Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Anyone up for a look at my new project???

Hey guys, I wanted to buy a classic sporter 338 win mag for elk hunting because my pre 64 model 70 took some good abuse this elk season and I felt sorry for it after 2 days in the rain. I put it away and started using a more weather resistant rifle. Of course 79s is going to say: See I told you so . I just don't like putting my pre 64's through that much anguish I guess. I have classic sporters for that kind of abuse . Anyway, with EricM, and Beretzs and Kutenay in mind, I took on a project that was almost complete, but needs some finishing touches. Here is a list of what will be done to it:

1. Cerakote the metal.
2. Cerakote the stock
3. Install new red pachmayr decelerator.
4. Glass bed.
5. Freefloat the barrel...
6. Jewel the bolt..
7. Hunt the living heck out of it in all kinds of weather..

I ended up getting an excellent deal on a 1955 pre 64 H&H action with a stainless 338 win mag barrel already screwed on. The barrel looks pretty damn new with polished chamber and crisp sharp rifling in the bore. It came with a bansner (High tech specialties) stock and weighs in right at 7 pounds. I weighed it with an extra aluminum floor plate I had laying around. I'll end up buying an aluminum trigger guard and then send it off for cerakote. My plans are to make it look somewhat similar to my 270 fwt, so the stock will be cerakoted dark brown (similar to Mcmillan's brown color).

Someone has already asked for some "before" pictures, plus there will be progression pics to come. Here goes guys. Hope you enjoy. To the true collectors, don't be too hard on me for putting this one to good use . I like to think of it as a new lease on life for this old girl, even though an H&H action may be a waste for a 338 win mag, it is cool that I can get 4 in the magazine ..:

Before pics:






I have no idea as to who makes this barrel. If any of you know, please let me know.


This is what I did to it today:

Checked the receiver scope base threads. Chased the threads and they are all excellent:
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Took the action apart and sanded the stock down:
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Consider hard chrome over Cerakote: smoother and tougher and won't cause the action to bind by adding thickness to the finely fitted parts.

Very cool project!

Continued:




It's just about ready to give to my cerakote guy. I'll probably fit the decelerator first before it gets cerakoted though...:

Thanks buddy. I always appreciate your input on these old rifles. I generally try to leave these old girls alone except for the mcmillans here and there with the originals kept stashed away for safe keeping. Back to your hard chrome question. Yes, do you know anyone that does a good job? I use a guy for cerakote because he's close and he does outstanding work. The hard chrome would probably be tougher though.

Mahovsky Metalife does great work. I'd do cerakote for the alloy bottom metal, though. Or, if you cerakote, don't coat the action interior or the bolt. I had a pre-64 transition action fully cerakoted and it went from smooth to stiff.

I like it...a lot. Red pad will look great. What scope and mounts?
Bob

Yes, I noticed that on the classic sporter I had done. A little polishing of the raceways and it was back to normal. I'm going to have the bolt jeweled on this pre so there won't be an awful lot of cerakote on the inside of the receiver. I totally agree with you though. Something to be mindful of and you usually learn that on your first cerakoted action.. Here's an old tanger my cerakote guy did for me. He also jeweled the bolt. He does fantastic work:



Come to think about it, I've been looking at the transition you sold. If you google Winchester model 70 "cerakote pictures", yours is one of the first pictures you run across, along with a picture of my classic sporter that is cerakoted sniper grey and in a bansner stock just like this pre 64 I'm working on. I really like the brown McMillan I bought from you and want to make the bansner look just like it:


The bansner is light as hell and stiff. I like it. The weight of the rifle (when I get done with it) should be less than 8 pounds all up (scoped and sling)..

