Early Not M40 Smear Find

[RIGREG]

Definitely not M40, but this looks like an early HTG ADL Smear. I have no immediate build in mind, so it will get shelved for now. I can sell off the 40X BA and Zeiss scope to recover some of my outlay. I have no interest in BR rifles or 6MM PPC. I don’t think I’ll ever know when this was built, but clearly the early 40X had a previous life.

It’s being shipped to my FFL. Once I have it in hand, I’ll separate the action from the stock. Hopefully, it’s not glued tight. My only real concern is if the bolt handle cutout will fit a 700 swept handle without too much work. Gun store guy thought it was a poorly done homemade camo job.

Enjoy the pics,
Greg

 

[Coejro]

That Redfield base is nice too. Looks like a 700 JR, but if it’s 40x marked you have a second score!

 

[Mauser48]

I bet it shoots.

 

[hlee]

When the camp is so good it is mistaken for a hack krylon job…

 

[dirtybores]

My old model 721 has that same bolt handle. It went into a mcmillan for a 700 without issue, so I would think the reverse would be true.

 

[RIGREG]

That Redfield base is nice too. Looks like a 700 JR, but if it’s 40x marked you have a second score!

Not 40X. It’s 700SA, no dash. So good for a 40X stand in on M40 or maybe transitional M40 A1 build, depending which version it is. Pretty sure those are Med height underscrew rings as well. I had the kid in the store with young eyes contort and twist till he could read it.

Note to self: Bring a discrete inspection mirror on buying trips.

Greg

 

[USMCSGT0331]

Not 40X. It’s 700SA, no dash. So good for a 40X stand in on M40 or maybe transitional M40 A1 build, depending which version it is. Pretty sure those are Med height underscrew rings as well. I had the kid in the store with young eyes contort and twist till he could read it.

Note to self: Bring a discrete inspection mirror on buying trips.

Greg

It looks like medium height 1" rings with the 2 under screws, which wpuld be correct for a transitional M40A1. You could have someone weld the corners of the 700SA base, square them off and then reblue the base, if you wanted the 40X look. You can also properly line the rings up (use the correct bar tools with the flat faces, not the scope tools with the pointed ends!) and then weld the rings to the base (4 welds per ring, don't weld the windage screws). Do this and you'll have a correct looking welded Redfield mount for a transitional M40A1! The Corps used both the 40X and 700SA scope bases for the transitional Redfield welded mounts, so technically you can weld the rings to the 700SA base right now without welding/squaring the corners of the base like the 40X bases. This saves a ton of money when you some have to pay $3k for an original USMC weldes mount or $4k for an original USMC Unertl mount!

 

[RIGREG]

@USMCSGT0331 Thanks for the tips. And, yes, I already have the Kokopelli alignment bars. They don’t show up very often, but it’s one of my searches on the auction-bay. If I go the weld route for a Transitional, I’ll need to cut the half moon on the front ring, correct?

Tomorrow, I’ll pick up the rifle and sort the parts. I need to part this out to justify the purchase just for the stock. This may be a case of the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. My FFL knows that when a rifle shows up for me, it’s either a 6 digit 700, or 40X. I’m at the point now where I just need to pick some barrels and decide the builds.

Greg

 

[USMCSGT0331]

@USMCSGT0331 Thanks for the tips. And, yes, I already have the Kokopelli alignment bars. They don’t show up very often, but it’s one of my searches on the auction-bay. If I go the weld route for a Transitional, I’ll need to cut the half moon on the front ring, correct?

Tomorrow, I’ll pick up the rifle and sort the parts. I need to part this out to justify the purchase just for the stock. This may be a case of the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. My FFL knows that when a rifle shows up for me, it’s either a 6 digit 700, or 40X. I’m at the point now where I just need to pick some barrels and decide the builds.

Greg

Yes, the 700SA base with the welded rings will partially cover the front screw hole that attaches the scope base to the receiver, so you need to mill the slot in the front scope ring (I have photos of this in other threads). Just for everyone's notes, the 40X welded mounts do not need the milling in the front scope ring because the front ring doesn't cover the front screw hole on the 40X base.