Stainless Steel Legends Head For Central Asia

As I type this post the two Legends shown above are now in route to central Asia. The owners, a husband and wife team are on their first quest for Marco Polo rams. Both rifles are chambered for 300 Winchester, both equipped with pre-zeroed back-up scopes in the event of an optical disaster and both rifles shoot the identical load very, very well. Both Legends are outfitted with every option available and some that weren't an option until these two Legends were commissioned. Certainly the hardware is up to the task. These rifles follow in the foot prints of other Legends that have made this trek into Asia. I'm told that at 15,000 feet above sea level the temperature at this time of year will hover around 20 degrees as an average in the warmest part of the afternoon. The owners have put in a lot of honest practice at the range with much of that practice on the ground shooting over their packs, practicing with bipods and lord knows what else.

Success now will be largely due to the steel in their legs and the skill of their guides to get them within range of those coveted rams in the shadow of the Hindu Kush.

Taking The Next Step.

We had spotted the herd of antelope shortly after 9am. A mile away and from our current position and completely unapproachable. Lexi and I were familiar with this herd from two previous encounters.

The first weekend and stalk put us within 240 yards of this herd but Lexi's confidence in her ability to make that shot kept her from pulling the trigger leaving both hesitation and doubt sitting on her shoulder. She watched as that opportunity left her looking at departing heel dust as they ran. While she has been in the field hunting with my wife and I since she was 11 months old this was her first season carrying a permit and her own rifle.

The second attempt found us shadowing the same herd a week later, laying prone in some low sage and waiting for them to come over a rise. On the move and alert the group crested the hill 140 yards away directly in front of us. This time a solid case of buck fever settled in and Lexi just could not pull it together before the herd spotted us and broke for safer ground again. The walk to the truck was long and quiet but I could detect a change in my daughters attitude. What I saw was the birth of a predatory presence in her eyes. A number of times she stopped and looked back at the herd that was still in sight but on the move and putting more and more distance between us. When we made it back to the Dodge she scanned the now empty landscape and stated "we're coming back aren't we ? " it was more of a demand than question.

The next weekend found us hunting mule deer. She carried the rifle and I carried everything else. For four days and two afternoons after school we glassed until our eyes hurt. She gained and lost altitude without a complaint, as long as there was food in the pack she was good to go, distance be damned. At dusk the second evening we both lay in a bed of boulders with a young fork-horn feeding unaware of us. We had spotted a much larger three-point feeding with the same fork-horn from a ridge now far below us a half an hour before. We had made the scramble uphill as fast as we could cover ground and then crawled on our bellies into the position we now held. Try as we might we couldn't spot the three-point anywhere on ridge across from us. The light was fading quickly and I told Lexi if she was going to shoot it was now or never. She settled in behind the scope then softly said "we've seen two bigger bucks dad, lets pass this one up". I chuckled, It was her call, not many first year hunters would have. I suggested she remove the round from the chamber and dry fire a couple times on the fork-horn. Perplexed at first she did as I requested, the muzzle this time appeared immobile, her breathing collected as she pressed the trigger each time. This dry run would later prove to be an asset. As we backed out of the area undetected I made the comment "that buck has no idea how lucky he was tonight" I saw her smile in the twilight as we walked off the ridge. I could again sense a confidence in my daughter that was not there before. For the rest of the deer season the mature bucks eluded us. Ending the season with an un-punched permit surely wasn't due to lack of effort.

