My 97 setup has gone full circle, kind of

[bootneckbob]

About 15 years ago my 97 was a nickel V glide with a 2.5-8x36 Leupold for HFT. Then I moved back down to Devon and started shooting FT with it. In the last couple of years the nickel went and a black V mach action came in, then the glided internals, black comp tube, precision trigger and saftey were added. Today the big FT scope came off, and a little Leupold was put on. Love the way it feels and shoots. It's great as a FT gun, but now I'll be shooting prone and kneeling, rather than kneeling and sitting.

Anyway, you only wanted to see pictures didn't you!

A long time ago as HFT gun.

Then FT

Now back to HFT, with the stock stained.

 

[SirShootsALot]

From silver to black? How

 

[chouchin66]

Question ; as HFT is ( apparently) largely, shot " off the floor"/ agin' a peg , wassup with hamsters ? ...first to admit it... ignorance; but, for a Yank, " hunter"( to me) denotes a bit more than shooting prone - more offhand, (where a palm grip may be beneficial) , so, what's with hamsters ?

 

[om606]

They can keep their heads up, its like lifting the gun, off your glove some more no cranked wrist no pain between the shoulder blades or your neck its more comfort when looking through the scope prone you are not piled up behind it wobbling.
PS Not a HFT shooter never shot a single round , but shoot from a tailgate ratting for hours trust me its comfy and stable with one than without.

 

[Thetraindriver01]

Very nice

 

[Lemon69]

Nice bit of kit

 

[bootneckbob]

From silver to black? How

Very expensive. I asked a few of the usual suspects and was told really it's economically not viable. Then I met HW95 off here who had the black rifle I have now. Getting him to part with it was a long process and he let it go in pieces which was expensive as I'd already paid a lot to get my rifle as it was with the nickel action. Although not shown in the FT picture I selected, the nickel had the V-Mach RACE brake fitted, where the black, is the vented full shroud and knurled cocking lever and release mech. Plus it's in a Gary Cane stock I had made for me (for a Daystate mk4) which was re inletted for the 97 later. Once HW95 sold me all the parts, I was able to convert fully to black V glide and comp tube, and then have my nickel action complete with V glide and polished comp tube; both are etched with the V-Mach logo. I then sold the nickel setup and recouped some of that money. Combine all that with a midlife upgrade to the stock where Nath on here coloured it, redid the stippling and removed the UIT rail on the side for the fwd sling stud and the rear stud.

So to answer your question...a new action in black.

 

[bootneckbob]

Question ; as HFT is ( apparently) largely, shot " off the floor"/ agin' a peg , wassup with hamsters ? ...first to admit it... ignorance; but, for a Yank, " hunter"( to me) denotes a bit more than shooting prone - more offhand, (where a palm grip may be beneficial) , so, what's with hamsters ?

As has already been stated since you asked; it gets the rifle off the floor rested on a gloved hand. Basically like shooting offhand on a bench, but on the floor 'prone' but not propper prone off the elbows. Also for me, when this was my only decent springer, it was my way of keeping consistent position / hold when shooting it. Wether shooting prone, kneeling or standing, the support was always in the same place on the fwd edge of the hamster.

 

[Hw95]

That 97 is super accurate as well ,) i would happy prize it from your hands rob ,)