Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Forbes 24B looks very promising. More photo/comments.

Very interesting thread, I've been looking into the Forbes pretty heavily, i'm from BC and am going on a DIY sheep hunt, and looking to shave a few LBS. and OZ's wherever I can, i would have to import the Forbes into Canada however, anyone know how long a .270 S/S would take if i ordered one in May, would i get it by the end of august? ive been training my ass off getting ready, 30 km of running a week!

I can tell you that I ordered a 30-06 (blued) about 5 weeks ago and was told to expect about 120 days to reach my ffl dealer in Michigan. Mike

I stopped at a local Scheel's yesterday to see if they had any idea when they might be seeing the 280AI's or 35 Whelen's I have been hearing about. I figured Scheel's would "see them" as soon as anyone give the fact they were as they were one of the more "visible" outfits selling them.

The gun manager stated that they opened their store last Sept. with 6 Forbes rifles and had only sold 4 to date. Given the 4 sales in 7 months, he said they would not likely order any others but rather focus on Kimbers and HS Precision rifles. He also said they would likely just "special order" in the future wrt the Forbes rifles. When I asked him about the reports of a few stores selling them for $1200 (our store was still $1399), he said that was most likely a result of "poor" sales.

Too bad!!! I hope this doesn't reflect on the overall sales of the Forbes Rifle. Melvin obviously intended this rifle to reach a much bigger audience than his ULA's/NULA's. Question is... are the masses ready in terms of interest and/or finances? Maybe it needs a high capacity magazine action option. Perhaps it will still only appeal to "pseudo" rifle looneys who will demand so many option/chamberings that it will not be viable at it's price point. I hope not!

I love my CLR 7 mag. hybrid and have shot it almost exclusively for the last 4 years. I have a "used" ULA M20 7mm-08 that will likely be my "go to" gun in another 10-15 years. My buddy has the new Forbes Rifle in 30-06 and couldn't be happier. Even though I don't "need" one, I too have been tempted by the 30-06, even more so by the 280AI.

Here's to Melvin's success with the current Forbes Rifle venture!!!

I bought a Forbes .270 from the Scheels in Mankato,MN in mid Feb. Put a 6x Leupold on it and sighted it in with Win factory 130 grain ammo. After zeroing, first three group shot 1.25". Next two, three shot groups, were both between 0.75" and 1.0 ". Will try some handloads when I get back home in early April. I hope to kill a pig or two in Oklahoma with it on my way home from Dallas which was the reason for using factory ammo initially. Weighs virtually the same as my Rem 700 Mtn rifle in 30-06 with a Bansner stock and 2.5x8 scope. Previously had a 7mm-08 NULA that I bought used. Like the Forbes better so far since the stock grip fits my hands better than the used NULA which must had a custom sized grip for the original owner.

I guess I am wrong on the 280AI, went back to the Forbes site and it said a 280 was planned, not 280AI. I thought I'd read it somewhere. 30-06 still looks good!!!

Thanks to this thread and you guys talking price. A light went off in my head as to why my ordered 24B in .270 is just under $1600.00!!
I called the GS where the order is placed and they are not going by Forbes rifle codes???
According to Forbes website, My GS ordered a All SS in LEFT Hand!

Grrrr. What a waste of 2 weeks.

I am told that the Blue is shipping faster. I might just change my order from SS to blue.....and make sure it's RIGHT Handed.

Stainless production won't begin for quite a while, so if you want a rifle now you'll have to go with blued.

We all need to keep this in mind, they are not blued. They are milspec black oxide coated. That coating soaks up (and holds) oil and should not be an issue. We use black oxide in a lot of products with great success.

When I spoke to Rick at Titan a couple of weeks ago, he said the coating on the barrel/action is manganese phosphate. He said to coat it with a high quality oil and it will "bond" with the coating.
As many have said here, stainless barrels and actions are coming but no definite release date. No doubt they will cost more but probably worth it as these first edition actions and barrels will rust into junk within a few months. Marketing has done its job.
It is no secret Melvin went into this venture with Titan to produce a rifle at a lower price point. The reality of our economy is going to have a great influence as to how quick new calibers and actions are introduced.
If Titan sees that sales are stagnant they will not be so quick to move into more options.

IZAKAMAN....saw a Kimber Mt Accent and a Montana, both in .280 AI at the Kelowna BCWSS (Sheep) convention over the weekend. Either would make the "ultimate" sheep rifle if you want it now. For sale by a guy from Vancouver Island too.

Isn't "magnesium phosphate" coating otherwise known as "parkerizing?"

Yup..I thought Rick told me black oxide. Either way, I'd rather have parkerizing than bluing..

Manganese Phosphate (Parkerize) is a chemical conversion coating that adds 0.0002 to 0.0003 inches to steel and cast surfaces and provides excellent corrosion resistance. Manganese Phosphate can also be used as a base for subsequent coating or paint. Parkerizing provides superior corrosion resistance, lubricity and resistance to galling. These qualities make for an excellent coating on gears, hand and pneumatic tools, and firearms. Parkerizing is the preferred finish for military weaponry and ordinance. Manganese Phosphate is sometimes referred to as "Luberizing" when using the Parco trade name.

A chrome-moly action with a Shaw barrel can be had for a hell of a lot less than $1400...

True....but getting one that weighs 5.5lbs for less than $1400 may be tough. Especially tough when considering the Timney trigger, professional bedding, long action and a comparable stock.....all with a #2 contour.

We've already seen the real street price is less than $1400.

I paid $1300 for mine. To me, the stock alone was worth the $100 over the Kimber Montana I went in to get. I'll still buy a Kimber, it just won't be anytime soon.

I'm thinking a 700 long action, #2 barrel (24") and an Edge would be around 6.25lbs. I may be wrong? $349 for the action, $600 for the edge, $330 for the barrel and installation comes to $1279. That doesn't include bedding or a Timney trigger.

It'd be tough to hit $1400 at 5.5 lbs....

The Kimber Montana 84L is closest thing I can think of....and it's 5lbs 10oz....

dont forget the rings you get with the forbes $40.00 and if it is a chrome moly barrel another $100.00 probably to blue

Where can I get a good barrel and installation for $330? I need a couple at that price.

I was being conservative!

Dang, man you got my hopes up!