Josh,

I will be interested to hear how your German barrel holds up. As I said, my statement was not made from my own experience, but from that of a friend. I have had several .300 Win Mags and haven't used up a barrel yet. My volume of shooting in those rifles is just not that high.

Please report your experience to the forum.

Your rifle is going to be absolute first class. My comment wasn't intended to cast a bad light on it in any manner.

I envy your project and have considered a Martini & Hagn rifle for myself. I haven't done one for myself because all my spare $$$ seems to land in double rifle acquisitions!

For what my opinion is worth, I would definitely get the steel buttplate. It won't hurt you, and it will certainly enhance the rifle.

Keep us posted on your project; and again, congratulations.

Curl