My first stalking rifle was a Sako 75 varmint in 243, I loved the rifle and owned it for 20 years I have shot a number of deer with it. It is never let me down but I’m getting old and it’s getting heavy, with the lead ammunition push by most game dealers I decided to re barrel.
I investigated calibres and options but settled on a re barrel in .260 to me it’s a fantastic but underrated calibre. I wanted a re-stock to a KKC short stock and Cerakote on the barrel action bolt and mag.
As an engineer and a Yorkshireman I understand that that you can have good quality work done at a fantastic price, but it would take longer, or you can have good quality work done in a great time frame but it would be expensive, and last you can get a an average to bad job done for a cheap price in a short period of time.
In my experience I do not see a high standard of work at a cheep price in a quick turnaround.
I agreed a great price with James Clark, to be frank an exceptionally good price the best price after several conversations with other gun smiths. I accepted the terms and knew that excellent work done at a great price will take longer. Why? well one reason is not having stock on hand if you want to keep costs down by not tying up cash. You don’t hold a lot of stock ordering on demand but then you have the problem of supplier delivery times. I had another rifle, so I was not in a rush. As time went by, I checked in with James once in a while and he updated me, parts not arrived yet, awaiting this and that, but no great shakes. I know how hard it is and time consuming to import, for those of you who don’t I personally imported a Kel-tec CMR 30 from Switzerland. You can’t get them in the UK and America won’t send them so I classed it as a project. From start to finish was 8 months and a lot of emails and paperwork admittedly I’m not a dealer but it was still a long time. However, that’s another story, anyway eventually everything arrived and James completed the build, Cerakoted and proofed the rifle.
I went down to pick it up and bore scoped it, I looked at the quality of workmanship and I can tell you I was happy, not sure how it shot yet but I was happy, and it looks great.
Ammunition what do I go for well given that you can’t get anything on the shelf from Europe or America at the moment and I have read good reports on Yew tree. I thought Id try them, I spoke to Richard, and he gave me the starting of a load ladder and suggested min and max grn on n160. Then I shot grouping’s
So that was decided what load I was using, but what’s it like in the Field
I’m happy I wanted a lighter rifle and wanted to know when I point it it will do the business, It downs deer and its lighter and is game dealer friendly.
Summary
If you want rifle work doing at a great price for splendid work but you are not in a rush, go to James Clark, if your impatient and have money to burn go somewhere else.
If you are looking to go lead-free and do not want to be stuck with bullet supply issues and you want a lead-free bullet that is accurate and works on the live stuff, try Yew Tree.
My experience is both are like Ronseal they do what they say, and I am a happy bunny.
I investigated calibres and options but settled on a re barrel in .260 to me it’s a fantastic but underrated calibre. I wanted a re-stock to a KKC short stock and Cerakote on the barrel action bolt and mag.
As an engineer and a Yorkshireman I understand that that you can have good quality work done at a fantastic price, but it would take longer, or you can have good quality work done in a great time frame but it would be expensive, and last you can get a an average to bad job done for a cheap price in a short period of time.
In my experience I do not see a high standard of work at a cheep price in a quick turnaround.
I agreed a great price with James Clark, to be frank an exceptionally good price the best price after several conversations with other gun smiths. I accepted the terms and knew that excellent work done at a great price will take longer. Why? well one reason is not having stock on hand if you want to keep costs down by not tying up cash. You don’t hold a lot of stock ordering on demand but then you have the problem of supplier delivery times. I had another rifle, so I was not in a rush. As time went by, I checked in with James once in a while and he updated me, parts not arrived yet, awaiting this and that, but no great shakes. I know how hard it is and time consuming to import, for those of you who don’t I personally imported a Kel-tec CMR 30 from Switzerland. You can’t get them in the UK and America won’t send them so I classed it as a project. From start to finish was 8 months and a lot of emails and paperwork admittedly I’m not a dealer but it was still a long time. However, that’s another story, anyway eventually everything arrived and James completed the build, Cerakoted and proofed the rifle.
I went down to pick it up and bore scoped it, I looked at the quality of workmanship and I can tell you I was happy, not sure how it shot yet but I was happy, and it looks great.
Ammunition what do I go for well given that you can’t get anything on the shelf from Europe or America at the moment and I have read good reports on Yew tree. I thought Id try them, I spoke to Richard, and he gave me the starting of a load ladder and suggested min and max grn on n160. Then I shot grouping’s
So that was decided what load I was using, but what’s it like in the Field
I’m happy I wanted a lighter rifle and wanted to know when I point it it will do the business, It downs deer and its lighter and is game dealer friendly.
Summary
If you want rifle work doing at a great price for splendid work but you are not in a rush, go to James Clark, if your impatient and have money to burn go somewhere else.
If you are looking to go lead-free and do not want to be stuck with bullet supply issues and you want a lead-free bullet that is accurate and works on the live stuff, try Yew Tree.
My experience is both are like Ronseal they do what they say, and I am a happy bunny.
