Reloading EverythingLee PrecisionTitan ReloadingRotoMetals2
MidSouth Shooters SupplyInline FabricationWidenersLoad Data
Repackbox
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 22

Thread: Tim Malcolm aka MBTcustom (goodsteel) can still build a fine rifle!

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    452

    Tim Malcolm aka MBTcustom (goodsteel) can still build a fine rifle!







    This rifle was done by Tim Malcolm (Malcolm Ballistic Tool) in Conway Arkansas. I believe he has built some rifles for some other members on here previously. He told me that mine was the last of the rifles he built for the cast boolit folks. Rifle was built off a k98 Mauser action, Lothar Walther barrel at 22.5 inches with a 1:14 twist. The jeweling and checkering were done by hand. Chambered in the venerable 358 Winchester. I have a 230 grain mold from accurate for my hunting loads, and a 158 grain from a recent group buy for plinking, plus probably 600 jacketed bullets. I had better get shooting!!

  2. #2
    Boolit Master

    Uncle Grinch's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Middle Georgia
    Posts
    1,703
    Yep, Tim rebarreled a 1908 Brazilian Mauser for me years ago and it shot fine.
    Shoot Safe,
    Mike

    Retired Telephone Man
    NRA Endowment Member
    Marion Road Gun Club
    ( www.marionroad.com )

  3. #3
    Boolit Master Wheelguns 1961's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Location
    Mid atlantic area
    Posts
    1,298
    That is a beautiful rifle. The best part is I bet it shoots as good as it looks! Congratulations!
    Due to the price of primers, warning shots will no longer be given!

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    271
    My personal opinion, take it for what it's worth.

    It's a pretty rifle from a distance, but there's just no way on Earth that it would have left my shop with that floor plate area looking like it does. I'm thinking the stock wasn't cut for that action.

    Some may see that as being overly picky, but this is a custom built rifle and usually priced accordingly because of the time involved, gaps like that along with being off center just don't fly.

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master Harter66's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    120 miles North of Texarkana 9 miles from OK in the green hell
    Posts
    5,347
    I have more than one that Tim did some work on .
    One a full salvage build .
    A one off , nobody in their right mind .......
    A barrel on a 98' action in an old Fajin stock .

    The first shoots whatever you feed it with minimal work up into little bitty clusters . The 257 Roberts with a 1-10 22" barrel might give it an unfair advantage going in . Its my Dad's .

    What's not to love about a one off 3 reamer wild cat on a Carcano action .......

    Last the 1-14 358 Win . It's 300 yd prairie dog capable . Although a 35-250 at 2100 fps might be overkill a little bit for a 6oz squirrel/gopher/rat . I did shoot a few 358132 148 gr WC gallery loads that were quite handy for golf balls to 60-70 yd . I never got around to shooting the 358-125s or the XCB or the other 2-3 moulds on hand .

    With the 35-250 I shot many 5-10 shot groups with slow for caliber powders well inside an inch ruined each time by a lost check opening it up to 2" ........

    Only the 257 was as pretty as that one . My impatience and wood butchery saw to that .
    In the time of darkest defeat,our victory may be nearest. Wm. McKinley.

    I was young and stupid then I'm older now. Me 1992 .

    Richard Lee Hart 6/29/39-7/25/18


    Without trial we cannot learn and grow . It is through our stuggles that we become stronger .
    Brother I'm going to be Pythagerus , DiVinci , and Atlas all rolled into one soon .

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    452
    You have better eyes than I do! Seriously, When it comes to fit etc on rifles, I hardly notice that. Having been in woodworking for several years, I notice wood, finish etc.

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Northern Michigan
    Posts
    8,899
    The kind of rifles most of us dream about and lust for.

    Not the kind I would walk the woods with as I am too worried about dinging it up. I would shoot if from a blind.

