Got a visit a couple of days ago from my friend Mike. He arrived sporting his new custom R7. The action is a new version of the rifle equipped with open sites and an automatic safety. Mike had a Vortek kit installed which gives it a super fast cycle. It reminds me of shooting an old .22 at balloons when visiting the amusement park. Not hold sensitive rifle....no noticeable recoil. Just point and shoot. That easy!
The stock came from Jim Maccari and started as a DIY blank. Mike sent it to Scott Blair from NH. Scott transformed it into a gorgeous piece of artwork. The design and execution of the checkering is soooo sharp looking! The Rosewood grip cap adds a nice contrast to the light Walnut wood. Truly beautiful! IMO
My R7 was also a Scott Blair creation. It started as a Steve Corcoran DIY. Scott worked his magic and I think the results are the end all of R7s for me.
This R7 sports a pre-safety action version of the model. It has never been opened up as far as I know. I never even removed the old Bushnell scope. All I did was swap the stock. When compared with the Vortek R7, I found the cycle to be a little smoother and gentler than the Vortek. I guess after 35 years the spring and internals are well worn. Lol. Personally, it can stay as is until it breaks.
All in all, it was a great way to spend a rainy Tuesday afternoon. Good friends sharing a hobby we all love. If only there were more time for days like this. Seems like the older you get, the less frequently you can spend some time with your buds just plinking. I guess that makes it even more special. Corny...but true.
Thought I'd drag out this old rusty stick as long as we are talking Scott Blair. Ebony and poplar butt pad spacer and pistol grip, hand checkering. It gets shot with old friends about every week.
John, you have all the best guns, and lots of good friends.
I still have sellers remorse over that Billy K tuned HW30. The stock on Mikes R7 is that same style. The checkering on yours is extraordinary! Here's a nice picture of it taken during the brief time I owned it.
Usually when we get a new guy at the range, shooting his new marauder or gauntlet for the first time. They comment on how nice it is and always the enevitable question, " but how does it shoot?"
and I tell em it's serious, like "We The People" serious!
You can thank Billy for working his magic on it. Never shot one as nice since. I need to see if he has anything for sale. Been a while since I spoke to him.
It is really nice to see custom stocks being made again for springers. There was a "golden age" about 20 years ago, but bottle guns have taken over the landscape. This kind of workmanship never goes out of style, especially skip line checkering.
That sure is amazing looking , man that is beautiful..... Ed grabbed a super nice gun , down the raod let me know if there's some scraps falling off the table LOL ?
I settled for the hw 30 laminate since custom stocks like Eds just dont seem to make it my way LOL
