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.