As her doe antelope permit allowed her to hunt well into the fall, the following weekend found us back in Rich County under an overcast sky. By now we had a good idea as to where the antelope herd might be at that time of day on this ranch. I nosed the truck along stopping just under the brow of each rise got out and peered over each hill top before leap frogging ahead. In due course I spotted the herd. The only real approach was to back out of the area, drive the truck into another basin far to the South and begin the stalk from there. By now Lexi had a developed a familiar routine with her kit, had an idea of what she needed in her pack for that day and confidently loaded the magazine of her rifle. We slipped on our packs and lined out. The route was direct as we were behind a series of ridges and out of sight of the herd. As we crept to the crest of the ridge I spotted the herd feeding but still well out of range. Before us was a large basin with the antelope on the farthest side of the valley. I suggested we have a snack and wait for them to bed down. An hour later the herd folded into the sage, we policed up our gear and backed off the ridge line and made an up-slope loop to gain more altitude to hopefully cover our approach. 30 minutes later found us exposed again and yet another loop was made. Each move put us closer to the herd.

Eventually the resting herd was completely out of sight. We could make one more loop that would put us directly above the herd but the wind would likely give us away so I elected to drop into the basin below us, hit a dry creek bed and use the creek bed to hide our approach. Lexi bailed into the basin with intent.

When I felt we were within 300 yards of the sleeping herd we went into stealth mode. I had Lexi chamber a round, safety on, muzzle to the side as we began the most critical part of the stalk. The creek bed allowed us excellent cover, the wind was in our favor and that familiar feeling of a stalk going perfectly sucked us further down the draw. Scanning the hillside above I finally spotted the tips of the bedded bucks' horns. We had closed the gap undetected. It was now time to set up and wait. I had Lexi strip the round from the chamber for safety sake as we crawled like lizards for the last 50 yards to a lip on the creek bed. I pushed my pack into a gap between two clumps of sage and Lexi crawled into a solid prone position, slid the 260 Rem Legend onto the pack, pointed the muzzle up the hill and chambered a round. One doe stood up but didn't offer a shot due to the surrounding sage. Another and then another stood to stretch and began to feed. Like the first doe neither presented a clear shot. Lexi asked about the range, I told to aim directly where she wanted the bullet to go as we were close. The buck now stepped into view and more of the herd came to their feet. Lexi's breathing was under control.  She shifted from one doe to the next as they fed in and out of the sage. I could still see three more laying down that looked as if when they stood up they might be fully exposed. I mentioned this to her and she shifted her body and muzzle slightly to the right. One of these bedded does rose to its feet but walked directly away from us. Lexi asked me if she could place her right elbow on my left shoulder blade for support in this new position.  I lowered my head and shoulders and became part of the desert floor. While it left me unable to watch and monitor what was about to happen I was confident in her ability, this was now her gig. As I lay face down in the dirt I heard the safety disengage and I tried not to move a hair. Lexi's breathing went flat and she turned the bullet loose.

The unmistakable sound of a hit followed the report of the rifle. When I looked up Lexi was trying her best to reload and follow the path of her intended target as it ran down the ridge towards us. I could tell the doe was dead on her feet and in seconds it piled up in front of us. She kicked her last in the red dirt and sage that she had been born in. I could see both the look of excitement and conflict in my daughter's eyes as the dust settled before us for a moment, even the wind ceased.

We got to our feet and approached the doe. Her bullet placement was textbook. I was beaming and congratulated her on the shot, all those years of practice had just paid her back in spades. Then I left my daughter alone with the doe and her thoughts and went to recover our gear scattered along the creek bed. I took my time letting her deal with the moment on her own. I saw her kneel down next to the doe and knew all to well what was going through her mind. We sat on the side of that hill for 5 or 10 minutes talking about the stalk, life and death and what had just transpired.

Finally she opened up her pack, pulled out her knife and began the primordial task of making meat. Within an hour we had the packs loaded, gave our last respects, looked around one last time to soak it all in then began the trek to the truck. Lexi stopped a few times on the way to look back at the basin, I know she could see the carcass and I knew she was reliving the moment over and over in her mind.

Red dirt shifted under our boots as we made our way back to the truck. We stopped a few more times, she sent a text to her Mom and I then asked her if she wanted to carry the pack full of meat the last 300 yards to the truck. The load was heavy but obviously not a burden, she wanted every part of the experience.

Memories are made everyday, every now and then some are made that will last a lifetime.