    Nowadays, you can get a $250 rifle that is sub MOA so with a custom rifle you are not buying accuracy like you did 20+ years ago. Accuracy is "cheap". But getting a rifle made for you, in the caliber you want, with a stock that fits you and has "curb appeal" still has a place.
    Don Verna


  8. #8
    Boolit Master

    pworley1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Mississippi
    Posts
    3,253
    Very nice work.
    NRA Benefactor Member NRA Golden Eagle

  9. #9
    Boolit Grand Master


    Larry Gibson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Lake Havasu City, Arizona
    Posts
    21,304
    Very nice looking rifle......and I'll bet it's a shooter...…..

    I've 2 actions back at Tim's for rebarrel/rechambering...… I thoroughly expect Tim will work his usual excellent precision with them. I've been thoroughly satisfied with Tim's previous work he's done for me.
    Last edited by Larry Gibson; 01-02-2020 at 11:56 AM.
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    452
    Oh I will certainly shoot this rifle, if it gets too dinged up he will fix it. As to the cost, i believe I paid far less than you guys seem to think I did!!!

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    452
    Also, I have never seen factory rifles with wood like that; and I appreciate pretty wood.

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master


    Larry Gibson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Lake Havasu City, Arizona
    Posts
    21,304
    Yes it is very beautiful indeed. I've worked with enough pre-inletted stocks to know you get what you get. Even with pure custom individually made stocks one can always find some inletting or finishing "defects" if one is critical enough but then who cares. Jevyod has a very fine looking custom rifle that he likes (I like it too!) and that's all that matters.
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    SW Florida
    Posts
    718
    I haven't had any work done by Tim but I have used several of the Richards stocks. All of them have their little flaws, probably because I got them all from their closeout/sale list. Still much better than most of the stuff you see on factory stocks.

    Nice looking rifle!

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
    troyboy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Eastern VA
    Posts
    868
    It was a huge loss when he left this forum. He was always willing to assist with thorough thought out answers. His presence is missed here
    "It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees" Looking for an RCBS Ammomaster and H&R shotgun barrels regardless of condition

  15. #15
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    452
    Agreed! I would often talk reloading with him when he called about the gun.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master



    skeettx's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Amarillo, Texas
    Posts
    4,102
    THANK you for sharing this
    Looking forward to the range report
    Mike
    NRA Benefactor 2004 USAF RET 1971-95

  17. #17
    Boolit Master
    nekshot's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    swmissouri
    Posts
    3,116
    neat gun, and it will shoot for sure. I miss his input here and nobody thats come on since he left has the quality input he gave(thats from my perspective).
    Look twice, shoot once.

  18. #18
    Moderator
    Texas by God's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    14,334
    The floor plate is beautiful, as is the wood grain. That is a beautiful rifle. Larry G is spot on about you get what you get with semi inletted stocks- sometimes better to leave a small gap than a very obvious repair. I'm shade tree at best - but I've held Best grade English side by sides and thought to myself " I dont like that little detail".
    One man's pudding is another man's Creme Brulee!

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

  19. #19
    Boolit Grand Master

    MBTcustom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Arkansas
    Posts
    6,994
    Thank you for the kind words Jevyod. This rifle is the best to date in terms of sheer bench hours. Your patience is commendable and you deserve to own this magnificent rifle.
    Roadie is correct. The inletting leaves much to be desired, but as RustyReel pointed out, When it's delivered with such obvious defects and wood is missing, your options are limited. Its dishonest in my opinion to hide imperfections unless you can totally remove them. Wood filler is a double insult. "Yeah, it's not right. Yeah i didn't have the skill to fix it. Yeah I tried it anyway and biffed it." I chose to let it be. There are far worse defects on rifles that cost 10 times as much.
    All in all, this rifle points and shoots like a fine shotgun. The lines are classic and the precision is there. I'm pretty proud of it in spite of the obvious "Richards" fingerprint.

  20. #20
    Boolit Grand Master

    MBTcustom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Arkansas
    Posts
    6,994
    I'm also very pleased with the Laser engraving. This was the first "Pre-bluing" graphic I've tried and I thought it came out perfect. I'll be using that trick a lot in the future.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check