Mounts will probably be the Leupold PWR's like what are on my 375H&H since this is an H&H action, my choices are limited. Here's my 375 and the mounts I went with on that rifle. They are nice because they don't hang over the ejection port anywhere. They fit great, but are kind of heavy but built like a tank:


I'd love to scope it with the Swaro that davidlea has in the classifieds. It is a 3-9x36 Habicht. That may not happen as it's a little spendy for my blood, but if I win the lottery that's the one I'd put on it

Cool thread, BSA. I like the direction you're taking and wouldn't change a thing. It's going to be awesome. The Swaro 3-9x36 Habicht would be a good fit. I wonder how a fixed 6x42 scope would look on this rifle? It would probably do as well as a 3-9 variable and be more durable with potentially more ER? That barrel marking has me confounded...

Eric

Ha ha. I have no clue as to what manufacture it is Eric. It looks like a "G", inside a micrometer to me. Maybe someone here knows...As far as scopes go, I don't need a lot of eye relief on my scopes. I like 3-9x40 as an all around flexible power range. Funny thing is, I may end up just throwing on one of my favorites and call it a day. However, If I can swing the money I may end up just buying davidlea's if he still has it. Sorry no poker face. I mean, he needs to lower the price on that damn scope and I'd buy it!!!!!

You can only sit on snow for so long, eh BSA?!! lol.

Eric

Google Armaloy of fortworth. Armaloy is a chromium coating mostly used on industrial equipment, but they do use it on firearms. It makes the gun come out a color some where in between pewter and stainless steal. It's actually quite pretty. I have a custom build 375 h&h in a brown precision stock that is armaloyed and it is sweet, adds a little bit of slickness to the action and is imperious to everything. You will just about destroy the gun before you damage the finish. Also all the parts are coated, so you gun is protected inside and out.

I wouldn't Cerrakote the metal moving pieces, I would ask to have them Microslick'ed.. It is another Cerrakote product, that when sprayed on and allowed to air dry has been excellent for me. Very easy to apply and seems to be lasting very well. It only comes in Matte Black, but I am not sure it matters too much if you are just coating the bolt, raceways, internals, etc..

You can see the color difference in this rifle I did a few months ago. The Cerrakote color is Tungsten Grey I think, and the bolt and other pieces are the matte black of the Micro Slick.







Awesome project and man, you are build what looks to be an awesome elk rifle in my opinion.

Sounds like very good stuff. I may look into that..

Thanks Scotty. I like how that one looks. I'll ask my cerakote guy if he has done that before. The color I'm wanting to go with on the rifle is graphite black with extra hardner for a glossier finish (although we know it won't be a gloss finish)..

Looking good BSA. Can't wait to see the finished project.

So which daughter isn't going to Europe now?

looks really good. Going to check into the armaloy myself.

You could go with my favorite combo--blued receiver so it will show honest wear and bead blasted stainless barrel. With the H&H action, you may want to rechamber to .340 so it will recoil harder ; )

Looks like you'll be busy for a bit. Looking forward to seeing what you end up with.

All of my rifles show honest wear. I want this one to be different . I want to actually be able to use this one and not worry so much about it.

They are both going in 2016. . Had to sell a couple of my favorite rifles to make it possible. They will be working and saving as well..

Thanks Ben. I'm hoping/thinking it will turn out pretty good. Fingers crossed...

BSA....very cool project. I had an action just like that one. Originally a .300 H&H that somebody had punched out to Weatherby and ringed the barrel a couple inches from the muzzle. It was in a home made Weatherby style stock...truly hideous. The very best thing about it was the price, $275.00 in 1976. I traded the stock off for something and traded the tube off for something else and the action made several moves in our gypsy years. Finally in '87 I had a guy put it together.....Brown fiberglass stock and Lilja tube in .338 Win Mag. The only other rifle I had at the time was a 10.5 lb. '06, but only one scope between them. I used my .338 exclusively for 10 years and owned it for 20. It was inspired by reading lots of Keith, Hagel, and Bob Bell. Bell had 2 .338 rifles. His 2nd was on a pre '64 model 70, stainless tube, and glass stock. Black spray paint to take the shine off the barrel.


Yours is much nicer and more sophisticated. Can't wait to see the finished product!

