Well I started this project in 2005 and it is done! I will be hunting elk with this rifle in just a couple of weeks. I felt I needed a 30 cal rifle and thought what else but the 30-06. This I thought would also compliment my Whitworth 375. With these two rifles I figured I would be able to hunt the world. I then thought I might need another set of two as my son may want to hunt. (he's 3) Hey, it got the wife to OK it! So the other 2 that are being worked on now are a 300 H&H and a 416 Rem Mag.

So for the particulars. The action is an FN commercial that I picked up locally, Shilen barrel I bought from TC1, 3 pos safety from Jeffe, and Blackburn bottom metal I got off of 22wrf. The blank came from my stash. It has NECG sights and Dakota skeleton grip cap.

The metal work was done by Roy Watson. I have recommended him before and will continue to do so for metal work and repairs.

The stock is from a pattern made from a Whitworth stock. The blank was turned, inletted, and glass bedded by Gerry Dunn at Royal Arms Gunstocks. He also installed the the hardware and fitted the recoil pad.

I did the final sanding, shaping and finish. Then I made a big goof. I tried to checker. Well I came so close to FUBARing it I could smell the smoke from the fire. Our very own Bill Soverns came to the rescue and brought it back from the scrap heap. THANKS BILL!!

I topped it off with a Leupold 2.5X8. I bought it from an AR member also but can't remember who.

Here are a couple of pictures, you can see more here.

Wes

That is a damn nice rifle. CONGRATULATIONS on it. Nice looking piece of wood. I sincerely hope that you will be able to claim an elk with it this fall, and I hope that you will have many many years afield with it in the future. While you are looking at it remember that I purchased that Blackburn guard in the rough and spent about 6 hours hand polishing it!

Gorgeous! I like that style of grip cap too.

That rifle is a beauty, for sure!
Excellent wood.

Don

Nice rifle Wes.....I hope it shoots as good as it looks!

Nice work all the way around.

Wes, now I'm going to say something that's not meant to be critical at all, just an observation mostly about personal taste. I like everything about it except the schnabel foreend. I like schnabels - just not on this rifle and I'll explain why. You have a mostly English/American classic stock from the pad forward...even the ebony tip. Then you have an oversized schnabel that's pure German/Austrian. It looks like a WWI battle going on and that detracts from the overall look of the stock.

The good thing is that the schnabel is easy to get rid of if you ever decide you want to. It's your rifle and it should please you - not anyone else. Don't worry about what I say if you really like the schnabel. I'm just offering a "queer eye for the straight gun-guy".

It really is a nicely built, well thought-out rifle.

ElCaballero

Very nice rifle. Great job.

Nice rifle... Happy Hunting!!!

Nice rifle Wes.

Terry

Congrats elcaballero, nice to finish one up. I do tend to agree with Forrests comments on the schnabel, it just doesn't fit IMO. However, it all boils down to personal tastes.

Wes,
I surely do like that one. It's an inspiration. I have been thinking of walnut lately.
KB

quote:

Wes, now I'm going to say something that's not meant to be critical at all, just an observation mostly about personal taste. I like everything about it except the schnabel foreend. I like schnabels - just not on this rifle and I'll explain why. You have a mostly English/American classic stock from the pad forward...even the ebony tip. Then you have an oversized schnabel that's pure German/Austrian. It looks like a WWI battle going on and that detracts from the overall look of the stock.

My thoughts exactly, I like schnabels, but this one seems a little overwhelming.

The rest of the rifle is fantastic!! Enjoy it this fall!!

quote:

Originally posted by SDhunter:

quote:

Wes, now I'm going to say something that's not meant to be critical at all, just an observation mostly about personal taste. I like everything about it except the schnabel foreend. I like schnabels - just not on this rifle and I'll explain why. You have a mostly English/American classic stock from the pad forward...even the ebony tip. Then you have an oversized schnabel that's pure German/Austrian. It looks like a WWI battle going on and that detracts from the overall look of the stock.

My thoughts exactly, I like schnabels, but this one seems a little overwhelming.

The rest of the rifle is fantastic!! Enjoy it this fall!!

It's funny you guys are saying that. I have never been much for schnabels. However when Gerry made the pattern for the stock he added one as well as a palm swell. This way it was already done should the next guy want those options. I did away with the palm swell but after looking at the fore end I thought it looked SUBTLE enough to work. OH WELL, I'll hunt with it this fall and see if I still like it. There will be several long evenings this winter when I can take it off.


Thanks for all the kind words everyone!!

yup! you have something fine and dandy going on there! I hope you get your elk with it.

regards,

That is a very nice rifle, I really like the wood. I am working on a piece of English Walnut with very simular grain for that M24/47 action I got from you.
Where are you going for elk?

quote:

Originally posted by Rolland:
That is a very nice rifle, I really like the wood. I am working on a piece of English Walnut with very simular grain for that M24/47 action I got from you.
Where are you going for elk?

I am headed to Colorado on the 9th of October.

I really like English Walnut!

Wes,
Nice rifle... Thanks for the inspiration and best to you on your elk hunt!
Jeff Pfeifer

Let us know how the Elk hunt turned out...


Don

It's a shooter!!



I have been shooting as much as I could in the last week or so. It seems like everything needs done before I leave but I managed to get out a few evenings before dark and pop a few caps. I have put 60 factory rounds down the tube and another 20 or so in load development. Not really enough to feel 100% about the rifle, but I have another rifle as a back up. I have settled on the load pictured above, a 180gr Nosler Partition over 53.5grns of W760. Tomorrow I will load up enough for the hunt and a few extra for the final sight in and checking zero upon arrival. I leave Tuesday!