WIN THIS RIFLE! See Inside for Details Kimber s Classy Bolt Actions H-S Precision Sporter

Transcription

1 WIN THIS RIFLE! Enter the El Lobo Custom Rifle Giveaway! See Inside for Details Barrel Break-In Voodoo Kimber s Classy Bolt Actions H-S Precision SPR Sporter C. Sharps Hepburn Model 1879 September 2011 No. 258 $ Printed in USA $5.99 U.S./Canada

2 Sporting Firearms Journal September 2011 Volume 43, Number 5 ISSN Issue No. 258 Page Page C. Sharps Remington- Hepburn Spotting Scope - Dave Scovill Page Trigger Basics Installing Trigger Stops Light Gunsmithing - Gil Sengel 30 Barrel Break-In Voodoo The Latest Rage John Haviland Keeping Your Guns Safe Mostly Long Guns - Brian Pearce New Scopes and Mounts for Old Rifles Down Range - Mike Venturino.458 Winchester Magnum Classic Cartridges - John Haviland 40 Kimber Bolt Actions A Classy and Complete Rifle Line Brian Pearce 46 Savage Takedown A New Life for The Imp Terry Wieland 54 Mannlicher- Schönauer 6.5x54 Carbine A Rifle and Cartridge with a Storied Past John Barsness H-S Precision SPR A Custom Production Bolt rifle Stan Trzoniec New/Old Scopes Accuracy Enhancements for Old Eyes Mike Venturino 78 Boyds Gunstocks Nearly Limitless Options Ron Spomer 4 Background Photo: 2011 Vic Schendel Rifle 258

3 On the cover... The C. Sharps Remington-Hepburn Model 1879 features a 30-inch octagonal barrel, Soule tang sight and globe-spirit level front sight. Photos by G. Hudson. Page 27 Page 30 Page What s New in the Marketplace Inside Product News - Clair Rees Issue No. 258 September 2011 Sporting Firearms Journal Page Where To Go Special Advertising Section - 98 Down on Hooker s Creek Walnut Hill - Terry Wieland Page Publisher/President Don Polacek Publishing Consultant Mark Harris Editor in Chief Dave Scovill Associate Editor Lee J. Hoots Managing Editor Roberta Scovill Assisting Editor Al Miller Senior Art Director Gerald Hudson Production Director Becky Pinkley Contributing Editors John Haviland Ron Spomer Brian Pearce Stan Trzoniec Clair Rees Mike Venturino Gil Sengel Ken Waters Terry Wieland Advertising Advertising Director - Stefanie Ramsey stefanie@riflemag.com Advertising Representative - Tom Bowman bowman.t@sbcglobal.net Advertising Information: Circulation Circulation Manager Luree McCann circ@riflemagazine.com Subscription Information: Rifle (ISSN ) is published bimonthly with one annual special edition by Polacek Publishing Corporation, dba Wolfe Publishing Company (Don Polacek, President), 2180 Gulfstream, Ste. A, Prescott, Arizona (Also publisher of Handloader magazine.) Telephone (928) Periodical Postage paid at Prescott, Arizona, and additional mailing offices. Subscription prices: U.S. possessions single issue, $5.99; 7 issues, $19.97; 14 issues, $36. Foreign and Canada single issue, $5.99; 7 issues $26; 14 issues, $48. Please allow 8-10 weeks for first issue. Advertising rates furnished on request. All rights reserved. Change of address: Please give six weeks notice. Send both the old and new address, plus mailing label if possible, to Circulation Department, Rifle Magazine, 2180 Gulfstream, Suite A, Prescott, Arizona POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Rifle, 2180 Gulfstream, Suite A, Prescott, Arizona Canadian returns: PM # Pitney Bowes, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2. Publisher of Rifle is not responsible for mishaps of any nature that might occur from use of published loading data or from recommendations by any member of The Staff. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. All authors are contracted under work for hire. Publisher retains all copyrights upon payment for all manuscripts. Although all possible care is exercised, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for lost or mutilated manuscripts. Wolfe Publishing Co Gulfstream, Ste. A Prescott, AZ Tel: (928) Fax: (928) Polacek Publishing Corporation 6 Background Photo: 2011 Vic Schendel Rifle 258

