***Custom 6.5X55 off to the Metalsmith*** - 10/19/06
My custom project rifle hit the road to Jim Dubell at Delta Gun Shop for metal work and arrived last week.
The gun is being built to resemble a 1920/30s English stalking rifle. The action is a Montana 1999 short action [perfect size for 6.5X55 and 7X57 Mauser class cartridges], but I am having it modified to resemble the original sporter Mausers with a straight pear shaped bolt handle and square bridges that double as bases for the scope mounts. I personally had issues with using a Mauser action and went with the Montana, but that is just my preference.
The barrel is a Montana creation, but it mimics the profiles used by both Mauser and those shipped to H&H and Westley Richards. The barrel is 25 inches long with a 1:7.5� twist and will have an NECG barrel band front with a barrel banded front swivel base. The rear sight is on a barrel-banded island with an express sight insert one up and two down.
The stock will be fairly straight, but with a pancake oval cheek-piece and both a metal grip cap and buttplate on a 14 7/8 inch LOP. The rear sling swivel base will be a two-screw model. Forend will be made of burl African blackwood [a rosewood just like cocobolo and Brazilian rosewood]. The checkering will be similar to a classic English mullered boarder, but with a double outline instead of a triple, it will however be simple in overall design.
The wood for the stock came from New Zealand and is a nice piece of English walnut, but the figure and color are reserved just the way I like it.
The finish on the rifle will probably be Carbonia blueing.
The open sights on this rifle will be regulated for firing the 155-160 grain bullets and filed accordingly. The scope on the rifle will be sighted in for the most accurate 140 grain slug either leaded, or all copper. I plan on keeping the velocities to what the cartridge was designed for and probably consistent with Euro loadings today. I do not believe in pushing a cartridge to the maximum loads.
Below is the type of bolt handle that I want installed on my rifle.
Here is the African blackwwod that will go on the fore-end as soon as I choose which piece to use. One of them has curly/fiddleback grain [piece that also has sap wood] and the other has small pockets of burl and irregular grain pattern. The wood came out in the photo lighter in color than in person. It is basically jet black with barely noticeable grain.
Tell me what you think and which one you would use?
[img]http://img151.imagevenue.com/loc424/th_63402_P1010035_122_424lo.JPG[/img] [img]http://img148.imagevenue.com/loc557/th_63409_P1010036_122_557lo.JPG[/img]
When the gun is finished I will post more pictures. I am still firming up the stockmaker
The gun is being built to resemble a 1920/30s English stalking rifle. The action is a Montana 1999 short action [perfect size for 6.5X55 and 7X57 Mauser class cartridges], but I am having it modified to resemble the original sporter Mausers with a straight pear shaped bolt handle and square bridges that double as bases for the scope mounts. I personally had issues with using a Mauser action and went with the Montana, but that is just my preference.
The barrel is a Montana creation, but it mimics the profiles used by both Mauser and those shipped to H&H and Westley Richards. The barrel is 25 inches long with a 1:7.5� twist and will have an NECG barrel band front with a barrel banded front swivel base. The rear sight is on a barrel-banded island with an express sight insert one up and two down.
The stock will be fairly straight, but with a pancake oval cheek-piece and both a metal grip cap and buttplate on a 14 7/8 inch LOP. The rear sling swivel base will be a two-screw model. Forend will be made of burl African blackwood [a rosewood just like cocobolo and Brazilian rosewood]. The checkering will be similar to a classic English mullered boarder, but with a double outline instead of a triple, it will however be simple in overall design.
The wood for the stock came from New Zealand and is a nice piece of English walnut, but the figure and color are reserved just the way I like it.
The finish on the rifle will probably be Carbonia blueing.
The open sights on this rifle will be regulated for firing the 155-160 grain bullets and filed accordingly. The scope on the rifle will be sighted in for the most accurate 140 grain slug either leaded, or all copper. I plan on keeping the velocities to what the cartridge was designed for and probably consistent with Euro loadings today. I do not believe in pushing a cartridge to the maximum loads.
Below is the type of bolt handle that I want installed on my rifle.
Here is the African blackwwod that will go on the fore-end as soon as I choose which piece to use. One of them has curly/fiddleback grain [piece that also has sap wood] and the other has small pockets of burl and irregular grain pattern. The wood came out in the photo lighter in color than in person. It is basically jet black with barely noticeable grain.
Tell me what you think and which one you would use?
[img]http:/
When the gun is finished I will post more pictures. I am still firming up the stockmaker