Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Forbes 20b buy or not??

Used 20b in 308 showed up at a local shop. $1300 cash out the door. Yay or nay??

I haven't seen it in person. I am told it's in good shape.

Who will work on them now that Nula is sold? Or is Melvin and the crew still at it for now?

If you pass I would appreciate a PM with the location.

Haha I figured that would happen! So you're saying buy it?!?

To answer your question, Melvin‘s shop will still work on them. Know that his prices have gone up significantly.

Melvin's shop is still working on them. They typically sell on Gunbroker for much higher than $1300. In 2013, they were selling for $1400 new. If you are interested in the NULA action and stock design, that will be your cheapest ticket.

I have a 6.5 fieldcraft that I really like. Figure this would be pretty similar to that.

Both 21" barrels I believe, not sure how similar the contours are..

Stock design should be about identical.

And 308 ammo is everywhere..

Stock on the Forbes is superior in my opinion. Both Forbes and the Fieldcraft stock LOPs are too long. Melvin charges a very reasonable rate to shorten and repaint the Forbes stock.

The lop is the reason I like the fieldcraft stock so much. My Montana feels like a toy compared to it.

Jewel or fluted bolt? I would buy if the jeweled bolt at $1300…

I like the longer length of pull as well.

I wouldn't pass on a Forbes for $1300, especially if it had an SS barrel.

I have both the Fieldcraft and Forbes in 308. I like the Forbes stock better but like the full SS action on the Fieldcraft. The green Forbes stocks will oxidize so I had mine hydrodipped and coated with a grippy texture and it is great in cold wet weather. The Fieldcraft paint is slippery so I had it coated also. Barnes Vortex 150gr shoots great in my Forbes, Sadly not in the Fieldcraft.

Stock design is different but similar to the fieldcraft. Others may know but if it’s a later Forbes I think they made some changes to the stock after Melvin left the company.

All 20’s were fluted.

Love my LH Forbes 7-08 thought about sending it to Melvin for a look over but well under 1" at 200 yards with 2 different bullets same point of impact.

All 20’s were fluted…

Interesting

Same with stainless barrels.

This is an all blued fluted model.

model 20s were made in 2014 and later and had fluted bolts to my knowledge
they did have stainless and blued barrels on the 20 model and all i have ever seen had Melvins stock on them ...some of the model 24 had the stock the fieldcrafts had on them which was ag composites

and yes your a fool not to buy it an easy 500.00 in your pocket if you dont like it and sell it

If you keep dinking around on here asking questions it will be gone when you finally decide to buy it anyway.

Get it now - if it doesn't suit you then sell it and make a few dollars on it.

drover

This one is a 2014 model.

I had one in 6.5x55, I ended up dumping it, to many problems with it, even after Melvin 'fixed' it.

There is a reason it is for sale, and there is an even better reason the company went defunct.

Give it a pass.

The stock on the Forbes is the same as a NULA. I bought one new and it had lots of issues. I finally got tired of messing with it and sent it to Melvin for a rebarrel with a stainless barrel. Since he had it, I had him put the NULA trigger on it with the three position safety, cut and paint the stock. For some reason I can’t remember, he replaced the tigger guard and the mag spring. Anyway, all that was a little over $1k. So now I basically have a $2600 NULA.

I would say it’s worth it.

I have a pair of 24’s I like. At that price I’d have already bought the 20

Keep in mind, you are looking at a minimum of $1400, plus shipping there to convert your rifle to an actual NULA type rifle. This includes Barrel, bedding, trigger work, stock paint, and shipping back. Cerekote is an extra $100. All in - figure $1500 Benjamins. Zach is excellent to work with, but they aren’t giving them away.

My 284 is back on its way home now.

Is that a Forbes convert? I thought all the 20B's had fluted bolts.

284 is probably a 24b??

284 Winchesters are typically chambered in Model 20s.

Sure could be. I'm not a Nula expert.. just a guess.

If this 20b shoots and functions well it'll just stay how it is.

Although Nula paint would spice it up.

You are correct sir. Forbes 24B with nicely jeweled bolt. 3.34” magazine box for COAL

Sounds like you bought it. Congrats.

I sure did! Had them hold it for me. I'll pick it up sometime and get it scoped and shoot it once work slows down...probably be late July.

I'll give you $1400 for it.

😆

Great pick up.

Dont tempt me!

I wanna at least shoot it.

If it ever gets sold it'll be posted on the fire, then you guys can fight over it.

Anyone know if the 20b shares the same mounts as a fieldcraft?

Would a short action fieldcraft rail work?

Or how about talley leightweights made for a fieldcraft?

Yes - no.
No.
No.

I have an Xtra set of 1" Rings for a Forbes 20 B Talleys Think the rings are different on the Fieldcraft receiver is flat.

So you're saying talleylightweights are about the only option?

This one has 1" and I think I'll put a shv on it.

Talley used to make a rail. Someone made bases as well.

I'll have to contact them. I'm sure Melvin would know too.

Unless it has recently changed, you could only get Talley Lightweights for NULA/Forbes rifles through Melvin.

Barrett changed the mounts completely with the Fieldcraft.

You can get TLW's for NULA rifles direct from Talley:

https://www.talleymanufacturing.com/product/nula-scope-mounts/

You can also get pic rails for them through Talley:

https://www.talleymanufacturing.com/product/ultra-light-arms-picatinny-rail/

I bought Talleys for my Forbes from Melvin at NULA cheaper also.

Yay

I have a Nightforce SHV 3-10 on my Nula model 20 284. I'm using talley lows.

That's kinda my plan...just need to steal my shv off my wife's Montana..

I know this is over a year old but any update on how your Forbes 20 B shot?

Pretty darn good if I remember right. I'll be honest I haven't shot it since last fall when I shot my deer with it. I really like the gun. Poor man's nula I guess. Stock fits me great and the stock design makes it a joy to shoot. I might even like it more then my fieldcraft.

I know this thread is a little over a year old, but picked up a 2014 fluted bolt Forbes m20b in a 7mm08 , rifle is in excellent condition and bore looks brand new, I put 5 rounds through it to get it sighted in for deer season, 2 shots to get it sighted in and then shot a quick 3 shot group about.5-.75” ( which I was extremely pleased with at 100 yards for the only ammo i put through it ( Winchester ballistic silvertip 140s) my only concern is the bolt is pretty tight to close while loading ammo. I ran a couple different brands through it and they were tight in the action. Any one else have similar issues with there Forbes or nula? I do recall some Berger and federal LR ammo was tight in the action of my fieldcrafts before too. Any ways hope to get some insight.
Thanks

Any one?

Simply color a loaded round 100%,chamber same,extract it and the answer will be STARING you in the face. Odds are it's headspace(rubs on case head and shoulder datum) and that's a good thing,rather than land engagement(rifling marks on ogive) on an extremely short throat. Hint............

Thanks I’ll give it a try and see what I come up with. I appreciate the help

My Forbes in 35whelen runs great and puts 3 rounds in one ragged hole/cloverleaf at 100. Running 200gr Barnes ttsx. I did a lot of research before getting mine and found the jeweled bolt early Forbes are the ones to go with. The later fluted bolts are were the issues started arising with the Forbes rifles. If anyone wants to part with there older non fluted bolt Forbes rifles please let me know. Mine runs so nice I’d love another one.

Isn’t your whelen fluted?

No my Forbes 35 whelen isn’t fluted at all. It’s the jeweled bolt and cerakoted barrel and action. My weatherby 35 whelen is fluted but on the barrel tho only.

Tried to load a pic but too big to load it says.

Buy three and sell me the other two. 🙂