Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats considering building a full stock pre-64

I have a full stock rifle itch I must scratch at some point. I probably should just buy a factory one but I am considering making one of my pre-64 FWT's into a full stock rifle. of course after loping 2" off the barrel and having a new front sight put on.
from the research I've done on here it appears that the proper way to do a stock is to build a pattern then have that used to have your stock blank of your choice turned and copied like the slave pattern.
It sure would be nice though if I could just get a pre-turned blank or have a stock blank of my choice directly made into a classic style full stock since the rifle I'm using is a factory pre-64 barreled action.
I'm wanting to build a pretty working rifle not a piece of art that is perfect in every way.
I would welcome any input.

Thanks!

A friend did a 375 H&H like that in a full blown custom. It was pretty sweet.

Save yourself some coin and buy this one. It's been on there for about 6 months now. Make a lowball offer and see what happens.

http://www.armslist.com/posts/51159...inchester-pre64-model-70-custom--270-win

Thanks for the heads up. I saw that rifle a few months ago also, when I went searching for it a week or so ago it did not come up with the search criteria I was using. I figured it was sold.

The problem with that one is that it appears to be based of the standard profile barrel, which is likely to make the gun feel clubby. I thought the OP's idea for using a featherweight contour barrel had a lot of merit.

That is a valid point. That rifle will not be a nimble in the hands plus the added bulk of the full length stock. I cannot tell what barrel for sure it is but the sight boss is gone. It looks like a standard sporter barrel profile in the pics.

They are closed today so I can't get any more info.

Be curious to see what you find out about it. From the pics, thought it looked pretty decent but its been there a while.

That's what I'd do rather than cut up an original FWT. Depending on the condition of the pre-64 you start with, the value it'll lose plus the money you'll put into it will pretty much buy that one. It's really not a bad deal considering the Lyman Alaskan scope and mount would sell for around $300 if you didn't want to keep it. You could also have the barrel re-contoured if it felt too clubby.
JMO,YMMV

Save time and money.

Shop for and buy a Brno 22F. They are a well done euro full stock bolt hunting rifle.

One of those is marked on it's action:

"ZBROJOVKA BRNO, NARDONI PODNICK"

Here is that M70 your talking about above.



I left my 70's as they are and got a euro Brno 22F.

The top rifle in this photo is my Brno 22 F.

nice rifle there Savage99!

Here is one for sale:

22f

http://www.gunsinternational.com/gu...fles/brno-22f-8x57s.cfm?gun_id=100716207

With the Brno, for myself, I'd need to change the trigger, safety and bolt handle which adds significantly to the cost. Their stocks are also well suited to iron sights but not scopes, which brings up another issue/cost! I have had at least 4 and when I added up those costs they all moved along! Nice actions though for a full custom!

I went ahead and bought this today. Thanks everyone for the input. Especially 30338 for bringing it to my attention.

Just a heads up I'm going to sell what I would call a collector grade clean '61 featherweight 30-06. I'm waiting on batteries for my camera to come in the mail to post pics and I need to come up with a price. I can send cell pics if anyone is interested.

Describe and show us, if possible, your Brno 22 F.

Thanks!

Savage_99 I bought the pre 64 w/ the full stock. not the BRNO. Though I was tempted by Brno. But I have hunted so much now with Model 70s it's difficult to switch actions.

Sweet! Anxious to hear more details about it. Congrats.

Well done. Building one would have cost you at least twice their asking price, and that is before you figure in the value of the scope.

Now were I buying it, I would be thinking about adding a front sight. Mannlichers without one just look funny to me.



But aesthetics are personal, not absolute.

Got one in the works...will be a 7x57

Utah, you must be a mind reader!
I've had the Brownells catalog out looking at options, just got to make sure the barrel shoots decent first. I'm also checking out swivel options may try to do something nicer than just studs. Not sure about scope mounts yet I've been using Conetrols on a couple of my pre 64s and may use those on this rifle.

Look forward to the pics!

Whatever you do, don't be afraid to remove a lot of wood, then remove some more. Full-stocked rifles made by smiths here in America tend to resemble baseball bats. On a large action such as the 70, Mauser, Springfield, etc. one must keep only a splinter's width of wood around the action. An open pistol grip is almost mandatory for the sleek look of a full-stocked rifle- note the grips on Mannlicher-Schoenauers and BRNO's, and also note how thin the butt stocks and grips are on those rifles too. The last, and perhaps most important, thing is the profile of the fore end- from the front guard screw forward to the tip it needs to have a very subtle reverse camber (concavity) in the profile. That is the main area where our stockmakers screw up, leaving most examples I've seen, including some posted here over the years, look like expensive 2x4's. Taken as a whole, these parameters will yield a stock as graceful as a ballerina. Ignore one or more and it ends up just another also-ran.

Look at a Sako Bavarian Carbine before you spend your money.

My personal projects don't move too fast...I have a few years to wait on the wood to dry....
I milled some walnut from the farm and have some beautiful fetcher crotch..

Pics of the full stock pre 64 after having a front sight and swivel bases installed.
I guess I should have specified to the smith I would have preferred the sight closer to end of the barrel and I think he put the rear swivel base too far back. I bought some used Conetrol mounts and plan on using VX2 2x7 on it. I don't know how it will handle with a scope yet but it feels lively in the hands and points steady as is.