After years of trading and prowling the web, I have put together a pretty interesting almost-matched pair of customs.




They are both from Ultra Light Arms. One is a Model 20 in .22lr, that has a Leupold 4x12 VXII mounted on it. The other is a Model 28 in .257 WBY, with 1-10 twist 24" barrel and a VXIII 4.5x14 in the gunmetal finish.

I got the Model 28 used, and it had belonged to Dave Petzal. It was a heavy barrel 7mm WBY made in 1988, and he had pretty well shot out the throat. It also had the most profoundly ugly paint job of any gun I have ever seen (I regret not having taken a photo of it.) So I sent it back to Melvin, and he completely refurbished it in the process of rebarreling. (The bolt looked so new that I had to check the serial number on it to make sure he had not replaced it.) While he was doing the Model 28, I sent back the stock of the Model 20 to have the stock repainted to match. These could easily form the core of one's battery of firearms.



I have not yet shot the Weatherby, but expect it to be accurate. The Model 20 is scary accurate, especially in light of the weight. As it is set up, it weighs 6# 12 oz. But the 257 WBY weighs 6# 15 oz.

Nice going Utah!

And people think the bumblebee is ugly.......

Shootin irons to be proud of right there. One of the wealthier buddies of mine, now gone had a 284 of Melvins, and it was his absolute favorite rifle of dozens he had collected. Enough for me to know how nice they must be.

Nice Rigs <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

HBB

Have you shot the Roy yet?

Those stocks are makin' me have a flash-back......I'm sure they're quality rifles though......

He said no...........

Very nice!! Congrat's Utah!!

Nice!
I like 'em.
Bloody useful choice of calibers, as well.

And even though I haven't shot the Roy, I do have some 100 gr TSX ready to load. Based on the Alaska boys' faith in them, I should be amply armed for anything up through a Hemi.

now there is a pair to be proud of....... Nice caliber choice on the Roy

I been trying to ask around about the NULA LH .22's as I was thinking of ordering one. I would appreciate hearing your comments as to its accuracy and feeding and ejecting.
Is it of recent manufactor?

I am counting on Steelhead to get on and show us "a pair to be proud of" any moment....

Maybe a pair of DD's.............

I am borderline ascared to see what Steely would show us...grins

He's an accident waitin' to happen, but like a train wreck, you gotta look............

Good looking rigs.Sure like the gun metal grey scope.Looks good.

Given his tastes, I am expecting something like this:



It is probably where he gets his ideas for McMillan color schemes

Snowwolfe--
We ought to have a private conversation. I have a spare LH Kimber of Oregon in .22lr that you could talk me out of. As much as I like the ULA--and it has much to commend it--the old Kimbers are just more elegant.

That's worth a good look for sure.

Nicely done nevertheless.................

nice stockings.........grins

Utah,
PM sent

It's nice to see that Petzal's 7Wby is still going. I remember reading about that years ago. It WUZ UGLY! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

If I had to choose, I'd take the second pair though!

The original stock had rows and rows of little hand painted leaves/blobs that looked like the output of a hire-the-handicapped program. I would have put it up against all comers in an "ugliest gun" competition any day. And I really regret not having taken a photo.

But I do have to say that Melvin's rebarreling of this gun is much more accurately called a restoration. We were going to a thinner barrel contour, so that meant a complete rebedding and repainting. If any of you find a ULA/NULA on the used market, but it not quite what you are looking for in terms of condition or caliber, having Melvin re-do it is a serious option. (Even if it did take him about 3x as long as he initially projected.)

I don't think I could ever take the plunge on buying a new NULA, what with paying for kids' college and all. But this was a much more affordable route to owning a first class firearm.

Utah, Please send me a PM and tell me about your Kimber you may part with. I watched a few on Gunbrokers but didnt bid.
I think I'll give up on the .22 NULA. About five people sent me PM's complaining of QC issues with them.
I want to try either the LH Kimber or another Cooper.

I see two pairs . . . .

BMT

Get you a tailored Paisley patterned shooting coat and you'll look as nice as the rifles. Sometimes even synthetic stocks look right.

I have three of them....all the same LOP 2 with identical paint.

.22lr, 257 ROY (25"BBL), AND .308 (22"BBL) and all three are also LH. Will try to post some pictures this w/e when i get home. sweet rifles.......lot $$$ and hard work but worth it.

Lefty

Mine is about three years old...a repeater. Was a little stiff at first and eventually needed a new ejector, which melvin took care of quickly. Most any hunting ammo into 1/2 @ 50 yds. feeds perfect. Sweet. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Lefty

I like 'em! Congrats! I know many don't, but I dig Melvin's 'different' paint schemes. Definitely makes them noticable and unique.