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

Well, from one old geezer to another, your father had impeccable taste.

I grew up reading his stuff for decades and hearing from that and others about Al Biesen's outstanding work. Some time ago, I was fortunate enough to get an example, a LH butt stock done by Al for Jim Bell on the H&H 500/450 double that I later acquired, one of the many old doubles that Jim had picked up in India.

Now, I have never had a hankering for tribute or commemorative guns, since they are mostly an excuse to charge more money for something that isn't selling. Witness the dozens of Winchester 94 commemoratives. One of the guys I hunted in Africa with in the 80's had collected most of them. His cousin, also along and a longtime gun dealer, thought that was a ridiculous waste of money, and it was.

On the other hand, I must confess that the JO'C Model 70 stirs my juices in a way that none of the others do. This is a nice one.

Bradford,

Email sent.

Thanks,
Chet

While the idea is one that I've championed for a few years one of my concerns with the rig is that it's gonna be too thick in the rear end of the handle. Could be wrong but I wonder about it.

On a side note, I'd kind of like to have a M70 FWT of present day. Then have Ingwe do away with the French Whorehouse schnabble on front and adorn it with a black forend like he did on his .270...grin

I must say that his rig that he redid is about as nice a M70 I've groped in a long time. (course aside from a Pre/Fwt in an Edge)

Dober

[quote=Mark R Dobrenski)

On a side note, I'd kind of like to have a M70 FWT of present day. Then have Ingwe do away with the French Whorehouse schnabble on front and adorn it with a black forend like he did on his .270...grin

Dober[/quote]

WELL, I don't know how old you are, but I remember nearly all the gun writers
DECRYING the black fore end tips like the plague.

I guess there really is NO way to please everybody.

Maybe my darkside is showing itself, but I prefer the "French Whorehouse" end
over any black TIP. A black tip on walnut is like "an elevator in an outhouse", it don't belong IMHO. But I'll still be your friend.
Jerry

Fixt it for you...bish.


Oh, BTW your zebra stock is almost done...the hot pink background is skookum...


ANDDDDDDDD I did a little rasping to install a schnable forend on it for ya!

Bradford,

I had a friend ask me what the mounts and rings were that are on your rifle:


I seem to remember your dad mentioning that they were Buehler, but not sure based on this pic.

Thanks,
Greg

Greg: Tilden mounts.

Bradford O

....thank you.
G

Bradford,

Like many folks my age, I grew up devouring every piece of your father's writing I could get my hands on. He was a great influence on me. Earlier in this thread, I posted a picture of my rifle built by Al Biesen that is a bit of a "look alike" to your rifle. I treasure it. And I thought a lot about your dad when I took it to Kyrgyzstan in 2007.

Maybe not a Jack O'Connor but I may get my uncles'old Sears 270 bolt gun that looks very vintage. Not sure if it's worth anything but it's a shooter. If not I'll be using my trusty '06 or my '24 vintage 99 Savage 250-3000.

Did Jack use the Tilden's or are these replacement mounts????---I thought he was a fan of Buehlers----have I got that wrong???---as you know, I often to jump to incorrect conclusions!!

Two of Jack's books, "Rifles and Shotguns"(1961) & "The Hunting Rifle"(1970), mention with accompanying photos both Tilden and Buehler mounts and rings. It appears he used other brands of mounts as well, such as Redfield, Stith and Griffin & Howe.

Jack used a lot of different mounts over the years, but according to everything I have read, his #2 270 always had the Tilden mounts.

Chet

It does not appear to have the factory floorplate opener either. Did he not find that to his liking?

Nope. He used custom steel bottom metal to replace the factory aluminum.

Chet

Does the rifle come with those [bleep] up little glasses also?

Jezzs I hope so. --- Mel

Yeah, If I can put my hands on one and buy it, I would hunt with it. I think Jack would of wanted it that way.

He had a eye for a nice gun with good wood. He used them for hunting as we should too.

I too grew up reading his writing always a great read.
I felt like I was right there with him in hunting camp.

Now I think I will pull out my JOC books and give them another read.

You all have a nice day.

John, I weighed both the tribute and custom and both came in at slightly more than 7.6 pounds. Oddly, the custom weighed an ounce or two more than the standard with its rubber butt pad. The difference, I think, is due to the denser higher-grade wood on the custom.

Bradford