Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Anyone have a Forbes rifle?

DELGUES thread got me thinking about them..... How do y'all like them?

I've got one in 270 and I am loving it so far. Its very light but carries some weight out front making it very shootable. I can't think of any negatives with the rifle so far.

Joel

Wood or synthetic stock?

It's the same stock that Melvin uses on the Nula rifles. Carbon fiber with Kevlar reinforcement and weighs between 16 & 20 oz. I like the McMillan hunters edge and the kimber 84 m stocks, but the tighter grip and cheek on the Nula stock fits me the best. I also believe its a bit stiffer along with being lighter. I don't think there is another prodution rifle out there right now that's a better package.

I have one in .30-06 to test, but haven't had a chance to shoot it yet.

How does it compare so far to your NULA 30/06?

Greenback has the one I had. I was really impressed! I'm looking forward to Mule Deer's opinions.

I can't wait for the 20B!!

Looks and feels just the same--except the paint on the Forbes rifle stock is probably tougher. Back when I got my NULA, 15 years ago, Melvin was still using a finish that chipped when whacked hard enough. More recent rifles (including the Forbes) have a more flexible, tougher finish.

John,

if i recall from about 20 years back, the older finish was Dupont Imron paint...has Mel mentioned what the new paint is?

I remember that your 06 had a bit heavier tube on it than the usual NULA, how does the Forbes rifle compare? I guess I'm asking what the muzzle diameter is.

And thank your wife again for me, I've compiled several of her cookbooks and enjoy them all, but especially the venison cookbook she released 3 years ago or so.

What is the barrel length?

Hi Vel,

No, her hasn't mentioned the new paint, but the paint on the Forbes rifle appears to be very similar to the paint on the .257 Weatherby M28 I got about 5 years ago. It's grippier and much tougher than the old paint.

David,

There really isn't any such thing as a "usual" NULA, since the barrel is whatever the customer wants. My .30-06 has a 24" #2 Douglas barrel, which is .600 at the muzzle. The Forbes rifle on hand has a 24" E.R. Shaw barrel that measures .614" at the muzzle.

E.R. Shaw re-tooled aboyt at decade ago, and since then their barrels have been comparable to Douglas's, both in my bore-scope and at the range. In other words, very good.

thanks John,

that's good news!

I went to the biggest gun store in NH, and inquired about them. They had never heard of them , but said they would look into it and give me call. That was months ago and haven't heard a thing. Guess i'll have to use gun broker.

ER Shaw is just a couple minutes from my office and Forbes can not be an hour away down in Granville. I would like to get down there just to meet the guy, he seems like a pretty stand up fella from what write ups I have seen of him.


Mark

I picked mine up yesterday. Scoped it is 6.5 pounds with a 24" barrel in 30/06. I'm glad the wait is over, now I just need to make it to the range.

I got the call a couple weeks ago that my Forbes rifle was in. I went to check it out and the pistol grip didn't fit my hand well and the "feel" wasn't great so I passed. I'm sure it would have shot well so I hated to not take it home but accuracy is only one part of the equation.


ddj

You are the first person I've seen mention this about the Forbes rifle or a NULA. I haven't handled a Forbes, but the NULA I shoot has a very closed grip....it's one thing I would change. I prefer a more open grip...that being said, I can still live with the more closed/vertical grip.

To each his own. I love the feel of my ULA and strongly prefer a more closed grip (Rem classic) over a more open grip (Sako classic).