Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Pre '64 .300 Win Mag

A while ago I posted here looking for advice on what to do with a pre '64 .300 WM that I got a great deal on. Based on some of that advice, here is what I came up with. Metal was in great shape, but had a high gloss blue. I had it cleaned up a bit and matte blued by a local smith. I ordered an unfinished blank from Borden, and finished and painted it myself. I added Talley Lighweights and a Leupold VX3 3.5-10 with B&C reticle. I think it turned out great and my first range session showed that it is a shooter.

Thanks to those who steered me in the right direction.

I'd say she cleaned up REAL nice....Good job!

I agree very sweet Winny.Great cal to boot.

How long did it take you to get the blank from Borden and how much work was involved with finishing it? That's a fine looking rifle.

Was pondering that SAME thing.....

Oregon,

The stock came in about 3 weeks.

It took a bit of work to get it ready for paint. I had to drill the action screw holes and fill a lot of pinholes. There were a few areas where the fiberglass fabric was protruding through the surface and had to be built up with epoxy. The inletting for the bottom metal was off a little as well as the barrel channel which required a little epoxy and some dremel work. Not difficult work, and easily handled by anyone who knows thier way around a can of bondo.

I'd do it again.

Thanks Kilmer

That, and a full house load with 200 grain Partitions, will make quick work of anything in the lower 48. DRT and I speak from my own experience.

Wayne

That's one of the rare Pre64s as the ctg was introduced in 1963 and was only manufactured in that configuration for one year. Enjoy it!

Nice work....

Battue

I cringe when I see an original 300WM altered because like 338Federal said that caliber is one of the rarest one out there but it's your rifle so do as you like with it and it does look good.

Did you fill the rear sight dovetail? It looks nice and clean. Your pictures do not show the muzzle but I assume that you also removed the front sight?

Excellent job..

More of a one-of-a-kinder in an already rare breed.

I know were an original is for $1500........

With the drop the original stock had it is now more functional for scope use and recoil will not be as noticeable if the comb is parallel. It's not like you can retire on what you can get for it unaltered. If it's what you like, have fun using it for what it was made for. It's been improved on and that's a good thing.
Picasso's and someother things-leave alone, and even they get "restored"-Model 70 no big deal.
The Brits have no problem upgrading some very expensive shotguns and still sell them for top dollar used. Americans can be funny about this original stuff. JMO

Battue

Thanks for the comments.

I know how rare they are. When I got it, it had already been lovingly [bleep] with. The original sights were gone ad the barrel cut just behind the front sight hole, it had been high gloss blued, and the stock had been replaced with a high monte carlo seventies abomination.

I would prefer it with sights, and may have them replaced at some point.