Melvin, you work magic!

New stock, full length bedded in olive green. New alum bottom metal, timney set at 2.5lbs. New follower and spring, jeweled the bolt, coated all metal.
Kept the oem saco defense made barrel in '06.
Leupold 3-9 in the lightweight rings that came with it from colt.

57gr. 4350 behind a 165 gameking at .04 off the lands makes tiny little groups.
51.4gr. 4064 behind 150gr. Noslers does the same, but 3/4"higher at 100 yds.

450.00 for the colt nib and 650.00 to Melvin.
If anyone has a colt, you owe it to yourself to send it to him. Answered the phone personally everytime I called and discussed everything in detail. Talked me out of a rebarrel and was correct that most of the barrels are good to go. The work is top notch and price was more than fair. Not sure how he even breaks even at this price.

Im thinking a NULA 223 is in my future.

What sort of coating did the metal get?
I have been seriously considering sending a CLR to Mr. Forbes for some of his magic.

I think Melvin is using Cerakote, He was sending them off to have it done but he may be doing it in house now..I sent my CLR off a little over a year ago and had it done it came back a very accurate 280 AI..it has become my go to rifle and I have two original NULA's !

Aviator - what was the original chambering on your 280 ai? I'm also considering having Melvin do this....

AKwolverine, it was a 30/06 I bought new when they first came out..Melvin couldn't get a 7mm douglas at the time so I went with a #3 Brux 9 twist finished at 26 inches...worked out real well !

The stock is actually a dark olive. Looks a weird cat [bleep] green in the pic. The load development so far was the standard 57 gr. of imr4350 with a 165 gr. bullet that's been around for 60 years and seating the bullet in the lands and backing it off.

The gameking likes a little jump.

A box of 155 scenars is on the way. My .30 bullet selection is pretty weak right now, mostly gamekings, matchkings, hornady SP's , Nosler BT's and PT's.

Looks good !

jackmountain, surely you are pulling our leg. Rifles don't shoot well when they are full length bedded ... Especially those skinny tubed bastids...

Melvin told me FL bedding would not give benchrest accuracy, but in his experience would give you acceptable accuracy with a much wider range of loads, bullet weights etc.... basically more forgiving. I'll take it out to 350yds this evening. Thats as far as I can go behind the house til rest of the corn is chopped.

The best thing is the stock. It fits perfect for me. I did specify a 14 1/4 " LOP.
Next to my montana it looks huge but weight wise feels similar. Will weigh it later today to see the diference.

I really like the rifle and admire Melvin's way of thinking. If you do it right, full length bedding works like a champ. I full length bedded my CZ 550 American 9.3x62mm and just recently my pre 64 30-06 fwt. The proof that FL bedding works for some rifles is always left on the target

Sent Melvin a NIB 7RM CLR for his upgrade. With a Leupold 3-9 it weighs just under 7# and shoots honest 2" groups at 400yds when I am having a good day.

That looks really good.

I've been thinking about a new stock for my CLR in 7RM, but is shoots so well I hate to mess with it. I'd like a nicer stock with a better pad, as I get a pretty sore shoulder after shooting a box or two of 175's out of it.

I'm not familiar with CLRs but that sounds like an abnormally screaming deal?

Had it a few years. I think $550.00 is pretty easy to do though. One just sold on gunbroker for $950.00 that had already been reworked. It was an '06 with tan stock. It was a buy it now and lasted one or two days I believe. I had another 06 and a 7 mag and sold them before I knew you could send them to Melvin.
I wish I had the 7 mag back now. It would be in the mail to West By God Virginia tomorrow.

Jack..
Sounds like another succesful "faux NULA" project..

What does the rifle weigh sans scope and mounts?

Melvin is a good man for sure