Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Melvin Forbes on Outdoor Channel Last Night

I saw Melvin Forbes last night on the NRA American Rifleman
last night.
Really good interview with him.
AMRA

Sounds great. Sorry I missed it.

Interesting. He said he starts with the front action screw, his balance point. Anything he adds in front of the screw he adds in back of it so that the finished rifle balances between the hands and points quick and natural. And more about small actions, total psi experienced by. Clear and down to earth guy, and very smart.

He will put lead in the stock to balance on the screw if you insist on a heavier barrel contour. Very nice man to deal with. My first NULA is shipping this week.

Did he say the front action screw for long or short actions? I would think it would be different depending. Curious.

My son and I met Mr. Forbes at one of the NRA nationals in Charlotte a few years back. Great guy to speak with. Knows what he has, knows how he got there, and knows how to stay there.....at least then. This new Forbes rifle may or may not be a good idea. We'll see. Anyway, traffic was thin at the time and we spent probably 15 minutes at his booth handling every rifle he brought and offering free advise on how he could improve them . Learned he can retort with the best. Stinging but not insulting. It was all in fun. Learned another thing as well; he probably wouldn't make a rifle with a floorplate if God himself put in the order. Overall a very good experience, and even a better glimpse at the person behind the company than the TV show.

SeanD,

Usually (but not always) people choose longer, heavier barrels for the longer-action NULA's, and as a result the balance point does usually end up somewhere around the front action screw.

The obvious exception would be a heavy-barrled varmint rifle, and yes, Melvin does make some, with a special wide-forend stock. He loaned me a heavy-barreled .223 for a while that was one of the most accurate .223's I've ever shot.

If my short action gun shoots as well as I am anticipating, I am going to place an order for a 280 or 280AI quickly. Would probably go with a 24 inch #2. I am assuming he will weight the stock as he sees fit for balance. A little forward balance would not be a big deal for me.

Had a Nula .280AI in my hands. Wasn't all that thrilled with the balance in that it wanted to fall on its nose. Proceed carefully and don't assume what he will or will not do.

Within the limits of the "platform," Melvin will do what the customer wants.

Did you order the .280 AI from him?

Wasn't mine. I just picked it up off the rack of finished rifles when I was down there. Perhaps it is what the customer requested.

I can tell Bonefish it is best to know and not guess that Melvin will do.

Two examples: I told him what LOP I wanted and he said no you want longer. I mounted a rifle and also mentioned heavy clothes. He watched me mount and said shorter is right for you.

My nula .22-250 is perfect. I assumed he would use the same barrel length on the .223AI. He didn't, and it isn't perfect in that it is a little lighter in the front than I would like.

22 cal. Centerfire would be a fun gun to own in a lightweight bolt action configuration. I have virtually no use for such a rig but would love to have one. Would be more interesting than an AR to me.

A lightweight 22 cal centerfire (especially fast twist) is an easy gun to find a use for. Coyotes, crows, groundhogs, bobcats, deer...and of course paper...with the right bullet there isn't much it can't do around here.

No doubt the .22 CF's are fun. Even more fun is a Nula .22LR. Shot 150 rounds out of mine today on a walking steel course with targets that go out to around 100yards. No reloading, no recoil, accurate and great for keeping in tune.

Mood strikes grab 3-4 boxes and hit the range. Shoot, sweep up the empties, done and more than a little accomplished in little time.

I just sold my longer range / western big game rifle. Need to replace that. Just bought a 260 which should handle whitetail deer, hogs, and coyotes. .223 carry rifle will be on the wish list for later. I own 2 nice 22's and a 17hmr. They are fun to plink with and shoot small stuff with. A NULA .22lr. Would be nice to have. I have almost ordered one twice. Need to replace the big rifle first. That will happen in the next month or so. Likely will be a NULA but not positive. I spoke with Jim Borden about building a 280AI and it would be 12 months out and the better part of 5k. Not going to do a Borden.

I have two NULA's a .223 and a 22-250 both 1-8" twist. They are great rifles and as you mentioned quite capable.


22-250


.223


.22-250


.223


.223


.22-250

bonefish,

After I first started fooling with NULA's in the late 1980's (when they were ULA's, not NULA's), I eventually tried the .257 Roberts Ackley Improved,.270 Winchester, 7x57, .300 Winchester Magnum and .338-06. (Already had a lightweight Gentry .280.)

Eventually I realized that I'd been rifle-loony-dancing around the .30-06, so got one in the mid-90's. Have since used it on a pile of game in North America, Africa and New Zealand, without any dissatisfaction. Did finally add a .257 Weatherby a few years ago, but the .30-06 would have served just as well.

MD,
I am going to contain myself for the moment and enjoy the new NULA 260. It is supposed to ship Monday. I am cancelling a "poor man's' mule deer hunt in Nebraska this year so there is probably nothing I cannot do with the 260 in TN and MS. I was worried about the 260 being enough gun for longer range shots on deer. Now not as worried as folks have chimed in. Looks like there is a trend of, mainly Texas folks, that are shooting deer with heavy .223 cal bullets. If they can pull this off, my 260 should do fine. A 30-06 would functionally serve the same niche as a 280AI. I have enjoyed a 280AI but any 30/06 class cartridge would likely be fine.

Bonefish,

Actually, all these were taken with 64 gr Nosler's not all that heavy. I've used bullets from 50-75 grs in 22 CF's to take deer size game. I can't imagine a deer your 260 wouldn't handle.

I can't either, having taken quite a few big northern deer, both whitetails and muleys, with cartridges like the .243 Winchester, .257 Roberts and 6.5x55.