Custom Safari rifle by Bill Sturtevant - 416 Rem caliber

[buckstix]

Custom Safari rifle by Bill Sturtevant - 416 Rem caliber

This weekend I added another 416 to the family. I hope to have it in hand in a couple weeks. 416 is my favorite caliber. This makes number 12 - eight (8) 416 Rigbys, a 416 Hoffman, a 416 Taylor, a 416 Van Horn, and now a 416 Remington.

I can find very little information about William (Bill) Sturtevant. I would hope someone here may have additional information about Bill. I would like to get in touch with him in hopes that he might tell me about this most interesting rifle. It appears the action of this rifle was built from scratch as I cannot find any others like it. Here is the information posted on the auction site.

as always I appreciate your comments

http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/416rem-000.jpg

 

[Kbhallmark]

I don't know Bill, but my son does. Bill was a student and instructor at Trinidad gun smithing school. He now has a shop in Colorado, but I don't remember where. My son says he's probably as good a gunsmith as ever lived. Mostly builds guns on his own actions now I believe and does a lot of ultra long range prairie dog shooting.

 

[gizmo]

That is a gorgeous rifle.

 

[buckstix]

I don't know Bill, but my son does.

Could you ask your son if he knows how I might contact him?

 

[buckstix]

Well, I got the rifle in hand today - what a remarkable Custom Rifle. Bill Sturtevant is truly a Master Gunsmith. Every aspect of this rifle is absolutely perfect. Everything was made from scratch - action, bolt, and stock. I tried to show all the detail in the pictures below. The custom action is variation of a double square bridge. The tops of the bridges are machined to accept the 30mm Leopold Rings - no bases required. The custom bolt has enlarged locking lugs and a sleek custom shroud with a Winchester style 3-position safety. Stock inletting is perfect and border-less checkering is flawless. L.O.P is 14-3/8" and weight is a recoil absorbing 11 pounds 12 ounces.

As far as I've been able to find - this is the ONLY Sturtevant Arms Bolt Action Rifle ever made. Serial number is SS-001.

The only other Sturtevant rifle found is a Custom .375 H&H Flanged Caliber Dangerous Game Rifle built as a traditional Farquarson action single shot, currently for sale on Guns International.

http://www.buckstix.com/buckpi...16rem-details-000.jpg

 

[buckstix]

Range Report.

I took the rifle to the range today. The load is conservative, velocity to the magic 2150fps. The rifle came sighted perfectly and no scope adjustment was necessary. Its sighted 2-1/2" high at 50yds = 4" high at 100yds = dead=on at 200yds = 6" low at 250yds. So sighted you can aim point-blank over the entire distance and be assured of a kill. With the 12 pounds loaded, recoil was barely noticeable.


http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/416rem-targ-sm.jpg

 

[RR 314]

Glad you like it and it shoots. You always say feedback is welcome, so here it is. .

The aesthetics of the bolt shroud and action are not appealing to me. They appear unfinished and could use some more time on the mill.

The main thing is that you seem to love it. Some people do not care for some of my guns/rifles. As long as I like them, that’s all that matters to me.

I had a buddy in college and had a fat little girlfriend. She made up for it by being mean and ugly as a mud fence as well. . Nobody understood it,but man he loved that girl.

Seriously, it is different and seems to function very well. You have a very diverse collection, and it fits well! Enjoy it! Nice addition!