Author: Grumpy
My buddy David told me once that if, after the age of 35 you wake up in the morning and nothing hurts, it’s a pretty good indication you died during the night.
Truer words never spoken.
Truer words never spoken.
My idea of some good times in the making
ENGRAVED AND GOLD INLAID MAUSER G33/40
I don’t know what your taste in rifles is, but I’m a bolt action sporting rifle aficionado with a penchant for the controlled feed Winchester Model 70’s and sporters based on the legendary Mauser 98.
I like steel, not alloy, walnut stocks, not synthetic, and very conservative styling, no thumbhole stocks nor Wundhammer swells. Similarly I’m not greatly into collecting militaria.
I’d much rather pull an ex-military rifle apart and use the action to create a beautiful and functional sporter than preserve the military rifle in its original state. Some of my friends are military rifle collectors and they and I can have many happy arguments about “to sporterize, or not to sporterize” and simply agree to differ.
This Czechoslovakian BRNO vz33 “small ring” Mauser 98 action has been transformed into a gorgeous sporting rifle.
Amongst the most desirable of the ex-military Mauser 98 actions for a sporting rifle are those made by Czechoslovakian company Zbrojovka BRNO. The BRNO vz33 action is a “small ring” Mauser 98 which was originally designed to create a lightweight military rifle.
When Czechoslovakia was invaded by the Germans during World War II they decided that the vz33 action would make and ideal rifle for their Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS Gebirgsjäger (mountain troops).
The rifles for these troops as made by BRNO had the receiver ring made smaller, and also had the action width reduced a little but retained the same size bolt. These rifles were first given the numeric designation “945” but later called G33/40. Curiously the “G” stands for Gewehr (rifle) not Karabiner (carbine) although these rifles were made shorter and lighter than a standard K98.
When the Second World War ended the surplus G33/40 rifles were much prized by custom rifle builders both because of their design which made them ideal for the creation of lightweight sporting rifles but also because the workmanship of the BRNO made actions was amongst the best extant.
This custom rifle made on a G33/40 BRNO “small ring” Mauser 98 action is of the highest order.
The rifle featured in this post appears to have been made in Austria in the post war period. The barrel is marked “MADE IN AUSTRIA” on the upper left flat and “B’O’HLER RASANT” on the left flat; all those markings are near the breech. The rifle has a part octagon barrel with matted full length rib featuring an integral ramp front sight base.
Top view of the action showing the engraved moose and detail of the front rifle-scope mount base.
This fine sporting rifle has a gold inlaid moose on the receiver ring, a bear and deer on the magazine floorplate, and a wolf on the trigger guard.
Detail of the bear and deer gold inlays on the magazine floor-plate.
The opening floor-plate features a locking lever and is beautifully engraved in what appears to be the Austrian style.
The life-like wolf gold inlay on the trigger guard.
The custom work and decoration on this rifle are tastefully done and professionally executed. The skeleton butt plate is an especially unique feature. The stock is made of fancy grade European walnut.
A skeletonized butt plate such as this is an unusual feature even on top grade custom rifles.
This rifle is chambered for the common and excellent 7mm Remington Magnum and the part octagon barrel is 21″ long.
That is quite short for a 7mm Remington Magnum so whilst it makes for a very light yet powerful sporting rifle we would expect muzzle blast to be quite sharp. Nonetheless, this is a well thought out mountain rifle possibly originally created for Alpine chamois hunting.
This rifle is coming up for auction by Rock Island Auction Company at their Premiere Auction and will be offered for sale on 6th May, 2017.
You will find the sale page for this rifle if you click here.
The rifle is fitted with a Zeiss 6×32 rifle-scope in quick detachable mounts and is expected to sell in the range USD$6,000-$8,000.
Sealed bids and on-line bidding are accommodated.
If you are an aficionado of fine sporting rifles this is one to take a good look at.
(All pictures courtesy Rock Island Auction).
Jon Branch is the founder and senior editor of Revivaler and has written a significant number of articles for various publications including official Buying Guides for eBay, classic car articles for Hagerty, magazine articles for both the Australian Shooters Journal and the Australian Shooter, and he’s a long time contributor to Silodrome.
Jon has done radio, television, magazine and newspaper interviews on various issues, and has traveled extensively, having lived in Britain, Australia, China and Hong Kong.