4 DOWN RANGE My feature farther along in this issue concerns new reproductions of vintage optical sights. However, in this column let s reverse matters and talk of new scopes and mounts for vintage rifles. There is a difference. I ve never been an avid fan of the scout rifle concept for two reasons. One is that a scope sitting directly over the action suits me fine. The second reason is that the idea is not new. Germans developed the scout rifle concept as early as 1941 with their K98k 8mm rifle equipped with the tiny ZF41 1.5x scope sitting directly over the open rear sight. They considered it a Marksman s Rifle. That said, I have now become a scouter. That s because I ve gotten my first scout scope, a Leu - pold 2.5x. The reason is this: I ve become enamored with shooting vintage military rifles. That s good. The bad is that this interest peaked 22 NEW SCOPES AND MOUNTS FOR OLD RIFLES by Mike Venturino A Leupold 2.5x Scout scope was fitted via the No-Gunsmith Accumount on a Swedish Model mm Mauser. as my eyes reached social security age. I can still use peep sights such as found on M1 Garands, M1 Carbines, M1903A3 Springfields, M1917 Enfields and a few others. On the other hand, open barrel sights are nigh on useless for me; examples of such are those found on a German K98k, Swedish Model 96 or Japanese Type 38 Arisaka. On those rifles my eyes see a halo around the rear sight, and the front sight is a blur. If my open-sighted military rifles were parts guns, then I d give serious thought to having some drilled and tapped for over-the-action scope mounting. Of course, that would also require bolt alteration and a new safety. While many of the bolt actions in my shooting collection are not highpriced items, I still balk at making permanent alterations. So many vintage military rifles have been sporterized in the last half-century that it s a shame to change those remaining as-issued. Here s where the scout scope concept becomes attractive. On an Internet firearms auction site, I stumbled across Accumounts ( Its business is reproducing scope mounts for vintage sniper rifles and making no-gunsmith scout scope mounts to fit onto the rear sight bases of many types of military bolt-action rifles. My only hesitation about going the scout scope route with Accumount s no-gunsmith setup was that I am one of the most mechanically inept people on this planet. Most times when I tackle a do-ityourself project, the entire thing ends up in a gunsmith s lap for salvaging. Finally, however, I gave in and ordered some of Accumount s scout scope bases and quick-detachable rings, still figuring that after I saw them, it was likely they Rifle 258

5 Accumount s No-Gunsmith base is fixed to the rear sight base of a Japanese Type mm. Screws at bottom rear of the mount attach it to the rear sight base. A large screw at top cinches it down tightly. The additional screw holes allow an extension to be fitted for normal scope positions over the action. Altering the bolt handle would then be necessary. Mike s initial 100-yard sighting-in was done with the Swedish 6.5mm with the Leupold 2.5x Scout scope. would have to be taken to a gunsmith for installation. Rather timidly I sat down at my bench with a punch set, the Accumounts and instructions as printed off the Internet. In no more than five minutes, I had the open rear sight off my Swedish Model mm. The aluminum alloy Accumount set right into the rear sight base and was attached from the sides by two supplied screws. Another larger screw went through the mount from the top to press against the rear sight base. That cinched things up tightly. The quick-detachable Accumount scope rings, also of aluminum alloy, are made to fit Weaver-type mounts. They clamped right onto the new base. About that same time, a new Leupold 2.5x Scout scope arrived and it fit right into place. The same type of Accumount with rings 24 went on a Japanese Type mm, but the 1-4x Leupold Scout scope for it hasn t arrived as of this writing. In mounting these two no-gunsmith mounts, I only broke one spring. That was on the Type 38. It snapped because I tried to pound it out in the wrong direction. Since a replacement cost only $2, I was exceedingly happy with the entire process. At my range the morning of this writing, when bore sighting the 6.5mm Swede and scope at a black bullseye at 25 yards, at first I thought there was a major stumbling block. There wasn t enough windage adjustment in the scope to bring point of impact to center. When putting the Accumount quick-detachable rings on the mount base, they had been placed so their release levers were on the left side. On a whim, I detached and dismounted the scope, turned the rings 180 degrees and remounted it. Now the scope had plenty of windage and elevation adjustment. Things went easily thereafter. Three shots with Hornady 140-grain ammunition were a couple of inches left. The scope was adjusted, and another shot went center and a little high. A couple of clicks down and the next three shots made a nice triangle dead center in the bullseye. Thereafter clusters were in the 1 to 2 minute-of-angle range, depending on the exact load. Next I shot some odds and ends of loads at 200- and 300-yard steel plates and was doing right well at it. The second stumbling block raised its head when point of impact suddenly moved considerably toward 12 o clock. It turned out to be no big deal. Neglecting to tighten the top screw of the Accumount enough, it had worked loose. It was a simple matter to release the scope, tighten that one screw firmly, remount the scope and then fire a few more rounds to again obtain a zero. That top screw didn t loosen again after 40 or 50 more rounds were fired. When that Leupold 1-4x Scout scope arrives, perhaps I can discover whether the Japanese Type 38 s usual 4-MOA groups are normal for it or caused by my eyesight. We ll see. (Clever pun there!) R Rifle 258

