M40 build thread

Overwatch260 · Aug 1, 2024

Recently started gathering parts for an old school M40 clone/replica build so I thought I would post up what I've gathered in the last few weeks and update as the project progresses... First thing I acquired was a beever156 stock off of eBay. These seem to be close to spec and with some additional sanding work they can be really close. It's a nice stick of wood to boot!

I then reached out to one of our very own resident experts @USMCSGT0331 about a proper buttplate and questions about finding a close to spec set of Redfield base and rings... Lo & behold he actually had some parts he was willing to part with & a few days later I had a couple of buttplates, a Redfield JR base and proper low "64" marked rings in hand! Can't thank Ryan enough for his assistance on those parts!

More to follow shortly...

Overwatch260 · Aug 1, 2024

Next I was reading some old threads and saw a post by another of our vintage gurus @cplnorton saying he had a nice old 40X receiver, factory clip slotted of course. He was experimenting with having the receiver "U.S." marked at the time and it came out amazing! Thinking this would be a much better option than locating a complete 6 digit rifle and trying to find someone to do the clip slotting after the fact, we struck a deal... He also had the original tombstone trigger, matching bolt, and recoil lug he graciously agreed to part with as well! Again many many thanks to him and I believe after many text conversations we've struck up quite a friendship too lol!

Also picked up some BDL bottom metal off eBay to refinish properly... Now the pile of parts looks like we're getting somewhere!

To be continued soon with some stock work...

roostercogburn98 · Aug 1, 2024

Cool build! Can’t wait to see the finished project.

I am just about wrapped up with a model 70 build, and will start getting serious about an M40 build around a piece from a very generous and smart fella on this forum.

Overwatch260 · Aug 1, 2024

roostercogburn98 said:
Cool build! Can’t wait to see the finished project.

I am just about wrapped up with a model 70 build, and will start getting serious about an M40 build around a piece from a very generous and smart fella on this forum.

Much appreciated sir, and that M70 build is sweeeeet! I'm a huge fan of old Winchesters.... Other than my '68 Target model most of my Winnie's are of the rimfire persuasion which is another addiction in itself lol!

Looking forward to seeing your M40 build in the near future too!

BIKNBEAR · Aug 1, 2024

Great build buddy, make sure you show us the finished project.

Goodluck

cplnorton · Aug 1, 2024

I'm so glad this has a good home and I met a hell of a good man through the process!

The build looks great and I can't wait to see it finished.

Overwatch260 · Aug 1, 2024

cplnorton said:
I'm so glad this has a good home and I met a hell of a good man through the process!

The build looks great and I can't wait to see it finished.

Dude if it wasn't for you & Ryan I'd still be hunting for a lot of this shit lol! She should be a pretty sweet build thanks to you guys! I'm glad I reached out to ya about that action... we definitely share the same cool vintage glass/rimfire target rifle/fast car habits!

sierracharlie338 · Aug 1, 2024

Damn man you weren’t lying about diving back in head first! Looking forward to the finished product amigo.

sierracharlie338 · Aug 1, 2024

cplnorton said:
I'm so glad this has a good home and I met a hell of a good man through the process!

The build looks great and I can't wait to see it finished.

He’s damn good people

Overwatch260 · Aug 1, 2024

sierracharlie338 said:
Damn man you weren’t lying about diving back in head first! Looking forward to the finished product amigo.

LOL you know how these things snowball brother... and you're definitely another example of awesome folks I've met over the years of playing with this stuff!

Overwatch260 · Aug 5, 2024

Another big piece of my M40 puzzle showed up today... A few tiny nicks and scratches but the reticle is perfect and the glass is in good shape, I think she'll clean up just fine!

RIGREG · Aug 5, 2024

That auction was fun to watch at the end. Classic case of “What’s it worth?” Open bidding on the free market will tell. Good pictures and no AI generated item description. Congrat’s on winning the bid!

Overwatch260 · Aug 5, 2024

RIGREG said:
That auction was fun to watch at the end. Classic case of “What’s it worth?” Open bidding on the free market will tell. Good pictures and no AI generated item description. Congrat’s on winning the bid!

Thanks man! I was concerned on the tombstone condition when they first listed the pics, kinda looked like the 600 yd mark was messed up so I asked for better pics. Seller got back with me almost immediately so I decided to stick with it until the bitter end lol... I don't think there's too many cases of these scopes "flying under the radar" anymore (especially on the auction sites), but it was still probably 1/10 of what an original greenie would sell for so I'm happy with it. I do wish Toki would get back to anodizing these things one day but that looks like wishful thinking so far.

03RN · Aug 12, 2024

That stock is going to be beautiful

Overwatch260 · Oct 8, 2024

Been a bit since I updated the thread, but I received my barreled action back from Douglas today... Decided to have the barrel done in stainless instead of chromoly just for a bit better corrosion resistance. Still 6 groove 10 twist and correct profile, but I also requested a recessed target crown on there. Was quoted 4 to 5 weeks but they had it done in 7 business days! Now the stock fitting can really begin...

