Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Who plans on hunting with their Oconnor Model 70?

Without question I would if I was to have one.

After reading the weight specs and the price of the rifles on the Winchester site; I doubt I'll buy one even though I have permission from my wife. I already have a 8.5 lb. 270 that I don't have to spend $2000 or more to buy.

If I had one I'd hunt it hard. Problem is too many other wants to justify another .270.

Sure, doesn't everyone need a rainy day, truck gun?

My flame-thrower will reach a LONG way...........


Casey

I just got back from the SHOT show and looked at the JOC Model 70's. They had no printed handouts about them, but had a display with both grades hanging under Jack's original #2 .270 lightweight Biesen gun. Jack's gun was certainly not molly-coddled---the floor plate was worn silver from being carried, the scope was somewhat battered and the barrel had definite scratch marks in places:



...you can see the wear on the scope:


...an up close of the checkered bolt and pistol grip which wraps over the top of the stock:


...here are the two offerings followed by the descriptive tags:




I was looking at Jack's original gun and not paying attention to an older guy sitting at a table out in front of the display. He said, "why don't you take it down and look at it?" To make a long story intolerable---it was Bradford O'Connor---he got up, took the rifle down and handed it to me--then graciously posed for a couple of pics with me.

[img]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a317/gmoats/Picture063.jpg[/img]
....what a gracious guy---had a good sense of humor too. The next day I brought an old Marine Corps buddy of mine to show him the guns. While we're looking at the original rifle, Bradford said, "we're thinking about selling it, what do you think, how about $800?"

Mr Moats - uh....uh....uh, I am almost speechless. I've read and absorbed this post since @ 4:30 pm CST and am still ....

I ASSUME you own that rifle ? ? ? (if he was serious, and it sounds like it).

What a privilege to meet Brad O AND he's a nice guy.

If he was serious, I would give $800. for that rifle QUICKER than I would a NEW COMMERATIVE, $1500. or $2000. not withstanding.

W O W ! ! !

....it was said in the nature of someone asking you if you want to buy the Brooklyn Bridge for $50----there was no doubt that he was joking----besides, he (the family) had received it and Jack's trophies back from the University of Idaho and re-gifted them to the JOC Hunting and Education Center so it's not really his to sell w/o some legal manipulation.

www.jack-oconnor.org

gmoats,

Many thanks for posting those pictures. I now realize how much my Al Biesen .270 resembles Jack O'Connor's rifle:



I think I'll just keep using it and probably won't buy a commenerative.

....will you take $800 for it???
....that's a seriously beautiful rifle WoodsyAl.

Thanks! I don't know what it would take for me to part with it, but it would be way more than it is really worth. Expect my heirs will decide.

Why wouldn't a guy use a rifle he owns?

I use my Pre '64 Mod '70/Super Grade in 270 Winchester all the time even with the old Weaver K-4.



Jayco

Well, that's easily understood. However sometimes we lose something from printed word to vocal word. I would still consider it a privilege to HOLD one of JOCs rifles and to meet Brad. It sounds like he has a good sense of humor.

Thanks for posting the pics and story.

Jerry

For the record, I do own the No.2 and it is on loan to the O'Connor Center. I could sell it tomorrow, but won't. When I shuffle off to Buffalo, it will become property of the center. Until I go to that great reward, I will exercise my visitation rights to shoot it, to hunt with or merely fondle it.

Bradford O'Connor

Ya, Ya, I would too, I would too!

Mr. O'Connor, NO ONE deserves to own that rifle more than you do. The rest of us are just grateful for your father's articles and books. (I still re-read his books from time-to-time and still have a dog-eared 1957 Outdoor Life because of one of his articles.)

Thank you for sharing some of his legacy with the rest of us who never had the privilege of knowing him personally.

Here are a few shots of my Biesen "O'Connor #2" copy. I hunt with it, and I will not sell it for $800.

I had the opportunity to handle the original in Jackson Hole a few years back when it was traveling around in the Leupold display with Jack's trophies. My wife snapped some photos of me with the rifle and they hang on the wall of my library.

Chet

Pardon me if I don't call you "olegeezer". It's an honor to correspond with you. You have only made 12 post since '08, how about visiting more often?

I remember your Dad mentioning you in some of his writings. Obviously I never had the privilege of meeting him. He influenced me as thousands of others.

THANKS for the pics of his rifle & YOURSELF. I appreciate it more than you know.

Don't be a stranger here:

Jerry

oops, sorry I got that detail incorrect---I was going off of the story that the guy from the JOC H&E Center told me. At any rate, thanks for your graciousness, meeting you was the highlight of the SHOT show for me!!
Greg