Parker Hale M82 Clone
- Thread starter merrildog
- Start date
G'day folks. Interesting info on this post. I've just bought an M82 clone from an-ex RAA sniper. So have been trawling the Web seeking to expand my knowledge.
I first handled an issue M82 back in the early 80's as a young RAAF Armament Technician. My trade not only included all weapons, EO, escape systems on aircraft but also all the small arms in use by the RAAF.
Being a country kid, brought up on shooting, hunting, fishing, any wonder I chose the military trade as a 'Gunnie' that I did! LOL
When the first couple of M82's came into the service bay for annual service, I was in 2nd heaven!!! So the M82 has always been one of the rifles on my long term wish list.
This one was built up with original PH1200T action, correct PH mounts & rings, stock fittings, correct pattern stock, PH iron sights and a Lothar Walther barrel in the right spec's and profile.
The only thing missing is the scope!
Man, Khales ZF69 6x42 BDC scope are rare as rocking horse dung!!! Guess I'll just have to be patient eh! LOL
As a temporary stand in, I picked up a nice period correct Khales Helia 6x42 with 7A reticle, steel tube. Will be sending it off for a full refurb tomorrow.
Looking forward to hearing & learning from other M82 owners.
Regards
I first handled an issue M82 back in the early 80's as a young RAAF Armament Technician. My trade not only included all weapons, EO, escape systems on aircraft but also all the small arms in use by the RAAF.
Being a country kid, brought up on shooting, hunting, fishing, any wonder I chose the military trade as a 'Gunnie' that I did! LOL
When the first couple of M82's came into the service bay for annual service, I was in 2nd heaven!!! So the M82 has always been one of the rifles on my long term wish list.
This one was built up with original PH1200T action, correct PH mounts & rings, stock fittings, correct pattern stock, PH iron sights and a Lothar Walther barrel in the right spec's and profile.
The only thing missing is the scope!
Man, Khales ZF69 6x42 BDC scope are rare as rocking horse dung!!! Guess I'll just have to be patient eh! LOL
As a temporary stand in, I picked up a nice period correct Khales Helia 6x42 with 7A reticle, steel tube. Will be sending it off for a full refurb tomorrow.
Looking forward to hearing & learning from other M82 owners.
Regards
At one stage here in Australia and in New Zealand it was easier to find ZF69’s than ZF84’s or ZF95’s. Not the case now. I too have used a Kahles Helia S2 as a fill in on my M82 clone and am about to purchase a ZF84 for my Steyr SSG69. It currently sports a Swarovski 6x Habicht and what a little beauty that is. I’ve also seen pics of M82s with Pecar 4-10x45s as well. I’m also eyeing up another TX1200 to build a second clone and have a TX1200 Barrel already that looks pretty mint if it needs it. I’ve collected a lot of PH bases and rings to use on these and my L39A1 Enforcer clones but we are talking at least 20 years of combing the markets. I’ll get some pictures up soon as I’d shelved the projects for a while but have a new lease of life. Look fwd to your photos too.
Sorry… my bad!! Royal Australian Artillery!
The whole RAAF thing had me confused!
Or is a the RAAF gone now in favor of Collectivist Non-Binary Biofuel-powered Unarmed Flying Clean Air Aboriginal Defense System?
Inquiring minds want to know? ;-)
Again post pix of your rifle!!! Looking forward to seeing it for sure!!
Cheers, Sirhr!
Ah bugger, auto- correct on a new phone, the bane of my existence! LOL. What was supposed to go up was, RAInf, Royal Australian Infantry.
LOL, like your summation of the current Service. Half the reason why I pulled the pin on a job I loved, EOD.
Well must certainly get some pics of the rifle up once it's in my hands. Submitted the PTA last week and from what I'm told is 4 or more weeks wait!! Damned joke of you ask me!!
Will set it up with the three other clone snipers for a quad-pic.
Have a stash of Nosler 168gn BTHP projos as well as some 155Palma match proposals. Be keen to give them a run in the M82.
This Kahles-Helia-Scope: nothing is wrong with it IMHO
See this mentioned above as a canadian equipment.Good to see we are still going on this post. I am ready to start M82 part 2. Just picked up a minty ZF69, but looking for a set of 26mm rings. I have several sets of 1 inch lows, but no 26's. This one should be more correct than the last one, as it will have an original barrel, rail and scope.