6 See the OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM in this issue. SUBSCRIBE or RENEW to your favorite magazines and enter the EL LOBO CUSTOM RIFLE GIVEAWAY for your chance to WIN! One entry for each subscription. Read a full review and test of the El Lobo hunting rifle by Brian Pearce in RIFLE #257 (May/June, 2011). Contees t January 30Ends, 2012 For more information see the OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM attached to this issue or contact: Wolfe Publishing Co Gulfstream, Suite A, Prescott AZ Tel: Fax: Toll Free: Enter Now and Win a Custom Hunting Rifle chambered in Norma with a Swarovski Z5 Rifle Scope! The LOBO series of custom hunting rifles by Classic Barrel & Gunworks is for those who don t hunt with the pack! This superb firearm features controlled-round feeding with a cone breech, integral recoil lug, stainless steel hand-crafted action, cut-rifled stainless steel barrel, adjustable Rifle Basix trigger, Gentry Custom 3-position safety and a fully bedded McMillian Hunters Edge carbon fiber stock with a LimbSaver recoil pad. A Swarovski Z x44 scope with Talley rings and bases tops off this custom-made rifle. This entire giveaway package is a $5,00000 VALUE! Background photo by: Vic Schendel - OFFICIAL RULES - You must be 21 years or older to enter the drawing. Only one entry per subscription per magazine for a total of three entries per person using the official entry form. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY: To enter without purchase, print in block letters, the words EL LOBO GIVEAWAY across the top of a 4x6 card along with your name, age, address and phone number and enclose in an envelope. You may submit up to three entries (each card must be mailed in a separate envelope). Failure to follow these directions will void your entry. Please send entries to Wolfe Publishing Co., Dept ELG, 2180 Gulfstream, Suite A, Prescott, AZ Wolfe Publishing Co. is not responsible for misdirected, damaged or undelivered mail. All entries must be received by January 30, The drawing will take place on February 15, Winners will be notified within 15 days of the drawing. All decisions are final. No substitutions for prizes other than those necessary due to availability. Applicable taxes and charges not included in the giveaway are the responsibility of the winner. Odds of winning are dependent upon total entries received. Void where prohibited by law and regulations. Employees and families of Wolfe Publishing Co., Classic Barrelworks and Swarovski Optik are not eligible to enter. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. The rifle must be shipped to an FFL dealer in your area. Winner s name will be published in the magazines following the drawing.

7 Kimber Bolt Actions Brian Pearce After establishing a superb reputation of building first-class Model 1911 pistols, in 2001 Kimber invited a group of gun writers to try preproduction versions of its new bolt-action Model 84M rifle chambered in Remington. Over a three-day period, I burned around 2,000 rounds through two rifles. They had it all, including accuracy, quality, handsome looks and an unusually trim controlledround feed action. One of the above preproduction rifles was later se nt to my home, where it could be better evaluated at my bench under calm conditions with factory ammunition and handloads. With this additional scrutiny the rifle impressed me even more. First, I was able to get 100-yard groups to cluster.320 to.750 inch using premium factory ammunition, which is outstanding, considering it was not a hefty benchrest outfit; it weighed a comparatively light 7½ pounds. The action and barrel exhibited excellent machining. The action has some distinguishing features, including a crisp trigger pull that broke cleanly at around 3 pounds. The wing safety was initially a two-position but has now been changed to a three-position that is similar to the Winchester Model 70. This safety type has become extremely popular due to its practical de- 40

