Old School Meets New School- Sheep/ Mountain Rifle

AR15meister

AR15meister

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Boys/Girls,

I am thinking of doing a custom wood stocked rifle.

Something along the lines of a Dakota Model 76 Alpine or maybe even a single shot.

I currently run a 26 Nosler Christensen with a Swaro Z5 3-18 with the turret. Its a great rifle and I have killed a couple animals at long range with it. Shot an Ibex at 100 yards and stoned him......after a bit of a ####show I also finished off one another hunter wounded next day at 644 yards. Also shot a Tur in Azerbaijan just under 500 yards with it. Stoned him.

This being said, I am a romantic and only use really nice old side by sides for all bird hunting (including ducks) and vintage guns for all my deer hunting.

Can anyone make something relatively impervious to the elements with modern technology but old school looks? I will preface by stating I dont care about kicking the crap out of an expensive gun and denting/scratching it.

Who is the best in Canada for this kind of job?

My preliminary workup was to do a Model 70 Winchester Action, match grade barrel and trigger all fitted into a sick piece of wood and either have the maker stock it or send it to one of the master stockmakers we have in Canada that I have worked with on other guns. 30-06 or .270 was my thought. 22 inch barrel. engraved floorplate and pistol grip cap. Silvers recoil pad in orange. Probably another Swarovski Z5 (they are just so easy to use and good). Case hardened action and rings (or maybe stainless?). Sort of like a modern O'Connor #2 was my thought........was thinking 30 caliber for when I go to Africa again. But .270 would work for most plains game there too with good bullets as we all know. I also thought maybe .308 in a short action?

Wanted some input from anyone who has done it or dreamed of doing it.

I am doing a 21 day Stone sheep/moose/goat/caribou BC 'safari' in August and will take my good old Christensen this time but was thinking a wood stocked rifle that is super accurate would be something I could pass down the generations.


Must be really accurate though......
 
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Slimbo said:
Sounds like you have the budget for a Ralph martini build……I’d do a 7x57
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His stuff looks gorgeous but I don't want a Mauser. I suppose I could ask if he would work with a Model 70.

I am really leaning towards doing a Model 70. I think they are the best looking and (in my eyes) they are the classic North American sheep rifle.

7x57 is an interesting idea as well.
 
AR15meister said:
His stuff looks gorgeous but I don't want a Mauser. I suppose I could ask if he would work with a Model 70.

I am really leaning towards doing a Model 70. I think they are the best looking and (in my eyes) they are the classic North American sheep rifle.

7x57 is an interesting idea as well.
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Ralph has built a bunch of M70s, and I agree they are such classic North American sheep rifle. Especially in 270.

I’m sure you’ve seen his take on Martin Hagns single shot as well.

chuck nelson said:
Look very hard at D’Arcy Echols new X1 action.
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I can’t find anything online about Darcy’s new action, chuck. Could you point a guy toward some info on it?
 
If a single shot is on the table it opens up a whole new world

Sounds like you have the money to import a bespoke gun from Europe. Every import I’ve quoted from Central Europe is “ only” around 1000 dollars plus importer fee on this end

Check out johann fanzoj, they do an ultralite kipplauf on a novel tilting block action with a rising bite style lock on top. Titanium actions and handmade stocks are both available

Another one of interest might be a prinz no 1, classic styling, novel action that can handle the pressure of “long distance hunting” rounds

Build on a dakota or kimber classic action might hit the spot too? At this point it’s conspicuous consumption
 
ohh do you mean a Tikka walnut stainless :D :p

im joking, i love your idea and plans mate!

22 inch sounds like 3-08 country with the 130gr PPSN from Woodleigh. that thing is sweet an i would point it at any plains game or anything including Elk ...

All the best, awaiting pictures and ill be following your thread!

respect to the throw back to the olden days
 
AR15meister said:
His stuff looks gorgeous but I don't want a Mauser. I suppose I could ask if he would work with a Model 70.

I am really leaning towards doing a Model 70. I think they are the best looking and (in my eyes) they are the classic North American sheep rifle.

7x57 is an interesting idea as well.
Click to expand...

I don’t know anything about sheep hunting, but I’ll tell you there isn’t much that can’t be fixed by the application of a model 70 to the task. I’d agree that a 7x57 is just about perfect, especially if you where thinking about Africa as well. I had a featherweight in 7x57 at one time. I liked everything about. A custom 70 in nice wood chambered in 7x57 would be the perfect rifle for many hunts!
 
Slimbo said:
Ralph has built a bunch of M70s, and I agree they are such classic North American sheep rifle. Especially in 270.

I’m sure you’ve seen his take on Martin Hagns single shot as well.



I can’t find anything online about Darcy’s new action, chuck. Could you point a guy toward some info on it?
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There is a thread on accurate reloading under the custom rifles section. There are some nice photos and good commentary there.
 
A custom straight from Cooper? My tastes run similar but lack the same pocket depth and I dislike imparting any damage to my guns though have accepted adverse hunting conditions inevitably do.

A bead blasted stainless rifle with an unstained laminate (walnut laminates) stock sounds like the compromise you seek and it's the conclusion I've arrived at: my preference does tend toward a stainless push feed M70 in 7x64 Brenneke/280 Remington but 270w and 30-06 are just as appropriate.
 
I don't think a custom rifle will be completed by this August, however for a 2022 hunt it's possible. Many good manufactured rifles on the market that may meet your expectations: Cooper, Weatherby, Merkel, Blaser, Sauer or a used one for sale.
 
track said:
I don't think a custom rifle will be completed by this August, however for a 2022 hunt it's possible. Many good manufactured rifles on the market that may meet your expectations: Cooper, Weatherby, Merkel, Blaser, Sauer or a used one for sale.
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Definitely dont need it by August. I am hunting blue sheep in Nepal 2022 October and I dont think a custom would be ready for that either. But maybe my 2023 hunt, which is likely going to be for Marco Polo. Would probably run the 26 nosler for that hunt since long shots are the norm and there are no trees over there.......
 
JIMMY 808 said:
Could likely buy something second hand for 1/4 the price of a build you are talking.
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A friend and I had this conversation this morning.

I found a nice AL Biesen rifle at Champlin in the USA for just over 5k USD but it wouldnt be accurate like the stuff guys could build now.....7x57 in a Mauser action. Great Jack O'Connor juju but the add says its a 1-1.5 inch shooting gun. It is more than accurate enough as a sweet deer rifle but I want something that is going to be comparable to the Christensen I have now which is insanely accurate, under 1" all day long with 142gr nosler factory ammo.

We discussed doing a Dakota 76 and then having it gussied up with engraving and or a new stock once it gets here and I can confirm it shoots and carries like I want it to......

Doesnt ayone know who is the current Model 70 guru in the USA?
 
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AR15meister said:
A friend and I had this conversation this morning.

I found a nice AL Biesen rifle at Champlin in the USA for just over 5k USD but it wouldnt be accurate like the stuff guys could build now.....7x57 in a Mauser action. Great Jack O'Connor juju but the add says its a 1-1.5 inch shooting gun. It is more than accurate enough as a sweet deer rifle but I want something that is going to be comparable to the Christensen I have now which is insanely accurate, under 1" all day long with 142gr nosler factory ammo.

We discussed doing a Dakota 76 and then having it gussied up with engraving and or a new stock once it gets here and I can confirm it shoots and carries like I want it to......

Doesnt ayone know who is the current Model 70 guru in the USA?
Click to expand...

I wouldn’t get to hung up on accuracy, of course you want it to shoot reasonably well but the three makers listed above and others like them. I personally wouldn’t even bring up any sort of accuracy guarantee.
 
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