As Monty Python used to say, "And now for something different:"
My dad had a Steyr Mannlicher-Schoenauer 6.5x54 bolt action rifle with the full length stock, the butter knife bolt handle, and the double set triggers. I had to sell it after he passed away to raise money for my mom. I always loved that rifle!
Over a year ago I saw an Interarms Mark X at a local gun store. It had the full length stock and the butter knife bolt handle, but not the double set triggers. It was also in .270 which would be another caliber for me to stock.
Then a month and a half ago I found one with all three extra features in .30-06 on Gunbroker. It was unfired and in perfect condition. The price was an opening bid of $995 and no one else bid so I got it for that price.
When the Mark X arrived, it had an older Tasco illuminated scope mounted on top. I removed it, but the blued rings were terrific. I found a matching vintage mid-1970s blued steel Weaver, Made in the USA, 3-9x38mm scope with nice thin crosshairs on Ebay for $99. I think it matches the vintage mid-1970s of the rifle very well.
I sighted it in at 100 yards with factory Hornady Superformance 150 grain .30-06 rounds:
It sure shoots great!
These rifles' actions were made on original German Mauser machinery in Yugoslavia by Zastava. They're known for superior quality in forged steel and fit and finish. The actions were fitted to barrels and then sent to Manchester England for stocks and final finishing. The blue is deep and lustrous and the stocks are handsome, made the way the old Mannlichers were made.
I was excited to bring this rifle with me to the Shootists Holiday at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, NM. Here's the Mark X next to my custom Ruger 10/22 Takedown with an International stock (yep, you can tell I like these long stocks!):
I really wanted to try shooting this neat older rifle at the White Buffalo. The NRA Whittington Center is a shooter's dream. All kinds of ranges for all kinds of shooting. This particular range has steel falling targets and swingers at long distances. But the really interesting one is the steel outline of a buffalo (painted white) that is wayyyy out there. It's in the center of this photo:
The White Buffalo is at 1123 yards.
Here is a closer up version through another fellow's scope:
Here is me on the left and "the other fellow" on the right spotting for me. He knows his long range stuff. He looked up my Hornady factory load on his iPad and told me to hold a certain distance above the White Buffalo...about 7 feet high. I could still see the buffalo in the lower portion of my vintage Weaver scope, so keeping the vertical crosshair properly positioned was easy.
My third shot hit the White Buffalo.
It takes 2 1/2 seconds for the bullet to travel 1123 yards and then another 1 1/2 seconds for the sound of the steel getting hit to come back. So on a non-windy morning, it takes 5 seconds after the shot to hear, "Gonnnnng!"
Very fun.
I know these Interarms Mark X rifles are terrific guns. I think $995 for this gun was a steal. Lots of people checked it out and everyone comes away impressed.
The front trigger measures 14 ounces on my Lyman digital trigger pull gauge. I load a .30-06 snap cap in the chamber and let people try pulling the rear trigger first to set the front trigger and, every time, they pull the front trigger accidentally...not realizing how light it really is. I have them work the bolt and try it again and the second time they're very careful and then they say, "Wow!"
-Steve
My dad had a Steyr Mannlicher-Schoenauer 6.5x54 bolt action rifle with the full length stock, the butter knife bolt handle, and the double set triggers. I had to sell it after he passed away to raise money for my mom. I always loved that rifle!
Over a year ago I saw an Interarms Mark X at a local gun store. It had the full length stock and the butter knife bolt handle, but not the double set triggers. It was also in .270 which would be another caliber for me to stock.
Then a month and a half ago I found one with all three extra features in .30-06 on Gunbroker. It was unfired and in perfect condition. The price was an opening bid of $995 and no one else bid so I got it for that price.
When the Mark X arrived, it had an older Tasco illuminated scope mounted on top. I removed it, but the blued rings were terrific. I found a matching vintage mid-1970s blued steel Weaver, Made in the USA, 3-9x38mm scope with nice thin crosshairs on Ebay for $99. I think it matches the vintage mid-1970s of the rifle very well.
I sighted it in at 100 yards with factory Hornady Superformance 150 grain .30-06 rounds:
It sure shoots great!
These rifles' actions were made on original German Mauser machinery in Yugoslavia by Zastava. They're known for superior quality in forged steel and fit and finish. The actions were fitted to barrels and then sent to Manchester England for stocks and final finishing. The blue is deep and lustrous and the stocks are handsome, made the way the old Mannlichers were made.
I was excited to bring this rifle with me to the Shootists Holiday at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, NM. Here's the Mark X next to my custom Ruger 10/22 Takedown with an International stock (yep, you can tell I like these long stocks!):
I really wanted to try shooting this neat older rifle at the White Buffalo. The NRA Whittington Center is a shooter's dream. All kinds of ranges for all kinds of shooting. This particular range has steel falling targets and swingers at long distances. But the really interesting one is the steel outline of a buffalo (painted white) that is wayyyy out there. It's in the center of this photo:
The White Buffalo is at 1123 yards.
Here is a closer up version through another fellow's scope:
Here is me on the left and "the other fellow" on the right spotting for me. He knows his long range stuff. He looked up my Hornady factory load on his iPad and told me to hold a certain distance above the White Buffalo...about 7 feet high. I could still see the buffalo in the lower portion of my vintage Weaver scope, so keeping the vertical crosshair properly positioned was easy.
My third shot hit the White Buffalo.
It takes 2 1/2 seconds for the bullet to travel 1123 yards and then another 1 1/2 seconds for the sound of the steel getting hit to come back. So on a non-windy morning, it takes 5 seconds after the shot to hear, "Gonnnnng!"
Very fun.
I know these Interarms Mark X rifles are terrific guns. I think $995 for this gun was a steal. Lots of people checked it out and everyone comes away impressed.
The front trigger measures 14 ounces on my Lyman digital trigger pull gauge. I load a .30-06 snap cap in the chamber and let people try pulling the rear trigger first to set the front trigger and, every time, they pull the front trigger accidentally...not realizing how light it really is. I have them work the bolt and try it again and the second time they're very careful and then they say, "Wow!"
-Steve
