Sportco rifles

[Woodlander]

Has anyone any experience/knowledge of Sportco rifles,especially the action? All I can make out is that they were made in Australia,and not much else.
I've seen a .223 with a nice barrel and stock with a Sportco action,at a very good price.

Second question,This rifle has a 1:9/9.5 twist,will this stabilise the 75 Amax and for long range, would I be losing out much to a 1:8? Don't really want this to be a compromise.
Thanks and happy 2017,all.

 

[shooternz]

If it's a heavy varmint single shot type it is probably an Sportco by Omark model 44 converted from .308, quite popular in Australia for full bore shooting a friend of mine built one was very good at 1000 yds
at the time we were restricted to 70 grain bullets I shot a Rem 700 with a 28" Tobler 1:8" barrel both rifles shot very well with 70 gr Berger VLD's, not sure if the 9"-9.5" will handle 75 gr Amax's

 

[Woodlander]

Thanks for the info,mate.
Sounds as though it may be quite a good quality action. I'd be very interested to hear anything else about these rifles. Cheers.

 

[shooternz]

They are built like tanks specially if in .223 quite a lot of them were turned into varmint rifles here and in Australia, the triggers can be swapped out for any Remington 700 or clones
mine had a Shilen 2oz now runs a Timney tactical, they have been modified in every way imaginable, MAB Australia who now owns the manufacturing rights made Silhouette pistols
out of them, not sure if they are still in business I visited the factory in 2000 and they were still turning them out in small numbers,
The bolt has a 3 lugs the bolt head is removable to adjust head pace by changing heads the bolt locks into the rear of the barrel, Mine has a Nielson adapter which does away with
the need for the changeable bolt heads the barrel just screws in like normal rifles and my bolt has the bolt head welded solid and fitted with a Rem 700 firing pin spring the original
springs are a little weak, I mostly shoot cast bullets in mine so it will last a long time, if you buy it you will have something not many people in the northern hemisphere have

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

My brother in law has a Sportco .22LR auto, bought some time in the 1960's.

On the side of the action it states:

"Made in Australia
Not Made in England"

Gets a laugh.

 

[mchughcb]

I used to use a little 22lr. They are nothing special and built to a price. Would I buy one today ?- no.

 

[shooternz]

I have a Sportco .22 Hornet real piece of rubbish, only Sportco worth any thing is the M44

 

[Woodlander]

Thanks guys. It is an M44,converted from the .308,I spoke to the seller. It sounded as though it could have been ok,Pacnor barrel,Bell and Carlson stock,but possibly too much of a gamble as I can't get to see it and was after a 1:8, rather than 1:9/9.5 for 75 Amax. Thanks again.

 

[hybridfiat]

The Sportco (Omark) 'big bore' rifles have round receivers and can be harder to bed for that reason.
Also a recoil lug that is squeezed between the barrel and the receiver, this made the actions easier to make as they are just a tube of machined steel. No locking lugs in the receiver, they are in the barrel. This quirk makes rebarreling a pain as the original barrel has to be turned to fit the new barrel.
The bolt has a floating head that is held in place by a pin that in the original factory bolt was too light and could be sheared meaning the bolt head did not engage properly with the locking lugs in the barrel. Not a good scenario. The floating head meant easier head spacing using different bolt heads, like the Lee Enfield. The fix is a to obtain the larger diameter aftermarket pin and drill and fit. Most target rifles were done but I converted a 7.62 to 6mmBR that needed the fix.
They were very reliable and accurate rifles and I've seen a member of our club shoot a cloverleaf at 400yds in field rifle. The gun was 40 yrs old.

 

[Whitebeard]

Woodlander, how far do you want to shoot? 1:9 is marginal for the 75grn A=max but perfect for the Sierra 69grn TMK which gives away a little on BC.

Ian.

 

[Woodlander]

Pmd you Ian

 

[Baggy]

Woodlander, I believe I bought the Sportco rifle your on about!
It's um, in need of some work and very rough on the exterior except the barrel which is quite shiny! And it weighs....14lbs!!! Outrageous!!!! Certainly a highseat/static/back of the truck gun.
The stock is going to get a make over with a different coating/colour (personally not a fan of the desert camo) which I'll post up the results of on the SD but will let you know the outcome.