What is the Most Beautiful Firearm You Own

I have a few guns I'd consider pretty.
  • Ruger 77 RS .22-250 with exceptionally good wood
  • Winchester model 71 deluxe rifle .348
  • Winchester 101 O/U 20 gauge (no pic)
  • Any of my old S&W revolvers, but probably the queen is a 5" 27-2 that's mint with custom Claro walnut stocks by Zane Thompson
  • A custom Ruger flattop .44 shortened to 4 5/8" with the cylinder frame color cased by Turnbull and custom stocks, again by Zane T
  • Marlin 1894 in .218 Bee with the straight stock, pretty wood, and half magazine configuration that I like.
20250724_213439.jpg

20250424_083833.jpg

20250114_210256.jpg

20240113_153158.jpg

20231205_210814.jpg

20231205_193534.jpg
 
@hm1996
the NRA "Space" gun or AKA NRA "MATCH" (yes that is a 26" full bull barrel, the sights cost more than most of my AR's, everything is mated perfectly the Geissele trigger is just a straight joy, it exceeds some of my bolt guns. Yes it's heavy I generally have to think about hiring a gun "boy" to carry it for me LMAO)
1755278227458.jpeg


1755278256315.jpeg


1755278285290.jpeg

1755278306066.jpeg


Model 15:
Double action only, the trigger is great, Aristocrat rib with 148gr HBWC loads she will eat the 10 ring out if you do your part. LOL sometimes I fail at that but I cannot blame the equipment when it happens.
1755279043590.jpeg

1755279060990.jpeg


1755279076120.jpeg


1755279092013.jpeg


1755279106880.jpeg
 
Last edited:
1911 A1 done in 38/45 Clark (basically the early attempts to get a 45 to shoot 38 spl vs the 38 AMU cartridge, yes I stick with the wadcutter loads although it will shoot regular 38 bullets) The brass reforming from 45 ACP needs serious reforming to step the 45 ACP to a 38 bore.
Load data, because the case cap is the same as a 38 spl, the 38 spl data can be interchangeably used.

Not really pretty until you fire it.. hehe

1755279208690.jpeg


1755279227797.jpeg

the frame is a essex
(which you know as well as I, has to be completely redone hours of peening the rails to mate to the slide at lock up, the slide is NM USGI, barrel started off as a colt 38 super, which meant mating to the slide as well as the reamer being run in.)
runs slicker than owl :poop:
 
Last edited:
That AR should be a dream offhand with that barrel, assuming you are shooting NRA XTC matches. What does it, Mike?
My #1 Mod 70 has a bull barrel, not quite 1" but not far under, weighs a bit over 13# but the heavy barrel makes it hang right for offhand, or did back when I was shooting it. Not sure I'm man enough to hold it up for offhand 10 or 20 shot offhand strings today.:(
 
Yes Sir
Muzzle is slightly under 0.936" (0.930" I think don't remember for sure) as that is gas Manifold size 0.936"
locked up in the shoulder pocket, sling tight, hand stop set, you can drop the firing hand and stand for a while on target. Once it's locked in, holding is not the problem LOL it's carrying it to the Firing Line.
hang on I'll break out the scale and see as Off hand I don't remeber except heavy LOL
 
This one @hm1996 will definitely be interested in.
The stock forearm is 3.5" wide. She comes in at 30 lbs. Right now the scope is back at Leupold for a simple check up.
30" 1.250" dia 30 caliber Brux 1-13" T, using a NM 30-06 reamer, contour is using the same as the later Mann Accuracy device.
Trigger is a "Mike Walker" 721 breaking at 8 ozs.

1755283130784.jpeg

1755283154201.jpeg

notice the clamp, the action and barrel are completely free floated. And pulls double duty as a heat sink at the chamber. Thus being set the way it is causes the barrel to think it's a 27" barrel for droop, and harmonics. Yet gaining the velocity advantages of a 30" barrel.

1755283364016.jpeg







1755283237823.jpeg


1755283267729.jpeg


She was setup for a rest and to be locked in riding the bags. At one time I might have consider firing off hand, but I never have with her. This one was never intended to shoot NRA XTC matches. Just basically a test bed as to how far to go with precision and see.

