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My pair of 30-06 rifles is complete...



Back story:
I've had my first 30-06 for several years, at least 12 or 13 now. My darling wife bought it for me as a Christmas present in one of our early years together. I have used that rifle to take almost every animal since, with a couple exceptions for blackpowder season. She has now had 3 barrels (the 2nd didn't get worn out, but it was too heavy and got replaced). Most of you have seen her probably, but just in case...



I wanted a second 30-06 to go with the first. I was thinking of an American classic rifle, so that meant I needed to use a Model 70 action (before the imported assembly to Portugal ). First I got the wood blank from Cecil Fredi in Las Vegas. It's the bottom wood blank in both pictures...





Then I got a Model 70 FN action. I would have liked a M70 Classic action for the trigger, but I couldn't find one for what I thought was a reasonable price. And Pre-64s...definitely not worth what people that are selling them think they are worth! I can buy a Borden Timberline action for cheaper than a Pre-64. I know they are good actions, but!



And then I shot the donor. I didn't want to replace a barrel if I didn't have to. But the factory barrel walked when it heated up, so I sent the barreled action up to Lee Christianson in Wisconsin. He put on a Bartlein #2, chambered with my 30-06 Serengeti reamer, 1-inch shank, finished at 24 inches. He didn't do any bluing, as the stock maker didn't want it finished before the stock work.

I had also monkeyed with the trigger a bit, tried an Ernie's spring, and I just couldn't make it work. I put a Timney in her. I've had good luck with the Timney in my first 30-06. And she's as good a trigger pull as any M70 classic trigger (I have in one PF M70). Lee changed out the trigger.

The M70 bottom metal was good, but I wanted something a bit nicer. I called Pacific Tool and Gauge and ordered some steel Oberndorf M70 bottom metal. Definitely a nice touch, though a bit on the heavy side.

I called Talley for some case color hardened screw lock rings and signature bases. Also not the lightest choice, but I'm happy with them. Talley is great to work with! I originally bought just the traditional rings, then after using a set of screw lock rings on my first 30-06 I asked if I could change them for screw lock rings, and they were happy to make the exchange. In the rings I have a Leupold 6x42 with a Heavy Duplex reticle.

During this entire period I was talking to 3 stockmakers. LeRoy Barry at Canyon Creek Gunstocks in Montana, Robert Szweda at RMS Stockmaking in Arizona, and Dennis Olson in Montana. I seemed to hit it off with LeRoy the best, so I went with him. His wife also does some really interesting checkering work. LeRoy also does polishing and bluing in house, and Robert ships it out for finishing. I am confident I would have been very pleased with any of the three stockmakers! LeRoy and Connie's work is superb.

Some detail pictures of the rifle:


Checkered grip cap and cross bolts
[img]http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s464/joelkdouglas/Guns063_zpsztdv9zdz.jpg[/img]

Inletted sling swivels, ebony tip, front checkering detail
[img]http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s464/joelkdouglas/Guns070_zpst3qvsgma.jpg[/img]

Grip checkering detail, shadow line American style cheekpiece
[img]http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s464/joelkdouglas/Guns057_zpsbpsju0mz.jpg[/img]

Haven't shot her yet. I had to ship it back to Lee when she came back...evidently the barrel got screwed on a bit more than Lee intended during the finishing work, and brass/rounds/nothing would chamber. And I reload, I sized virgin brass to absolutely the smallest possible size, but Lee fixed her straight away and shipped her back. And my current duty station (DC) straight up sucks for rifle ranges, but I'm moving again this summer, and my new duty station has a range within 15 miles that goes out to 500...

Because someone will want to know...8.75 lbs as pictured for the wood stocked rifle. 7.5 lbs for the Edge stocked rifle.

A big thanks to Beretz (Scotty) for the M70 inspiration, hunting lessons, and reloading tips, Matt for pure mountain and elevation inspiration, BobinNH for 30-06 reality checks, Bill for sharing secret elk hunting spots, Dr Mike for reloading knowledge and persistence, Lee for great metal work and general "don't do that, it's stupid" guidance, Phil Shoemaker for 30-06 inspiration and Leupold Heavy Duplex + ibex hunt inspiration, John Barsness for 30-06 H4350 loads, Karnis for discussing stockmakers, Ingwe for stock design wisdom, Butch, TC1 and Terry for wood stock inspiration, and many others I'm just not thinking of right now.

Can't wait to get some love marks on her in the field!

[bleep] it. I can't figure out the pictures. Click on the pictures if you want to see them bigger!

Joel very nice rifle! Good luck with it! Hope you bang a big bull with it soon!

Sharp rifle!!!!

Very impressive. Nicely done.

Beauty!

Nice pair.

Hard to beat the 30-06.

I knew you'd be on to say "nice pair".... Having a nice pair of 06's yourself.... I'm too poor to have 2 good 06's....

Looks great. 30-06, that's a plus.

That turned out great
Very nice rig....................

Sweet!

Nice!

Very nice. Excellent work. That checkering is very impressive work.

That stocking job I absolutely beautiful. Sending you a pm

I love it! Really good job.

What type of wood is it? I think I'll give Cecil a call since he is here in Vegas,

Fixed it for ya!

love the 30-06 and love those rifles. nice. ron

Good golly miss Molly that is some nice wood you have there sir!

Seriously the whole package is top shelf. Beautiful rifle!

Thanks! How'd you do it? I seriously [bleep] with it for 15 minutes and then gave up. My time is precious!

Nice rifles!

Well done!