His travels have taken him to Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan and a number of other countries. He has studied the Japanese sword arts and has a long history of involvement in the shooting sports, which has included authoring submissions to government on various firearms related issues and assisting in the design and establishment of shooting ranges.
Jon has done radio, television, magazine and newspaper interviews on various issues, and has traveled extensively, having lived in Britain, Australia, China and Hong Kong.
His travels have taken him to Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan and a number of other countries. He has studied the Japanese sword arts and has a long history of involvement in the shooting sports, which has included authoring submissions to government on various firearms related issues and assisting in the design and establishment of shooting ranges.
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The Colt Defender
As a teenager I remember watching “Red Dawn” the first time and thinking, “WOW, that’s all they had to choose from in a gun shop?”. A .308, a .38 Special (revolver), a 12 Gauge shotgun and a 30-30 Winchester lever gun (a Marlin). Lookin’ back I realize they actually had a pretty good assortment of firearms for survival purposes, but out of all those firearms, I always thought the short, light, Ruger “Ultralight” in .308Win. that the “Jed Eckert” (Patrick Swayze) character carried was the best choice for a “Survival Rifle”out of the selection they had.
“Jed Eckert” with his Ruger M77 Ultralight in .308 Winchester.
One of my issues with firearms over the years has been being a left-hander in a right-handed world. Except for a few weapons systems like the M-60, weapons in the military never gave me issues shooting them left-handed, and I got around the ones thast did. On the other hand, bolt-guns were always an issue when it came to shooting quickly and correctly.
No bolt action rifle type out there is as reliable and dependable as a Mauser type action. Solid lock up. as robust an extractor as is available, and the fixed ejector is solid and dependable. Compared to the small surface grabbing, claw extractors and plunger type ejectors of most other bolt action rifle types made today, the Mauser action wins, hands down, as the durable, reliable, “Go To” bolt type action in a survival rifle.
For all it’s PC faults, Ruger makes great guns. I’ve owned a dozen or so Ruger firearms over the years, and one of the thing I will give Ruger is the fact that they put the extra effort into making firearms for both right and LEFT-handers in most models. I’ve owned three of the M77 rifles. A left handed .300WinMag, an older right handed, tang-safety, Heavy Barreled .308Win. (I like right handed guns when shooting from the prone), and the most recent “Gunsite Scout” rifle in .308 Winchester
Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle with four 10 round mags and mag carrier.
I always liked the idea of the Cooper “Scout Rifle” concept to a point, but having had a few rifles with long eye relief, low powered (2 3/4-4x) scopes, I’m not the biggest fan of the forward scope mount in execution. The first scope I ever used was a 4x on my BB gun (Dad made me get good with irons first). Next, I had a 3-9x on my Savage 24 .223Rem./20Gauge combo gun. I also used a 3-9x on my Father’s Springfield ’03 (another awesome Mauser action) for deer hunting. So when it came time to scope my Scout Rifle, I put an older 1″ Sightron 3-9x MilDot that I had on it, and mounted it in Leupold Quick Detach, Zero Hold rings .
First Mauser action rifle I ever used. A Springfield 1903, 30-06
For a multi-purpose Survival/Hunting rifle, I think the 3-9 power scope gives the most bang for the buck. If the rifle is up to it, accuracy wise, the 9 power will give you all the range you could ever want in either scenario. For dense brush or snap shooting, 3 power will get it done easily if you’ve practiced. I normally leave it set on 6 power because it is truly a “happy medium” in an optic’s magnification for ease of use.
Safety is in the forward “Fire” position (position 1) right behind the bolt handle in this pic.
As to the features present on my “Modern Day Jed Eckert Rifle”, let’s go over them. When I bought the Ruger Scout rifle, I picked the 18.7″ barrel over the 16.1 inch model. I figured since it was for Survival/Hunting use, 18 inches will give the ammo I usually use (Federal 168gr Match and Hornady 168gr AMAX TAP) a little more room to perform well.
