Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Been pining for another 06...

Apparently my viral infection of buy-another-rifle-itiss is flaring up again.

I've been waiting for the local shop to bring in one of the new M70's... While there I had another look at an old fn Browning that has been on consignment there for awhile. I've looked at this old girl a couple of times, even to the point of taking it to the range - if I do my part the holes touch off a bench rest at 100 yards.

It's not a salt stock, but the bluing is faded, probably want to find a new stock as the old one has a peice broken off the butt and it's got an old 4x Leupie on it.

It looks like it was hunted a lot but not abused as there is no rust anywhere and the bore appears bright and unmarred.

Seems like a great project rifle but I think it's priced about $200 bucks high for a rifle that needs a new stock.

I wonder if a guy should just buy the darn thing...

.....it shoots that well and we quibble over how many angels are dancing on the head of a pin???

If I'd have found that rifle, it would be getting a weight reduction treatment, a new kevlar MPI, a two position M70 safety and some super paint that makes it more rust resistant than SS steel. I would then put the rest of the money I saved from not having to do the full custom that I'm doing, in my pocket to pay off my VISA card......
That old 4X Leupold is worth at least $150. E

Old rifles have lots of "pull"....buy it!

Dang, I guess the virus is back. They came down enough so that I could justify the "need".

Pictures to follow...

FN 06 holes touching? What took you so long? Pix please. Bear

I think it's hard to beat those Browning Safari's. If it was me, I'd fix up that rifle and then leave it as is. Is it possible to just fix the original stock? I like the three position safety on them and would also leave it as is.I'm in the same shape as you, I've been waiting for the new stainless model 70 but it looks like it won't be out for awhile. I already have one Safari and since the Winchester won't be out soon, I've been looking at two other Safari's hoping to pick one up. Nice guns!!

I agree with wiktor. Putting a plastic stock and anything but a gloss blue finish on an FN or Sako action Browning rifle is heresy.

Just rub the finish off with a rag and lacquer thinner. Then refinish it with an oil-varnish, like Minwix Tung Oil Varnish.
You might have to touch up the checkering, but that's not nearly as hard as cutting new.

Put on a new recoil pad.

Degrease the barreled action and refinish it with Brownell's cold blue. Oil the action and trigger a little, check the pull for safety and you can probably forget adjusting it. Slap it back in the stock, tighten the screws to about 30 inch lbs, and go to the range.

I tend to agree with you guys, I'm thinking reblue and a new hunk of walnut. E, not sure about weight reduction as she is already pretty light.

In looking around I found a couple of websites of company's selling wooden stocks of various kinds. I was thinking of just getting a stock to match the banged up one that is on it now.

I'm going to pick it up on Saturday so pics on the weekend.

It will take about the same or less effort to refinish the existing stock as it will to finish a new one, and the new one will require more fitting, sanding, shaping. Shoot it first.

I had an old Browning Safari grade 270 but it was never as accurate as the rifle you have tested. Another thing I didn't like about that rifle was the well figured stock was sort of heavy and made the rifle balance butt heavy.

It's an honest-to-Pete FN Mauser, it's a 30/06 as Nature intended, it's wearing a right proper piece of glass, it shoots cloverleaves at 100 yards, and you're asking this question?


Okie John

Well here is the finished 1959 FN Browning Safari in 3006 that I picked up in 2008.

I started shooting it and the stock cracked. So I bought a walnut stock and spent a winter sanding it down, fitting the action, and then as I was finishing up the shaping of the butt a defect became apparent.

Rather than buy another walnut stock I ordered a Macmillan in one of those swirly patterns. Then I sent it away for for rebluing and had the stock bedded in whil it was getting reblued.

Anyway, just got it back. The rifle feels entirely different with the slimmer Macmillan stock. The bluing looks great and all the gold scrolling really looks good in that new darker finish.

Then I thought, well this old girl deserves a new scope so this time I went with a VXIII in 2.5-8, sits well, shoulders well.

So after a few years - project finished.

Very nice rig. What is the all-up weight?
Pat

Looks good, might shoot better now if thats possible.

Don't know what you paid but an FN Browning in good shape has been on my want list for years.

Nice job on the refurb- looks great!

Great looking rig. I like '06 a lot think you can't do better than the FN.

Hi Pat,

Have not weighed it yet. Feels about like a new extreme weather SS Model 70 though. I'll weigh it and post it though.

Thank you all for your comments, I have to travel today otherwise I'd be out with it. I can't wait to see how she shoots now.

Which stock pattern? Do they make it a drop-in fit for the FN action?

you can never have enough 06's!!!!!!!