Retro or Repro

[libertyman777]

Let's talk older bolt rifles. If you were building a reproduction sniper, what would you choose and why? Be sure to consider what it takes to make a decent reproduction, i.e., a MK4 Enfield are priced right but installing the pads and mount is not for the faint of heart, not to mention the lack of reproduction scopes. K98's are well supported as are the Nagants, both the 91/30 PU and the M39 PE as are the 03a3(4) but pricey. I'd like to hear from those that have either built one or have done a great deal of research.

Now for the retro. What I mean by retro is taking a former match rifles and making a sniper out of it. CG 63, M28/76 or other older match rifles. Won't be able to attend a Vintage Sniper Match with'em but I'll bet they'll shoot. Modern optics and mounting systems, etc. Any takers here?

 

[silverstang]

Re: Retro or Repro

I've got an old A303 some jackass cut all up before me. An uncle of mine came across it for cheap a long time ago.


The stock has been "sporterized" as well as a few other things. I've often thought about restoring it, or leaving it the way it is and putting modern glass on it. Haven't made up my mind yet. I might just sell it to fund something else.

 

[aaronraby1]

Re: Retro or Repro

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: silverstang</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've got an old A303 some jackass cut all up before me. An uncle of mine came across it for cheap a long time ago.


The stock has been "sporterized" as well as a few other things. I've often thought about restoring it, or leaving it the way it is and putting modern glass on it. Haven't made up my mind yet. I might just sell it to fund something else. </div></div>

ive got an a3 as well that was given to me by my grandpa. he sporterized it as well and its toped with an older leupold 3-9. its actually my youngest brothers now. surprisingly i shot a .777" group with factory remington ammo with it.

 

[desertrat1979]

Re: Retro or Repro

I like the idea of a "resto-mod" kind of like cars. The 67' Camaro is an awesome car. Its even better when its got a modern LS7 and T56 six speed.

It has to be done right though. I shot 2 diffrent 03A3s. One was a bone stock with match sights. I put 3 rounds of cheap FMJ 2 inches apart @ 250yds. The other a sporterized hack that had a shitty mount and a 3x B&L scope that shot 6 feet to the left. The scope wasnt adjustable, the mount had the windage and elevation adjustments.
If the rifle is not an original that holds a lot of value, that makes it a perfect resto-mod. To unfuck my friends sporterized rifle I would strip it down to the barreled action, new trigger, and get a picitinny mount since it has already been drilled and tapped for the other mount. Odds are a blank would need to be cut to make it work. Pick a decent scope like a Vortex or something, a new wood stock, there arent too many synthetics out there, and it keeps a classic look. Bed it, bi-pod, sling, handloads. If it isnt grouping right a new barrel. Not high-speed/low-drag, but there is a certain level of coolness seeing something like that. If you are willing to spend the money, and time, its worth it.

 

[BasraBoy]

Re: Retro or Repro

I've recently built up a repro Enfield No4T using original parts where possible or the best available repro parts where not and bought a Miltech Mauser 98k "scoped" rifle (made up from an all matching bring back 98k, vintage Zeiss Zf39 and a really good repro SSR scope mount) a few years ago.

I'm lucky in that I have a good mate of mine who is a qualified armourer who helps with any problems and put the No4T together - I wouldn't recommend anyone tries this in the garage at home!! I can post links to his website with details about the project and engineering processes of the build or you can follow this link to see the Enfield:

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2083251#Post2083251

The great thing about repro's/replicas are:

a) they cost substantially less than original rifles with known provenance.
b) you don't have to worry too much about taking an historic (and possibly irreplaceable) rifle out to the range and getting it stolen/damaged.
c) they give you a real flavour of how thing's used to be and how lucky we are with the kit we can buy today.

Would I like an original :SURE! Who wouldn't.....

But the cost and responsibility of owning/maintaining a piece of firearms history would probably make it a mixed blessing!

Would I look at another repro/replica project.....do you really need to ask?

At the moment I'm probably enjoying sorting and shooting these classic rifles more than picking up my more modern precision rifles in some ways - more challenging, less "clinical" and they just have more character.

But some notes of caution:

You have to be prepared for a potentially long haul to get them to where you might want them to be.

Don't take on a project without doing the apporpriate research and having the will and the funds to see it through.

Be prepared for your fair share of frustration before the end of the project - whether it is parts availability, finding the right guys to help, even finding a right rifle to start with.

Don't expect these old girls to turn in performace to match modern precsion firearms (at least not in my hands!)

And don't EVER be tempted to do a garage hack job or bastardize a perfectly good classic rifle by trying to do it yourself if you have neither the funds, skill or equipment to do the job properly - that is unforgiveable!

If I were to do another...possibly a Swedish Mauser M41 or M41B. Or a Finnish M39 Moisin

 

[libertyman777]

Re: Retro or Repro

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BasraBoy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've recently built up a repro Enfield No4T using original parts where possible or the best available repro parts where not and bought a Miltech Mauser 98k "scoped" rifle (made up from an all matching bring back 98k, vintage Zeiss Zf39 and a really good repro SSR scope mount) a few years ago.

I'm lucky in that I have a good mate of mine who is a qualified armourer who helps with any problems and put the No4T together - I wouldn't recommend anyone tries this in the garage at home!! I can post links to his website with details about the project and engineering processes of the build or you can follow this link to see the Enfield:

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2083251#Post2083251

The great thing about repro's/replicas are:

a) they cost substantially less than original rifles with known provenance.
b) you don't have to worry too much about taking an historic (and possibly irreplaceable) rifle out to the range and getting it stolen/damaged.
c) they give you a real flavour of how thing's used to be and how lucky we are with the kit we can buy today.

Would I like an original :SURE! Who wouldn't.....

But the cost and responsibility of owning/maintaining a piece of firearms history would probably make it a mixed blessing!

Would I look at another repro/replica project.....do you really need to ask?

At the moment I'm probably enjoying sorting and shooting these classic rifles more than picking up my more modern precision rifles in some ways - more challenging, less "clinical" and they just have more character.

But some notes of caution:

You have to be prepared for a potentially long haul to get them to where you might want them to be.

Don't take on a project without doing the apporpriate research and having the will and the funds to see it through.

Be prepared for your fair share of frustration before the end of the project - whether it is parts availability, finding the right guys to help, even finding a right rifle to start with.

Don't expect these old girls to turn in performace to match modern precsion firearms (at least not in my hands!)

And don't EVER be tempted to do a garage hack job or bastardize a perfectly good classic rifle by trying to do it yourself if you have neither the funds, skill or equipment to do the job properly - that is unforgiveable!

If I were to do another...possibly a Swedish Mauser M41 or M41B. Or a Finnish M39 Moisin </div></div>

That's a beautiful rifle brother and your points are well taken. I definitely don't want to get in a money pit and I'm not up for bubba.

The M39 PE is probably the most cost effective and uses a modern sealed optic.

An M41b would be nice. If Samco has some when I get the cash up, I'll look hard at one.

Looking at it from the perspective of getting the most accurate rifle for the money, which I guess I should have stated better in my initial question, I think it would be hard to beat the CG63/80. Great bullet, low recoil, tricked out action, most are bedded. Since it's already been altered by taking them out of service, rebarreling and adding sights, getting a bolt bent and adding a rail would not be a big deal.