the cal, cartridge, and bullet that will kill an animal when everything is right; rather, he should choose ones that will kill the most efficiently when everything goes wrong"
Bob Hagel
27 December 2007, 07:32
kududeHere is picture of my elephant and my 416/404 or 416 Howell which was made by Walt Sherman here in Tallahassee. Kudude
27 December 2007, 11:09
bohaWhat fine rifles! This is what they all were built for, isn't it?
quote:
Originally posted by cewe:
Man if that first stock isn´t EXACTLY like the one I have on my 9.3x62 -all the way down to the red recoil pad!
Not exactly in the field, but the pic was taken during a recent beaver hunt (the gnawing kind, I'll have you know) in Sweden, Cewe's 9,3x62
My custom in the field, the game not all that dangerous, alas.
27 December 2007, 15:50
DMBSome mighty fine rifles you have posted pictures of above.
They are all beauties, with great lines and workmanship.
Don
27 December 2007, 21:01
loud-n-boomerTwo of mine by Duane Wiebe, my 7x64 with one of the many American Pronghorn's it has taken, and my .458 Lott with one of the critters I have taken with it.
Dave
One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know. - Groucho Marx
28 December 2007, 05:11
Josh A.Can I squeeze my Hagn and little buck in here? The Martini-Hagn get hunted nearly every day. Fine, fine rifle if not plain by customs standards.
Josh
28 December 2007, 08:41
aleaddictJosh --
I appreciate that buck, and your Martini-Hagn.
IMHO, it doesn't have to be a high-dollar shooter to be included in this thread.
-- ale
28 December 2007, 08:53
Prewar70If someone can tell me where to find a "low-dollar" Martini please send me a PM

28 December 2007, 09:25
ForrestBHere are a couple of photos that mean a lot to me...
______________________________
"Truth is the daughter of time."
Francis Bacon
28 December 2007, 10:33
GG375Here are a couple of mine.
First 2 are my .270 built on a Brno Model 21 action.
Next one is a semi custom SS Mod 70 switch barrel (257 Weatherby/7mmRM/.338WM)with Accrabonded nice walnut stock.
My custom .416 Rigby made on a CZ action.
And a De Haas Miller single shot in 7x57 with Red stag.
Cheers.
GG
29 December 2007, 01:51
Mike_DettorreAnd now for the non traditional....tupperware and stainless steel...
Remington 700 SA in a B&C fiberglass stock with a 23 inch heart 3# stanless bbl fluted with H&S detachble box magazine in...8.59 Galaxy (338 short action Lazzeroni)
MikeLegistine actu quod scripsi?
Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.
What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
29 December 2007, 05:42
Josh A.Prewar, I didn't mean to imply that anything that comes out of the Martini-Hagn shop is inexpensive, just that mine is probably the most plain rifle they have ever built.
Best money I have ever spent. It is just wonderful to be afield with such a quality rifle.
Josh
29 December 2007, 05:52
Prewar70My comment was directed more towards aleaddict. Your rifle is a beauty and something to be proud of for sure.
29 December 2007, 07:09
aleaddictMy bad... I should never have equated a "plain Jane" with an inexpensive build. I'm a HUGE fan of the Martini.
-- ale
30 December 2007, 07:31
ForrestBGG375, yours is the nicest Aussie collection of rifles I've seen posted here. Tell us about the stockmakers please.
Also, those are great hunting photos. It makes me want to go to Australia in a bad way.
______________________________
"Truth is the daughter of time."
Francis Bacon
There are two types of people in the world: those that get things done and those who make excuses. There are no others.
30 December 2007, 15:59
GG375ForrestB
Thanks. Yes they are nice rifles and I am pretty proud of them. The .270 built on the Mod 21 action has a stock made by Ross Waghorn. The switch barrel Mod 70's stock was finished by Ross. I sent a nice blank over to Mel Smart to be laminated and 90% shaped and inletted and Waghorn finished it for me. The CZ stock was made for me by a friend who is an amateur stockmaker - it too was finished by Ross and the de haas miller single shot stock was done by Gabe Gatti who would have to rate as one of the best stockmakers in the world today. He is in Cairns. I can post some more photos of my rifles if you like.
Cheers.
GG
30 December 2007, 18:51
Prewar70GG375,
I agree, great looking rifles. Please post some more photos!
30 December 2007, 23:56
Michael RobinsonAHR CZ 550 Magnum .458 Lott Six-Shooter in the Selous Game Reserve:
Some color close ups:
Mike
Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
31 December 2007, 01:49
GG375Here are some more photos of my .270 on the Brno mod 21 action -
Thanks
GG
31 December 2007, 01:53
GG375De Haas Miller ss 7x57 -
Thanks.
GG