Client loaner rifles

My grandfather always has a Lee Enfield on his commercial fishing boat it was my job to spray the hell out of it with WD40
He used it on seals bears deer moose and shooting the bells on trowling poles during fish wars (the (good old smash and bash days was fun )
 
c-fbmi said:
Given the climate and the fact you actually intend to let others carry and use your rifles..........my choice would be 1/2 doz Lee Enfields cerracoated with a good epoxy painted stock. Man I hate letting others, I don't know, use my good rifles, they invariably get damaged one way or the other.
Boomer and a few others I know are the exceptions of course but generally it is not a good idea.

As far as bobbing a 7 RM it does make a significant difference going down from 24". If one wanted something shorter than 24" then the 280 starts to shine but factory ammo becomes a serious issue. Ardent, if it was my choice it would be a 300 WM. Factory loads in 165 and 200s. As far as a rifle goes, maybe a T3? I hear they are quite accurate and weather impervious. You need to lighten up on the CRF thing, at least for clients, cause if the sh!t hits the fan you know damn well you are going to have to rely on your own shooting 95% of the time anyway. As far as personal safety goes make them carry with an empty chamber and full magazine, I would, and you will also find that you won't lose a single opportunity because of it. However it will assure that if a bear pops up with a bad attitude and too close, that you won't get shot in the back. I find it much easier to deal with potential problem animals without my guts hanging down between my knees...........
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Definitely hear what you're saying, but I just had a whoops with the boat that cost $4000. Then another $3000 to hire another boat, so really a $1500 rifle I'm going to consider a consumable. Have to be careful not to try to sound like this is making money hand over fist it's anything but, the margins are shockingly small as with any "dream job". But suppose my feeling is the numbers are big as is the business line of credit, and the cost of a good EW to get pounded in the sand I'm not that worried about, will consider the client rifles write offs from day one and sell them on the EE one day for $2000 with a fresh coat of Krylon. I kid I kid...

.300's my preferred BC all rounder too, and I haven't run into a client who can't shoot one yet either. But they're out there, and I like 7mm commonality of ammo and components for me as I'm heavily invested in 7mms. 75% of the loaner rifle's duty will be stretchy mountain hunting anyhow, been busy on grizz this past year (four down Sept-Sept) but they're the marquis species and will get spaced out more in the future, a lot more mountain goat and a few moose, black bear will be the bulk.
 
Dogleg said:
Its not completely about what works, its about what works and doesn't give the client any toehold for complaints. Sort of like ammo. I basically never hunt with factory ammo, but a loaner would be getting nothing but premium factory with a known designer bullet. Otherwise, one way or the other every miss, every poor hit and any lost animal will be turned into my fault. Pass the guy lots of gun, storebought ammo loaded with bullets that nobody can really argue about, and a scope that nobody would confuse with a bargain brand and from that moment on whatever happens is on him.
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^^ If you do as Dogleg suggests, ( which I think is a good idea just from the liability standpoint), and use factory ammo for your loaners, then having to stock multiple components is really a non-issue.
 
hoytcanon said:
Personally, I would go with the M77 MKII stainless as a loaner (big surprise)... and would have the barrel bobbed to 22" from the standard 24"... giving up 100 fps is inconsequential when compared to not constantly getting hung up in the brush by the barrel protruding from your pack.... lowering the rifle butt in the pack is not a good option when straddling blowdowns. The M77 is a tough, simple, reliable, if somewhat heavier platform (good client criteria)... change out the stock to lighten it up. 7mm Rem Mag is a good choice with a VX-3 2.5-8... 2.5X & 170's for bears and 8X & 140's for goats... done and done.
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Funny you say that, after slapping a vx3 2.5x8 with lr reticle, I was thinking of a way to lighten it up a bit more...it would be a great choice, heavier than some other options but if you would shorten the barrel ot would be a handy quick pointing rig
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Dogleg said:
Its not completely about what works, its about what works and doesn't give the client any toehold for complaints. Sort of like ammo. I basically never hunt with factory ammo, but a loaner would be getting nothing but premium factory with a known designer bullet. Otherwise, one way or the other every miss, every poor hit and any lost animal will be turned into my fault. Pass the guy lots of gun, storebought ammo loaded with bullets that nobody can really argue about, and a scope that nobody would confuse with a bargain brand and from that moment on whatever happens is on him.
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Gotta say, many of the outfitters seems like good guys but sure sounds like far too many of the clients in this business are umm.... fill in the blank ___ !
 
GOUMFACH said:
Funny you say that, after slapping a vx3 2.5x8 with lr reticle, I was thinking of a way to lighten it up a bit more...it would be a great choice, heavier than some other options but if you would shorten the barrel ot would be a handy quick pointing rig
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It will be bobbed to 22"... and put into a MacMillan Hunter... the running mate to my M77 MKII .350 Rem Mag which is going into a MacMillan Classic... but the 7 RM is getting a VX-3 3.5-10X40 B&C for a little more reach, which it deserves. The .350 RM is wearing a VX-3 1.5-5X20.

I noticed that Prophet River has an M77 Hawkeye SS 7 RM in stock...
 
I think the logistics dictate the choice.

Finding *one* used M70 EW in 7mm will be a challenge, and as for new ones... no such agency, I think. Maybe the Ultimate Shadow?

That brings you to new stuff.

If a firing pin blocking safety is a requirement, then it's a Kimber or a Ruger, and choosing between those, the Ruger is maybe 3 times as rugged, and half the base price. They even come with free super high rings to use as a paperweight.

Ruger M77 stainless synthetic. Then hire the neighbor's kid to cycle them each 10,000 times until they don't feel like a bag of rocks. :)
 
I would go light-ish since it will be used for goats. Definitely needs to be stainless synthetic and rugged as you said. I would definitely use a floorplate, because you don't need a client losing his mag on a hunt. 7mm RM is perfect for a client rifle due to the flatness, availability and tame recoil compared to 300 WM.

As for safety, the client should be made to carry with an empty chamber IMO.

I would say T3 SS, but the whole lost mag issue comes to play. Maybe a Ruger M77, but they are heavy. Kimber Montana would be ideal if it is in the budget.
 
Bartledan said:
I think the logistics dictate the choice.

Finding *one* used M70 EW in 7mm will be a challenge, and as for new ones... no such agency, I think. Maybe the Ultimate Shadow?

That brings you to new stuff.

If a firing pin blocking safety is a requirement, then it's a Kimber or a Ruger, and choosing between those, the Ruger is maybe 3 times as rugged, and half the base price. They even come with free super high rings to use as a paperweight.

Ruger M77 stainless synthetic. Then hire the neighbor's kid to cycle them each 10,000 times until they don't feel like a bag of rocks. :)
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Three times as crude doesn't make it three times as rugged. How do you even quantify that statement.
 
Bartledan said:
I think the logistics dictate the choice.

Finding *one* used M70 EW in 7mm will be a challenge, and as for new ones... no such agency, I think. Maybe the Ultimate Shadow?

That brings you to new stuff.

If a firing pin blocking safety is a requirement, then it's a Kimber or a Ruger, and choosing between those, the Ruger is maybe 3 times as rugged, and half the base price. They even come with free super high rings to use as a paperweight.

Ruger M77 stainless synthetic. Then hire the neighbor's kid to cycle them each 10,000 times until they don't feel like a bag of rocks. :)
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There's stock on the EW's, but you have to check the small shops and you'll likely pay a premium (still less than a Kimber though)
 
chuck nelson said:
Three times as crude doesn't make it three times as rugged. How do you even quantify that statement.
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Conversely, in what possible way does refinement translate to ruggedness? How would ultralight equal ultrastrong?

Let's have a fight: you use a $400 japanese umbrella, and I'll use a cricket bat I found in a park. Kumite!

Where is the WhelanLad thread "Ruggie cracked it!"?

Really, sir, the Ruger M77 is just about a caveman club that shoots bullets. It's pretty much the class of the world for blunt head-bashing ruggedness. Kimbers are nice and stuff, but would you loan one to your wife's drunken uncle Joey?

I have 1 Ruger M77, 1 Kimber Montana, 1 M70 EW, 2 X-Bolts (both for sale) and 4 Tikkas.

I bought the Ruger *expressly* to use as a loaner, but I kind of like it. Compact, slender in the grip and forearm, odd and hefty. Just like my woman.

####. Now I want an M77 in 7mm. Damn you, Ardent!
 
GMC403 said:
There's stock on the EW's, but you have to check the small shops and you'll likely pay a premium (still less than a Kimber though)
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Prophet River has multiple stainless synthetic M77s in 7mm in stock, and the Korth Group is now the Ruger importer. That's as good as it gets for coverage in Canada.

I prefer the EW to the Ruger, but life cycle is a very important consideration to a commercial venture.
 
Okay Angus, I have a very viable suggestion for you........Buy 2 Remington 700 SPSS one in 7 RM and one in 300 WM change out the firing pin and shroud to the mod 70 style 3 position swing safety, I believe PT&G makes them in stainless as well and epoxy a 5/16 rod into the forend and there you will have 2 SS reliable brand name rifles that will shoot and be as safe as any rifle can be. My kid has a 300 RUM and he treats it like a crescent wrench in an Argo. It has never rusted or let him down and no one I know treats their rifle as badly as he does.
If you're too busy just send them to me and I'll do the firing pin/shroud safety change up and remove the Rem safety and stiffen the forend, bed the action, and mount scopes and get them all tweaked up and sighted in for you. I can also clean up the triggers and get them safe and set at about 2 1/2 - 3 lbs. No magazines to lose and about as weather impervious as one can get.
And no one I know feels bad about abusing a 700 SPS...................:)

For scopes I'd go with a couple 3-9 X 40 Redfields, tough, economical and reasonably good glass with a great warranty.
 
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Bartledan said:
Conversely, in what possible way does refinement translate to ruggedness? How would ultralight equal ultrastrong?

Let's have a fight: you use a $400 japanese umbrella, and I'll use a cricket bat I found in a park. Kumite!

Where is the WhelanLad thread "Ruggie cracked it!"?

Really, sir, the Ruger M77 is just about a caveman club that shoots bullets. It's pretty much the class of the world for blunt head-bashing ruggedness. Kimbers are nice and stuff, but would you loan one to your wife's drunken uncle Joey?

I have 1 Ruger M77, 1 Kimber Montana, 1 M70 EW, 2 X-Bolts (both for sale) and 4 Tikkas.

I bought the Ruger *expressly* to use as a loaner, but I kind of like it. Compact, slender in the grip and forearm, odd and hefty. Just like my woman.

####. Now I want an M77 in 7mm. Damn you, Ardent!
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What does this even mean?
 
c-fbmi said:
Okay Angus, I have a very viable suggestion for you........Buy 2 Remington 700 SPSS one in 7 RM and one in 300 WM change out the firing pin and shroud to the mod 70 style 3 position swing safety, I believe PT&G makes them in stainless as well and epoxy a 5/16 rod into the forend and there you will have 2 SS reliable brand name rifles that will shoot and be as safe as any rifle can be. My kid has a 300 RUM and he treats it like a crescent wrench in an Argo. It has never rusted or let him down and no one I know treats their rifle as badly as he does.
If you're too busy just send them to me and I'll do the firing pin/shroud safety change up and remove the Rem safety and stiffen the forend, bed the action, and mount scopes and get them all tweaked up and sighted in for you. I can also clean up the triggers and get them safe and set at about 2 1/2 - 3 lbs. No magazines to lose and about as weather impervious as one can get.
And no one I know feels bad about abusing a 700 SPS...................:)

For scopes I'd go with a couple 3-9 X 40 Redfields, tough, economical and reasonably good glass with a great warranty.
Click to expand...

The Model 70 already comes with a model 70 style safety. :)
 
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