Hank's 264 Winchester Magnum

Hank's 264 Magnum has been in the field for a number of years now. Used for Ibex in Spain, Whitetails, Mule Deer and Antelope here in the states. It has become his "Go To" favorite for many hunts. During the rifles construction Hank had hoped the barrel would shoot the 130gr Swift Scirocco and so it did. This bullet is now a proven performer in this rifle and very lethal.

For me the rifle was a pleasant challenge cosmetically with the 26" barrel coupled with the 12-7/8" length of pull. Getting the fore-end and grip proportions just right was the fun part of this project. Hanks plan was to use the then new Zeiss Conquest with the Rapid Z reticle compatible with the Swift load. When the scope mounts were done and the scope was in place it was evident I also needed to change the comb height on the basic pattern. Over the years Hank had become a little less supple and while removing length from the pattern stock it was evident that I needed to incorporate a Monte Carlo comb  to increase Hank's cheek weld. Did I mention Hank has no neck?

I have to admit that shooting this rifle in the final stages was a challenge for me what with the 12-7/8" and shorter fore-end but when it was all said and done Hank was most pleased with the results.

Boyd Blaine Deel 1936-2014

In April Boyd Blaine Deel slipped the bounds of this earth and began another Safari into the unknown. Born of humble means in Oklahoma he joined the Marine Corps as a young man to see the world.

With his military commitments complete Boyd married his wife of 50 years Marilyn. Together they raised a family that no doubt miss him more now than those early years when he was flying around the world keeping all the balls in the air. Those efforts paid off in spades and in time the family began to enjoy the finer things in life but he never forgot his roots and how fleeting success can be.

He worked hard and played just as hard. Hunting in Africa became such a passion that he acquired a ranch and hunting operation along the Limpopo and has had his fingers in a variety of Safari Companies over the years to satisfy his love of the African bush. He was equally at home on blue water and his appetite for bill fish was always keen. From driven grouse in the highland moors, tiger fishing on the Zambezi to hogs in the hills of California he enjoyed it all. In camp he was comfortable with baloney sandwiches or beluga roe.

I was introduced to Boyd through Professional Hunter Campbell Smith 20 years ago. At that time Boyd was looking for a Classic 416 Rigby and I was commissioned to build the rifle. Other rifles followed and over the years we began hunting together when time allowed. The time spent with Boyd was never dull. When asked he offered great council on a vast spectrum of subjects and he possessed a wicked sense of humor.

I think fondly of Boyd and will miss his humor and quiet conversations at dawn on a good ridge.
                                                    God Speed my friend

NRA Sharp Daily

View Article

Please take the time to visit The NRA Sharp Daily web publication and read the article submitted by Keith Wood. All the rifle photographs submited were taken by Kevin Dilley- Klik Photo.

Shrike Remington 700 Stock

I have just received the first Shrike Remington 700 Right Hand BDL stock from McMillan to address any minor changes in the inletting programs. I am very pleased with the efforts put forth by Dick Davis and the team at McMillan in regard to the making this mold and bringing this project into the next phase. The production of this stock has now officially begun.

This stock was specially designed to be used for the Remington 700, Right Hand, BDL action. This stock can also be used with the Remington 700, 308 length BDL actions. By the same token a variety of 700 variants actions such as the Borden, Definace, Stiller, etc can be used with this stock design providing the rear tang of the variant has a typical Remington rear tang configuration. Additional length was given to the left rear side wall to accommodate the extended length of some Clone receivers in this area using the newer bolt stop designs and housings. This added length can easily be removed and blended into the stock with a rat-tail file for the standard 700 action in a matter of minutes. The stock features right hand "Cast Off" at both the toe and heel and a straight comb that will just allow the cocking piece to clear the nose of comb.