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So I’m looking at doing an C3/M82-ish build. My local gun club has these vintage sniper shoots, and they have a “Cold War” class. So this rifle would fit in that class very nicely. And no one else that goes to these has something like it. I am a gunsmith with my own machine shop, so I’m doing all the work myself. I’m definitely not new to building bolt action rifles, as I do barrel and action work pretty regularly.
I think I have an action that’s suitable(a question there in a moment). I’m going to get one of the “cadet” stocks referenced here in this thread. I’m going to turn the barrel myself. I can handle the stock modifications. So that leaves mostly optic, rings, and mount.
I have a couple of questions, on a couple things.
The biggest is-Are there any scopes out there that would be a substitute, without the excessive price tag of the ZF69? Quite frankly, unless I find one at a gun show for a really good price, it’s just out of my reach from what I’m seeing. Ideally, I’m looking for something functionally similar. But that might not be achievable. I’m just not really sure what’s all out there. I’m not that well versed on optics in that era.
What rings are compatible with the Parker Hale Bases? Will other brands fit, or are they completely proprietary? The Parker Hale rings I’m seeing are pretty expensive, and I’m kinda on the fence about spending the $. Is there a decent looking substitute?
Would someone mind putting a up a picture of the safety and bolt shroud on their rifle or an original? I understand this rifle has a different safety than typical Mauser rifles do. I was hoping to get a good look at one. I think the action I’m thinking of using has a safety that’s pretty close.
Basically, I want to get a rifle put together, even if it isn’t a perfect clone. I figure I can always “upgrade” to more correct parts if I find them later.
I think I have an action that’s suitable(a question there in a moment). I’m going to get one of the “cadet” stocks referenced here in this thread. I’m going to turn the barrel myself. I can handle the stock modifications. So that leaves mostly optic, rings, and mount.
I have a couple of questions, on a couple things.
The biggest is-Are there any scopes out there that would be a substitute, without the excessive price tag of the ZF69? Quite frankly, unless I find one at a gun show for a really good price, it’s just out of my reach from what I’m seeing. Ideally, I’m looking for something functionally similar. But that might not be achievable. I’m just not really sure what’s all out there. I’m not that well versed on optics in that era.
What rings are compatible with the Parker Hale Bases? Will other brands fit, or are they completely proprietary? The Parker Hale rings I’m seeing are pretty expensive, and I’m kinda on the fence about spending the $. Is there a decent looking substitute?
Would someone mind putting a up a picture of the safety and bolt shroud on their rifle or an original? I understand this rifle has a different safety than typical Mauser rifles do. I was hoping to get a good look at one. I think the action I’m thinking of using has a safety that’s pretty close.
Basically, I want to get a rifle put together, even if it isn’t a perfect clone. I figure I can always “upgrade” to more correct parts if I find them later.
Hi there, For suitable Scopes you could use a Kahles S2 6x42 with any reticle and Duracoat it matt black. Obviously it doesn't have the ballistic turrets but they are exactly the same profile. The M82 in the UK also used the Pecar 4-10x50 scopes which is the same scope as used on the L39A1 'Enforcer' Police sniper rifle. Both of these scopes were 26mm tubes and therefore the correct rings were the RALS4 or RAHS4 Parker Hale Rings. More commonly available are the 25.4mm/1" RALS3 or RAHS3 rings which I have had drilled/machined out to to 26mm as there is plenty of meat in them to do this and can be done by any competent gunsmith or machinist. The PH bases seem to be a lot easier to come by as they are a standard commercial Mauser M98 pattern and used on their commercial hunting rifles also eg. Safari etc.
You can have the 1" Rings drilled or machined out 26mm by any competent gunsmith or machinist. I've had multiple sets done in the past.
I had planned to use a Pecar 4-10 before I got my ZF69. The far more common 1” rings can be opened up to 26mm depending on your final scope selection. The correct rings are RALS4 if using a ZF69. The bolt shroud is a run of the mill commercial variant, and a flat bottomed cocking piece is used. I’ve attached a picture of what the trigger assembly looks like. You will sometimes see them with golden triggers, but you want it blackened. Easy fix.
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