Mtn rifles Inc 416 Rem

[Iclimb]

judge my ideal “guide rifle” go anywhere hunt anything rifle
Criticism wanted.

Well Ive decided to mess with a rifle that was designed and built in Alaska, likely for Alaskan bear guides…wondering if I’m wrong for doing so.
This was built by Mr Cambell certainly considered to be an early adopter of lightweight rifles.
With the Talley bases and peep this is a 6lb 14oz rifle.

I’ll be sending this to Weaver rifles to do the work. I wanted a reputable smith to do the work along the same lines as the smith that built it.

Currently the barrel is 23” with a 2” brake totaling 25”…I just can’t leave well enough alone and probably can’t be convinced that a shorter barrel isn’t better. They just fit. If this was 23” with the brake I’d likely leave it, but I’m also gaining a banded swivel.
I love this barrel contour, I probably will send it to Lilja to be duplicated, it’s the thinnest 416 I’ve seen or heard of. I’d Like the contour for a 275 rigby project in the future.
.620’’ ish is the new finish dia
.
pre-64 m70 base gun and this is what mtn rifles Inc deemed the “pro mountaineer” and from what I can find this was his highest grade lightweight “guide rifle” (guide rifle is at least what I consider it)

Planned changes
-Cut and thread barrel back to 20.5” with a thread cap to go along with the brake (which it doesn’t have now). The option to run the brake or no I think is necessary.
With the brake new length will = 22.5’’
-Install banded swivel (NECG) 2.5-3” forward of the stock tip
-Install NECG MASTERPIECE banded front sight with pin for bead swaps (that’s the sight it has now)…unsure if this sight will be salvageable but going to use the same sight, hood and all.
-Cerakote graphite black, barreled action, mag box, all metal
-Inlet and install a “euro” style rear swivel stud (Talley)
-Epoxy fill the front swivel stud
-fit red recoil pad
-texture and paint the stock brown, brown splatter (no webbing)
I’ve though long and hard about this and to me this juice js worth the squeeze
OR SHOULD I LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE?

This is how It is now. I don’t know what he used for a finish but I believe this is a 90’s built rifle and certainly finishes have come a long way. Cerakote seems appropriate. I don’t know if it’s nitrided or if it’s a matte blue or what…

 

[Muskox]

Correct you are wrong for doing so.

A million Alaskans would be happy to have it. Screw up a current production m70.

 

[Iclimb]

Correct you are wrong for doing so.

A million Alaskans would be happy to have it. Screw up a current production m70.

Are there 1 million Alaskan’s? If so I may have to change my dreams of escaping to AK
Well it’s not too late!
I could do the Cerakote, red pad, paint the stock and rear swivel (add and inletted front swivel too)
….have a tread cap built too

 

[MShort]

I recently bought a LAW 7 mag to do essentially the same thing though I don’t have enough magazine box to build the REM Mag so going with 416 Taylor

 

[Iclimb]

Taylor is a great choice and certainly in my future as well!
I THINK IM WRONG ON IT BEING PRE64
Serial is a Gxxxxx so I believe it’s a 90’s model receiver with the typical pre64 configuration
??? Not sure and Grok gave me definitive wrong information!

 

[wyosteve]

Personally I would get rid of the brake and put a thread protector on the barrel, which would leave it at 23 in. which is fine in my opinion. The rest of the gun is not that bad for something that is going to be used in possibly harsh (Alaska) conditions. My Rem. 700 KS, 416 Rem. Mag. is very shootable with no brake.

 

[MShort]

Personally I would get rid of the brake and put a thread protector on the barrel, which would leave it at 23 in. which is fine in my opinion. The rest of the gun is not that bad for something that is going to be used in possibly harsh (Alaska) conditions. My Rem. 700 KS, 416 Rem. Mag. is very shootable with no brake.

My thoughts as well. Had I seen the OP’s rifle for sale I likely wouldnt be going down the Taylor road but already have brass enroute and dies in hand

 

[Beck]

If you make that gun lighter, and remove the break, it is going to kick like a dinosaur on steroids. My king of gun.