The butt stock is designed with contemporary style cheek piece complete with a shadow-line. The stocks architecture mimics both my other Model 70 Legend Stocks in regard to for-end length, width and cross sectional shape. The grip however is geometrically designed to be ascetically pleasing to the eye as well as offer a proper hand weld with the Remington radial rear tang shape and tang angle into the grip of the stock. This stock is designed as a hunting/sporter stock, any tactical or target application will not apply. This underside of this stock will readily accept the Remington OEM, Williams or Sunny Hill floor-plate and trigger bow assemblies. However, the underside of the stock it is not applicable to Blind Magazine application. These stocks come out of the mold with a 10" for-end, 14" length of pull  and with cast off at the heel and at the toe.

For pricing, ordering and delivery information I can be reach at 435-755-6842. 8-5 MST

Nathan Foster's Books, Well Worth The Price

I recently ordered and received three books written by Nathan Foster. I have finished one, started the second and like the first, just can't seem to put it down.  The first two are well written and I'm sure the third will be without exception. The subject matter on his web site, videos and books is clearly directed at precision shooting from near to extreme ranges, proper gear selection, caliber overview and shooting positions for the field. He covers the use of bipods or packs as rest, rifle bedding and bedding material, procedures for bedding, equipment maintenance, proper cleaning, barrel lapping, optical and scope mount selection, barrel profiles, barrel weights, action comparisons and a broad overview of related topics for the serious hunting rifleman. While he does not claim to be a gunsmith his approach to all the material he covers puts him in some rarified air as an amateur. Mr. Foster is no doubt one of those rare individuals that has honed his skill by taking over 7000 animals, not 70, not 700, 7000 plus in his native New Zealand. Clearly his experience is based on empirical field data and not conjecture. It is most gratifying to find an individual who's experience is well grounded and is able to convey his thoughts so clearly.

I first became aware of Mr. Foster's background while doing a web search for 6.5x55 loading data. I stumbled on his treatise pertaining to and hunting with the Swede. That led me to other calibers he has written about as well as viewing video clips he has made on many related subjects. This guy must never sleep.

In short this site is packed with very credible, interesting information. The environment in which he hunts is unique to say the least and a better extended range ballistic laboratory would be hard to duplicate due to the nature of the terrain and the seemingly endless supply of feral animals. I cannot do justice to the amount of experience and insight he has amassed in a single blog post as it just isn't possible.

I would suggest going to www.ballisticstudies.com. If I had to suggest the first book it would be Bolt Action Rifle Accuracy and Maintenance. Do yourself a favor, pull up his web site and browse. I have found nothing to date that I flatly disagree with or would take to task. There is no way to leave his site without some compelling thoughts and a desire to read more.

Well done Mr. Foster

Going The Distance in Wyoming

Bart Stam as usual had a great fall. Both guiding a couple of high country Elk hunts and then taking an excellent Pronghorn for himself.  Both hunts took place near his home in Wyoming. The entire family was in tow for this Antelope and from the pics it appears the weather was perfect.

Bart's grandfather had an appreciation for better than average hunting rifles and passed these genes onto his grandson. Bart was fortunate enough to inherited one of his favorites which is shown below. It is a LR-98 Mauser chambered for 7x57 and built completely by Al Biesen many, many years ago. I can assure you this Biesen is not left idle in the gun vault and earns its keep every year. While attending Utah State he spent some time in my shop polishing steel until his eyes crossed. Competent is a word that I always associate with Bart.

During his incarceration with me he did take the time to build his own Legend 300 Winchester Magnum and a 6 mm Remington on a modified Remington 700. This rifle that has become the absolute nightmare of every coyote in the Thermopolis area.

Remington 700 Shrike Mold is Complete

I was notified by Dick Davis at McMillan that my 700 Remington Shrike mold is now complete. I should have an example of this stock arriving at the shop this coming Monday the 21st of April. I will begin places orders for this stock late the same week. I look forward to adding this stock to the shops inventory of components for both professionals and hobbyist. I am now excepting orders to include in this first run of stocks. For pricing and proposed delivery dates please reach me by the following methods by phone at 435-755-6842 or by e-mail at echolslegend@comcast.net

Giving Up Some Tools

I spent an hour with Lon Paul at the recent SCI convention. As many of you know a wildfire swept through his property and left his shop in ashes last year. I do not personally know Lon all that well but have admired his rifle making ability in both metal and wood for many, many years.

