The Utah Rifle

[longrangelead]

Accurate Shooter classifieds is a good source. That photo was off of a rimfire central post - I haven’t searched for more current information. The same same rimfire Central post also showed Brownells used to stock a similar design, but that link doesn’t work.

Guys that are around biathlon rifles probably have good leads.
View attachment 879659

funny how the interweb isn't as helpful as it used to be. I've scoured the internet and never seen either of those clamp on types.

 

[TaperPin]

funny how the interweb isn't as helpful as it used to be. I've scoured the internet and never seen either of those clamp on types.

I ran across a number of mentions of new barrel clamps prior to 2010, but this article is from 2018 and there is mention of a name that the author sourced his from. I have no idea if the name is connected to a business or not.

An Official Journal Of The NRA | Build Your Own Precision Bolt-Action Rifle

Precision bolt-action rifles used to be exclusively in the realm of custom riflesmiths, but these days they’ve become a legitimate DIY proposition—one that can be deeply rewarding.

www.americanrifleman.org

 

[cal30_sniper]

What did you get?

I ordered two to try out. One (from Croatia) was listed as a “Diana diopter” and looked like a good rugged design with a base that would be easy enough to modify:



The other is an old Walther from an air rifle supposedly:




Both of these looked like something I could hang off the back of the receiver past the bolt and shroud to get the right eye distance. I’m considering three ways to mount it:

1. Open the dovetail on the sight up to fit the tikka receiver
2. Mill the sight base flat and use the tikka scope base holes to mount
3. Attach a section of 11mm dovetail to the flat top of the receiver and clamp to that.

I intend to design/order a custom front sight adapter, so I won’t have to really worry about finding off the shelf stuff of the right height to match.

Who make that front sight setup?

JP Enterprises. I’ve used that FSB on several AR builds.

 

[180ls1]

In reference to this. I know people were told that they could not take a variable scope and permanently bond it to only be 1x for the muzzleloader 1x requirement. That leads me to believe that they would use the same logic regarding making a semi-auto single shot.

Yeah, a different issue but my Dad followed the advice of DWR to a T and still ended up with a ticket from a warden. I'm with you on this one on not risking it unless you want the court battle.

 

[longrangelead]

One version I've been working on with @Formidilosus.

MVA(Montana Vintage Arms) rear peep, two screw version.
Fits perfectly between front and rear pic sections.

SRS rail:
you have to either mill the recess flat or fill it with Devcon or another bedding type compound.
the reason is the spring for the ladder sits under the base and requires a flat surface to function.

Drill and tap rail for sight.

Front sights:
Front sight height needs to be 1.25" minimum for this for 16"-18" barrel. I went with 1.375" so the rear peep is a little higher off the receiver. Using a RokStok, this lines up perfect for me.

I modified the highest front dovetail mount I could find and screw mounted it to the barrel. This dovetail works with the Williams Western Precision peep allowing the front sight to be removable so it's less of a snag.

The sight radius is so short, moving the rear peep for yardage is not practical because the increments are so small it's not quick or repeatable with any degree of accuracy.
literally moving the rear sight .010" with a micrometer stem is the difference between 100yds and 250yds on my rifle. If the ladder had incremental stops it would be different. The MVA is a simple friction slider/stop.

I've come to the conclusion leaving the rear peep stationary and using the double crosshair insert is a better solution. currently the top is zeroed @ 100yds, slight hold over for 200. my combo drops .5 mil @ 200.
the bottom crosshair I think will be approximately a 400 yd hold. I haven't verified yet but its high @ 300.

I think this combo would serve 99% of realistic situations as a backup sight or Utah legal.

I will say, the perfect setup would have some windage adjustment to achieve a mechanical zero. Mine currently shoots 5" left @ 200 which is only about .002" alignment in the sights.

I can fix that by adjusting the rear sight but will require some smithing of screw holes.

If only someone made a RSS Utah/backup sight SET.

Another front sight that works very well but is fixed is a KNS crosshair front sight in a high dovetail ramp.

 

[longrangelead]

This is the KNS. I really like it but it's a big snag and I'm always worried I'll break it off.

If your eye sight isn't great, this sight isn't for you. The front wire is tiny and hard to see. if you can use it, it gives a very precise poa.

 

[HighUintas]

What about this one?

https://www.newenglandcustomgun.com/proddetail.php?prod=N116G

 

[z987k]

Yeah, a different issue but my Dad followed the advice of DWR to a T and still ended up with a ticket from a warden. I'm with you on this one on not risking it unless you want the court battle.

There's lots of guys making straight pull AR's with no gas system. Just because a rifle looks like a semi-auto doesn't mean it is.
The cop is too stupid to know the law, while largely true, is a pretty terrible way to live in fear. It's the government's responsibility to prove guilt. Not the other way around. A warden would look like a complete idiot in court if his evidence was "looks like an AR".

