Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Newly completed custom Bob

Here is my latest custom rifle. I must apologize for the long story here but I felt that the heavy Campfire Team aspect of this rifle just had to be highlighted.

First I have to thank my good friend mjbgalt who sold it to me. At the point he sent it to me it was in the white with stock military Swede 96 bottom metal. I must say that what he sold me was as close to perfect as I could imagine; it was as if I'd ordered everything myself.

The contouring of the trigger guard was done my Mike McCabe (z1r), an excellent gunsmith who I met through the 'fire and who has done a rather considerable amount of work for me ever since. We also teamed up in 2010 to take our (then) 8 yo sons to Wyoming pronghorn hunting, an experience through which we grew even closer.

As I studied what to do with the metal finish I covered the usual bases; I've used cheap blue and didn't want to invest the cash in rust blue. Cerakote was nearly my choice until Grasshopper brought a rifle of his over to my place which he had plated with Metalife. That and a reading of the description of its properties (link under blueprint) sealed the deal for me.

Finally, the lovely M8 6x 42mm w/ custom Euro #4 which was generously gifted to me by our own Kenjs1 who has become a dear friend of mine in spite of never having actually met. We're hoping to get together on his lease soon to introduce my 8 yo Elijah to the joys of Texas feral hog hunting.

Ok, now the details!!

Blueprint:

Yugo 48 Intermediate Mauser action
S&K Sculpted Bases/Rings (all plated)
Dakota 3- position "M70-style" safety
Custom knob
#3 CM Shilen 1-in-10" twist tube trimmed to 21" chambered to .257 Roberts
Boyd's Classic Nutmeg laminate
Mahovsky's Metalife Plating
M8 6x 42mm w/ Euro #4 reticle

(I purchased a silver VX-II 3-9x 40mm from Snowwolfe here, who was great to do business with. It came with a Plex reticle, and immediately after being received was forwarded to the custom shop for a LR hunting reticle and it'll go on this rifle when it returns)












Contouring of the Swede BM unit:



cartridge designation:



Today on 1st range visit:

[img]http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr166/efrrwake99/Yugo%20Bob/image_zps29b6a591.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr166/efrrwake99/Yugo%20Bob/image_zpsf55cc15e.jpg[/img]

1st 2 groups on paper; 100 gr SGKs & IMR-4350 showing promise!

[img]http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr166/efrrwake99/Yugo%20Bob/image_zps3f09b315.jpg[/img]

Thanks to everyone for a fantastic rifle!

Now that is a nice rig.

As an aside, I've had the pleasure of meeting kenjs1. Small world is it not?

What was the turnaround on the metalife? How much does the rig weigh, etc.

I am really liking those rings and bases on that action, they "fit". Nice set up ya got there, enjoy.

That will work!!

Thanks guys. I am really happy with the way it turned out.

The plating initially took 6 wks. Note the crushed ring? That happened in UPS on its way back to me and it took another 4 wks to get a plated replacement.

I don't have a scale that is working properly, as it shows 9 lbs 14 oz which I think sounds heavy to me?

Glenn the 'smith who had it when mjbgalt picked it up did modify the rear bridge very nicely to blend the bases a bit. That is something that really struck me as well.

This rifle is gonna make the trip to SD's Black Hills with my 10 yo & me.

Thanks again guys!

I had a 257 Roberts on a Mauser, it too was a boat anchor. 10 pounds is even too much for a 375.

6.5 pounds would be much better.

I like that - more than a little bit.

You got a name for her yet?
Looks great!

nice looking gun.

You know this is the first time I've ever weighed a rifle before. I've always gone by "feel". I liked this one because it is light compared to my Czech Mauser w/ 24" heavy sporter barrel!

Seeing the number kinda screwed that up for me.

Oh well... Nothin left to do but to scratch my Kimber itch!

Thanks all for the compliments.

I am going to play w/ 110 NABs & 115 NPTs for out west and take whatever it likes best. Will likely use 100 NBTs around here.

Nice looking rifle!

Mike does do some nice work! He did some work on my .300H&H it is great...next up is a .404 Jeffery and a .350 Rigby!

Nice rig Eric!!

Nice looking rifle, enjoy and good hunting!

very nice. pretty much what i had planned for it originally. great to see someone enjoy and use it

I think it is a nice rifle, but I see a lot of wood that I would take off of it if I owned it.

Nice rig.

Took her to the range today. Here is how she looks w/ silver VXII:





And here is our load of 100 gr NBT, 46 gr Hunter, CCI-200, Fed brass:



That outlier to the left was fired on a warm barrel. In spite of the heavy taper barrel it doesn't do well when fired rapidly at all. I very strong suspect that the plating retains heat. I can feel the difference between this and my similarly-tapered 257AI which is parkerized.

It is a nice looking and shooting rifle. I really love the S&K mounts a lot.

That will work! No go kill ya something Eric