As many are aware I have the social grace and tact of a land mine and could not help but ask him what he planned to do in light of the disaster. His attitude was good considering the impact the event has had on his ability to make a living, pay his bills and to re-build a career. I'm not sure if I would be as stoic in the face of such a calamity. The long drive home made me ponder how I would hold up under similar circumstances as well as ask myself how I might help Lon in a small but positive way.

As I have posted on the blog before I just received a Jerry Fisher Barrel vise, which left my old vise obsolete. I then thought about other tools I have acquired over the years that for what ever reason I do not use anymore or have duplicates of. Metal and wood files I picked up by the gross in a good buy or yard sale chisels and gouges that I never got around to cleaning up and bringing back to life.

Today I sent two packages to Lon. The contents of which contained a variety of hand tools, cleaning equipment, the barrel vise and bushings, etc. Things that I could easily spare without directly impacting my daily work load that would allow Lon to begin his craft again. I look at this as simply donating a chisel to help restart a career, an opportunity to pay it forward.

I'm not sure if Lon is a Guild Member but what a gesture of support the Guild could show by offering a similar hand. I would like to think that their would be others in my profession that might be willing to step to the plate and help a brother in arms that has fallen but is clearly not beaten.

For those of you that might be feeling similarly philanthropic Lon's UPS address is as follows

Lon Paul
28-950 Bonita Vista Rd
Mountain Center, CA 92561

                                         
                                              Both fire pics found on the dailynews.com

The quality of Lon's efforts through the years 

A Few SCI Convention Pics

I have just returned from the SCI Convention, happy to have seen older clients and to have met new ones. As usual I am a bit hoarse, bleary eyed and very tired of restaurant meals. I intend on getting in a good hike before the bird season closes to rectify this malaise.

Enclosed are a few pics that Phil Shoemaker took at my request while at the SCI convention last week. They're all of custom gunsmiths who's work always commands a second look. It matters little if their styles vary, the end results are always excellent. Forgive me if I haven't included your favorite gunsmith as this event requires days to cover and the number of makers that can be found at this convention is substantial to say the least.

         David Miller & Curt Crum

Gene Simillion

James Tucker & Reto Beuhler 

             Joe Smithson & the Granite Mountain Team

Ralf Martini 

Todd Ramirez 

On The Road Again, SCI Convention 2014

Campbell Smith and I will be once again be attending the SCI convention in Las Vegas this coming week. Our booth is located in the lower level in booth #'s 2127 & 2129. If your'e at the convention please stop by to say hello. Everyone travel safe in route to Vegas.

Here are a few pics from the past.

NEW FOR 2014

I have recently finished a Remington 700 DBL pattern stock for Right Hand shooters. This pattern stock is currently at McMillan Fiberglass where they are making the mold to reproduce this stock for the open market.

Like our Legend Model 70 stocks this stock is made specifically as a Classic Sporting Weight hunting stock. It features a straight comb with .550 drop at the comb nose and .550 at the heel. The butt is made with "CAST OFF" at both the toe and heel and comes out of the mold with a standard 14" length of pull. Unless special ordered specifically these will be machine inletted as Custom Drop In for the BDL Remington OEM factory or Williams Rem-700 steel floor plate and trigger bow assembly.

Unless otherwise requested these stocks will be sold without the ejection port or bolt notch installed to lend more versatility to this stock for a broader spectrum of 700 clones now on the market. While this stock was made specifically for the Long and Medium length 700 actions it will work very well with the Borden and Defiance actions as long as the rear tang is machined like the original 700. The stock will not come with swivel studs, recoil pads or painted and this service is not offered.

