Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters For 458Win - re: Ole Ugly

Certainly a good practice, Super Cub. I probably ought to do that too.
Rex

Hi Phil Can you post some pics of your 505 Gibbs. Another fascinating rifle that you have.

I chose Weaver bases for a number of good reasons, one being I had seen how well they held up to extended recoil when mounted on a .50 BMG when I was in Vietnam. And the current military picitinny is nothing but a beefed up version.

The new Gun Digest has a full length feature on Old Ugly

What did you do with the 458 on a 1917 action you got from me?

THAT started life ugly!

Phil, how difficult was it to obtain a Adolph Minar rifle? My understanding is he made only a couple dozen customs prior to his untimely death.

W

It fell in my lap. One of our hunting clients from N Cal. Always seems to find interesting guns. He also found the 1906 Jeffery 404.

Uh, Mr Phil, I'm up for adoption ! Whatda think ?



I'd scout em. drag em, skin em, butcher em,..... sound good ?

Jerry

I just picked up a few new cans of Rustoleum just to do that same thing. Although the rifle must already have a dozen coats of paint already !

Phil,

what is the original rifle and what changes did you make over time other than the custom paint job? 😊

What would you recommend for the most reliable rifles you have seen over time?

Other end, which have you seen to have problems?

There was an interesting thread about reliable and unreliable rifles a few years ago from PH's in Africa, but you certainly are facing challenging conditions and dangerous game.

So, your insights would be meaningful.

Thanks.

I think my article in the 2021 Gun Digest will answer all your questions about how the rifle has worked and what small changes I have made, and why.

Ok, that was enough to make me order it. 👍

The new editor Phillip Massaro contacted me to ask for the full story on the rifle as I continue using it and making slight modifications .

Next year he wants the full 9mm Phil bear story and my testing results of various handgun loads.

As a kid, one of my great joys was thumbing through my dad's old Gun Digests. I had no idea they were still published.

Phil,
I read the article and was a little disappointed there was nothing, other than the picture, of the cape buffalo hunt. Will there be a story on your African hunt. I did enjoy reading about all the work that went into Ol' Ugly. How is your book coming along.

Ken

+1

Me, too.

DF

Thanks Ken, it is coming along slower than I had hoped as hunts and logistics are great ways to procrastinate. But this Covid is giving me time and I have been working on hopefully the last chapter and still need, or want, to search the Alaska museum for interesting historical photos

And then neat old guns keep popping up and need attention .

The Covid canceled the Wannamacher’s Tulsa Gunshow again so my search for neat old guns will have to wait a bit longer. I do enjoy your writing, please keep it up when you have time.
Ken

Phil: I read the Gun Digest article today. Great story.

Being a bit of a loony about such things, I'd be interested in knowing what you were looking for when you modified the stock for fit.

Yes, I know, so it would fit you. But did you shorten LOP to accommodate winter clothing? Offhand shooting from a squatting position?

That kind of thing.

I wanted it to fit, of course, and I knew that for offhand and quick shots that a bit shorter was usually an asset. Especially when wearing a jacket or raincoat. I kept cutting and slowly building it up until it fit the way it felt best. And now almost 40 years later it feels like an extension of me.