I love bubba!

[ratherbefishin]

I get a kick out of the ''purists''who look down their nose at ''bubba'd''military rifles-to me they represent some of the finest value on the market.I look at my beautifully done Parker Hales, the Husky''swedes'' over at Tradeex[bought a few-and very nice too]even the Danish Rolling Blocks''bubba'd'' into 8x58,and one or two restocked and parkerized military rifles that show the very competant work of a gunsmith .These are no chop jobs by any means.Then theres the 7.5x55 K-11 swede that somebody drilled and tapped-picked that up for $150-including dies,no qualms about sanding and refinishing that one-it already lost its virginity.I picked up a nice SKS-and put a Choat dragunoff stock on it-didn't cut any metal so if somebody 50 years from now wants to''restore'' it to original ,all they have to do is put the old stock back on....
come to think of it-after every war the returning soldiers bubba'd their rifles and put meat on the table.Sort of turning ''swords into plowshares'' if you like-and maybe the best use their rifle ever saw...and all that ''surplus'' ammunition isn't so bad either-makes for cheap shooting!

Would I chop an original military rifle today-nope-don't need to theirs lots of them already done-and they make the finest shooting rifles around-I'll put my professionally ''sporterized'' swede up against any new rifle on the market today -and chances are my old swede is more finely finished than some of the ''factory new'' ones that may have never had a loving hand put on them...thanks ''BUBBA''-I'm not too proud to own one-and if I hold it straight, I have meat on the table...

 

[louthepou]

A nice Parker Hale hunting rifle based on a Lee Enfield action isn't a Bubba'ed gun... There are significant differences - well as far as I understand the definition of Bubba...

 

[cody c]

I agree with your perspective. And I really dont understand the people on here who look down on people for using "bubba'd" rifles. I can understand wanting to keep historic firearms from being hack'd up, but its not like there's any shortage of mauser's or enfields out there.

What doesnt make sense to me is how many say there mauser's are great shooting rifles with great actions and many claim them to be the most reliable with great performance, but no one would think of using one for a rifle build up?

Personally i would like to build a 270 win out of a decent action with a poor stock and barrel. But I havent seen much in the way of support for this perspective. Maybe Im wrong and someone can explain why?

Anyways, if you come along a decent mauser action with a poor barrel on the cheap Id like to find one. Ive already got one of the synthetic stocks that I would like to try building proper pillars and bed.

So Cheers to you for making your point, and to bubba for making some rifles that can be taken out of the cabinet to hunt with.

 

[ratherbefishin]

right now I'm awaiting CANADA POST to deliver me what appears to be a fine ''sporterized'' P-14 303 I bought of EE.All I want to do is shoot it....they have a reputation for being very accurate -and no deer or moose is going to know the diference between a $170 100 year old P14 or a factory new rifle that I would have had to pay $1000 for,but is doubtful if it can shoot any better-or maybe even as well

 

[LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1]

I agree with your perspective. And I really dont understand the people on here who look down on people for using "bubba'd" rifles. I can understand wanting to keep historic firearms from being hack'd up, but its not like there's any shortage of mauser's or enfields out there.

What doesnt make sense to me is how many say there mauser's are great shooting rifles with great actions and many claim them to be the most reliable with great performance, but no one would think of using one for a rifle build up?

Personally i would like to build a 270 win out of a decent action with a poor stock and barrel. But I havent seen much in the way of support for this perspective. Maybe Im wrong and someone can explain why?

Anyways, if you come along a decent mauser action with a poor barrel on the cheap Id like to find one. Ive already got one of the synthetic stocks that I would like to try building proper pillars and bed.

So Cheers to you for making your point, and to bubba for making some rifles that can be taken out of the cabinet to hunt with.

In General no they are quite common, In full dress military layout and all original yes they are getting quite rare, their is a reason a all original K98 will go for around $700, and an all original Long Branch No.4 will go for $450

In this day and age, their are enough pre-bubba's rifles out their to supply pretty much all rifle builds. Their really is no reason to bubba an all original K98 to make a hunting rfle with. if they are alrady buggered with, might as well make it useful, but if its still in original shape, leave it alone, sell it, take a fraction of the money earned and buy a sporter.

 

[Aniest]

It depends on your definition of "Bubba'd" though...

If someone removes the stock and attaches a modern style monte carlo stock so they can take the ol'girl out shooting, gets a smith to properly put four small holes in the receiver for a scope mount... that is NOT a Bubba'd gun to me. That is someone taking care of a hertitage peice so it can see use, and possibly be passed down to children.

If someone chops the barrel, grinds off the sights, slices slots in the flash-hider, cuts the receiver down, drills six holes in the receiver (or welds onto the receiver) for a scope mount... that Bubba needs b!tch slapped!!! There may be a few old WWI and WWII firearms out there now, but only museums will have nice ones if true Bubbas have at them.

From the descriptions of the OP... those are not Bubba'd guns to me.

 

[Paatz]

That term "bubba'ed" is the word of the moment, and not indicative of the level of work a competent hobbyist gunsmith could do.

Like an old car, each has it's merits and it's issues, and some are better off being hot-rodded.

