CCHunter,

That is my baby, I have an early Super Express Classic, which has the barrel lug for the front sling swivel instead of the barrel band. Mine also has the Monte Carlo stock, which I do not like the looks of but shoots very comfortably after a bit of tweaking. I have a beautiful blank for a stock but I never took the time to make it since I was having too much fun shooting it instead.

As for loads, I cannot speak from an experience about performance on dangerous game, but as for accuracy, I can put any bullet in it and keep five shots touching at 100yds. I have shot groups as small as 1/2" with Serria 250gr. I have found that it will throw most loads into the same group with a little vertical spread due differences in velocity.

I lapped my barrel as soon as I received it, which I do to all my rifles, printed the inletting to make sure there was no uneven pressure, and made sure all the action screws were the same torque. Honed the trigger and set it to break cleanly at 3lbs. I installed a set of Warne QR lever mounts(the old style) with rings on 2 scopes a Burris Signature Series 6X and a Bausch & Lomb 2-8X. Both scopes can be used interchangably, and return exactly to zero everytime. I rebuilt the iron sights with the factory ramps and islands lapped to match the barrel contour exactly, with the intent to silver solder them on, but I have not found the time yet so they are still just screwed on. I made my own shallow V-blade for the rear sight and a big front bead and sighted it in to put full house 300gr Swift A-frames dead on the money at 25yds. I have considered lopping the barrel to 22" but I am not sure I want to give up the velocity, and it is a bit hard put the 2" back on if I do not like the result!!!

The next things I will do to it, once I get it to Australia, is to lap the action, including the lugs, both action and bolt, true the bolt face, so that it work as slick as a snake's tongues. Also run it through very severe paces to work out any feeding problems and any other little gremlins that may want to show their faces at the moment of truth.

Of course, eventually, I will make a new stock which will include a drop magazine to add one more round and some cast-off and stock dimensions to give that perfect fit for instinctive shooting. I will strip the bluing, buff and card the metal work and rust blue the whole thing, mounts and rings included. Replace the 2 scopes with a Burris Signature Series Safari 1.75-5X mounted on my own design of quick release mounts, that include the bases lapped and silver soldered to the receiver.

That should just about do it, then it will be time to start on the 7X57 to match.

I find it a very comfortable rifle to shoot even with full-house loads, and recommend it very highly.

Lynn Miller