Honestly it's insane how little she recoils and the accuracy with 155gr Palma loads. At the 1K, the creedmoor is slower, and has trouble keeping up with this one (understand that I'm talking POINTS not groups, that 30 cal vs the 6.5mm bore will edge out several points, and X's). As you pointed out with your post yeah 190's H4350 just a hoot.

In a head to head against your Winchester, I'm not sure which would edge the other out. As both would have to fire in the same discipline, And Man I do like your Winchester Model 70. Which I'm thinking yours probably would take the edge. That Sir is a beautiful rifle.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Recently I wound up with two barrels, both setup on the Remington 700/721/722 actions chambered in 308 Win. One is actually a Bergera heavy 20" threaded 1-10 T, the other a Remington 26" heavy PSS 5R, that I need to validate should be a 1-12" T. That has me looking for a either a 700 LA preferably the 721 action to do whole lot lighter build on.
While I do like the 308 Win, I'm considering turning the 308 barrel (s) to the ought six family. Because of the known rechambering issues I'm thinking of the 30-06 Ackey Improved only because It will clean up the existing 308 Win chamber with ease. Then again I might do two, LOL 1- 30-06 AI, 1- 308 win Still pondering it while I look for donor rifle actions. But that is the future, and gives me something to do as I don't have enough projects haha.
 
Last edited:
Sgt_Mike said:
As you pointed out with your post yeah 190's H4350 just a hoot.
Click to expand...
I used H4350 for years, but didn't measure well. H450 is (was) a ball powder w/very similar burn rate as 4350 and flows like water through a measure. Unfortunately Hodgdon discontinued H450. When I quit shooting competition I had 2 1/2 8# jugs of H450 on hand; managed to shoot one jug and wound up selling 1.5# when I started shutting down the loading room.

Sgt_Mike said:
Honestly it's insane how little she recoils and the accuracy with 155gr Palma loads.
Click to expand...
I bet it is a pleasure to shoot! I only got to shoot a few 1000 yard matches and had a good load w/190's for 600; the 155's were just becoming the rage, but I never tried them. How do they compare w/the 190's? I would think the 190's would buck the wind a bit better way out there, but trajectory and velocity might offset the difference between the two??

Sgt_Mike said:
The stock forearm is 3.5" wide. She comes in at 30 lbs.
Click to expand...
Beautiful rifle, but I didn't see a carriage on it, Mike. At that weight I'd have to have wheels! ;) ;) :ROFLMAO:
 
hm1996 said:
the 155's were just becoming the rage, but I never tried them. How do they compare w/the 190's?
Click to expand...
On target, they are CLOSE and I do mean close, but the edge does go to the 155's as the speed (velocity) is higher enough (don't recall the difference off hand) to overcome the BC difference (opinion). Which is highly in the 190's favor. The big advantage is the recoil, especially a 20 shot string plus the sighters. Which the recoil "could" be the actual biggest factor as you can finish the string quicker (thus shooting in the same wind).
The 190's are nothing to sneeze at at all. Definitely will use them, (the main part of the 155grs is they are a royal pain to tune the load but once there they will perform). The long line has always been a weakness of mine. And I have had other shooters clean my plow with 190's when I chose the 155's (at the 6 and the 1K). The 600 I like ... still hard but easier.
There is just so many things happening at the 1K that you just can't read ... does separate the men from the boys.
(carriage ha I'm cheap I've got two "gun bearers" on call to carry that monstrous thing to the line)
 
Last edited:
@hm1996
Today.. if I went to shoot a actual match (600yard and less).... The AR "space gun" would be the choice most likely...

30 Lbs today is a bit much. But to sit in a rest without moving from a prone, or even bench, the 721 would edge it (AR) out. As it's just fun as hades.

Mike my son absolutely loves shooting it from a bench, heck my Daughter-in-law loves it too. She keeps remarking about it when I showed her how to shoot it "Free Recoil" in the bags. Simply move / nudge it the 1/16 or less back to the stop. (the last time the three of us shot that gun she stomped both my son and I. That barely over 5 ft short female Former Marine did a 5 shot group in the 2's at 200 yards that day. I had to remove the trigger guard for use to do the "Free Recoil", which explains it not being installed in the photos). You probably just figured out Whom the gun bearers be LMAO.