8 A Classy and Complete Rifle Line Kimber rifles are available in a variety of cartridges and configurations. A few examples include (left to right): Model 84M LPT.223 Remington, Model 84M Varmint Remington and 8400 Sonora.300 Winchester Magnum. Stock options include synthetic, walnut (in various grades) and laminate. sign that allows removal of a cartridge from the chamber without disengaging the safety. It is quick and convenient to access and can be placed in the off position very quietly, which is an important feature for a field rifle. The bolt handle is swept and positioned for an easy grasp. The M in Model 84M stands for medium cartridges such as the Remington,.308 Winchester and similar rounds, but it is incredibly compact. Engineers started with the goal in mind to eliminate excess metal and dead weight to keep it simple and make it work. The receiver is constructed of 4140 chromemoly bar stock, while the bolt is constructed of aircraft grade 4340 steel. The receiver ring measures a tidy inches in diameter, while the bolt measures.589 inch in diameter and inches in length. (The small receiver ring allows scopes to be mounted lower than actions with larger rings.) It is a controlled-feed system with traditional blade ejector and claw extractor. The receiver is round and pillar bedded to the stock via two guard screws. The hinged floorplate and trigger guard housing are one piece and constructed of steel rather than aluminum or plastics, which seem to plague many of today s rifles. Kimber rifles are designed to control escasping gas and protect the shooter in the unlikely event that a primer or case ruptures. The receiver ring is drilled to direct gas out the right side, while the bolt body features two holes that direct gas into the left raceway. If gas travels back, a breech-bolt sleeve effectively keeps it from reaching the shooter. In using many Kimber rifles during prairie dog shoots, wherein it was a target-rich environment, I have been guilty of overheating barrels, which has resulted in a few blown primers from the cartridge getting cooked which was not the firearms fault. Not once did I even get a hint of gas in my face. On another occasion, I had a defective case rupture just forward of the head (which was not fired from a hot barrel), and while smoke spewed from the action, no gas reached me. The Model 84M lock time is reported at 2.0ms, which is faster than any other regular production bolt-action rifle that I am aware of and certainly aids shooters in 41

9 Kimber bolt-action rifles (Model 8400 Sonora shown here) are of proven design and are notably lightweight. obtaining small groups. Firing pin mass is just 1.2 ounces, and fall is.190 inch, again confirming just how efficient and tidy this action really is. Barrel quality is what Kimber refers to as Match Grade. Chamber dimensions are held to minimum practical tolerances for a working field rifle, and the crown is cut with precision. In firing more than a dozen Kimber rifles (chambered for.223 Remington through.375 H&H Magnum), they have generally proven accurate and always reliable. One of the goals Kimber tried to achieve was a rifle that was ready to go, right out of the box. In other words, the consumer would not have to tinker with it to make it accurate or install an after-market trigger to achieve a good pull. It certainly seems like Kimber has accomplished this goal. Over the past decade, Kimber has enjoyed brisk rifle sales and has expanded its product line to include the Model 84L ( length) and 8400 with a larger receiver ring (1.358-inch diameter) for belted magnums, short magnums and cartridges up to.375 H&H length. Rifle The Kimber Model 84M (top) is for the.308 family of cartridges, while the 8400 (bottom) is available in short and long lengths and has a larger receiver ring to accommodate magnum (short and belted) cartridges, such as the.375 H&H Magnum. variations (and caliber offerings) are extensive and include stainless and blued versions, with stock options that include laminate, synthetic, tactical and walnut that ranges from A grade to AAA French. Varmint rifles are often specialized, and with bulky stocks and heavy barrels are at their best when fired from a bench with a sandbag rest, rather than being lugged around while hiking in the hills. The Kimber Model 84M Varmint, however, is a walking varminter that only weighs around 7½ pounds with a 26-inch fluted varmint barrel (thanks to the unusually trim action). The weight is in the barrel where it is needed to achieve velocity, accuracy and shooting ease. With such a trim weight, it is a natural rifle to sling over the shoulder and hunt a variety of game such as coyotes, rockchucks, prairie dogs, foxes and other pests that are pursued on foot. With its A grade walnut, classic-styled stock, it is attractive and handles exactly as this type of field rifle should. My personal rifle is a Remington, which is always loaded and sits by the front door, ready to accommodate any coyote that chooses to worry one of my registered angus cows with a calf. Real world pricing is around $1,100 to $1,200. For the dedicated varmint shooter looking for a Below, the Kimber action is milled from solid steel bar stock. Right, trigger pulls are factory set between 3 and 4 pounds and are adjustable. Kimber Bolt Actions 42 Rifle 258