 

[tokguy]

Yesterday; I had the fortune ( or mis-fortune ) to handle a brand new Kimber bolt action in 270 WSM.
My brain tells me that it's a tack driver, as light as a pool cue, the trigger is awesome.
But my hands tell me that it's a POS...thats silly, I know. It just has no life in your hands.
Not 3 hours later I'm admiring a co-workers Bubba'd LE. Weight is twice as much, but it feels right .
I was surprised at the shallower rifling (I know , better steel ) on the Kimber. I suppose it's meant to shoot 100-200 shots in it's life-span. 2 lug design, looked like a poorly kept or finished 6.5 Swede bolt.
For 1500 $ ? It sure didn't feel like a 1500 $ gun.
But what do I know right? I'm happy lugging around 100 year old battle rifles; crazy , eh?

 

[fiddler]

I get a kick out of the ''purists''who look down their nose at ''bubba'd''military rifles-to me they represent some of the finest value on the market.

I think you have a misconception of the term "Babba". Skilled work with a lathe and/or proper fitting and balance to make a rifle more useful and serviceable does not constitute this. "Babba" is a moron with a hacksaw, but think what you want. Most people don't subscribe your definitions.

 

[9Guns]

factory rifles are so cheap now, Rem 700, Savage Tikka's that there's really no need for hacking up origional condition rifles that you would pay the same for anyway. If it's already hacked then it doesn't matter.

 

[RMXC51]

Yesterday; I had the fortune ( or mis-fortune ) to handle a brand new Kimber bolt action in 270 WSM.
My brain tells me that it's a tack driver, as light as a pool cue, the trigger is awesome.
But my hands tell me that it's a POS...thats silly, I know. It just has no life in your hands.
Not 3 hours later I'm admiring a co-workers Bubba'd LE. Weight is twice as much, but I feels right .
I was surprised at the shallower rifling (I know , better steel ) on the Kimber. I suppose it's meant to shoot 100-200 shots in it's life-span. 2 lug design, looked like a poorly kept or finished 6.5 Swede bolt.
For 1500 $ ? It sure didn't feel like a 1500 $ gun.
But what do I know right? I'm happy lugging around 100 year old battle rifles; crazy , eh?

Kimber is just name, like Harley Davidson. There are plenty of people who still associtate that name with quality and high performance. PFFFFFFT.

 

[vviking]

Weren't for good 'ol 'bubba', ... my lifetime of shooting joy and building/tinkering of rifles would have been barren indeed. All those Swedes, LE's, Mausers, and most recently BSA 'factory' bubba's are far more desirable than any modern offering in my eyes.
The most accurate rifle i've ever owned, or witnessed shot, was made in 1902. It rings steel out to 900+ like clockwork.

 

[CanadianAR]

put four small holes in the receiver for a scope mount...

unfortunately this is a big no-no to most guys in the milsurp community.

 

[skirsons]

You can't undrill holes. Unfortunately most who sporterize aren't educated enough to realize they have something rare, so a lot of nice pieces, lightly sporterized, are lost forever. This is the stupidity of Bubba. I find sporting rifles to be ugly too, don't know what it is about them. Bubba also subscribes to the idea that there's an endless supply of the currently popular type of rifle only to be proven wrong in the future.

 

[woodchopper]

You can't undrill holes. Unfortunately most who sporterize aren't educated enough to realize they have something rare, so a lot of nice pieces, lightly sporterized, are lost forever. This is the stupidity of Bubba. I find sporting rifles to be ugly too, don't know what it is about them. Bubba also subscribes to the idea that there's an endless supply of the currently popular type of rifle only to be proven wrong in the future.

or they cut off that extra heavy wood or replace it with a synthetic stock, drill and tap a scope then think that the rifle is worth more

 

[mg4201]

No not worth more

Just better. Military rifles like 98's LE and MN have superb actions that are tested well beyond any sporting rifle. When you spoterise a rifle you take all the good things: powerful cartridges flawless feeding and anvil reliability and add to them lighter weight by removing extra crap, better balance and better handling. I do not need a bayonet or a cleaning rod under the barrel or the crap sights on some models. Also when you lock up a rifle in the safe and never shoot it because it is too old or too nice or all mathching you rob it of it's soul and its purpose and that is in my opinion wrong. It is just as sad as forgotten toys. just my two cents.

 

[desporterizer]

To counter you excellent points, I can hit targets at 300m with those crap sights & I can't really feel the difference between 6 & 10 lbs. Never underestimate the need for a bayonet.

 

[cantom]

As soon as those 4 little holes are drilled, say goodbye to any collector value.

So 4 holes are good but 6 holes are bad??

It's not like nobody has ever heard of no gunsmithing scope mounts.

It depends on your definition of "Bubba'd" though...

If someone removes the stock and attaches a modern style monte carlo stock so they can take the ol'girl out shooting, gets a smith to properly put four small holes in the receiver for a scope mount... that is NOT a Bubba'd gun to me. That is someone taking care of a hertitage peice so it can see use, and possibly be passed down to children.

If someone chops the barrel, grinds off the sights, slices slots in the flash-hider, cuts the receiver down, drills six holes in the receiver (or welds onto the receiver) for a scope mount... that Bubba needs b!tch slapped!!! There may be a few old WWI and WWII firearms out there now, but only museums will have nice ones if true Bubbas have at them.

From the descriptions of the OP... those are not Bubba'd guns to me.

 

[cyclone]

To counter you excellent points, I can hit targets at 300m with those crap sights & I can't really feel the difference between 6 & 10 lbs. Never underestimate the need for a bayonet.

Nor the sheer awesome-ness of a slick bolt-action paired with a 10-round magazine....

Even if the bear started to shoot back , you'd still have 'em at a disadvantage !

 

[5THBATT]

Cut down the wood!!!!!!!!! Drill & Tap!!!!!!!!!
what will they think of next?????????