Omark Model 44, Worth it or not?

[Clayton]

Hi All

In June this year I managed to picked up an Omark Model 44 rifle, I scrounged a bipod and a scope and I've been using it to compete in FTR competitions at the local full-bore club.

A friend’s nephew was getting rid of the Omark because it put him over the limit for hunting rifles under the new Western Australian regulations and he wasn't interested in joining a club. In WA you can only have a maximum of 10 firearms, 5 for hunting and 5 for club use, Why I've mentioned this is will be clear later.

The only thing he knew about the it was that it was once a club rifle and as far as I can tell (due the lack of an adaptor) there is a good chance that it still has the original barrel.

It seemed to be reasonably accurate when I first started using it and as the season progressed, I found my scores slowly getting better and then they suddenly dropped off and got worse and worse, so either I'm going backwards which is possible or it's time to fit a new barrel. I'm hoping it's the barrel!

I currently have 9 firearms on my license and have plans to fill the last place with something else so this is likely to be my only F class rifle.
So far, I've been using the club ammunition but I've managed to get together the bits and pieces to start reloading my own.

Because it is an FTR rifle I'm not limited to the 155 Grain projectiles like F-Std or Target rifle so I've been considering using 185s or even the 200.20X projectiles instead which would definitely mean a new barrel as the 1:13 is a bit slow for those projectiles.

Is it worth putting the time and money into fitting an adaptor and new barrel (30" 1:10) on the Omark (and possibly fitting a new stock) and I've read here about fitting a firing pin spring that’s wound in reverse is a good idea, Is there anything else I should consider getting done or should I quit while I'm ahead, Move the Omark on and get something else to use instead?

[No1Mk3]

Fitting a new barrel is a fair bit cheaper than buying a good T/R, and the Omark action will continue to give good service. The problem is a good replacement Omark is cheaper to buy than an adaptor and replacement barrel, at least over here that is. Once you have the adaptor the future upkeep of the Omark is merely screw on a new barrel as needed.

[madang55]

What a lot of people haven't said is the OMARK is a classic rifle. Shooting at Williamstown, a couple of Queen's Prizes, country comps, there was always an OMARK featuring in the top prizes. And that's with a "peep sight". They were capable of excellent groupings at all ranges. If you have one, and it has glass on it, find a gunsmith who knows his beeswax and be guided by him. The early days saw shooters replace barrels with a Madco or a Black Mountain I believe, and that was a big thing back then. No4's were very popular, especially with the older generation who knew how to drive them and often used them at the 800/900/1000yd comps. M17 conversions were ok, I had one that Perce Pavey made a stock for, Parker Hales were mostly atrocious, I had one that could shoot. One day shooting with the Police Club at Williamstown, I managed a 24inch group at 800 yards. Pity it was mostly in the 4 ring. And, eventually, 98 Mausers found their way in. But, the OMARK was the base line and everyone had one. A very capable piece of kit. I paid $94 for my first one with my holiday money in 1972.