Hello all. I’ve come across this rifle and the guy who owns It wants to trade for one of mine. From my research it seems to be very similar to a Harris-McMillan M86, but my quandary is this rifle is said to have a weatherby MK V action and is chambered in 300 weatherby with a 30ish inch barrel. Has G McMillan & Co Phoenix AZ stamped on the barrel and is rumored to have been built for a Navy contract. If anyone has any history or can ID this rifle that would be great. I’ve sent an email to McMillan so hopefully they get back with me as well.
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Need help identifying this rifle
- Thread starter DogSoldier1
- Start date
That’s what I’ve come to think it is, but that model wasn’t offered in 300 weatherby. Just 300 winny
That's a interesting clambering. Seems to lean against a military contract. Harris did produce a number of sporting rifles also, in many different calibers, that might have that Phoenix address. I'm curious if McMillan can help, as I think this was a early spin off of Gale McMillans.
I would think it wasn’t for the military being chambered in the caliber it is, but that is what the guy has said. I did send McMillan an email and I’m hoping they can help. Seems like an interesting piece nonetheless.
Hi,
You will more than likely have better luck contacting Rock McMillan at JJ Rock Co over McMillan fiberglass stocks.
Sincerely,
Theis
You will more than likely have better luck contacting Rock McMillan at JJ Rock Co over McMillan fiberglass stocks.
Sincerely,
Theis
This might help some who are wondering how all these companies are connected, or not.
Thats very cool Downtown! I have a weatherby mark V (300 W) that Mcmillan refinished and put one of their stocks on from the early 90's. They did that and my Steyr Manlicher model M 30-06. Wonder what they are worth? I Also wonder if anyone can convert the Weatherby to a PRS rifle?
Downtown,
Thanks for that post and the link to Rock's letter. I was dealing directly with Wes Harris in 1993-4 when I bought my first precision rifle. It was a "G. McMillan and Company" M-86 chambered in .300 Weatherby. Had it custom made. It shot far better than I could for about 600 rounds and then the precision went to hell. For about 500 rounds, it was a good 1/2 MOA rifle like advertised. Sent it back for evaluation, they said there was nothing wrong with it and returned it. Nothing had changed and I returned it yet again. This time it came back with what I believe was the same barrel cut two inches shorter and rechambered. It still shot okay for a while, but not like before.
About this time, the trigger also started to act funny. I could manipulate it to fire when the safety was released. Not good, so I replaced it with a Jewel and even informed Harris of his faulty trigger, not expecting him to do anything about it. Then, the stock cracked at the wrist.
By this time (1998), I was through with Harris and his lies (he personally denied cutting back the barrel). I sent the stock back to the real McMillan Fiberglass Stock Company believing I had a true McMillan stock and they would take care of it. They returned it with a letter explaining that it was not their stock. I was shocked and really pissed by this point. Not at McMillan, but at Harris.
Nothing about Rock's letter surprises me now looking back. Every word Rock writes about Wes Harris is true.
Long story interesting, the reason the rifle was not shooting well anymore was due to throat erosion. After an inspection with a bore scope, the reason was obvious: about 1.5 inches of washed out free-bore and lead. The .300 Weatherby is hard on barrels. Do not make a precision rifle in one. Lesson learned.
Today the action sits waiting to become a light .257 Weatherby hunting rifle. I have more bolt action projects than I have time to use them, if they ever get completed. I figure if I don't treat it like a precision rifle that gets shot a lot, I'll be okay this time with a Weatherby. And I will use a good smith, not Wes Harris or anyone associated with him. Another lesson learned.
Cheers, Hide.
AG
Thanks for that post and the link to Rock's letter. I was dealing directly with Wes Harris in 1993-4 when I bought my first precision rifle. It was a "G. McMillan and Company" M-86 chambered in .300 Weatherby. Had it custom made. It shot far better than I could for about 600 rounds and then the precision went to hell. For about 500 rounds, it was a good 1/2 MOA rifle like advertised. Sent it back for evaluation, they said there was nothing wrong with it and returned it. Nothing had changed and I returned it yet again. This time it came back with what I believe was the same barrel cut two inches shorter and rechambered. It still shot okay for a while, but not like before.
About this time, the trigger also started to act funny. I could manipulate it to fire when the safety was released. Not good, so I replaced it with a Jewel and even informed Harris of his faulty trigger, not expecting him to do anything about it. Then, the stock cracked at the wrist.
By this time (1998), I was through with Harris and his lies (he personally denied cutting back the barrel). I sent the stock back to the real McMillan Fiberglass Stock Company believing I had a true McMillan stock and they would take care of it. They returned it with a letter explaining that it was not their stock. I was shocked and really pissed by this point. Not at McMillan, but at Harris.
Nothing about Rock's letter surprises me now looking back. Every word Rock writes about Wes Harris is true.
Long story interesting, the reason the rifle was not shooting well anymore was due to throat erosion. After an inspection with a bore scope, the reason was obvious: about 1.5 inches of washed out free-bore and lead. The .300 Weatherby is hard on barrels. Do not make a precision rifle in one. Lesson learned.
Today the action sits waiting to become a light .257 Weatherby hunting rifle. I have more bolt action projects than I have time to use them, if they ever get completed. I figure if I don't treat it like a precision rifle that gets shot a lot, I'll be okay this time with a Weatherby. And I will use a good smith, not Wes Harris or anyone associated with him. Another lesson learned.
Cheers, Hide.
AG