10 Kimber rifles feature Mauser 98 claw-type extractors and blade ejector for controlled-round feed. dedicated sandbag rifle, the Pro Varmint, LongMaster VT and SVT with heavy barrels and laminated stocks with flat forearms should satisfy most needs. The Kimber Montana is a serious rifle for hunters who need a lightweight outfit. In short-action calibers, it weighs from 5 pounds, 1 ounce to 5 pounds, 6 ounces (depending on caliber), while longaction versions weigh around 5 pounds, 10 ounces. The Model 8400 Magnum versions weigh from 6 pounds, 2 ounces to 6 pounds, 10 ounces. The rifle boasts of stainless Above, the wing safety is threeposition. Below, the bolt stop is tidy, positive and lightweight. Firing pin mass of the Model 84M is 1.2 ounces and lock time is 2.0 ms. steel construction and a Kevlar carbon-fiber stock. The floorplate is blind and the barrel free floated. Shortly after Kimber announced the Montana, I tried one in.308 Winchester. After installing a Leu - pold VX x scope, I settled down at the bench with a couple of factory loads and handloads. Accuracy of the factory loads was pleasing, but I was impressed with the one-inch (100-yard), four-shot group produced from a handload containing 45.0 grains of Accurate 2520 and 165-grain Hornady Inter- Lock SPs. Handloads with Sierra 165-grain spitzer boat-tails pushed with 45.5 grains of Hodgdon Varget produced a single ragged hole. This is a serious hunting rifle and offers similar features as custom guns that cost several times more. Calibers range from.204 Ruger to.338 Winchester Magnum, and competitive prices hover around $1,150 to $1,200. Kimber offers Classic and Classic Stainless versions that feature A grade walnut although many guns exhibit a higher grade of wood finished in matte blue and satin stainless, respectively. Each wood-stocked rifle is aluminum pillar bedded, and the recoil lug is glass bedded to enhance accuracy and strength. The Classic Select Grade features A grade French walnut and a distinguishing ebony forend tip. The Super America features a high-polished blue finish, outstanding AAA walnut with ebony forend tip, cheekpiece, oiltype hand-rubbed finish and wraparound 24-lpi checkering. (Due to the quality of wood required for this model, production numbers are limited.) All models feature classic-styled stocks and are worthy hunting rifles with indi vidual character, and they receive all the same accuracy features associated with other Kimber rifles: match-grade barrel, chamber, crown, adjustable trigger, etc. Classic series rifles are available in most popular short, long and magnum rifle cartridges with street prices beginning around $1,000. September-October

11 Kimber Bolt Actions Kimber rifles are geared for accuracy. This Sonora features aluminum pillar bedding and is glass bedded. The Caprivi is an express pattern rifle designed to meet the needs of dangerous game hunters but also offers pleasing beauty. It features AA French walnut with ebony forend tip, while cross bolts, aluminum pillars and glass bedding enhance strength, accuracy and durability. It also features a folding leaf rear sight, barrel band swivel stud and an inletted rear swivel stud. Standard calibers are.375 H&H Magnum,.416 Remington Magnum and.458 Lott. A Caprivi Special Edition is new for 2011 and is similar to the the Caprivi but features AAA French walnut stock, case colored receiver for a distinguished appearance and is only available in.375 H&H Magnum. The stainless Talkeetna is out - fitted with a Kevlar carbon fiber stock and gets its name from a special place in Alaska that is prime moose, brown bear and wolf country. Conditions are harsh and many rifles fail when exposed to sand, silt, freezing rain and rust on a continual basis. It is only offered in.375 H&H Magnum, which is an excellent choice for large Alaskan game. The Sonora features a brown laminate stock with beavertail forearm, blue steel action and fluted stainless steel barrel. It is intended to meet the needs of the longrange hunter and is chambered for Remington, 7mm Remington Magnum and.300 Winchester Magnum. Sometime back I put a Sonora.300 Winchester Magnum through a few paces, checking several factory loads and handloads for accuracy at 100 and 300 yards. Several groups were obtained at the latter distance that measured from 1½ to 2¼ inches, and weather conditions were less than perfect. Clearly it is a worthy rifle. Two guard screws secure the stock to the receiver. The trigger guard and floorplate are one piece Rifle 258

12 Caprivi street prices are typically around $2,700; the Talkeetna, $1,850; and the Sonora, $1,200. Kimber offers a full line of tactical rifles for police and military applications. However, many are Porter Pearce gives the 84M Varmint Remington a try from the bench, yielding sub-.75- and.5-inch groups with NoslerCustom ammunition. popular among varmint shooters and are viable options for those who are not allowed to own (by local unconstitutional laws), or not impressed with, high-capacity autoloading rifles that have become so popular. The product line has recently been upgraded and is complete with a version and caliber to fit most applications. In a world where dollars seem to buy less and less, Kimber rifles are of solid, proven design but thoroughly modern, accurate and look as though they should cost considerably more. R September-October