Overall length is 40 inches with the flash hider and the “length of pull spacer” (it comes with a couple) I used. It weighs in at 9 1/4 pounds empty and with optic mounted. Ten round mags weigh 1 pound. Loaded but without the extra mag in the buttstock pouch it’s 10 1/4lbs. and 11 1/4lbs. with extra mag on the stock . Speakin’ of Mags. I have four for my Scout. All are Ruger 10 round mags. One is the steel one that came with the rifle. Three are Ruger synthetics that are slightly lighter but just as robust.
Two 10 round mags in a mag pouch originally meant for 20 round 30 cal. mags.
It has 5/8×24 threads for a flash suppressor, a muzzle brake or a sound suppressor. This could be advantageous for obvious reasons if you are using it in a survival role, and it makes it easier for smaller framed people to shoot the .308Win. if you get an effective muzzle brake.
I bought the stainless model with a laminated stock for the obvious corrosion resistance and durability. I like a laminate stock over a synthetic because it feels and hefts more like a wood stock, but still has the durability of synthetic. I’ve always liked the feel of a wooden stock on a solid rifle. Attached to the stock is a mag carrier originally designed for one 20 round 30 cal. magazine. In it I carry a pull through bore cleaner rolled up in the bottom, and an extra 10 round mag. Also, I like Ruger’s dull stainless finish because it is very corrosion resistant, but doesn’t glow/shine in the woods due to it’s dull finish.
One 10 round mag and a “Boresnake” go into the buttstock mag pouch.
Another feature I love about this rifle are the back up iron sights. It started out with the factory Ruger peep sights (ghost ring). The front sight is wing protected and about as solid as can be without it being brazed onto the barrel. I replaced the rear sight with a full length (it came with the forward mounting rail) rail from XS Sights and this has a built in ghost ring aperture.
Last, but not least is the Ruger 3-position safety. After using a Springfield ’03, three position safety while growing up, I absolutely love the Ruger version. The Springfield safety rotates over the top of the bolt counter clockwise from 3oclock “safe, bolt locked” (position 3), to 12oclock “safe, bolt unlocked” (position 2), to 9oclock “fire” (position 1).
The Ruger action has the safety rotate forward on the left side of the rear of the action (left handed action). It starts at the rear of the bolt, next to the firing pin protrusion where it’s in “safe, bolt locked” (position 3). It rotates forward and left about 3/8 inch to “safe, bolt unlocked” (position 2), and finally forward again, next to the bolt handle for “Fire” (position 1). It is easy and sure to flip it from “Safe” (position 2) to “Fire” (position 1) with a normal firing grip with the left thumb next the left side of the rifle.
A three shot, 2.5 inch group at 200 meters
As far as accuracy goes, it is a 1.5 to 2 MOA (with LC Ball) rifle on average. I have shot a 2 inch group at 200 meters with my rifle and Match ammo, but that is the best, and a little smaller than the average. The only downside I see with the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle is cost. They average around $800-$900. Do I think it’s money well spent? Yes, No one else makes a Scout configured rifle left handed. Savage, and Mossberg each make one, but none are left-handed, and they’re within $200 of the cost of my Ruger.
Is my Scout the most accurate bolt gun I own? No, that position is owned by my Savage 10 Tactical with a TTI StraightJacket barrel system. It shoots 1/2 MOA or better out to 500 meters all day long (I don’t usually get to shoot further than that on regular basis). The downside for the Savage 10Tac is that it is a 46 1/4 inch long, 13 1/4 pound rifle with a 10x scope and a bipod. That’s 6 inches and 4 pounds heavier than the Scout.
Savage 10 Tactical. This is the most accurate rifle I own, and the second most accurate rifle I’ve ever shot.
The Scout and Savage Tac have different applications as rifles, and fill their intended niche perfectly. Given the choice, the Ruger Scout would be the “Grab and Go” gun as a survival/hunting piece, and I would not feel under-gunned in a wilderness survival situation with the Scout as my only rifle . Coupling the Scout with my compact 11″ ParaFAL and Glock 21 pistol as self defense guns, a .22LR rifle (I use a Marlin 880SQ for hunting and an AR-7 as a pack gun) for small game, I’d be hard pressed for a better compact survival arsenal.
Coupled with this 11″ ParaFAL “pistol” in the same caliber as the Scout, it would be a good start to a versatile, compact, centerfire, survival arsenal.
I hope this was able to help with your choice for a good, compact, boltgun, especially if you’re a left-hander.