Dave, thanks for the story. I appreciate your positive thoughts regarding this project. I'm hoping I don't disappoint you guys and this thing turns out exactly as I'm picturing it... There's been a lot of good advice so far.

I can't stop laughing. I would of just bought a kimber anyhow thanks for a good chuckle...

This pre 64 is a better rifle.. You'll learn that one of these days. Thanks for the laugh on this end too If I would have wanted a Kimber, I would have bought it. I actually enjoy working on my rifles. Just part of being a rifle loony..

So what they can sit in a safe cause you cringe when the weather gets a little bad lol I have 7 stainless model 70 I will drag the worse [bleep] Alaska has to offer while your pretty pre 64 will sit in a safe lol you guys are a hoot. I'm sure this one will be fine for that horrendous oregon weather. Bsa still love you like a brother one day you will see the light.

I'm betting more rifles have been damaged in Oregon weather than Colorado's.

A pre '64 model 70 is unique in how it feels when you run the bolt. Nothing wrong with a Kimber, but between the two, I'd take the pre '64.

That's the way I see it, too. Nothing wrong with your choice of actions. Though you could have bought one of those rifles with the molded metal parts.

Lol beats me I haven't hunted here bud. My last 5 1/2 yrs was spent in Alaska hunting.

bsa: Nice project!

Friends and I built 3-4 pre 64 338's about like yours back in the 80's using Brown Precision stocks and Krieger tubes.Weight was about the same.

I would drill the scope base holes out to 8/40's.. I had seen these rifles chew though the standard screws and snap one off now and then with enough shooting.The 8/40's stood up to the pounding.

My pre 64 270 got hunted yesterday in a nor'easter....it's fine.

79s, you are a great guy sometimes . I know you like the stainless classics and they are great rifles, but I'm a pre 64 lover to the bone. I just love how they cycle, feed and eject and they have always been extremely accurate. They also go up in value as they sit in the safe too. Just something to think about..

Thanks for the advice Bob. You are probably right. However, I think I will leave it as is unless I have problems with it. I also plan on running some Talley lightweights and a Zeiss diavari 3-9x36 or Swarovski 3-9x36. Still haven't made up my mind on that one. Then again, don't be surprised if I end up putting a Burris FFII 3-9x40 with ballistic plex on it...

Nope I will stick to the classics... oh and I'm
A great guy all the time.

[quote=bsa1917hunterThanks Scotty. I like how that one looks. I'll ask my cerakote guy if he has done that before. The color I'm wanting to go with on the rifle is graphite black with extra hardner for a glossier finish (although we know it won't be a gloss finish)..[/quote]

Every color of Cerrakote can be done in Matte, Satin or Gloss, just as you mentioned, depending on the amount of hardener applied. I believe that rifle pictured is a Satin finish. I did matte on an old Model 70 of mine in graphite black.. It looks like a piece of charcoal but it is certainly as described!

Good luck with the project.

Is the barrel a McGowan stamp?

I wish I knew?????????

Well, I met with my cerakote guy today. He showed me a midnight blue rifle (he did for a guy) and we compared it to the graphite black and I've decided to go with the midnight blue. I like the color and more glossy appearance better. I messed around with one of my Tupperware stocks yesterday and decided on a color I'll do myself on the Bansner (High tech specialties). Here's what the bansner should look like when I'm done: Upper rifle. Except it will have the same style of recoil pad as the lower rifle:




Can't wait to see how the mignight blue turns out on this rifle. Should be top notch, but we'll see. I sent the money yesterday, for the scope of my dreams . Never had a Swarovski before, but it should work out nicely. I didn't want to be too top heavy since this stock is so light. The Talley lightweigh's will also help in that regard.

This won't apply to your current project but have you ever considered melonite coating? I built a 280 ak for a guy in Alaska and I don't know a harder man on a rifle the him. He is an avid sheep hunter and packs his rifle miles and miles. The coating is holding up really well. You can also use the fancy coatings ove melonite. The sako I did for myself is unbelievably slick and a mod 70 would be also.

