Cool old rifle. Looks to be "pre-flip flop" vintage. Is that a local rifle from the Yukon?
Carried by an old mountain man, and who knows, it may have been part of the gold rush, being carried down the Yukon by some river rat on his way to the Klondike. No solid history on her at all, but shesurely has been through some rough country.
You'll have to shoot it when you come out here the next time.
Ted
Well at least it went from one river rat to another.
Here's the first three-shot group at 100 yards. To say I am more than surprised is an understatement.
170 gr Speer loafing along at less than 2000 fps. The high shot was from a 7mm that was not quite stabilized. You can easily see the bullet is tipped a bit. Friend beside me shot the wrong target.
Next loads will be with the 180 gr B Tips. Only had seven 170 gr Speers left.
The recoil was far more than I had expected for an intentional light load, but then there is only a thin slice of leather covering the butt of the stock.
Going to try the iron sights next time out as well. When I compare looking through the bore to the sights at 25 yards, it appears the rifle will be shooting a bit low, but we'll see.
I'm a certified aficionado of gorgeous rifles. Yours is in the Kate Upton class of rifles: drop dead gorgeous. I'd of bought it in a heartbeat
Recent introductions of mega-magnums haven't diminished the ability of classic cartridges to kill big game. The 8x57 will kill just as dead all North American big game as any mega-magnum. After all, there's only one degree of dead and that's dead.
Many, many moons ago, when I got into our marvelous sport of big game hunting, an old timer in camp had two rifles: a 7x57 and an 8x57. The 7x57 was for medium-sized big game. He said his 8x57 was for largest big game.
Based upon what I've read and have been told, an unheralded aspect of the 8x57 is its superb inherent accuracy. I believe it was the German sniper cartridge.
I can remember when the '06 was considered to be too much gun for young hunters. The more hunting cartridges change, the more they remain the same.
I hope your new rifle creates many cherished memories afield for you that'll become the best stories she can tell.
This thread right here is FAR more interesting and enjoyable than the latest offering from some company trying to see how cheap they can mass produce a rifle for our disposable society, and chamber it in 6.5 Creedmoor. (which the 6.5 Creedmoor has become the "Crossfit" cartridge of this century. If people are not doing something with it, they have to be telling everybody all about it, no matter if that person is interested or not)
Thank you for posting this. Great to read, and follow.
THE CHAIR IS AGAINST THE WALL.
The Tikka T3 in .308 Winchester is the Glock 19 of the rifle world.
Nice. This my small ring in 8x57 that we took to Africa in 2012 using the 180 gr Nosler BT loaded to 2600 fps. It did fine.
Lovely rifle, Ed. Would enjoy hearing some of its stories.
Thanks also for the heads-up of using the 180 B Tips at 2600. Mind me asking what powder they were loaded with?
Tesd
CFE-223
Ed, Is that a picture of you in your younger days, or is that your son?
if that is your son, WOW.. talk about a carbon copy of chip off the old block...
Always thought it was kind of cool, especially for a proud dad, to be lucky enough to have your son take after dad so much, they look exactly alike...kind of a strong gene thing going on...
Nice pic... but if it is your son, you gotta be a lot more prouder....
"Minus the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the Country" Marion Barry, Mayor of Wash DC
“Owning guns is not a right. If it were a right, it would be in the Constitution.” ~Alexandria Ocasio Cortez
It's time for "the little rifle" to get busy. Gave it to a good friend of mine who is thirty some years my junior. The same fellow whom I posted about getting his first moose last Fall. It's a nice mate to the 9.3X62 he used on the moose.
Bear season, and we have some 170 gr Speers loaded to 2500 fps.
Yukoner Absolutely love the rifle. Would rather have something like that than soulless mass produced stuff today sold to someone that thinks pennies are more important. Good on you for sharing it with a friend. GreggH
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