One Rifle

[Altjaeger]

Bet you thought I was going to ask if you could have only one rifle what would it be?:)

No, following up on the definition of custom I am curious of all the rifles YOU ALREADY OWN would you choose for major modification.

I have one rifle that some day I will get drill and tapped for a scope and a recoil pad added. Thats not major modification in my book. I am talking barrel or stock replacement, stock inlays or engraving. Lets set an arbitrary price of $300 value to work done. Glass does not count.

My chosen rifle would be a Santa Barbara 7x57 I picked up in Germany back in 1992. It has a commercial mauser action and chambered in a classic European cartridge. A decent, but bland piece of European walnut in a almost classic style constitutes the stock.

My change would be to change out the stock for a classic European stock to match the action and cartridge. The wood would be nicely figured, but not exhibition grade. One problem is I have not decided which style. Fond of both the 1930's Mauser Sporters and the full length Mannlicher type stocks the choice is not certain. If I go with the full length stock then the barrel will need to be shortened to 20". The 30's sporter stock it can stay at a tad over 22".

Then again I have a converted 8x57Oberdorf military rifle built in 1941 that has already been customized into the 1930s style sporter. The choice is the mountain rifle with a full length Mannlicher style stock...for today.:D

[dave-t.]

I'd have to get a new one to start a project like that, but it would be an older EU military round, either 6.5 Swede or 7mm Mauser.

For a classy full stock, I'd go Sweede with fast twist rifling. You won't get full speed with a 20" barrel anyway, so why not set it up for 160 round nose bullets and have in affect a rich mans 30-30.;):cool:

[pepaw]

I am simple. I would take the plastic Stevens .270 that shoots tiny groups with any ammo and add a very nice "smaller" wooden straight stock, no cheek pieces. Because my right and lefty wife and son are arm wrestling over it. :D Smaller in diameter on the wrist and foreend because we are all little in my family.

If it was only for me, I would get a lefty thumbhole wooden stock.

stumpy

[Bill Gunn]

If I could only keep one, it would have to be my Winchester Mod. 70

Cal... 30 Govt 06

Barrel date 1936, and it's been in the family since new. It is very accurate, I've gotten Mule Deer at 300, and 425 yards with it.

But it would still kill me to get rid of the rest.

[Bushman]

But would you cut on a 1936 M70 Bill, or leave it just like it is? New trigger, maybe better wood, recoil pad, slick the barrel, change it out to a Whelen or .338-06? That is what I am currently wrestling with. Everything that I have is the way I want them, but there is a really nice M70 pre-64 at Gander Mountain that keeps calling my name and I don't have one of those. I run out of season before I run out of rifles now. That 1936 is the pre-feather weight version and it is a pretty good chunk if I remember right. I used to clean my neighbor Frank's pre-war M70 .30 Gov't 06 when I was a kid.

[Smokey]

I have always wanted a rifle with a full length stock. I just can not figure which one I would put a full length stock on.

[Bill Gunn]

But would you cut on a 1936 M70 Bill, or leave it just like it is?
If I changed anything on that rifle, my Dad, and my Uncle would haunt me the rest of my life.
It's certainly not in pristine condition, it's been a rifleman's' rifle it's entire life. It has seen the outdoors in the Adirondacks of NY, all around Ogden Utah where my uncle lived, and I used it in Wyoming for Mule Deer. My Dad even used it for a while as a woodchuck gun with 110 grain loads.

This gun is the 20" Carbine Version, and it has an Al Beisen stock on it now.

[southtexas]

A 1936 Carbine is a very rare bird and worth lots of $$$(I know you wouldn't sell it). Just curious, do you still have the original stock?

BTW, IMO, it would be a crime to change anything about that rifle..just use and enjoy!

Edited to add: Another curiosity question: I assume (from shooting game at 440yds, that the rifle has a scope on it. IIRC, those early models were not factory drilled for scope mounts, and the bolts handles were not as scope friendly as later models. does it have a scope? Any issues with the bolt handle or scope mounting? thanks

[Bushman]

"This gun is the 20" Carbine Version, and it has an Al Beisen stock on it now."

Enough said, I would not touch it either. I've been around some gun shows and collector rooms and I have only ever seen one Pre-64 M70 Carbine and that one was for display only.

[Bill Gunn]

A 1936 Carbine is a very rare bird and worth lots of $$$(I know you wouldn't sell it). Just curious
, do you still have the original stock?

BTW, IMO, it would be a crime to change anything about that rifle..just use
and enjoy!

Edited to add: Another curiosity question: I assume (from shooting game at
440yds, that the rifle has a scope on it. IIRC, those early models were not
factory drilled for scope mounts, and the bolts handles were not as scope
friendly as later models. does it have a scope? Any issues with the bolt
handle or scope mounting? thanks

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2250/777751/13525437/368153445.jpg

I got the gun when my Dad died, and he got it when his brother died. I would
guess the original stock was gone the first year :confused:
The only real sad part is that My uncle had a MATCHING .270, and nobody knows
where it went to this day :(
I can remember him shooting it out at my grandfathers, and as a 10 year old, I was quite impressed,
and from then on wanted a .270 (I have a Remington) !!!
The 30-06 was set up when new to be a hunting rifle, not a safe queen collectors
gun :)
It had the new stock, and a Griffin & Howe QD side mount blind mounted with
no screws, and a Lyman removable sight when open (peep) sights are desired.

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2250/777751/13525437/368153442.jpg

The scope is a Weaver K 2.5 that was disassembled when the one piece rings
were originally installed.
I have tried out the QD's, and the Lyman sight, and they both hold zero perfectly,
so I would be confident if I had to change in the field.

For hunting out West, I bought a set of G&H split rings ($150 :eek:) and put
on a Leupold 2-7 compact scope on the G&H mount.

The scope is very close, but works fine with the bolt.

Your right, I wouldn't change a thing, and it's a great hunting rifle, as it should be :)

PS... That's how great hunting stories are made, my shot went from a 425 yard
shot to a 440 yard shot in only a day !! :D

[southtexas]

Bill: beautiful rifle! Thanks for sharing the pics.

BTW, nice 450 yd shot:)

[Hi Ball]

Bill T.**********Fabulous looking model 70!!! Hats off to you and that fine rifle. It just doesn't get any better than a model 70 Winchester folks!!!:cool: