Sportco Keppeler .223 Target Rifle - SOLD!

[RobinC]

As my continual step to retirement, another opportunity for you to buy a very special rifle!

The action is a special custom Sportco M44, shortened action, and with the middle action screw and recoil lug action screw. It was originally 7.62 (.308w), but is now in .223 Remington and is stamped as such. The bolt head was new supplied by TSE (current owners of the Sportco rights), and the action is fitted with a TSE adaptor to carry the new Bartlein 1 in 8 twist 640 mm (25") barrel shaped to my own match profile. It is chambered to .223 Wylde.  The barrel and action was by Mik at Dolphin guns. The action is ceracoted mat black.

.223 is elligable for ISSF 300 mt, NRA target rifle TR, and most competitions, as well as just being fun to shoot any time!

The fitted trigger is a Bix'n Andy 20 gm two stage, adjustable in all directions, and for weight. The Rifle also comes with a spare Sportco single stage 1500 gm trigger eligable for TR.

It is bedded on a machined alloy bedding block, screwed into the full bore Keppeler stock. The stock is a Keppeler K0 5, modified by me with alloy inserts to the slimline fore end of the new KO 9 model stock, it is metallic black with polished alloy. The grip is a Walther KK300, the cheek piece is a special built walnut on alloy modern target flat shape, and hinged sideways to clear the bolt for loading, and is fully adjustable in any direction. The butt plate is a custom (built to order) Walther KK200 type adjustable in all directions, and with a removable butt hook.

The sights are a Gehmann 590 compact with Centra iris, and a Centra Cube foresight complete with a Crystal  Hi end element, and a Crystal 0.5 eagle eye. The rifle also comes with a Parker Hale 5c TR eligible and suitable 4 click per minute rear sight complete with a Sportco mounting bracket.

It has been meticulously run in, and shot for one 300 mt match course with a good score and shooting perfectly, a total logged barrel use of under 200 rds, it shoots very well with NRA supplied 69 gn GGG ammo, but even better with my special 80 gn hand loads, even in Bisley wind! I will supply a box of each to a buyer.

Why am I selling if its so good? It was built as my lock down project, and any that look on Stirton forum will know that I have now built my bucket list .223 rifle, a Barnard in a Walther KK500 stock, and I don't need two .223's! And even though I love this one I need the space in my cabinet!

The first sensible offer in the region of £2500,a fraction of what its cost to build can have it!  Pic attached, but any interested party can email me on robin.carter80@ntlworld.com 

Have Fun

Robin

[RobinC]

This is a serious target rifle, not a .223 plinker, 

No sensible offers? So what about a silly one, First £2000 will get it!

Have Fun

Robin

[RobinC]

I realize this is a bit specialised, but it is a superbly accurate, just built, only just run in rifle.

Last chance?

I need the space in my cabinet!!!!

I can take it to Bisley on April 27th/28th

The first £1850 buys it

Have Fun

Robin

robin.carter80@ntlworld.com 

[Re-Pete]

Does the bolt lock into the barrel or the receiver on this model?

Pete

[Leeman]

Original post says it has a TSE adaptor, presumably the same as the old Neilson adaptor which allows the bolt lugs to lock into that, rather than the barrel itself

[Re-Pete]

Ah.....I'm not that familiar with the Sportco.

Pete

[RobinC]

Hi Pete

The original Sportco M44 did have the lugs in the barrel which limited you to using Sportco barrels only.

TSE in Queensland, Oz, who now own Sportco, (you can still order one new!) and fully support them, make the adapter which basically converts the action into a conventional but still very short action, so you can now fit any barrel. I have a TSE adapter, it was fitted by Mik at Dolphin, and you would not know it was not the action.

It has a new (years waiting list!) 1 in 8 Bartlein match barrel.

I've always liked the Sportco action since their inception many years ago, they are very stiff and produce a very accurate rifle. Both the Wife and I used them for TR, she got to the Queens final with one.

Its on a Rem 700 footprint, but unlike many Rem 700 clone 2 bolt lug actions, Sportco didn't just copy but completely designed these as a pure single shot 3 bolt lug target action, and very successfully.

This one, Mik also did the favoured Aussie action mods for me, in that there is now a middle action screw, and no rear action screw, and the rear of the action tail is milled off to make the action shorter. That makes them very consistent over a long match course, where some conventional two action screw rifles the bolt gets stiff as the action heats.

It is a superb rifle, very accurate, cost me a bundle to build,  just a shame I've built my bucket list Walther KK500 stocked Barnard 223, so its redundant, and cluttering up my cabinet!

Are you interested? I will be going to Bisley on the 27th/28th April and will be free on the Sat 27th afternoon, I could take it for you to see?

email on robin.carter80@ntlworld.com.

Have Fun

Robin

[RobinC]

Now Sold

Have Fun

Robin