On H450, I came late to the game, I've seen others use it, being discontinued I never go to try it instead had to "crunch" out H4350 LMAO.. (actually not bad, just takes longer and more care).

If I just went to the range to just shoot, the Prairie Dog AR PMF is the ticket.... H335 and some 50gr speer TnT's usually is the ticket at the 200 Yard line. The M4 clone (14.5" 1-7 T) is right behind it with 77grs SMK (CFE223 or IMR8208XBR) are needed, although not as accurate in 20 or more shot's, in 5 shot groups it's toss up (200 yds, 400 + yd the 1-7 T rules in the M4 or the Space gun AR).
 
Last edited:
Back to the Gun Porn haha

1755296784002.jpeg


1755296807700.jpeg


1755297108869.jpeg

1890 Winchester "gallery" Takedown 22 LR, circa 1912 /1918 I think, (previous owners, Grandfather, and father)
1903 Colt 32ACP "hammerless" circa 1927, finish is gone, and blood stained (etched, battle field circa 1967).
Colt Combat Commander 45 ACP in Satin Nickel circa 1975 (this one I almost didn't get it back home on it's last deployment to a battle field. After that I never dragged off one, I wasn't willing to leave, and I have left a few in other servicemember hands).
S&W 66 357 Magnum
S&W model 12-1 Airweight 38 Spl made only in 1962 18 ozs (when I need to Conceal carry it's between this and the 1903 Colt)
Sig Sauer West German P6 (aka P225) "Polizei" 9mm Jan 1991
Walther PP 32 ACP, Circa 1950's (was my father's)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In the background is a Savage Axis That I'm going to turn into a 22BR, for PD hunting, different story but just in case I'm asked
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

And of course "Ole Ugly" A Remington 1100 Special Field 12 gauge 2-3/4" only Limited run I don't remember the years (1983 /1984? was the first I think not sure when production stopped, want to say around 1987) but it was only a few as I recall.

1755296871201.jpeg


1755296845138.jpeg


The down side to doing the Photos was my wife was like How many guns do you have???? My reply was not enough!! there are still corners and cabinets that don't have one in them. (didn't have the heart to tell her it's almost 100... ok 90's but still closer to 100 than not, hope she don't find the two other 1911 series hidden in the couch)
 
Last edited:
In a attempt to get other members to share theirs's.
I'll post my "Coyote" gun (two legged version) LOL. just to bring this back up to the top of the heap.
3" barrel length, 9mm, with a Yankee Hill Wraith XL 45.
1758560745529.jpeg

now with that suppressor in place ...
1758560804822.jpeg

Diet is normally 158gr subs, which is very close to a 22lR suppressed in sound, indoors extremely pleasant without ear pro.
Main usage / purpose 2 legged Coyotes that enter the house uninvited.

For those non-members whom don't know me viewing this the following disclaimer:
Yes all applicable NFA laws / Regulations are adhered to.
Yes I have the approved tax stamp for the rifle as a SBR, and the tax stamp for the Suppressor / Can.

I Look forward to some of the members Great photos' of their hunting / or prized firearms.
Respectfully
Mike
 
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. #1 example of that fact is pictured below, but first a bit of history. I was issued my first M1 Garand in 1954 IIRC and have had one or more in my possession ever since. You say, "what is beautiful about a clunky Garand?" That's where the old saw "beauty is only skin deep" kicks in. A good Garand functions flawlessly when fed proper ammo and some tuned Garands are extremely accurate. This is a DCM Garand from back before they offered half a dozen grades which I tuned the trigger & accurized, using a guide published by NRA before using it in service rifle competition until I could no longer see iron sights.
1758563844005.jpeg

It languished in the safe for a number of years before I devised a scheme for mounting an optic and brought it out of retirement.
It took 3 trials to find the right optic and it is not as "pretty" as it once was, but it sure checks off the "beautiful" box in my book,
1758565149772.jpeg

both on paper, and in the field. Beauty starts at the muzzle. ;)

1758565199984.jpeg
1758565240245.jpeg

I knew the rifle was accurate from all the years I shot it in competition, but it took and optic to uncover the true accuracy of this rifle. I have never seen another Garand shoot .665 5 shot groups, especially back to back.
 
Back
Top