Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Last fall I had something good happen that I'd always told myself if it did I'd treat myself with a real nice rifle. So anyways, I bought an Uberti Courteney stalking rifle. It's made off an 1885 Winchester high wall action and designed to imitate the late 1800s, early 1900s rifles that Brits were modifying to take to hunt Africa. Super cool history and if you're interested you can read about what they were trying to do with the gun as well as about the namesake, Frederick Courteney Selous (why they didn't call it the Selous stalking rifle is beyond me), on Uberti's site. Anyhow, pretty quickly after getting it and shooting the rifle I realized I'd want to put some glass on it. I decided I wanted to go with an old fixed power scope. I wound up finding an outfit in Montana that refurbishes and even completely outfits vintage scopes with modern glass and lens coatings. What I put on it is an old Weaver K4 with a German post reticle. Modern glass, modern coatings, completely reblued, mechanics redone. Then I got some case hardened roll stamped Weaver mounts for it to play off the case hardening on the rifle. It came out pretty sweet! And man this glass is crystal! I stayed out the other night to test it at dusk and I was gathering plenty of shooting light right to the very end. Actually had five does come out in the yard and was able to watch them. Could pick that German post up great in the low light. Know it's not a turkey gun, but thought y'all might think it was cool.
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Very nice!  Enjoy it. :icon_thumright:

Awsome gun! What caliber? I have an old scope I need to get refurbished thats on my grandfather's favorite rifle he handed down to me. First scope he ever bought. Its a fixed 4 power as well with the same mounts. Last time I took it hunting I really struggled to pick up my target in low light and it's pretty cloudy. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220602/e2643590381e802bfb35f1c4a4913f45.jpg)

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Good looking firearm! Enjoy.

Quote from: Happy on June 02, 2022, 11:20:03 AM
Awsome gun! What caliber? I have an old scope I need to get refurbished thats on my grandfather's favorite rifle he handed down to me. First scope he ever bought. Its a fixed 4 power as well with the same mounts. Last time I took it hunting I really struggled to pick up my target in low light and it's pretty cloudy. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220602/e2643590381e802bfb35f1c4a4913f45.jpg)

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It's a .303 British. They make it in a .45-70 as well but didn't think that honored the history they were trying to recreate. I've found it to be exceptionally accurate. Always heard about issues with that cartridge and think now it had less to do with failings of the cartridge and more to do with manufacturing inconsistencies with the primary gun people shot that round from (British Enfields). Those old Enfields were rush jobs and the head spacing was all over the place. Anyhow, with it being your grandfather's scope it might be worth it to you to put some money into it. Complete glass replacement is a bit high but good glass is always gonna be high. Be something good worth passing down. You could also contact him and tell him the issues and see if he thought a refurbishment might suit you to get the haze out of the old glass. Here's the company: https://www.vintagegunscopes.com


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Was talking to a buddy this morning and I think it would be cool to do a retro turkey gun build and put one of those vintage fixed ones on it


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Thanks for the link Chester. I bet if you reload you could really make that gun shoot. Plus bullets are a lot more advanced than when that round was developed. It can do exactly what you want in your area with a little tinkering.

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Very nice gun David!

I like the " vibe "  O0

That's a beautiful rifle! I hope that you kill a biggun with it.

Have a good one
Bo

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Super nice gun David good luck with it.

Beauty Dave, good luck with it. Looks real good.....

Beautiful rifle !!!!!

Great looking rifle.  Thanks for the link too.  I have an old K12 I may send off.

Sweet looking rifle and setup, very nice

That's a fine looking old school gun with the old style scope ....congrats on treating yourself....

Quote from: Happy on June 02, 2022, 11:20:03 AM
Awsome gun! What caliber? I have an old scope I need to get refurbished thats on my grandfather's favorite rifle he handed down to me. First scope he ever bought. Its a fixed 4 power as well with the same mounts. Last time I took it hunting I really struggled to pick up my target in low light and it's pretty cloudy. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220602/e2643590381e802bfb35f1c4a4913f45.jpg)

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Happy i have the last deer rifle my dad bought and it's Browning Belgium 30-06 and it has the old school Weaver 4 power scope with the old style weaver mounts ...  That's a nice rifle you have now ...

 Very nice treat. Good for you!

Nice

I like it. I like it alot! Thanks for sharing it with us. 

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Went and tried a couple different loads yesterday (some 150gr Hornady custom loads, some 150gr Underwood, some 180gr Winchester Super X, and some 180gr Federal Power Shok). Shot the 180gr best. The Winchester shot the best group with a 0.75" three shot group at 100yds. The Federal shot well too with a 1.25" group at 100yds. That fixed four isn't meant for detail work really so I was just wanting to get in the ballpark. Wanting it to be a 100 and under gun with the 50 and under being most likely what I'll encounter. Was really impressed with how it shot, how well it shouldered, and how easy it was to get on target with that German post.
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(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220604/3bf378eb0539f8f8b1d2f70d20029487.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220604/80e21fd3032cdbcdf434c7ffc7fd55b3.jpg)


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Very cool and beautiful rifle you have!!