Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles One NULA for all of North America?

NULA...308. Will do anything

I certainly can't add much to this discussion
I have a Fieldcraft (in man bun) but with out a doubt (in my mind)

Like owning a Les Baer or Wilson 1911
To some for many reasons there is pride in ownership owning a rifle Melvin has been a part of

I have 2 NULA rifles and one Fieldcraft. I did a side by side comparison when the Fieldcraft first came out. A link to the first part is below. There's also a second part.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...rrett-fieldcraft-comparison#Post12303749

They are all excellent rifles. There is some difference in feel to the stocks, with the NULA feeling stiffer and more substantial even though the weight is very similar. The NULA's are more forgiving and will shoot just about anything well. The Filedcraft is also a great shooter but took some load development and was not as happy with some factory ammo.

Shameless plug... The NULA in the pictures is for sale. .338 Federal has about 120 rounds through it. Killed 2 deer with it and haven't had it out in bad weather. $3000.00 including the Swaro z3.

Seems odd, more than a few in WV that are more than a little interested in rifles.

Has to be a reason beyond just not wanting to work.

Don't recall the issue number, but there was a comprehensive write-up several years ago in either RIFLE or HANDLOADER magazine on a NULA .308; included loading data, etc.

If I recall correctly, Melvin would be happy to substitute any makers barrel for a Douglas if desired.

Personally I'm thrilled with my Douglas barreled NULA's. Heck, I think even the NULA 209 smokeless ML'r barrel is from Douglas.

With somewhere around 7000 rifles built and i would guess most have had douglas barrels I think Melvin has a handle on what barrels work...not that othets wont but if it aint broke

Yes he will. There will be an extra charge if there is any difference between his cost for a Douglas and what the other barrel costs.

Thanks, John for your comments. Every year or so I go through the thought of ordering a NULA but back off due to what is already in the safe. So we'll see what develops..........

Joe, I've come close on more than one occasion to ordering a NULA in .284.

I feel your pain as the 280 Ackley Kimber Montana I already possess keeps me from committing.

Well.....Just to muddy it up more. There is a like new Forbes in 30-06 with a stainless barrel on Gunbroker for $1000 buy it now. I've almost pulled the trigger a few times, but I'd rather someone else do that.

I have an early Forbes 270 with the jeweled bolt and like everything about it. The 30-06 on GB is a later 2014 model with the fluted bolt.

I was in Melvin's shop last week. I got there about 9am and I would say he had already put in a good half days work by then. There is no hurry there, the shop is what I would expect a custom rifle shop to be. I had picked up a CLR which he was happy to fix up. Talking with Melvin is a real treat. You are going to learn something regardless of your previous experience. He is the real deal and I have complete trust the work he and his crew will do will be as good as it gets.

I would vote for NULA in 308 for the all around big game choice. You can always go cheaper but a NULA is going to be better than a Fieldcraft which is better than a Rem 700 or a Tikka which is better than a Savage Axis.An Axis will probably get the job done. I would much rather do it with a NULA. As a note, the accuracy of the NULA would be well down the list of reasons to own one. It will be twice as accurate as it needs to be.

Although I really do not need it, there is the CLR 3006 getting fixed and a Forbes 3006 in the safe, I believe I will order the 308 NULA as soon as Melvin delivers the CLR and the 22lr NULA I just ordered. He may retire soon, although I doubt that.

As a general comment, around 20 years ago at the SHOT Show was talking to Kenny Jarrett, who said, "Melvin can get more out of Douglas barrels than any gunsmith I know."

i think Petzal said Jarrett had Melvin beat by an 1/8 inch on accuracy but Melvin had Jarrett beat by 2.5 pounds on the rifle....pick your poison

As I recall it was around 2/10, but it definitely wasn't much.

Should not that the Forbes rifles have Shaw barrels. Or at least they did when production really started. Apparently Douglas couldn't provide enough for anticipated demand.

.284 Win, 140 gr. 3000 fps, It take anything walking, as would a .308 with a 165 gr... But the .284 will shoot better than we can..

Montana Rifle Company 280 Ackley X3, Best Rifle I ever owned - laser beam, action is smooth as glass, light - but not to light,,, a NULA is to light for my taste as is the Kimber .308 mountain accent..

My .284 NULA weighs over 7 lb. with scope; it has a fairly heavy 28" barrel. So, you can get a NULA that is not "too light" if you want. I call mine a .284 magnum because it gives 7 mm mag performance with the long barrel and Reloder 22 (3100 fps with 154 Hornady).

Agreed, and were I ordering one, that’s what mine would be.

I own two NULA rifles, both are super accurate.
257wby & 270wby. I don’t often use them on hunts, but rest assured they will get used in the years to come.