Overwatch260 · Oct 21, 2024

Did some modifying on the forend of the beever156 stock today, I think it's a lot closer to the original taper now. Also got the butt plate fitted as well... Had to sand a little on the barrel channel since this Douglas starts the taper from the chamber end a bit further out than the barrel inlet is as received. Couldn't help but to throw the Redfield on there with the mount & rings too. Progress!!!

Overwatch260 · Oct 25, 2024

Got a couple of coats of oil on the wood, installed sling swivels, reblued the bolt body, added a January '65 MRT sling... Still gotta refinish the buttplate & bottom metal and coat the Douglas barrel in something that's close to parkerizing. Had to take her out for a little test run and after getting rough zeroed at 100 yds she seems to like the old standard FGMM 175s

She's definitely not a 100% "clone correct" M40 by any stretch... But as I gathered parts and especially after acquiring the 40X action from @cplnorton I really started thinking what the USMC M40 prototype/trials rifles might have been like, since I recall reading that they were initially built off of the 40X as well. So I guess I'm just gonna call her an "early M40 prototype replica/tribute" lol

Overwatch260 · Nov 4, 2024

I think I'm calling this build done for now... Got the barrel & bottom metal coated in AlumaHyde II dark parkerizing finish. Did the butt plate as well but it's not dark enough so I may refinish it again in black after hunting season is over.

Got some Federal T308T to try out & man @Terry Cross and @MikeRTacOps weren't kidding, it's some damn good shooting ammo! May have to test it out on some of these deer around here for research purposes lol

Cleaned the barrel before switching to the T308T from 175 FGMM

Got the Redfield adjusted and went back to 300 & put 3 rounds on the old steel, plate was still swinging when I touched the second round off so I think that messed with the vertical a little... But I'll take it especially for just holding over with an antiquated reticle

I'm very happy with the rifle and thanks again to @USMCSGT0331 and @cplnorton for helping make this project possible to begin with!

Terry Cross · Nov 4, 2024

Overwatch260 said:
I think I'm calling this build done for now... Got the barrel & bottom metal coated in AlumaHyde II dark parkerizing finish. Did the butt plate as well but it's not dark enough so I may refinish it again in black after hunting season is over.

Got some Federal T308T to try out & man @Terry Cross and @MikeRTacOps weren't kidding, it's some damn good shooting ammo! May have to test it out on some of these deer around here for research purposes lol

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Beautiful rifle!

MikeRTacOps · Nov 4, 2024

It works unbelievable on bad guys heads as well, Terry is correct that's a beautiful rifle

Mike R.

TorF · Nov 7, 2024

What I really like about the M40 is that it can be used as a hunting rifle, a big bore silhouette rifle topped with a Weaver T10 capable of very good scores and, here in Scandinavia, a very good hunters class field target and moving target competition rifle.
The M40 is within the rules for the competitions listed and it is always fun to beat most of the "serious" comp shooters with a stock military vintage sniper rifle

I'm doing that now with a Steyr SSG69 but I'm collecting parts for a M40 for this purpose. I hunted and did a lot of competition shooting in the 80'ies and 90'ies with different versions of "M40" that started as BDL varmints modified with McMillans, etc.
I've done some hunting with the SSG69 the last couple of years with the 168gr Nosler Accubond LR on moose and small roe deer with excellent results. This bullet "duplicates" the ballistcs of the 175gr SMK. I feel that I could live with one of these vintage sniper rifles as my only big bore rifle.
The "cross fit" training one gets from shooting comps and hunting with the same rifle is always an advantage.

Here's the SSG69 with a Zeiss Victory 1" 3-9x42 and a Ase Utra SL5i can. (It is not recommended to use a can on the SSG69 but this rifle was threaded when I got it and I thought that a few hunting shots would not be a problem)

Random Guy · Friday at 12:16 PM

(It is not recommended to use a can on the SSG69 but this rifle was threaded when I got it and I thought that a few hunting shots would not be a problem)

Can you elaborate on that a little? Just curious about the rationale, thanks.
All I know is that some SSG-59 PIVs were threaded for this old-school suppressors back in the day:

SSG-69 PIV
The SSG-69 PIV is a special model of the SSG-69 PII and is also known as the SSG-PIV. It features a much shorter barrel with a threaded muzzle that can accommodate a flash hider or suppressor. The barrel has a faster rifling pitch in order to accommodate subsonic ammunition.

TorF · Saturday at 1:50 AM

There are known cases of barrels "coming loose" on regular SSG69 fitted with a can.
I replied Frank Green on this issue only a few days ago in the vintage rifle picture thread:

TorF · Saturday at 10:36 AM

To avoid any confusion. The barrel on the P4 is threaded in to the receiver like a conventional rifle.

camocorvette · Sunday at 9:42 PM

Gorgeous turn out of gathered parts. It's a beautiful rifle.

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