Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats What's the dumbest custom rifle idea you've ever had?

I'm not in that league my self but this week end I saw a rifle built on a japanese ariska with a barrel marked 6.5 X 257 which didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Maybe that's just me.

I just read the question correctly, this will my dumbest idea I ever thought about even I have shot 45 Colt in this shotgun. I was thinking in a 44 Magunm 18" double rifle using in a Spanish 410 shotgun that I bought to my oldest son when he was 8 yrs.

Mine started with with a Weatherby action............ah never mind ('nuff said).......grins

I hope not, but it may be the rifle I'm working on now. Building a 25-06 on an old smooth knob 700 action, factory contour 24 inch blued cro molly barrel, factory Classic stock. I might could have shoped hard and found a factory rifle just like it for less money.

Remington M1903A3 "sporterized". Acquired in 1957 through NRA/DCM, the rifle was in new unfired condition, four groove barrel, $17.50 cost, a great shooter. The "need" for a bolt action hunting rifle was compelling so the "sporterizing" commenced. Barrel cut to 20", D&T for receiver sight and Redfield JR scope base, bolt handle modified for scope, front sight ramp installed, Bueler safety installed, Timney trigger installed, stock replaced with a military type "C" stock modified to resemble (slightly) a Mannlicher stock and replacement of the stamped triggerguard/floorplate with a Model 1903 milled assembly and finally a refinishing of the metal with polished blue. Spent probably close to $200 (late 1950's $200) and ended up with what was my pride and joy at the time. It seemed like a good idea notwithstanding that the money spent could have bought a good Win M70 at that time with money left over for a few lunches.

Still have the rifle. Stock has been replaced with a more attractive classic style stock that came off a G&H M1903 conversion. Barrel has been rebored to .35Whelen and the metal has again been refinished.

The rifle is a "keeper" that I will still own when I die. When viewed in retrospect the project from a money spent standpoint is a bone-headed diaster. Today, that rifle in it's original state as purchased would probably be worth upwards of $700-$800. Market value in it's present state might be $300-$400. Of course, back fifty years ago conversion or sporterization of military rifles was the "in-thing". As "dumb" as the project was, I have used the rifle to good effect and have experienced alot of fun with it.

Ward, if I had just stopped at the idea stage, I'd be about $2000 wealthier. Decided I wanted a switch barrel rifle in three of the Lazzeroni short magnums (.284, .308 and .338) on a Model 7. Flew to Arizona to discuss with Walt Harris at Harris Gunworks (met him at the SCI Annual Convention). Said he could do it. At the end of the day - he couldn't - even though he used a lot of my money trying. Rifle spent so much time in transit it racked up a goodly amount of frequent flyer miles. He could never get it to feed. Sent it to the good guys at Bansers and they gave me good advice - sell it as a single shot with two extra barrels and I did. Harris went bankcrupt (not the first time I later found out).

National Postal Meter M-1 Carbine rebored and chambered to 45 Win Mag. I still have it. I can't keep a scope on it. It rides proudly in the back of my safe!
I have about $900 invested into it. If I would have left the $300 donor rifle alone it would be worth $900 now.