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Gunsmithing McMillan G30 Long Action Antelope Rifle (D. Barlow)

LRI

Lance Criminal
Full Member
Minuteman
  • Mar 14, 2010
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    Sturgis, S. Dakota
    www.longriflesinc.com
    Here's the latest. Mr. Barlow's McMillan G30 Long Action fitted up with a Bartlein chambered in 6.5-06.

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    We fitted up the tomater stake yesterday afternoon. This morning's venture is getting the stock inletted and prepped for bedding later this afternoon. The Mcmillan action is a pretty clever pieces with some noteworthy features that put it outside the box of the typical Remington Clone.

    1. Claw style extractor very similar in spirit to the hallowed P64 Winchester. Only difference is this one rotates with the lug. Doesn't offer the breech block like the P64 does but it DOES give a ton of case purchase and keeps the ejection angle low so that scope turrets aren't getting the snot beat out of them like they do with an M16 style.

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    2. Mechanical ejection. Always a neat feature for those on the bench who don't want to chase brass all over the country side.

    3. Large ejection port. Double clutches on the bolt should be easily cleared.

    4. Fit and finish is quite nice. Cursory inspection didn't show ANY tool marks, chatter, or other machining blems. No evidence of the action being run through a chemical mass finisher either.

    5. Bolt handle attachment is unique. It's dovetailed like a 1911 sight and soldered. Kinda cool.

    6. 3 position safety on the bolt. Always nice as it offers a firing pin block to prevent accidental discharges.

    7. Remington 2 pin style trigger. Opens the door wide open for options. In this case we went with a Jewel.

    8. Pinned recoil lug. Makes assembly nice. No special tools required to clam up a barrel.

    All in all, I say a 9.5/10

    So, onto the stock work. First we'll map this bugger out so that I have a working CAD model.

    Stock is a carbon McMillan:

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    Some stock work and onto bedding! Ripped this bugger a new arse today. Things went really smooth/fast for once.

    Nice!

    I'll pop it out in the am.

    Setup: Also a nice shot of the new deck plate and stock fixture I made here not too long ago. This GREATLY reduces the setup time for aligning a stock in the machine. Everything is keyed and pre positioned now. Plug and play on this machine from here out.

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    3/4 inch lollypop rougher mill. This bugger has an insert that's lasted me over 8 YEARS. crazy, I can't kill it!

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    Secret sauce. . .

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    I absolutely love these threads Chad. Can't wait for you guys to get to mine. Talked to John yesterday and it looks like I may be seeing one of these threads with my rifle in it sometime around Christmas! This is another beautiful work of art and precision science mated together expertly. it was drooling over threads like these that finally caused me to pack my parts up and send them off to you and your crew. Keep up the good work guys! Chad you have a gift and a passion for what you do that is not equaled by many other smiths in the industry. Keep on trucking!

    -VB
     
    Chad, can we get a close-up of the joint between the bolt and bolt handle? I'm really interested in this.
     
    Thanks guys. We've not been able to do a BT for a while due to the GB we have going on. Finally getting the production schedules hammered down to where I have time to do both.

    Enough with that, here's the good chit. Bedding came out nice. Really nice. I have her in the mill right now running top side 2ndaries. Here's where were at thus far. Waiting on the guys to get done with the barrel vise so that I can tear down the B/A for fitting up the ejection port/bolt handle/bolt release features.

    PICS:

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    Still has some work to do around the tang. That'll come next.
     
    you flute your barrels dry?
    the chips are sure pretty , what cutter and speeds are you running if you don't mind me asking
     
    Chad that is a very nice job, as per spec. I do have a question on the action, does Mcmillan make them in house?
     
    Hey Chad, I'm sure this has been asked multiple times. Do you not do any bedding in front of the recoil lug?

    Nope.


    Here's my answer to this. Buy a Tikka, M700, custom whatever. Next, go buy a zillion dollar "Steven Segeal" chassis stock. Not one of them has any provision for bedding ahead of the lug and they typically shoot really well.

    So, why do it on a synthetic stock?

    I think it's BS and all it does is complicate your life when its time to hang a new pipe on the receiver.

    Float em. they'll shoot just fine. That's been my experience.
     
    That action has me very intrigued. It appears to be completely 700 stock and trigger compatible, but has a better safety, extractor, and a nice side bolt release. The only thing I'm not thrilled about is the angle of the bolt in the stock picture.

    Chad-
    Did you do any truing or anything to the action itself?