JCD
"Parata Vivere"-Live Prepared.
Buyer Beware, in two parts…
by
Part 1-
As the value of ‘old’ guns goes up, so do the counterfeits become more and more prevalent…
At gun shows you may make the find of a lifetime, or get badly burned…
As the value of ‘old’ guns goes up, so do the counterfeits become more and more prevalent…
At gun shows you may make the find of a lifetime, or get badly burned…
There are companies out there (especially in Italy apparently), making fakes of old/famous guns that are appropriately “aged” or distressed to make them appear something they are not.
Spent about half the day this weekend on the phone with a friend as he tried to buy what was ‘advertised’ as an M-1 Garand NM Type 2, but the seller had ‘forgotten’ to bring the DMP paperwork for the rifle. He knew I had one, so he was calling for assistance and I was frantically searching the net for verification (and this was one of those shows were no cameras are allowed). Luckily, I was finally able to get in touch with a REAL expert on NM rifles, and got him in a conference call with my friend.
He ended up not buying the rifle, as there were just a few too many ‘oddities’ that didn’t match up, and every oddity had an ‘explanation’ to go with it…
By the way, here is an excellent reference article, even without pictures on the M-1 NM rifles.
http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/national-match-m1/
This brought to mind the number of fake M-1C/D sniper rifles and the fake 03-A3 sniper rifles that are appearing. I’m sorry, but $7000 for a rifle without documentation is just patently ridiculous, and some are obvious fakes, others however, would take a good gunsmith or a professional weapons appraiser to catch the errors/omission/fakery.
If you’re serious about buying a rifle like that, or a ‘real’ WWII unrestored 1911A1, or a real Winchester 73 or 86, or a Trench Gun, or a Gen 1 Colt SAA; you are better off going to a real auction house or having an expert on hand to verify the weapon is what the seller says it is…
At least going through an auction house, you do have a better chance of getting papers that prove the provenance of the weapon, and most of them have a provision for examination by an expert/gunsmith.
Part 2-
This from Guns and Ammo on line, a new ‘Peacock’ investigation, focusing on face to face sales based on internet sales (note they didn’t try to buy via an auction or gunbroker or others that I could tell; and they didn’t go into the ‘hood’ and do a random stop on a corner to ask “Sumdood” if he had a gun for sale. And the obligatory sob story at the end. Video HERE. Note the ‘set up’ by the buyer, and the hidden camera pursuit/confrontation?
(why does Bloomberg’s straw buyer program come to mind?)
I really wonder if this is about guns, or ‘barter’ which is becoming more and more prevalent (and no taxes are collected). How could you possibly regulate something like FTF unless you have a gun registry, and require proof of ownership a periodically? Every 6 months is an investigator going to show up and check your safe? You DO comply with the storage requirements, right???
How about just enforcing the laws on the books? Or is that too hard???
Sigh…
h/t JP
Both Teachers’ Unions Oppose Bill That Would Make Sex with Students a Crime
Yesterday at a hearing for a bill (HB 5817) that would make sex between school employees and students a crime—even after they’ve turned 16, the legal age of consent in Rhode Island—both teachers’ unions made their objections known. NEA RI didn’t have anyone testify but Pat Crowley did sign in to the hearing and note his opposition to the bill. I suspect the NEA also submitted written testimony. James Parisi of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) did testify—in fact, we sat beside one another, each offering our very different opinions on the bill.
As it currently stands, Rhode Island is one of a few states where it is perfectly legal for teachers and other school employees to have sexual relations with their students once they turn 16. It’s literally a dirty little secret—almost no one seems to be aware of this loophole in the law and yet it leaves high school students without any protection from those who would sexually abuse them after their 16th birthday. We are also a state who, after a year long investigation by USA Today, received a grade of D for how well we track and share information about teachers who are also alleged abusers.
As it currently stands, Rhode Island is one of a few states where it is perfectly legal for teachers and other school employees to have sexual relations with their students once they turn 16. It’s literally a dirty little secret—almost no one seems to be aware of this loophole in the law and yet it leaves high school students without any protection from those who would sexually abuse them after their 16th birthday. We are also a state who, after a year long investigation by USA Today, received a grade of D for how well we track and share information about teachers who are also alleged abusers.
