USMC M40 Clone

[stephen492]

Just finished a clone build of the USMC M40 rifle. As anyone who knows the rifle well will see, the action is wrong (should be 60's clip slotted M700 with short bolt shroud and tombstone safety), and the rings/bases are not original. Other than that, I think I captured the essence of the original quite well with a proper stock duplicate off of an original M40 (thanks to silver hill trading in North Carolina), proper butt plate and Witchita sling swivels (Iron Brigade Armory), an original Redfield 3-9x40 scope with an Accurange reticle, and a 24" Remington varmint contour barrel with a flat crown.

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[cheaplaughs]

Very nice

 

[JayCarver]

Very nice clone, I'm working on one also. Just curious, what are you using for the floorplate/bottom metal?

 

[stephen492]

Very nice clone, I'm working on one also. Just curious, what are you using for the floorplate/bottom metal?

Should have gone with Winchester bottom metal but cheaped out and used Remington SPS bottom metal.

 

[peterdobson]

Nice, will post my unclone version which has same stock, bedded, and buttplate, Rock 26" barrel with Obermeyer chamber, Near M1913 base. Am going to change 2-stage CG trigger for Rem 700 model.

Regards,

Peter

 

[smak_daddy]

Nice clean build. I bet she shoots the lights out.

 

[JayCarver]

This is my representation of a M40.



The Redfield 3-9 has the correct accurange reticle.
The sling is correct.
It has the correct split sear trigger with flat safety.
The bases are almost correct (they have the rounded edges instead of the correct square edge corners)
The action is clip slotted but there not quite correct, I may have this corrected some day.

I still need:
correct buttplate
bottom floorplate
swivels and have the finishes done correctly.

I'm not sure about the rings, I need to do more research and see what is correct.

 

[stephen492]

Nice rifle Jay,

The scope rings are the redfield four screw (flat head) steel rings. The rings in the centre are correct in this picture but I'm not sure about the finish:

You can get the correct buttplate and Witchita sling swivels at Iron Brigade Armory.

 

[wolf300H&H]

oh man ..nice rifles guys, ive been lusting after one of those babies ..........forever ......... take me out shooting with ya jay carver ......im in red deer ....will pay...........

how well do they group ?? you guys handloading 175 smks or what ?

 

[JayCarver]

Stephen, thanks for the tips on the Buttplate and swivels. Do you know if those rings are hard to find? I have to look and see what I have on mine, cant remember.

Wolf, I'm a little far away for a range trip but if you ever near Grande Prairie shoot me a PM. I haven't shot much for groups with mine but it was shooting 0.75MOA for the most part, I haven't done any load workup for it, that was just some 175SMK's that I had loaded up for another rifle. I'll see if I can find any targets.

 

[ghostntheshell]

Gorgeous

 

[stephen492]

Just got a PM that reminded me of this old post and the need for an update. This project now sits in a 1964 action with the proper short bolt shroud, trigger, and tombstone safety. Also rebarrelled her with a remington 700P barrel cut to 24" with a flat crown. Had the barrel and action parkerized and she looks great. Many thanks to Murray Charlton in N. Saanich, BC for the time and skilled work he put into her. Shoots like a dream.

Cheers,

Jeremy

 

[joe n]

That's beautiful! Always wanted one! Thanks for showing