Sportco Omark M44 Refurbishment

[GreyDog]

I'm posting this here on the off-chance there may be something of interest, in my 'voyage of discovery', to potential (or new, or existing) Sportco-Omark M44 owners.
I recently picked up a s/h Sportco M44 for a few hundred dollars (pretty cheap really). It was advertised as being in good condition, having a 'blackened' stock, having a Black Mountain Barrel and fitted with weaver scope mounts (no front or rear peep sights). That was OK by me, as I think I'm a bit past being competitive with open/ring sights.
As much as anything, I was just wanting to get my hands on an Omark M44 as I had shot one competitively for a decade in my 20-30's. (OldDog now) So just a bit of memorabilia!
I briefly inspected it in store and took the plunge and purchased it. What did I find upon closer inspection when getting it home? The Black Mountain barrel looks good to me (I see nothing wrong or no obvious wear = good); the reason for painting the stock black may have something to do with the numerous holes in the stock that had been repaired (not unexpected with a 55 year old gun); the front action screw was holding by only a couple threads and was stripping the action thread = bad!
I'll post an update a.s.a.p. + a few pics.

[GreyDog]

Rather than look for a gunsmith to tackle the front action screw thread mess, which appeared to be due to a cut down screw not finished well and forced into the thread(?); I went on the hunt locally and purchased a suitable new 1/4 UNF bolt and a tap to retap/follow the action screw thread (as the remainder of the thread appeared OK). It appears to have worked with the new bolt now able to be screwed in the full length of the action screw hole.
I originally had intended to return the stock to a timber finish, but put that idea in the too hard basket. Instead, I sanded out the runs and most inperfections in the black paint job, filled and sanded a few holes and dings and refinished the stock in spray can black satin acrylic auto paint. It came up well!
The original butt plate/rubber was a bit tatty and one of the screw holes was drilled very crooked. I opted to make up a new metal butt plate from some 3mm steel, to which I would attach a rubber/silicone recoil pad + fixed the crooked hole issue. The new plate did add a little weight to the stock, which i.m.o. is OK with a .308 cal target rifle.
The barrel was floated with what appears to have been a good bedding job forward and rear of the front action screw and at the tang where the rear action screw is located. However, all the bedding had one fine crack running through the bottom/centre of it parallel with the stock/barrel. I'll see how the rifle shoots first, before I make a decision about whether to rebed the action.
BTW the rifle is a very early version, with no mention of Omark on the action engraving; just Sportco M44 7.62 cal etc. It has had the pin upgrade for the bolt head.

refinished stock, new butt plate and recoil pad

PC150007 (Large).JPG (225.33 KiB) Viewed 574 times

[straightshooter]

Having been down that path myself my advice is be cautious and make the best out of what you have before spending too much money on the next step of the upgrade. Remember it will always be "only an Omark".
The longitudinal crack in the bedding is of concern as it may be due to a crack in the stock.
If you redo the bedding then bed the full length of the barrel reinforce ahead of the recoil lug and at least a similar amount to the receiver behind the recoil lug. Don't do the bedding around the tang until after the the forward bedding has fully hardened.
If the rifle shoots then there you go.
Be wary of barrel adaptors. Some are made from old barrels and may be sus for a variety of reasons. Some factory made adaptors have failed due to a combination of heat treatment and there being a very thin cross sectional area in the adaptor.
If you eventually do go ahead with a new barrel and adaptor seriously consider going to a 223 as it has 40% less back thrust than a 308 and is thus easier on the weaker parts of the adaptor.
If you get that far then some more problems will lying in wait for you. Such as poor primary extraction, fatigued mainspring causing misfires, insufficient firing pin protrusion due to fatigue in the pin causing misfires or other problems.
If you are not put off by my comments then good luck with your project.

[GreyDog]

Having been down that path myself my advice is be cautious and make the best out of what you have before spending too much money on the next step of the upgrade. Remember it will always be "only an Omark".
The longitudinal crack in the bedding is of concern as it may be due to a crack in the stock................If you are not put off by my comments then good luck with your project.

Thanks. I've no intention of rebarreling the rifle or spending big dollars on it. I just want to tidy it up and see how it shoots; reliving old days of owning and shooting an Omark 308. If I ever get back into centre-fire rifle shooting in a serious way, I'd most likely purchase a new 223.
I can't see any evidence of cracking of the stock. What happened in the past to crack the bedding is a mystery. I'll just have to wait untill I can put a few shots through it, to see whether it is an issue requiring a remedy.