I've heard melonite coating is very durable. I need to talk to my cerakote guy and see if he's consider doing some of these other processes. Thanks for the suggestion.

That midnight blue is going to be badass!!

Midnight blue is real nice. It's probably my favorite.

BSA, where are you planning on picking up the Zeiss Diavari 3-9x36?

Local dirt. I ended up buying the Swaro from Davidlea. He's away, so I'm doing the waiting game. Red pachmayr decelerator looks great. I just finished my stock paint tonight and I just picked up the rifle from my cerakote guy. The rifle looks damn good and the bolt jeweling is second to none. This guy really out did himself!!! I like the midnight blue cerakote too. I also glass bed the rifle before I had it cerakoted. Bought some Talley lightweights from ebay and have those now. My camera is crappy and gone, so after Christmas I'll have some good pictures (with new camera) of the complete rifle. Hopefully I have the scope before then .

Looking forward to seeing it when you have it assembled. I think I'll go lightweight Talleys on my next bolt rifle.
Bob

Glad to hear it's progressing nicely, BSA! I'm looking forward to the pics!! Happy holidays!

Eric

What a great project, I really like it! I had a long conversation with Adam Weatherby at an NRA convention about the then new at the time, stainless Weatherby Mark V's. He swore that for purely taking abuse in horrific conditions, the old Weatherby Alaskans had it all over the new stainless steel models. These were essentially coated with electroless nickel. The same as Metaloy, Armaloy, and the other electroless nickel coating purveyors. This stuff is super slick, and supposedly more rust resistant than stainless steel. If I were trying to weather proof a blued rifle, that is the route I would strongly consider.

Geesh, now you tell me . Just kidding. I had it in my head that I wanted to give my cerakote guy some more work since the last ones he did for me came out perfect. I couldn't wait for my new camera and took some pre pictures with my Garmin 550 Oregon GPS. Hope you guys like it. Sorry in advance for the chit poor photos: Garmin GPS :

Let me start off by saying it is a heavy sob pre 64 yada yada yada.... At least it's bedded right .... Always start with a good "foundation":



Recoil pad didn't turn out as good as I had hoped. I'll do the next one, as I was looking for perfection and my smith disappointed me here: He let his trainee do it



I did the paint job on the stock. Good plastic/synthetic clear primer and then brown rustoleum and stone texture paint:


No problem mounting the Talleys:


Take a look at my cerakote guys bolt jeweling work. I really like it!!:
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Still waiting on the Swaro I'll have some better pictures after X-mas I can't wait to take this thing out elk hunting next year!!

That cerakote looks really good!

Thanks buddy. The pictures suck, so it's really hard to get the full effect. He did a superb job on the midnight blue cerakote. I'm pretty happy with it...

That turned out really very nice, congratulations on a job well done! I am very impressed with the paint jobs you do on those tupperware stocks. They look like a much classier and more expensive stock after you do your magic on them. I would love to see an easy tutorial on stock painting for the unhandy types such as myself-lol.

Thanks for the compliment ULA. This is a bansner, so it doesn't really qualify as a "Tupperware" stock . However, I have been known to glass bed and paint tupperwares

The photos are very good. Is that stone-flecked paint as rough as it appears? Looks grippy like sandpaper!

Thanks pal, I get a new camera for x-mas. As for the stock: I wanted it real grippy as the wet weather here where I hunt is a real PITA during elk season. I packed around a similar rifle last year and decided I hated the slick paint job High tech specialties applied. It was a shame because I really like the ergos of the Bansner stock. I think it's one of Brad's favorites as well, probably because it is very similar to the Montana's factory stock. Like ULA mentioned earlier about the tupperwares I've painted, my hunting rifles have this same type of paint scheme and texture. It's not really too bad like sandpaper though because I go over the rustoleum stone texture paint with the brown rustoleum and then lightly mist more texture over that. It makes for a real nice grip that also doesn't rub your face raw when you shoot it. Here are the tupperwares that ULA mentioned:

Stainless classic 7mm rem mag:



Sniper grey cerakoted classic sporter 30-06:


I hunt these rifles so I like them grippy to a certain extent . Again, sorry for the GPS photos, I'll have some better ones (and hopefully my new Swaro) after x-mas..

