Pics of the Beast.

[wolley]

A little history.
I found this rifle at a local gunshow with a $450 tag on it. It was Bubba'd with Conetrol Mounts and an older Weaver V series scope. I offered him $400 cash with the scope and $375 without.
Came back the next day and the scope was missing. He had sold it to a shooting buddy who was walking around the show with me.
Got the rifle for $375.
The stock was heavily varnished but all of the metal and sights were there and it had not been cut.
Took it home scrubbed out the bore checked the headspace and shot it. 1.25" groups at 100yds with the irons. A bit shocked I was. ME on a CMP gauge is 1+
Stripped the stock and discovered two longitudinal cracks in the wrist area. One high and one low. The pics show two pins. There is a 3rd on the bottom. The 3rd wasn't originally needed but my drill alignment helper didn't quite understand the goal and I missed my mark so a 3rd pin was added.
Bolt is marked NS. I can't tell from the heavy mods but it may be original or at least correct for the date of the receiver.
Receiver S/N is 964,xxx
Barrel is SA 9-44 with a flat cut crown.
Buehler safety came on the rifle and for now I have elected not to change it. Especially since the bolt sleeve was butchered to make the Buehler work.
The stock is a pre-war Springfield "C". "S" and "O" in the mag cut off with a RA-P cartouche. One of the stock bolts has a "2" stamped in it. Someone tell me about the handguard. It has the windage knob cut out?
Stock was stripped with orange stripper and then scrubbed with Antique Furniture restorer. Three coats of Pure Tung Oil and two coats of Tung Oil Finish. I know, but I like my stocks water proof.
The stock still has lots of character.
The receiver had been drilled at .5" hole spacing so I had Steve Earl make me a custom rear block.
Found a new heavy checkered buttplate on the CMP forums for $60. The finish looks wierd but it appears to be legit. It has the bosses for the trap swivel and spring mount along with a C3xxx number stamped on the back.
I fancy myself a pretty decent amateur photographer but gun pics have never been something I am very good at. D200 Nikon. I need to get off my butt and build a light box.
Pics
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/Addivb/USMC%201903/WES_5455.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/Addivb/USMC%201903/WES_5457.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/Addivb/USMC%201903/WES_5459.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/Addivb/USMC%201903/WES_5464.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/Addivb/USMC%201903/WES_5465.jpg

[Griff Murphey]

Nice... Great find!

[Jim in Salt Lake]

Whoever did the work on the bolt handle did a nice job, looks good. That stock sure has some pretty grain, especially in the butt. Have you shot it with the scope yet?

[wolley]

I have. It shoots sub-MOA. I am in awe of how well it shoots.
If I can get an IMR4350 load worked up on Friday I may shoot it Sunday in our midrange (600) prone match.

[Jeff L]

Nice!

[Roofuss]

Sounds like you have a ton of work into the old girl, but a very nice end result ! Very nice job .

[Jim in Salt Lake]

Wooley, my rifle is about the same as yours. I had to restock, the original had been cut for a recoil pad. My barrel is SA 07 and it shoots < MOA with the Malcolm scope I bought. We've got a mid range belly match this Saturday, too, and I'm going to shoot mine. I shot a practice across the course match a couple weeks ago and used my 1903 at the 600 yard stage. I started with no zero, got on paper and got a zero. It was AMAZING to be able to see, my old eyes have struggled with the AR at 600 for a couple of years. I'm using Reloader 19, have always used IMR 4895 and 4064 in the past. I've been thinking of trying 4350 with some 190gr MKs I've had in the cabinet for years. We have long range matches here and I'd like to try those with this old rifle. You spend all that time and money building one of these gorgeous rifles and I can't see getting it out for one Vintage Sniper match a year. Let us know how you do, I'd be interested in your load.

[wolley]

100yd Ten shot group split into two parts. 1st five are high ones and the 2nd five are the ones in the orange. Someone demanded a cease fire to go look at their pie plate sized 300 Win Mag groups in the middle of this string. When I started this group the rifle was already hot and by the time we got back to shooting it was mostly cooled off.
Trigger is still breaking at something over 7.5lbs. That is the next thing to tackle. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/Addivb/photo.jpg

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

Nice old rifle from the WWI era. Nice shooting too.

jt