I anticipate the mold to be finished in 90 days and stocks available for sale by early to mid summer. I will take pre-production orders but will not accept down payments for these order. For further information please contact me 435-755-6842 9am-5pm. MST or by e-mail echolslegend@comcast.net

Given A Choice

From time to time I am asked if I were to build a rifle for myself just how would I assemble the package. My answer is usually met with a raised eyebrow and a pause. I have suggested my approach to what I consider the ideal magazine rifle many times over the years and yet only a handful of clients have signed off on the plan.

1. It would be built for either scope or iron sight use, not for both. At 56 I'll take the scope every time for the type of hunting I currently do or will likely do in the foreseeable future. Detachable mounts ? No thanks I find it hard enough to keep a scope immobile.

2. The bolt would always be swept to the rear and positioned low enough to allow the bolt handle to clear the ocular lens mounted a close as possible to the centerline of the bore. The knob would always be checkered.

3. I am not a fan of bantam feather weights, I'll leave it at that.

4. The stock would not have an Ebony tip. Why cut of $130 worth of stable french walnut to install $20 worth of Ebony. As they are dissimilar materials by nature the expansion and contraction rates will soon be different.

5. The butt will always be fit with a natural rubber recoil pad without a widows peak. It would be 1" thick and always red in color. No leather covering, no toe and heel plates, no checkered steel, no skeleton butt plates. I want non skid rubber thank you.

6. The swivel bases I use on my Classics were developed by the late Tom Burgess. However I do not shape a platformed border around the swivel base. Rather I contour the steel base to match the contour of the stock. The swivel can't ever twist in the stock.

7. The barrel would be tastefully free floated.

8. It would have a 24 LPI open point checkering pattern.

9. All the guard screws would be engraved Allen heads and surrounded by aluminum pillars. All the scope base and rings screws would be 8x40's with T-15 Torx heads.

10. All the metalwork would be Caustic blued. Not rust blue, not Cera-kote, not MP3.

Below is such a rifle. This 5 shot, Left Handed Model 70 is chambered in 404 Jeffery and follows the parameters listed above with the exception of the Recoil Pad which does have a widows peak.

I have always felt a rifle build in this manner is the epitome of simplistic elegance.

Studio Photo's by Kevin Dilley Kevin@klikphoto.net
Swivel Base pic supplied by LB

A Walk In The African Sun

Terry Niegel sent in a few pictures from his recent safari in Namibia and South Africa. Terry's PH for this hunt was Bobby Hansen (Bobbyhansensafaris.com.) This was Terry's 2nd hunt with Bobby. The plan for this hunt was to visit a new area in Africa, hunt as hard as they could from dawn until dusk and roll with the punches. To say they did OK is a bit of an understatement. Terry used his Legend Sporter chambered for 300 H&H. This rifle has been his go-to rifle for quite some time. Loaded with 168gr TTSX's it has become the long arm of the law on any ridge-line that he settles down to glass from. The bluing is now worn silver in many places and the recoil pad needs replacing. A visible testament to its use. 

Their joint persistence and luck ran deep as the wide-glide Kudu bull is stunning from any angle, the second bull more typical and equally impressive. The Mountain Zebra and Gemsbuck added sweat equity to the mix. The Eland is a stunner in anyones book, this old bull is a once of a life time encounter, long and worn, a true desert ghost. No one had ever seen this bull in the area, Bobby had been there for three previous weeks, the staff lives there but no one had a glimpse, not a hint, just an apparition that appeared out of the thorns.

Instead of electing to fly from Namibia to the Limpopo River area of South Africa to do some additional hunting. Terry elected to drive the 27 hours to the Limpopo with Bobby. While the drive was long the scenery was always changing. Dusty and dry they rolled into the Limpopo just in time for dinner and a sun downer.

In the remaining days of the trip they took a nice Bushbuck among the islands and pools in the river bed. While the quality a hunt should never be judged on the number of animals taken on many levels I think we can could call this trip a roaring success.