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Post by Karoliner on Sept 1, 2015 19:24:49 GMT
It's an old FN Sporter Deluxe (I think) chambered in .30-06. The scope is a Weaver K4 of the same vintage.
It has a 4 digit serial number beginning with 53.
Just picked it up last night, so I've just been cleaning some gunk out of its various holes and leveling the crosshairs.
Given its age and apparent use, it's in damn good condition. One or two screws show evidence of being violated with a flat ground screwdriver, but it could be worse.
The trigger is a might heavy (read: about 12 pounds) but for what I paid for it, I can live with it.
Anyone have any idea as to the value or vintage of the weapon? I plan on hanging onto it for a good long while, (it's my first "nice" rifle!) but I would like to know as much as I could.
Pictures incoming.
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Post by Karoliner on Sept 1, 2015 19:36:37 GMT
Checkering is looking pretty spiffy. Pictures are are sort of potato quality, but it's hard to photograph such a long gun with an iPhone.
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ShooterMike
VIP Reviewer
Senior Forumite
I like swords, and my snowman did too!
Posts: 9,094
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Post by ShooterMike on Sept 4, 2015 22:21:43 GMT
That's a darned nice smoke pole! I LOOOOVE older Mausers like that. My uncle just gave me an old Belgian-made FN Mauser in 7x57, that's been "sporterized". But it's nothing like as nicely done as yours. Congratz on a great rifle.
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Post by Karoliner on Sept 6, 2015 4:03:51 GMT
Thank you mike!
I just got back from shooting it for the first time. Never shot a .30-06 before- it's a little snappier than my go-to 7.62 x 54R.
Got it zeroed pretty well with four shots and then atomized a watermelon.
I finally got a set of gunsmithing screwdrivers, so I'm gonna take it apart and clean up some of the remaining gunk before it goes camping with me.
Seems like a pretty sweet rifle.
Those Belgians sure know how to put together a firearm.
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Post by aussie-rabbit on Sept 6, 2015 13:53:41 GMT
Thank you mike! I just got back from shooting it for the first time. Never shot a .30-06 before- it's a little snappier than my go-to 7.62 x 54R. Got it zeroed pretty well with four shots and then atomized a watermelon. I finally got a set of gunsmithing screwdrivers, so I'm gonna take it apart and clean up some of the remaining gunk before it goes camping with me. Seems like a pretty sweet rifle. Those Belgians sure know how to put together a firearm. 12 lbs trigger just seems ludicrous, you can get a drop in replacement from the likes of Timney for a few $
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Post by Karoliner on Sept 6, 2015 19:33:02 GMT
Yeah, I might go down that road or see if I can have a gunsmith lighten it up- I'd like to keep all of the parts original.
Man, I hate benchrest shooting... I think my shoulder has the FN logo imprinted on it.
The first time I fired it from the rest, I felt my entire spine pop.
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Post by aussie-rabbit on Sept 7, 2015 11:32:06 GMT
Yeah, I might go down that road or see if I can have a gunsmith lighten it up- I'd like to keep all of the parts original. Man, I hate benchrest shooting... I think my shoulder has the FN logo imprinted on it. The first time I fired it from the rest, I felt my entire spine pop. I loved unlimited bench rest when I was younger - later I owned my own piece of Aussie and set up a personal range, somewhere I have some targets from my .257 Roberts varmit rifle , 200m 5 shots a fraction over 10mm
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Post by Karoliner on Sept 15, 2015 3:47:38 GMT
Rifle turned in a nice group at 92.5 yards. I'm positive that it's capable of 1-hole groups at that distance with a different nut behind the stock. For the $350 I paid, I think I got a pretty sweet deal. Attachments:
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Post by L Driggers (fallen) on Sept 15, 2015 3:52:46 GMT
Good grouping, keep at it with the right loads you will be getting smaller groups.
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Post by Cosmoline on Sept 15, 2015 23:32:28 GMT
Nice rifle! I recently started getting into '06 myself. I'm pretty much done with old corrosive 54R. Too much barrel scrubbing. Thankfully I came across this beauty--an Eddystone with Elmer Keith's inspection stamp on it. Shoots a little to the right, as one would expect.
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Post by Coronach on Sept 16, 2015 0:59:31 GMT
WOW. That's NICE.
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Post by Coronach on Sept 16, 2015 0:59:52 GMT
Original Gangster, Elmer Keith.
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Post by Karoliner on Sept 16, 2015 2:33:11 GMT
Those eddystones are good rifles- especially in the original military configuration.
My kingdom for aperture sights like that...
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