Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Big Nan

Thought some of you might like to see a couple pictures of Hal Waugh's famous hunting/backup rifle.

Great rifle. Thanks for posting it up.

Cool. Looks like you are figuring out how to post pics. Nice rifle.

I would love to take it hunting but am scared something might happen to the stock and that kill the guns value. In his book Hal stated the rifle had kicked it's self out of 5 previous stocks. This is the one she was wearing for the book cover.

Scotty, do you think D Arch Echols would be able to put a Legend on this rifle? Gene Similion or any of the others?

I am new to this forum so I am wondering what you meant by putting a "legend on this rifle"? I might be able to fill in some details for you.

I was asking Beretzs because he has some rifles with the Echols Legend stock. He has some experience with what they can do, where as I do all my own work. Like I said in your other thread, the clover leaf tang is gong to be the detriment for finding a stock that will work. However, I have see some Legends and other Mcmillan stocks that were inletted for that tang style.

So I will show how little I know...............this action has what is call the clover leaf tang? Thank you for that info! And I take it a Legend or McMillan stock might fit the action. I would love to take it on one more hunt but as is I do not even shoot it for fear it could tear up the stock. That and the old recoil pad is hard as a rock, might as well be steel. Between the recoil pad and the hand loads I got with the gun it leaves you a tattoo every time you pull the trigger.

All day long. Order a flat top and let the smith inlet it.

Beautiful rifle......thanks for sharing.

Thanks buddy. I posted an original stock in his other thread. Pretty good deal on it, even though it's ben cut a little and had a pad installed. Those stocks are hard to find. Having a smith drop it into a Mcmillan would probably be his best option , considering how hard they are to find.

Very cool rifle there. I still have the book. Makes me want to go hunt brown bears.

Being new here I was slow to jump on the stock and see it is already gone. But I thank you for the effort. I am still looking for a stock if I can find one. It is a shame not to take it hunting but I do not want to put the stock at risk. I am not worried about the metal as it has stood up to all the years Hal carried it.
In the July/August 2013 addition of Sports Afield there is a nice write up on the rifle.

That's too bad, those stocks are hard to find. I am assuming you are talking about the stock I posted a link of from gunsinternational? It doesn't show sold. Surprised you got an answer from anyone on the weekend..

mr FNWhelen: I'm the guy that wrote that article about Big Nan in sports afield. If you have any questions re: the rifle feel free to send me a P. M.

Dan

Thanks for letting me know Dan. The owner when you wrote the piece was my father so most of what I know about the rifle I got from him.
He made friends with Hal's widow Julie up in Eagle and that is how he ended up buying it from her. He bought her hunting rifle at the same time but at some point sold it. I do know it is nice to have a piece of Alaska history.

Thanks for letting me know Dan. The owner when you wrote the piece was my father so most of what I know about the rifle I got from him.
He made friends with Hal's widow Julie up in Eagle and that is how he ended up buying it from her. He bought her hunting rifle at the same time but at some point sold it. I do know it is nice to have a piece of Alaska history.

I sure agree that you have a very neat historical rifle. Your dad was very kind to me letting me see the rifle, and then allowing for the photos. I had at least one nice phone chat with him after the article came out and ended up sending him a copy of the magazine. So I'm curious as to whether Phil Shoemaker was able to use the rifle to build the duplicate for the association's auction rifle a couple years back. Big Nan, along with Bill Pinnell and Morris Talifson's .375s are the 3 most historical rifles used in Alaska. I was also fortunate in writing another Sports AField article on their rifles.

I don't believe it would be any problem in shooting Big Nan. You can shoot .375 H&H ammo in the .375 Weatherby chamber. Yes, in the book about Hal he stated it was on the 6th stock, which is hard to understand why. Heavier calibers, if the rifle is properly bedded, don't create stock problems like that. Hopefully the recoil lug is glass bedded, but you might take a look.

Dan

[img]https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/galleries/17904012#lg=17904012&slide=0[/img]

Phil Flew down and took pictures so they could build the replica to action off. They did it and I believe the rifle went for a decent price but Phil would have to say about that. We did have a good visit and later on Phil called to make a sizable standing offer if I ever want to sell Nan.

Tried to post a picture but I am fighting with it again.
[img]https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...ies/17904012/458#lg=17904012&slide=0[/img]
That is Phil's 458 with Nan