Work looks real nice, we usually have just the opposite weather here in NM. Except for this years archery elk season. I had rain of some fashion, from light mist to rain of biblical proportion, on 7 of my 8 days hunting! looking forward to seeing the finished product all scoped up and ready to go.

Thanks Razz. I also look forward to getting and trying out the Swaro that I bought from davidlea. The package should weight right at 7 3/4 pounds. I'm hoping that's not too light for a 338 elk killin machine . I'll know after the first 3 shots. I'm also hoping the scope doesn't fly off. I'll know then that I should have listened to Bob's advice about going to 8-40 screws on the scope mounts. We'll see

Sorry about that mistake. I have seen the bedding and paint jobs you do on some tupperware stocks, it is very impressive. I have tried painting tupperware stocks, and they still look like painted tupperware stocks.

Looks awesome, BSA! The cerakote turned out well, and the bolt jeweling is sweet! You put together a real sharp rifle!!

Eric

Thanks buddy. Happy holidays to you too. Hope you are having a great time with your family. My new Swaro is supposed to ship out tomorrow. Hopefully this rifle shoots as good as my more original 338 Alaskan. I'll keep you posted one way or the other. I might have to start a thread to see how much that rifle is worth: IE: buddy to buddy sale....

Nice looking rifle .. Hope it shoots for you as well...

What exact product/brand are you using for the plastic primer underneath?

Good question. I've used the dupli color clear primer on the Tupperware stocks with great success, so I figured I'd try it on this Bansner. It helps the paint stick to the plastic stocks better. It sprays on clear and fills very well. When it drys, you can't tell it has the primer on it. I also use a small heated room for my paint booth. This helps tremendously in the winter time. I'm getting anxious to get my new camera and Swarovski scope so I can show you guys what this thing really looks like...I was actually thinking of you (DakotaDeer) on this rifle because you've been talking about light pre 64's for a while. Albeit, this isn't a super lightweight like a Kimber montana it sure holds it's own against, say, a new Extreme weather model 70 and the likes. It should top the scales at 7 3/4 pounds all up when done. It will be pretty light (probably lighter than I really want it) for a 338...

Thanks, BSA. It's great to be back home for the holidays! You're going to have a killer setup once the Swaro is installed. Keep me posted bud! Happy holidays to you and your family!

Eric

Thanks Eric.

BSA--I want the light pre-64, but I'll let you shoot the one in 338! I have worked extensively with a 6.3 pound bare Win70 in 30-06, and that's about all I think I could stand for "fun."

I'm working toward a light Classic FWT 243 now, so the pre64 idea is sort of on hold.

My Featherweight .30-06 weighs 7.2 lbs without the scope.

It is real clear I need another project or two. I'm having project envy, great stuff as always BSA1917!

... We've been trying to tell you. I'll let you guys know how much this one hurts the shoulder . I'm hoping the ergos of the bansner helps to absorb a lot of the recoil. Like I've said before, the last time I had my 338 Alaskan out I fired 40 rounds thru it off the bench. I also fired 40 7mm rem mag and 35 rounds of 30-06 (fwt) that day. My fwt's weigh in the neighborhood of 7 3/4 pounds all up and they are very manageable, but we know the 338 is a kicker. Let's just hope it doesn't pound my azz into the dirt . I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks for the comments guys...

The Bansner stock is an excellent stock and very comfortable for shooting. It's very similar to the Kimber Montana factory stock in design. When I had my classic sporter 30-06 in one it was great shooting off the bench.



I think it will be quite manageable. Again, we'll see. Wish me luck Pal

Outstanding looking piece.....

Just mounted the Swaro. I like the glass, now I need a good camera. I'll shoot the ol girl after X-mas . Hopefully it shoots as good as my Alaskan...