 

[ShootOkHuntWorse]

Who is going to be breaking out model 1917s and mosins with ladder sights?!

 

[cal30_sniper]

Who is going to be breaking out model 1917s and mosins with ladder sights?!

I shoot mine occasionally. It’s a Finn M91 with a like-new 1940 VKT barrel built on a pre-1900 Tula hex receiver.

It shoots lights out if you can manage the sights.




It’s probably a tie between this rifle and my Savage No 4 Mk I* for my most accurate milsurp. The sights on the Enfield are way easier to shoot accurately though.

 

[ShootOkHuntWorse]

I shoot mine occasionally. It’s a Finn M91 with a like-new 1940 VKT barrel built on a pre-1900 Tula hex receiver.

It shoots lights out if you can manage the sights.
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View attachment 880220

It’s probably a tie between this rifle and my Savage No 4 Mk I* for my most accurate milsurp. The sights on the Enfield are way easier to shoot accurately though.

I’d love a good Finn but Jesus the prices just keep me away now. I should have bought one when I was in highschool. That and 1903s were cheap. Not 80s and 90s cheap but at least less than a new tikka.

 

[Castle Rock]

Your government dollars at work, look out for all the 3 legged deer hobbling around

 

[cal30_sniper]

Your government dollars at work, look out for all the 3 legged deer hobbling around

Sounds like a hunter ethics issue, not a legislative issue.

 

[nm.otter]

Very interested in seeing how harvest success rates from this experiment compare with those from open-sighted muzzleloaders.

 

[180ls1]

There's lots of guys making straight pull AR's with no gas system. Just because a rifle looks like a semi-auto doesn't mean it is.
The cop is too stupid to know the law, while largely true, is a pretty terrible way to live in fear. It's the government's responsibility to prove guilt. Not the other way around. A warden would look like a complete idiot in court if his evidence was "looks like an AR".

The guys doing that are generally ordering solo 300 uppers and ordering portless barrels. I can send a pic of mine later to show you what it looks like.

That's different than what is being discussed (just closing the adjustable gas block).

You may be technically right that they are functionally the same and the cop is stupid but you have to consider who you are dealing with and you the hassle associated.

 

[cal30_sniper]

The guys doing that are generally ordering solo 300 uppers and ordering portless barrels. I can send a pic of mine later to show you what it looks like.

That's different than what is being discussed (just closing the adjustable gas block).

You may be technically right that they are functionally the same and the cop is stupid but you have to consider who you are dealing with and you the hassle associated.

Most guys I've seen are just using side charger uppers or BCGs that incorporate a knob for pulling (see the ultralight ultralight rifles thread). Some are running portless barrels, but its more common just to put a regular gas block on backwards to block the port.

The safe bet here is removing the gas tube and closing off the adjustable block. Then you have a demonstrably non-semi-automatic firearm, and I'd be comfortable arguing that in a court of law.

 

[180ls1]

Most guys I've seen are just using side charger uppers or BCGs that incorporate a knob for pulling (see the ultralight ultralight rifles thread). Some are running portless barrels, but its more common just to put a regular gas block on backwards to block the port.

The safe bet here is removing the gas tube and closing off the adjustable block. Then you have a demonstrably non-semi-automatic firearm, and I'd be comfortable arguing that in a court of law.

That is certainly better than what you originally suggested. Keep us posted how it works out and if you have any interactions with LE.

 

[z987k]

The guys doing that are generally ordering solo 300 uppers and ordering portless barrels. I can send a pic of mine later to show you what it looks like.

That's different than what is being discussed (just closing the adjustable gas block).

You may be technically right that they are functionally the same and the cop is stupid but you have to consider who you are dealing with and you the hassle associated.

I cannot, as an American, even fathom changing my behavior because the police are too stupid to know the laws.

Do you think someone too stupid to know an AR pattern rifle doesn't mean semi auto would even know what a port-less barrel is?

 

[rharbaugh]

Man this thread makes me want to pull the M1903 out from the back of safe and load up some 155 TMKs in jt. Does anyone know if these older rifles require a reduced load vs modern load data?


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[cal30_sniper]

Man this thread makes me want to pull the M1903 out from the back of safe and load up some 155 TMKs in jt. Does anyone know if these older rifles require a reduced load vs modern load data?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The only ones you have to be careful on in the 1903 world are the rifles that had heat treat issues. Those serial numbers are pretty well documented.

Many of these were converted to 300 Win Mag over the years. I have another rifle of my grandfathers that was just that, a 1903 with a 300 Win Mag reamer run in the chamber.