Very nice Jack - I really like those laminate stocks. How did you fare on the weight by building it as a tanker?
Put this together for a Client. He wanted to be able to restore it to original, so no chopping allowed.
Very nice.
My 18.5" Tanker-Scout, unloaded but otherwise set up as shown, hits 11lbs. Shuff's Parkerizing did the build. Despite the weight, it actually balance and carries well in the field using a 2-pt Magpul MS1 sling for 'patrol carry.' Quicker to shoulder and shoot that way.
Everything is restorable, as I kept the original GI barrel, op rod, and stock set. A Criterion .30-06 'Tanker' (M1 profile barrel) was used, and I had a spare op rod to donate for the project. It's intended role is as a 'hunting' Scout, but it can easily be returned to 'full-size' GI trim.
I also have a 16.1" 'Mini-G' hunting carbine, also built by Schuff's. That one is set up similarly, and weighs in at 10.8lbs, unloaded but with a T-37FH and an Olongapo stock pak.
A 'standard' Mini-G in .308, with no Ultimak forward rail or optic, runs about 8.9lbs with a stock pak, as below:
Not having a laminated stock set saves a bit of weight as well, laminated wood being heavier than a walnut stock.