 

[1dirthawker]

hmmmm,

a nice rifle to carry but not shoot. i hate the muzzle brake, good to the shooter bad for everyone else even the shooter. i thought i saw it was a .416 cal but never heard the caliber mentioned. cerracote is a good idea for an alaska rifle. realize that what ever else you spend customizing it, it is unlikely you will get any return on that spent, but, it will be exactly how YOU want it.

if it is a .416 it is too light. looks like an outstanding sheep rifle in a appropriate caliber .26-.30. recoil would be fairly snappy in a 30-06.

i am pretty critical of muzzle brakes (i had a 7mm mag that i put one on) simply because i have lost a bit of my hearing due to myself and others using them without ear protection. i sounds easy to just put in ear plugs but that takes time and also makes it difficult to communicate with your hunting partner/guide/ph.

 

[Iclimb]

Having the brake as an option is a definite must! I know a lot of people hate them but to have a flatter shooting rifle if the need arose it’s a must…but a thread protector is needed. As thin as the barrel is I’m really wondering if he made the brake as a slip fit and then soldered it on…that’s my concern, seems unorthodox but idk… never heard of such a thing and don’t know if that’s even possible…it’s definitely on the thing. Might be 9/16x28 threaded. Not sure how else it could be done.

Banded swivel may be wanting too much…I agree that at 23” I’d be waffling on my decision.

 

[Iclimb]

I can handle brakes, they are all different. Definitely bad for anyone in front of you. Some are more quiet than others. This one doesn’t direct anything back towards the shooter so it’s likely quieter that others but as we can already see, it’s a mixed bag. That is why I’m going after a thread cap.

It is a 416 rem mag. “Fantastic sheep rifle” especially in bear country wasn’t the WR dall sheep shot with a 404J?

Cards on the table, even with the planned “upgrades” (if you want to call them that) I’d have under $4k in the rifle…$ return on investment is a good conversation! Maybe I should sell it as is and build what I’m envisioning….thoughts?

This came out of Texas and it honestly looks brand new, I don’t think it was shot…maybe ever. I’m not sure what # owner I am but likely the gent I got it from was like me and liked the idea of it

 

[Iclimb]

I like his solution for storing the backup peep sight. Great concept

 

[dgr416]

I have two lighter weight 416s both rem 700 .The stalinless ks one is 7.5 pounds with a brake and added floorplate .The 700 rem guide gun is 7.25 pounds with hs stock .They both kick less to me than my win model 70 in 416 with a wood stock .I used them through everything Alaska delt out 12 years.

 

[Iclimb]

Totally agree that stick shape plays a huge role. Had an old wood r700 270 and it’s the worst kicking stock I’ve ever shot! I’m certainly not chasing weight, I’m trying to gain a bit of handling and weather protection.

I have a 416 700ks I was going to trim back to 18” to test velocity and then it needs a new barrel. I’ve seen someone that posted up a m700 that a guy had adapted a m70 claw type extractor to and I’d like to find someone who could do this. But I’ll likely just have a Sako extractor Installed and rebarrel go 338wm or something

 

[dgr416]

I would keep it 22 inches saw people ruin 375s 338s and 416s cutting them too short .Its a giant muzzleblast that short not fun to shoot .

 

[wyosteve]

I like your idea of selling as is (to me?) and building what you want! Let me know if you decide to go that route.

 

[Iclimb]

I would keep it 22 inches saw people ruin 375s 338s and 416s cutting them too short .Its a giant muzzleblast that short not fun to shoot .

I have a couple 20” 375 and 458 and no problem for me but to your point, as is it’s likely optimal.
Ok, the banded sling swivel is unarguably nicer when using a sling.
Euro style swivels in the stock would be a close second. That front stud is not great for heavy recoil and the rear is a bitch when laying prone…

Also I was going to get a Talley rmr mount cerakoted to match

 

[dgr416]

My Alaaka friend made a 22 inch 375 weatherby that was 6 3/4 pounds .He shot it two times and sold it .I have a 6 pound model 94 in 444 marlin that rifle is terrible to shoot only only I have that makes me flinch .It needs to be magnaported and find a new hone .I bought it from a bear guide in Ar he finshed off 70 bears with it .

 

[dgr416]

I had a 4 3/4 pound 375 jdj contender carbine .It was the worse kicking gun ever .It bent the scope base and blew open many times .I told the guy that bought it to put a brake on it before he shot it .

 

[Iclimb]