Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Anyone up for a look at my new project???

Hey guys, I wanted to buy a classic sporter 338 win mag for elk hunting because my pre 64 model 70 took some good abuse this elk season and I felt sorry for it after 2 days in the rain. I put it away and started using a more weather resistant rifle. Of course 79s is going to say: See I told you so . I just don't like putting my pre 64's through that much anguish I guess. I have classic sporters for that kind of abuse . Anyway, with EricM, and Beretzs and Kutenay in mind, I took on a project that was almost complete, but needs some finishing touches. Here is a list of what will be done to it:

1. Cerakote the metal.
2. Cerakote the stock
3. Install new red pachmayr decelerator.
4. Glass bed.
5. Freefloat the barrel...
6. Jewel the bolt..
7. Hunt the living heck out of it in all kinds of weather..

I ended up getting an excellent deal on a 1955 pre 64 H&H action with a stainless 338 win mag barrel already screwed on. The barrel looks pretty damn new with polished chamber and crisp sharp rifling in the bore. It came with a bansner (High tech specialties) stock and weighs in right at 7 pounds. I weighed it with an extra aluminum floor plate I had laying around. I'll end up buying an aluminum trigger guard and then send it off for cerakote. My plans are to make it look somewhat similar to my 270 fwt, so the stock will be cerakoted dark brown (similar to Mcmillan's brown color).

Someone has already asked for some "before" pictures, plus there will be progression pics to come. Here goes guys. Hope you enjoy. To the true collectors, don't be too hard on me for putting this one to good use . I like to think of it as a new lease on life for this old girl, even though an H&H action may be a waste for a 338 win mag, it is cool that I can get 4 in the magazine ..:

Before pics:






I have no idea as to who makes this barrel. If any of you know, please let me know.


This is what I did to it today:

Checked the receiver scope base threads. Chased the threads and they are all excellent:
[img]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x401/chiefbsa/IMG_0010_zps92a733cd.jpg[/img]

Took the action apart and sanded the stock down:
[img]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x401/chiefbsa/IMG_0018_zps28eb56c3.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x401/chiefbsa/IMG_0020_zpsd34f99e9.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x401/chiefbsa/IMG_0023_zps11def9c8.jpg[/img]

Consider hard chrome over Cerakote: smoother and tougher and won't cause the action to bind by adding thickness to the finely fitted parts.

Very cool project!

Continued:




It's just about ready to give to my cerakote guy. I'll probably fit the decelerator first before it gets cerakoted though...:

Thanks buddy. I always appreciate your input on these old rifles. I generally try to leave these old girls alone except for the mcmillans here and there with the originals kept stashed away for safe keeping. Back to your hard chrome question. Yes, do you know anyone that does a good job? I use a guy for cerakote because he's close and he does outstanding work. The hard chrome would probably be tougher though.

Mahovsky Metalife does great work. I'd do cerakote for the alloy bottom metal, though. Or, if you cerakote, don't coat the action interior or the bolt. I had a pre-64 transition action fully cerakoted and it went from smooth to stiff.

I like it...a lot. Red pad will look great. What scope and mounts?
Bob

Yes, I noticed that on the classic sporter I had done. A little polishing of the raceways and it was back to normal. I'm going to have the bolt jeweled on this pre so there won't be an awful lot of cerakote on the inside of the receiver. I totally agree with you though. Something to be mindful of and you usually learn that on your first cerakoted action.. Here's an old tanger my cerakote guy did for me. He also jeweled the bolt. He does fantastic work:



Come to think about it, I've been looking at the transition you sold. If you google Winchester model 70 "cerakote pictures", yours is one of the first pictures you run across, along with a picture of my classic sporter that is cerakoted sniper grey and in a bansner stock just like this pre 64 I'm working on. I really like the brown McMillan I bought from you and want to make the bansner look just like it:


The bansner is light as hell and stiff. I like it. The weight of the rifle (when I get done with it) should be less than 8 pounds all up (scoped and sling)..

Mounts will probably be the Leupold PWR's like what are on my 375H&H since this is an H&H action, my choices are limited. Here's my 375 and the mounts I went with on that rifle. They are nice because they don't hang over the ejection port anywhere. They fit great, but are kind of heavy but built like a tank:


I'd love to scope it with the Swaro that davidlea has in the classifieds. It is a 3-9x36 Habicht. That may not happen as it's a little spendy for my blood, but if I win the lottery that's the one I'd put on it

Cool thread, BSA. I like the direction you're taking and wouldn't change a thing. It's going to be awesome. The Swaro 3-9x36 Habicht would be a good fit. I wonder how a fixed 6x42 scope would look on this rifle? It would probably do as well as a 3-9 variable and be more durable with potentially more ER? That barrel marking has me confounded...

Eric

Ha ha. I have no clue as to what manufacture it is Eric. It looks like a "G", inside a micrometer to me. Maybe someone here knows...As far as scopes go, I don't need a lot of eye relief on my scopes. I like 3-9x40 as an all around flexible power range. Funny thing is, I may end up just throwing on one of my favorites and call it a day. However, If I can swing the money I may end up just buying davidlea's if he still has it. Sorry no poker face. I mean, he needs to lower the price on that damn scope and I'd buy it!!!!!

You can only sit on snow for so long, eh BSA?!! lol.

Eric

Google Armaloy of fortworth. Armaloy is a chromium coating mostly used on industrial equipment, but they do use it on firearms. It makes the gun come out a color some where in between pewter and stainless steal. It's actually quite pretty. I have a custom build 375 h&h in a brown precision stock that is armaloyed and it is sweet, adds a little bit of slickness to the action and is imperious to everything. You will just about destroy the gun before you damage the finish. Also all the parts are coated, so you gun is protected inside and out.

I wouldn't Cerrakote the metal moving pieces, I would ask to have them Microslick'ed.. It is another Cerrakote product, that when sprayed on and allowed to air dry has been excellent for me. Very easy to apply and seems to be lasting very well. It only comes in Matte Black, but I am not sure it matters too much if you are just coating the bolt, raceways, internals, etc..

You can see the color difference in this rifle I did a few months ago. The Cerrakote color is Tungsten Grey I think, and the bolt and other pieces are the matte black of the Micro Slick.







Awesome project and man, you are build what looks to be an awesome elk rifle in my opinion.

Sounds like very good stuff. I may look into that..

Thanks Scotty. I like how that one looks. I'll ask my cerakote guy if he has done that before. The color I'm wanting to go with on the rifle is graphite black with extra hardner for a glossier finish (although we know it won't be a gloss finish)..

Looking good BSA. Can't wait to see the finished project.

So which daughter isn't going to Europe now?

looks really good. Going to check into the armaloy myself.

You could go with my favorite combo--blued receiver so it will show honest wear and bead blasted stainless barrel. With the H&H action, you may want to rechamber to .340 so it will recoil harder ; )

Looks like you'll be busy for a bit. Looking forward to seeing what you end up with.