A Phoenix From the Ashes...

Bolt action rifles, lever action, pump action, self loading rifles and other miscellaneous longarms.

A Phoenix From the Ashes...

Post by bigpete » 17 Apr 2018, 6:22 pm

OK,bit of a long story.
8 years ago I lost my best mate to suicide. He was pretty well known for his love of pit bikes and motif cross, but he was also an extremely avid shooter.
Now,in his final letter,he left each of his good mates something,and I was left with all his firearms bar one. Included in the list was a beautiful little Cz 452e american varmint in 17hmr. Possibly his favourite rifle.
Unfortunately,about 3 years before he passed,he left the bolt and magazine locked in his ammo box in the boot of his Skyline after a night of spotlighting with me,and only brought the rifle inside. Of course,some mongrel stole the car and nothing was recovered.
My mate tried ordering a new bolt and magazine from our local gun shop,and was quoted a price that could've nearly bought a new rifle. Didn't matter anyway as the gun shop never got onto it and still to this day hasn't got anything in,11 years later.....
Anyway,after his death the police took all guns and various other stuff to a secret location somewhere where they languished unknown to anyone for 6 years....
So anyways,when I finally got hold of the rifles,I started looking for a bolt. I found one for sale in guns and game for $450 and literally didn't have the money. Then another one popped up on used guns for $350,and my ex wife told me we couldn't afford it ( less said the better,lying bitch ).
So the poor rifle sat there unused for a few more years till the week after Easter, when I was cleaning my room,I found a padded envelope containing a magazine for it. No idea where I got it from,but hey,one part found.
Day later I'm cruising used guns,and bang,there's a bloke selling a bunch of parts for a Cz 22 mag. I contacted him and he was more than happy to split off the bolt for $200 including postage. Sweet !!! Sent it Friday after Easter and it arrived the next Monday. Fitted perfect,fed and ejected shells fine,and dry fired fine. All I needed to do was shoot it !
IMG_20180417_172711.jpg
She's a beauty !
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So Tuesday morning I take it to work,quickly bore sight it at a dot on a tree 40m away,first shot an inch low and right,second shot dead on. Couldn't do anything else with it that day,so I brought it to work early the next day,and managed to knock off 3 rabbits with 3 shots driving along the headlands of our vineyard shooting down the rows. My mate would be stoked !!! And now I've got meat for the freezer !!!!
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2 head and 1 chest
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Anyways,after a very long time,this Phoenix has risen and is already slaying quite nicely. Needs a proper sight in,but it's taken 3 crows right out to 100m already so it can't be too bad lol
bigpete
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Re: A Phoenix From the Ashes...

Post by knowsnothin » 17 Apr 2018, 6:29 pm

Good story.

Your mate will be smiling.

and i would love me a CZ 17.
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Re: A Phoenix From the Ashes...

Post by Southpaw » 17 Apr 2018, 6:33 pm

Hey BP,
That’s fantastic! Well done, great that you’ve got that rifle to remember him by.
:thumbsup:
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Re: A Phoenix From the Ashes...

Post by bigpete » 17 Apr 2018, 6:38 pm

I've got 2 others that I'm slowly getting set up too so I'll post about them as they are set up
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Re: A Phoenix From the Ashes...

Post by Oldbloke » 17 Apr 2018, 6:49 pm

Southpaw wrote:Hey BP,
That’s fantastic! Well done, great that you’ve got that rifle to remember him by.
:thumbsup:


A sad, yet happy story. All the best. Enjoy
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Re: A Phoenix From the Ashes...

Post by SCJ429 » 17 Apr 2018, 7:59 pm

Great story, makes me think about my mates that I have lost to the black dog. What a great way to remember your friend, he would be proud.
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Re: A Phoenix From the Ashes...

Post by Howaguy » 17 Apr 2018, 8:59 pm

A real feel good story, thanks for sharing BP.
I cant wait to see the others :)
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Re: A Phoenix From the Ashes...

Post by BRNO_Bigot » 17 Apr 2018, 9:59 pm

Nice recovery for the rifle.

I have my brother's shotgun and 308 - reminds me of him every time I use them.
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Re: A Phoenix From the Ashes...

Post by bigpete » 18 Apr 2018, 4:05 pm

IMG_20180418_153012.jpg
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Finally did some sighting in properly today. Doesn't like TNT
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Re: A Phoenix From the Ashes...

Post by southwest shooter » 18 Apr 2018, 5:11 pm

CCI V Max looks like the go to round .
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Re: A Phoenix From the Ashes...

Post by bigpete » 18 Apr 2018, 5:25 pm

Can't believe how bad the TNT is
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Re: A Phoenix From the Ashes...

Post by Oldbloke » 18 Apr 2018, 5:43 pm

bigpete wrote:Can't believe how bad the TNT is


My 223 shot like that with S&B. Shoots fine with hand loads.
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Re: A Phoenix From the Ashes...

Post by bigpete » 18 Apr 2018, 10:08 pm

IMG_20180418_213800.jpg
Tonights effort
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Re: A Phoenix From the Ashes...

Post by Gun-nut » 19 Apr 2018, 11:45 am

Thats a great story (albeit also a sad one) BigPete, thanks for sharing.
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Re: A Phoenix From the Ashes...

Post by on_one_wheel » 19 Apr 2018, 8:00 pm

Did I hear someone say "dry fired fine" ?
Go easy on the dry firing with those rimfires :thumbsup: Personally I never deliberately dry fire my rimfires, however they've been dry fired possibly a hundred times looking for that 6th shot :lol: I can see a witness mark where the pin smacks the back of the barrel... getting better at counting to 5 and checking for a bullet to feed in by poking my index finger into the open breach while my cheek is welded and eyes focused when I know I'm close to 5

Anyhow, bloody great story Bigpete. Well done getting the parts together at the right price for that dam fine rifle.
I'm pretty sure your buddy would be smiling down on you fella. :drinks:
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