Not quite finished, still waiting on my Wichita swivels to show up, and have to recontour my old aluminum buttplate to fit the stock… But thanks to George Gardner at GA Precision, I did get a genuine USMC M40 barrel off a 1969 M40 for $70.00! And it shoots, too!!!
I already had the 1970ish barreled action, but when I decided to rebarrel it, I looked around and crunched a few numbers and for a hair under $250 (bought some stuff and sold some stuff), plus a LOT of elbow grease reworking and bedding an old ADL stock, I got a cool new “deer rifle” that should be good out to about 600 yards or so. I did NOT cough up $500+ for a real Accurange, so what you see here is an old Redfield with a duplex reticle - much more sanely priced at $125. Also, I did not pony up the money to have it clip-slotted, but this was meant to be a cheap/cool/useful project, not a 100% to spec replica. I’m loving it!
The only thing I don’t like about it is that now I’m going to have to build an M40A1 to keep it company… and no matter how you slice it, that ain’t gonna be on the cheap!
Thanks. My photography skills leave a bit to be desired, but she looks nice in person.
Barrel length is 24" - Again, this barrel came off a real Marine Corps M40. I assume unissued… or at least EXTREMELY well cared for. It looks new, and shoots sub MOA with Black Hills 175’s.
The problem is not that the rifle can’t do it, it’s that the scope just sucks for that kind of distance. You can’t accurately dial the elev turret up and down for first round hits - no clicks and kinda SWAG elev changes as you dial. Also, there’s nothing really precise enough on the reticle to accurately hold over past 600 yards without having your zero set for 500+. I have a 300 yd zero and I can make accurate hold-under shots at 100 and 200, and accurate hold-over shots out to 600. At 700 I’m holding the bottom “post” way over the target. I have done it, but it doesn’t work very well. I know there are people who can do 1000 with a rifle/scope like this, but I’m not one of them.
That old Redfield’s optics are amazingly poor compared to modern stuff, too. Looking through it right next to a Leupold VX-I is night and day.
It is a cool rig though, and it really shines a spotlight on how amazingly good guys like Mawhinney and Hathcock really were.
Very nice!!
I can’t wait to order one, well a modern day copy of the current m40 from tactical rifles, but i like the looks of yours!!
24" barrel is a nice length, i was debating 24 or 26, but i think im gonna go 24"
Jay
Had to revive this one just to comment on what a fine looking rifle the OP has.
There obviously are more modern rifles readily available, but sometimes it is fun to spend some time in the field hunting or ringing steel with a classy rifle such as the OP’s.
I have a confession to make that makes me a little queasy - I had one of those original AccuRange Redfields when I was a kid - my Grandpa had taken it off a rifle that he sold, and gave it to me when I needed a scope for my…Crosman 766. I beat the hell out of that scope, and eventually it died. I don’t know where it is now - probably still in the depths of my grandparents’ basement.
That is a beautiful rifle. Very nice job…I am envious. Just out of curiosity, where did you get an authentic M40 barrel for $70? (*Nevermind, I see where you got it.)