Hey guys, I snuck my X-mas present out from under the tree. Don't tell my wife. Here are a little better pictures than my dang garmin GPS . Hope all you Winchester loving ol guys have a merry Christmas and a happy new year.







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Bought this on sunday the 7th of December and it's complete today. Weighs a hair less than 8 pounds all up right now and it should work out great for next years elk hunt. Feels damn good and well balanced and I really like the glass. I'm hoping it shoots well. We'll see after Christmas.

Very cool! Who did the cerakote?

A good guy by the name of Jeremy Smith. He lives 12 miles from me, so it's very convenient to use his services. He works in Hood River as a machinist and does the cerakote as a side business. He also did the bolt jeweling. He's done a few rifles for me now and I'm extremely happy with his work. I was hoping you would like this one. It really reminds me of my 270 fwt that has the McMillan on it that I bought from you. I was kind of trying to go with that scheme with this rifle.

Very nice Christmas present for you.

Merry Christmas.

One of my favorite threads. I love all of your Winchesters but especially this one. I too am looking to build a model 70 like this for elk hunting. I basically destroyed my featherweight 30-06 this year Elk hunting. It got soaked for a week straight and damn near gave me a heart attack worrying about it. Time to get a synthetic stock and a paint job.

Could you expand a little more on how you paint your stocks, they look friggn great! I have a factory tupperware stock that is going to get painted. Also, does your cerakote guy accept work from guys out of state? I've had some really really crappy jobs done here in town.

Very nice. Hard not to like how it came out.

Thanks a lot guys. I was hoping I wasn't boring you to death with all the crappy pictures. My new camera looks to be a lot better so you can see the work a little better. I'm extremely happy with this one and it didn't take much work on my end. Just bedding and painting the stock. The rest of the work my cerakote guy handled. I'm hoping I went with the right scope, but the glass seems to be excellent. We'll see how it works out in the field next November. My smith says the barrel was installed by someone that really knew what they were doing. We checked the lugs for contact and they are both dead nuts. He thinks it will be a shooter. I just don't know what to expect. I'll load something up and probably shoot it this weekend. We'll see how the weather is.

As for the Cerakote, the guy that does this for me is a great guy to deal with and I asked him if I could give his name out here and he said for sure. He said he does about 6 or 7 rifles per week. His turn around time is excellent and he cares about his customers needs and the quality of work is top notch. I've hunted my other cerakoted rifles and they show little to no wear. The rifle in the above picture on the rock with the light colored bansner stock is another one he cerakoted for me a couple years ago. It's amazing how well the stuff is holding up. As for painting stock: When I paint a stock, I use a heated room as a paint booth. I sand as per usual and let the paint dry between coats. I have used automobile primer before, but have found the clear primer for plastics and synthetics seems to grab the paint better. Somewhat baking it on also helps a lot. I've had numerous PM's about my cerakote guy. I don't really want to give out his information in an open thread because he's not a site sponsor or anything like that. However, if anyone would like his info I'll be glad to pass it along. He has an FFL so he accepts firearms etc...

On the new camera, set the aperture to ~f8, use a tripod with remote release, plenty of light (no flash), and focus manually.

I was going to mention your photos as being excellent. I especially like the one of your fwt. I'll mess around with this one and see if I can adjust the aperture, I know it has a manual focus option. Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated!!

That turned out beautifully, BSA!! Super cool!!

Eric

I even like the allen-head guard screws!
Bob

Looks like it came out pretty cool, hopefully it shoots.

Sweet rifle, BSA. I really love how that cerakote color turned out with the matte/satin finish.

I've been considering a similar color combo on a stainless classic. It's in a McMillan Hunter with edge fill that is gray with black speckles.

How does the midnight blue look next to sniper gray?

drano, let me get a picture of the sniper grey next to the midnight blue cerakote. The midnight blue looks a lot like graphite black, but a little more glossy. I sold my graphite black cerakoted rifle so I can't take a picture of all 3 next to each other for comparison...