Today's project...

Andy the Aussie

Andy the Aussie

Platinum Member
Gold Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2010
Messages
9,869
... so, I could not sit around all weekend just feeling sorry for myself so I occupied myself putting my .375H&H back together after some bits and pieces got done. The rifle is am early 1970s Winchester M70 that I have had since around 1983 or 84. Over the last couple of years I have become more interested in toying with it (it really was just a bit of a utilitarian "tool" most of its life), the trip to Africa next year gave me that much more purpose. So, first was to dispense with the dodgy bridge mount that blocked about 1/3 of the action, getting rounds in there was fiddly I found at the best of time, under pressure that much more so..!!!! I have had the Leupold 1.5-5x for a number of years and got it with the express purpose of sitting it on this rifle (it has been on there for five or six years already and before that a 2-7 x Leupold before that). A couple of years ago I got a Williams Firearms one piece steel floorplate (to replace the two piece aluminum jobby that SUCKED) and some hex head bolts.

Now when the floorplate arrived I found the "minor fitting" was more than I wanted to attempt so it got stuck in the safe till a month ago when I dropped the stock off to a guy who had some good feedback for his work. I had him inlet the stock and strip and remove the old factory urethane finish and apply a plain oil finish to the wood. He also bedded the floorplate while he had it there. I got the call to collect it during the week.

So, with some time on my hands and an ice pack on my throbbing ankle I set to work in the Man Cave and screwed it all together yesterday. In the end I had to shorten (and because I am being fussy - reblue the ends) the hex bolts. While I had the blueing cream out I did a few bare patches of metal UNDER the wood so as to protect them from rust, the exposed metal that is a bit worn adds character (chicks dig scars is the saying that springs to mind ;) ) and are easily attended to :D.

Finished all the tinkering up today when I torqued the bolts to 60 in/lbs and attached the new sling.

Now for a trip to the range to dial it all in ... :D :D :D

 
Last edited:
That is a MAN'S rifle! I'm looking forward to a range report.


But when you're blade is as long as your cartridge... you may need a bigger knife for your quarry. Not that you have a problem with that... :D


.
 
Yes....I ummmmm..... also have "larger" knives..... ;) ;)

It is a coin toss just now between a Boss Jack Proto and a SARGE7 to accompany me on the trip.... :D :D
 
Pretty nice way to spend your day...looks like that rifle will pack a serious punch!

Andy the Aussie said:
Yes....I ummmmm..... also have "larger" knives..... ;) ;)

It is a coin toss just now between a Boss Jack Proto and a SARGE7 to accompany me on the trip.... :D :D
Click to expand...


Based on my limited experience with the two models, I'd have to say easily SARGE7 for your trip to Africa - midsized INFI perfection!
 
Great taste in guns as well as knives Andy! I bet your shoulder doesn't love you much though;) Always have wanted to run a few rounds through a "light" safari rifle like yours.
 
Thanks guys, looking forward to a range trip with this one now... :D Funnily enough the .375 is a bit of a pussycat to shoot I think, I was 14 or 15 when I got this and neither me or my best mate had trouble with it then (he is a bit lighter built than I), this one was "mag-na-ported" back in the 80s and in reality this only seemed to improved the rifle off the bench (in my opinion). I actually prefer to bench this now than my .300Win Mag, it is an older Weatherby (Howa) Vanguard in a McMillian stock, lovely to hunt with, takes some thinking about to zero ... ;) I suspect this rifle may need to be re-crowned but we shall see.
 
Andy she looks great. I hope it performs flawlessly.

I have no doubt that you will be successful next year no matter what you take:cool:
 
"The Riflemans Rifle" that was the term originally given the Model 70....Nice modifications for serious work. I have feeling it will get a good workout prior to safari.....:thumbup:
 
I am hoping to take it out to an indoor range to do an initial zero on it this weekend..... :D They only have a 50m range but that at least lets me know all is working OK and I can set a time to get to a proper range.....and yes...I am keen just to shoot it now.... :D :D
 
Here's a couple of pics of my new rifle; a Marlin 1895 in .45-.70





Entry and exit pics from a 2x6



 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top