Fieldcraft is about to be back on the menu boys

[Seeknelk]

I want one in 6mm CM so bad it hurts…

THIS!

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Patiently awaiting before I cut and thread two.

 

[Sam Colt]

New owners? From Australia? Crikey!

Reusing the tooling or retooling? Same employees as builders?

Or did they just buy the IP and name?

This bears watching.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

New owners? From Australia? Crikey!

Reusing the tooling or retooling? Same employees as builders?

Or did they just buy the IP and name?

This bears watching.

Who knows, hopefully it will be the same as the other fieldcraft rifles. Not like those new NULA rifles that are nothing like the former NULA rifles.

 

[gtriple]

Who knows, hopefully it will be the same as the other fieldcraft rifles. Not like those new NULA rifles that are nothing like the former NULA rifles.

I hadn't seen the latest release.... but yikes. Not fully bedded. A run-of-the-mill AG Composites stock. An ugly bolt handle.

The only thing NULA about it is it's name. Makes me even happier I'm building my Fieldcraft.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I hadn't seen the latest release.... but yikes. Not fully bedded. A run-of-the-mill AG Composites stock. An ugly bolt handle.

The only thing NULA about it is it's name. Makes me even happier I'm building my Fieldcraft.

Yeah it’s pretty sad, that bolt handle is horrible looking. I really wish I’d bought one of Melvin’s guns.

 

[jsb04]

I hope they bring back the Fieldcraft in 7-08. I’ve been wanting one for a while but can’t ever seem to find any for sale recently.

 

[Pabst]

I hope they bring back the Fieldcraft in 7-08. I’ve been wanting one for a while but can’t ever seem to find any for sale recently.

7-08 seemed to always be the hardest one to find. I couldn't get my hands on one and ended up buying one of the Lipsey's special runs in 6.5CM (22" barrel, threaded w/ cerakote) but it gnawed at me so much I ended up selling it and ordering a 7-08 from Melvin.

Of all the NULA clones, Fieldcraft is the best one. I prefer a hand-fitted NULA but Barrett did bring in one or two nice improvements.

 

[jzeblaz]

I didn't realize the Barrett was a clone of the NULA. Any thoughts on the Wilson NULA?

What were Barrett's improvements? I've never handled either, but I've been a Melvin fan for a long time.

And yeah, 7mm-08 is really hard to beat.

 

[gtriple]

Any thoughts on the Wilson NULA?

Non-fully bedded barrel, hinged floorplate instead of blind mag, an AG Composites stock, and an ugly tactical bolt handle.

The only thing NULA about it is the action size and the name. I'm sure it's a fine rifle, but it's not a NULA.

 

[Pabst]

I didn't realize the Barrett was a clone of the NULA. Any thoughts on the Wilson NULA?

What were Barrett's improvements? I've never handled either, but I've been a Melvin fan for a long time.

And yeah, 7mm-08 is really hard to beat.

Barrett bought the rights from the Forbes rifle company when they went belly up. Forbes is of course named after Melvin Forbes, but the company was separate from ULA/NULA.

Some of the changes made by Barrett to the Forbes design include changes in the cutout for the cocking piece to allow any/most Rem 700 triggers to be used, changes to the shape of rear of the action, tapped differently for scope mounting and some changes to follower and maybe mag box. There could be some more changes but these are the ones I'm aware of.

 

[Pabst]

Non-fully bedded barrel, hinged floorplate instead of blind mag, an AG Composites stock, and an ugly tactical bolt handle.

The only thing NULA about it is the action size and the name. I'm sure it's a fine rifle, but it's not a NULA.

The new Wilson NULA has not been well-recieved, at least at this point in time.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I didn't realize the Barrett was a clone of the NULA. Any thoughts on the Wilson NULA?

What were Barrett's improvements? I've never handled either, but I've been a Melvin fan for a long time.

And yeah, 7mm-08 is really hard to beat.

The Wilson Nula is probably a nice rifle but it really isn't anything like the Melvin Forbes NULA rifles.

 

[JohnJohnson]

Barrett bought the rights from the Forbes rifle company when they went belly up. Forbes is of course named after Melvin Forbes, but the company was separate from ULA/NULA.

Some of the changes made by Barrett to the Forbes design include changes in the cutout for the cocking piece to allow any/most Rem 700 triggers to be used, changes to the shape of rear of the action, tapped differently for scope mounting and some changes to follower and maybe mag box. There could be some more changes but these are the ones I'm aware of.

The Barrett's flared out barrel for the threaded versions is amazing to me. Unsure if NULA was already doing that though.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

The Barrett's flared out barrel for the threaded versions is amazing to me. Unsure if NULA was already doing that though.

I dont think so. The wilsons do though.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Offhand, does anybody know what scope mounting options are for the new wilson rifles, I'm, sort of thinking of grabbing one just to check out but I'd like to have a plan in place before buying it.

 

[JohnJohnson]

I dont think so. The wilsons do though.

Then I give them major credit for that. When I saw that my first thought was "Holy shit why aren't more companies doing this?". I wish it had caught on more.

 

[gtriple]

The new Wilson NULA has not been well-received, at least at this point in time.

I think they are probably wonderful rifles... but they are more like a high-end, better quality-controlled Kimber than a NULA. An ultralight rifle with a hinged floorplate and free-floated barrel is always going to be appealing, but it's no longer unique. One could say that Weatherby already made this rifle with the Backcountry line. If they'd only offer shorter barrels, it'd be the same rifle, although I think the Weatherby looks better.

I'd be surprised if the remnants of Melvin's group in WV don't offer true NULAs at some point. It just makes me cherish my Fieldcraft even more.

 

[Formidilosus]

I think they are probably wonderful rifles... but they are more like a high-end, better quality-controlled Kimber than a NULA.

The Kimber is a better rifle. The Wilson rifle lost everything that made a ULA/NULA what it was- the stock, the full length bedding, blind magazine, and the man making them; and then added a dog knot for a handle. It also lost everything that made a Fieldcraft a good rifle- full length bedding, better scope mounting, COAL mag boxes and correct twist rates, and short threaded muzzles done right.

The Wilson rifle is no different than any other R700 based aftermarket rifle. The action is a little lighter than most, but same trigger, stock, scope mounting, BDL magazine, messed up COAL/throating, stupid twist rates, longer barrels, etc.

They’ll more than likely sell rifles because Wilson has loyal customers, but it’s heavily compromised in nearly all respects.

I'd be surprised if the remnants of Melvin's group in WV don't offer true NULAs at some point. It just makes me cherish my Fieldcraft even more.

One can only hope.

 

[jzeblaz]

Why did the Fieldcraft disappear? Seems like they had the golden egg there and the price was nice!