1) SWEET!!!
Inital observations were very pleasing.
Bedding is top notch. When the mounting screws are tightened they get tight all at once. Really Cool.
Kirby was probably frowning @ the trigger as it is the original 1950s REM trig. But it had marks that my Dad (Roy Sr) put on it from mounting the oversized trigger shoe. He shot small bore 50 foot competion and got accustomed to that shoe. The trigger is super. Proper weight and ziltch creep.
I stayed with the riginal firing pin and spring. It sure sounded & felt good on the ol' 06. Its pretty meek on this big girl. We'll see how it works and maybe upgrade.
Its a fluted Lilja #7 @ 30". SWEET!!! I'm thinkin' it took Kirby a bit of work to index the barrel so that the top and bottom flute were on the top and bottom. That kind of attention to detail is to be commended. (Keeps my OCD in check, LOL)
Same with the brake. Fitted properly! (OCD again...) I compared the brake to the Holland that I have. Looks different. No top openings but the slots look as though they provide for that consideration.
I really like the recoil lug. I suppose its a Holland but not sure. I know it isn't a Tubbs as on my 338 RUM. The Tubbs is way too thick. (As in maybe more than twice the thickness of the one on the AM. I think the Tubbs lug is thick enough to weaken "standard" sized stock. (Which is possibly causing me grief on the 338)
The stock was of my choosing. I suggested a Boyds but Kirby came up w/a composite Bell & Carlson and suggested that it would be stiff enough when bedded. I think it would look better with an HTH or something (which I have my eye on) but this one "feels" really good. I'm really particular about how my trigger hand feels and this stock is pretty much on the spot.
Where the rifle really excells, though I haven't fired a shot yet, is how it feels when prone off the sticks or pedestal rest. I think Chevy said it best "Like a Rock!"
She weighs right at 10.0#s w/o the scope and 12.0 w/scope. Spot on for my purposes. This ain't no spot and stalk rifle though it could be. I've carried heavier.
Am going to upgrade the scope. Its a 6.5 X 20 Mil Dot. But I gotta have one with the ret. in the FFP. I have my Weaver Tactical on the 338 RUM as I KNOW it will take the beating. Am thinking of a 16X SS (Have 10X SS and like it pretty well) unless the OK boys can convince me otherwise.
Anoth tho't: For a right handed person forced to shoot left handed the right bolt and right port is super. Wish I'd have never purchased a lefty as in the 338.
Also, she's single shot configuration which removes the magazine from consideration with tayloring loads.
Looks like I'm going to have to break out the Cannon w/the 10mm lens to get a decent pic of this big girl.
Linear Mode
