My last custom rifle

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen

That is too spooky!! Just yesterday I was looking through some old papers and found the receipt from Central Sporting Goods Co. in Seattle dated Jan 27, 1962, when I, not yet quite 16, bought just such a rifle for $120 plus $4.80 sales tax, including the Sako Dual-Range Peep Sight that fit on the rear scope base milled integral with the receiver. Sol at Central was the Pacific Northwest distributor for Firearms International. The barrel was actually a hair over 23 5/8 inch (60 cm). I've never found a Firearms International or Sako catalog that lists the Mannlicher Rifle. They all show and list the Mannlicher carbine with nominal 20-inch, actually 19 11/16 inch (50 cm), barrel and a band with the front sling swivel.

Went back to Central on Feb 10, 1962 and got Sako scope mounts and a Weaver K8.

I think I’ve seen one or two others for sale that we’re Mannlicher 24” but all were 222 had square back bolts and removable clips . The only Vixen 222 or 22-250 Mannlicher’s ive seen were 20” . Just so happens in the last eight or so years I picked up a vixen 222 20” Mannlicher with peep sight and a Forester 22-250 20” Mannlicher also with a peep sight , got them both from the same guy . I didn’t keep either of those two very long and made a modest but tidy profit on each .

[C.O.B.]

Originally Posted by Harold Lee Pickens

your last rifle I think we are all laughing

I don't know how much work Kip will be doing in the future if any. I would suspect he will still do some custom work. Rifles are like small bores I have more than I shoot but I like having them.

W. Clement Stone said "A goal once achieved no longer motivates" .

I'm working on breaking in the barrel, got about a dozen rounds in yesterday, shoot, clean shoot repeat. It was so cold that's all I could stand. I'm hoping to get in enough time behind the trigger ti be able to take her out for the late doe season which runs through Jan.1.

[Harry Collins]

I have a little Ruger 77 RSI in 6.5X55. I've been working up loads with Hornady ELD X 143 grain bullets. My other Swed likes the 129, 140, and 160 grain bullets and shoots all three in under a minute of angle. What a great looking rifle you have Rich. What is your choice of bullet?

[Bruce Day]

I’ll bet this rifle cost far more than an annual membership in the Parker Shotgun Collectors Association.

[C.O.B.]

Harry I'm going to start with the 139gr Hornady SST and the 140gr Nosler Accubond. I'm just breaking in the barrel and getting it sighted in to use for the end of deer season and shooting factory Winchester 140gr PSP. so far so good.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Rich Anderson

Harry I'm going to start with the 139gr Hornady SST and the 140gr Nosler Accubond. I'm just breaking in the barrel and getting it sighted in to use for the end of deer season and shooting factory Winchester 140gr PSP. so far so good.

FWIW , my CZ 550FS has made meat using the Nosler 140 BT 43 grains of IMR4350 lit by a CCI200 . Uhm 6.5x55 of course .

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Harry Collins

I have a little Ruger 77 RSI in 6.5X55. I've been working up loads with Hornady ELD X 143 grain bullets. My other Swed likes the 129, 140, and 160 grain bullets and shoots all three in under a minute of angle. What a great looking rifle you have Rich. What is your choice of bullet?

Had a couple of the older tang safety 77RSI's but sadly they were both in 308 . Would rather they had been a 7-08 or some such , I'm not much of a 308 fan . Only problem I had with them was trigger consistency , one time it would break at 2 1/2 pounds the next time it was 4 pounds . I eventually put RifleBasix replacement sears in both and they then broke at a consistent 2 pounds give or take 4 ounces .

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Rich Anderson

W. Clement Stone said "A goal once achieved no longer motivates" .

Oh so true

[Opening Day]

Originally Posted by Bruce Day

I’ll bet this rifle cost far more than an annual membership in the Parker Shotgun Collectors Association.

What does this comment have to do with Rich's rifle. Just stirring the pot Bruce.

[Tom Flanigan]

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

Had a couple of the older tang safety 77RSI's but sadly they were both in 308 . Would rather they had been a 7-08 or some such , I'm not much of a 308 fan . Only problem I had with them was trigger consistency , one time it would break at 2 1/2 pounds the next time it was 4 pounds . I eventually put RifleBasix replacement sears in both and they then broke at a consistent 2 pounds give or take 4 ounces .

Just curious about why you are not a 308 fan. I've never owned one or loaded for one but the ballistics are very similar to a 30-06. Does it have something to do with getting decent reloadability from 308 cases?