Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Jack's last rifle

Has anyone seen a photo of the last rifle built by Al Biesen for Jack O'Connor? My understanding is it was a Ruger M77 in .280 Remington and that Jack passed away prior to it's completion. Does Henry Kaufman or Eldon Buckner have possession of this rifle?

I have several photos of Jack's last rifle. It was a Ruger M77 in 280 Remington. I have a story on the rifle with photos at Safari Magazine. I have no idea when it will be out. Henry Kaufman owns the rifle.

Tom

It's a good thing it wasn't completed in time for him to take possession of it. This way he died with perfect Winchester purity, undefiled by lesser brands.

Tell me it ain't so! A misprint that has an 8 where it should be a 7. Surely a Ruger M77 in .270 Win.

I believe this would have been Jack's third custom .280 over the years.

Lou

IIRC, O'Connor and Bill Ruger were buddies; I remember O'Connor's article in Outdoor Life reviewing the Ruger M77 when it first came out;he had many good things to say about the rifle, and Bill Ruger as well.

I'm not surprised that O'Connor had a custom built on the action.Also, unless my memroy fails me, Brad O'Connor used a Ruger M77 in 30/06 on a trip to Africa,along the Zambezi River.

Yep, if you read his book on hunting rifles, you will see that he appreciated lots of rounds besides the .270 Winchester. He was very fond of the 7mm Mauser, too.

Wouldn't his comparison between the two, Win 70 and Ruger 77, have been something to behold?

Even though he touted his 270's I think he did admit that the 30-06 was a beter all around cartridge so it wouldn't surprise me if he had a custom rifle built in 280. Kinda the best of both worlds.

In the "Outdoor Life Shooting Book," from 1957, Jack stated that he had three .270's and three '06's. And that's how he felt about the question as to which he liked best.
Not all of his .270's were M70 Winchesters. His first was a model 54. His next, I think, was a custom mauser, for example.
Yeah, he really gave me some ideas as to what makes a good Mtn. Rifle. My present .280 is a custom tang safety Ruger. I have a Winchester M70, as well as a custom mauser, built as light Mtn. Rifles as well. E

I bought one of his old books from a member here as I was too young to have read his work the first time around. He was also a fan of the 257 Roberts. Just think if the 280 rem came out 30-40 yrs earlier, what could have been.

Not Really...........

In the last edition of his "Rifle" book Jack essentially said" I am an old man now, with most of my hunting behind me. If i were to do it today, I would dash out and get a
Ruger 77 barreled action in .25/06, .270, or 7MM magnum and have Al Biesen or Jerry Fisher stock it in french walnut, then dash out into the Yukon and knock off a ram or grizzly."

His writing from the late 60"s to mid 70's hinted that the M77 was the best choice
in the Remington/Winchester/Ruger race.

Jack also spoke very highly of the 375 H&H in his rifle book. I'm glad to read he liked the Ruger 77 and the 280.

My post was with tongue in cheek about the .270 vs .280. Jack's wife used the 7mm Mauser to take game all over the world. I got his books through the Outdoor Life Bookclub before I bought my first centerfire in the late 60's. A new Rem 700 ADL in .270Win for $102. I wanted a BDL, but it was $13 more, and I didn't have the money.

Your memory is better than mine. On my 1969 hunt in Zambia, I was limited to a M70 in .375H&H because a .270 had been stolen in shipment to Africa. However, I did own a Ruger M77 in .30-06
and shot it and the .375 on hunts later in Southern Rhodesia and Southwest Africa. I regret that I gave the .30.06 to an unappreciative relative who, I fear, probably promptly sold it. -- brad o'connor

Then I've lost all respect for the man. No Ruger that ever existed is in the same league as a common pre-64 Winchester 70.

Any relation to Jack?

Yes, that is Jack's son!

Man, I really like it when Mr O'Connor posts on these threads relating to his Dad's or Mom's hunting stories. There are some amazing folks on the campfire and it always humbles me what I can learn here if I just read/listen.

Brad: Thanks for coming on and correcting me I knew there was a Ruger 30/06;and I knew you took the rifle over to Africa,and I thought it was the same hunt that your mother shot the elephant with her 30/06...I have read so many of the articles so many times....sometimes I just can't it all straight.

I assume there was never any trace of your 270 that was stolen?

Your father had good things to say about the Ruger M77,so,fresh out of college,and because I could not afford a M70,my first 270 was a Ruger M77.