"Have A Hart"

C

Chism G

Active member
“Have A Hart”

A benchrest classic, in its original form, from the 70,s era. This,13.5lb, Hart actioned Rifle,chambered in .222, is currently owned by Texan,Billy Russell.

It was originally built by Hart ,for Billy,s compadre, Cecil Vick. Billy shot the Rifle, in registered competition, back in the 70’s. Billy Russell,s name can be found on some of the old match reports from that era.

Today,Billy is retired and living a quiet existence, in a small drug free and Crime free town, in Central Texas.:)

He is known to be one of the best stockers in the area. Ask some of his customers. My Remington 541T shoots a lot better since he rebedded it.

History definition; “A written record of past events.” Photos courtesy of Billy Russell.



















Glenn
 
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Glenn,
I have a Hart #4 action rifle which is a "beast". The action with it's front sleeve weighs around 8 pounds by it self! I assume the sleeve was made to accommodate
the longer based scopes like Unertl's and Lyman target spots. My action is in a fiberglass stock with a 5" fore end with steel runners. The action also came with 3
bolts with 222/6ppc/308 faces and extended bolt handles. I bought it thinking it would be a poor man's unlimited rifle but I have never used it. If I was smart enough
I would post some pictures, it's a big hunk of iron!
Regards,
\
Joe McNeill
SW Arkansas
 
The "Beast"

Joe...Remember. I am no stranger to Guns. I just happened to get to Benchrest competition, way after the classic Rifles, like yours were regularly seen at Benchrest matches.

I'm sure there are other "Johnny come Lately's, like me, who have never even seen one of these old Icon's. The one in the picture ,is the first one I've ever seen.

If I can help you with posting a picture, send me a PM. I will give it a try.

Some of these old Rifles would make a great addition to a Benchrest museum. If there was such a thing.



Glenn
 
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Have a Hart

Yep those were the ones we bought back then .
That one looks like a c r and Pj Hart rifle . stock was made at Harts by Al Hauser.
It looks like a few of mine. Wally made the ones with his actions. different stock style and the hart actions with the bracket on the front for the unertl '
or Lyman scopes.
 
Joe McNeill said:
Glenn,
I have a Hart #4 action rifle which is a "beast". The action with it's front sleeve weighs around 8 pounds by it self! I assume the sleeve was made to accommodate
the longer based scopes like Unertl's and Lyman target spots. My action is in a fiberglass stock with a 5" fore end with steel runners. The action also came with 3
bolts with 222/6ppc/308 faces and extended bolt handles. I bought it thinking it would be a poor man's unlimited rifle but I have never used it. If I was smart enough
I would post some pictures, it's a big hunk of iron!
Regards,
\
Joe McNeill
SW Arkansas
Click to expand...


Joe's ,Hart Rifle

2q99lc8.jpg


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Have a Hart

I'm pretty sure that action was designed for the unlimited class
I have 2 hart actions left both have the lighter brackets . also 1 of the newer AS actions. The last AS i bught was in the 80,s
i believe that front extension screw,s right off. It certainly is a nice unlimited bag gun and with 3 bolts , so there,s plenty of choices for calibers.
 
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GerryM said:
I'm pretty sure that action was designed for the unlimited class
I have 2 hart actions left both have the lighter brackets . also 1 of the newer AS actions. The last AS i bught was in the 80,s
i believe that front extension screw,s right off. It certainly is a nice unlimited bag gun and with 3 bolts , so there,s plenty of choices for calibers.
Click to expand...



Yes...you are correct about the front extension. It does screw off on this Rifle. The owner states that the Rifle weighs 24 lbs,in its current configuration. It is fitted with a schneider barrel.

You don't see many of those on equipment lists, these days. Maybe Joe will Chime in and fill in more details about this old Rifle. Thanks for the info.




Glenn
 
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Glenn,
The story I got when I purchased the gun from a PA dealer was that 2 brothers bought identical guns to use in short
range and long range BR. The gun I have has a Schneider barrel in 6 BR short with a 1/14 twist. The long bolt handles
make it easier to load/unload and are patterned after the Remington bolt. The action has only 1 set of mounting holes
in the rear and the other mounting holes are in the sleeve/extension. I believe this was for using the longer scopes
being used in early bench rest. It is an interesting hunk of iron and I hope to be putting it to good use against the "rails".
Regards,

Joe McNeill
SW Arkansas
 
Speaking of old Mausers and other old guns, isn't The Donald working on an order that will allow us to return to importing some of these older guns that were banned by the evil ones?

I have an old 1958 American Rifleman where a 98 Mauser or a Luger could be bought from Ye Old Hunter for $14.95. Wouldn't that be great?

The NRA has a Vintage Military Class at Camp Perry. We could have a Vintage Military Class in benchrest.

.
 
Aka,"cruiser"

A big ole heavy, bag gun.(Unlimited weight) Probably a lot of fun to shoot.



Glenn
 
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The stock on the green gun is a Lee Six Hall pattern stock with about a five inch wide forend. I had one back in the 80's with a Remington in a large Davidson sleeve. It was a pretty popular stock before people went to the rail guns. At one time the front and rear rest in the unlimited class had to be two separate pieces. You saw quite a few Six stocks shot in UL class at that time. When the rule was changed to allow the front and rear to be mounted on one plate of aluminum, that pretty well ended the big conventional stocked rifles.
 
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