Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles If you had the $, would you go NULA or GAP Non-Typical?

Jeff,

Somehow missed your post yesterday.

I'd sure go for the half-breed .256 Newton. The CLR action is similar enough not to make any difference. The safety, barrel and stock are far better on the NULA.

DocGlenn,

I've made several 400+ yard shots with my .30-06 NULA, no problems. It weighs 6-1/2 to 6-3/4 pounds, depending on the scope, and I haven't had any problem shooting it from a steady rest.

One of the nice things about NULA's is that the light action allows at least a medium-contour barrel while still retaining the light overall weight. The stock helps too. Consequently the balance is more forward than in most other light rifles.

I just wish I had the money for both.....with this economy I'm looking to sell 3 rifles just to get 1 back!

Thanks for the info John. First-hand experience is much appreciated!
Glenn

John,

Mr. Forbes recommended a 24" 1-8" ROT $2 contour barrel for the 256 Newton. He suggested 26" if I was going to go with the 6.5-06 and bullets over 140 grains, but I'm thinking that another 256 Newton would be fun, since it has the perfect case capacity for a non-magnum long action .264" bore, even if the cases are a PITA to make.

JEff

The thing with GAP, they can do whatever you want. If you want a lighter rifle you can go with a thinner barrel, Edge stock, and talley lightweight rings. That'll definitly get the weight down. Borden also has a great reputation and builds a pretty light rifle. Out of your choices I don't think you can go wrong, except the caliber. I prefer the 7saum .

Also, GAP typically uses cut rifle barrel in 5R, or whatevery you want to call it, configuration. I believe (not positive) Rock at one time, Oberymere now. NULA uses Douglas barrels. I don't know if that means anything to you.

One last thing, I have a Weatherby ULW in a 30-06. It shoots just fine and I get tiny little groups out of it. But I don't think I would want it any lighter. It just doesn't hold as steady and a little more finicky on how she's held compared to my other rifles a few ounces heavier.

Forgot to mention that I have a GAP and played with a NULA. That action on the NULA is pretty trim and sleek compared to the Surgeon RSR my GAP is based off from. Have not played with a Borden yet. Good luck with your choice, it's a hard one but I don't think you'll be upset either way.

Have Mel build you a rifle, you will not be sorry. I don't know GAP and I never shot there rifles. I have shot and owned one of Mel's. These days I am think about a NULA 20 in 250-3000, since all I do is shoot white tails these days. It depends on really what you want from a rifle. NULA's are a good value for what you really get. While I would love to hunt with a Legend from D'Arcy Echols but its a lot of money for one of those. Besides Mel is a great guy to do business with.

I could live with a GAP Non-Typical in any SA caliber and be pretty happy with it.

I would do it in this order:
Send GAP a donor M700 Stainless action with a McMillan stock and have them re-barrel and true the action.

If money were no object, but it always has been for me:
I would buy the NULA M28 in 7mm WSM or 300 WSM for a general all arounder.

The GAP would make a nice varmint or antelope rifle.

I've thought about doing this myself. It would make for an $1,800-$1,900 rifle that would likely shoot with the best of them and retain a lot of value as a GAP build. This assumes that they provide the barrel, do the chambering, blast it instead of coating, and do all the bedding work. You would just provide the donor action, appropriate McMillan handle, trigger, and bottom metal. Last I heard, if they do the barrel work and all the bedding work, then they stamp it as a true "GAP build". I'm not one to be hung up on labels and logos, but their mark would be nice to see on my rifle. (grin)

I have always been bent to the 6.5mm cartridges, and I would go with the Mod 28S and the 6.5 Rem Mag if I were ordering a NULA today. I copied John B's rifle specification when I asked Melvin to build my .30-'06 with a 24" #2 contour Douglas stainless barrel.

I prefer factory cartridges to wildcats now, even though the 6.5 Rem Mag is barely hanging on the the factory label.

jim