Browning B78

[potatojudge]

I picked up an old B-78 that's spent it's life riding in a scabbard, and has the honest wear to show for it. Chambering is 30-06, octagon barrel, flush sling studs, silver grip cap- unengraved. These guns were built to be engraved. 

Pop hunted with the same gun which my uncle now has, but I was able to shoot a deer or two with it in my youth. It led me down the path of low walls and Ruger No 1s, but this is my first high wall. 

Now to find a scope that fits the overall look but has nice enough glass it won't get left home when I dig through the safe deciding what gets to go hunting. Not a lot of high end steel tube scopes out there. Maybe an older Khales or Zeiss is in order. 

For sure it needs a good leather sling, likely from Barranti. 

[ldmay375]

That is a fine looking rifle.

[awp101]

Be still my beating heart! That buttstock...

[Fowler]

That’s a fantastic gun. I hope she shoots as well as she looks.

[bigbrowndog]

I recall seeing one John Wootters hunted with when I was young. Always liked them, that stock is awesome. I appreciate your desire to put an appropriate optic on it, I’m trying to do the same thing with a couple of classic guns as well.

Trapr

[dutchman]

Many years ago I had one in 6mm Remington. Loved that rifle - carried very well ---

[x101airborne]

Find an El Paso Weaver and have it reworked.
That rifle is like a girl too pretty, but she sure is fun!

[kings6]

I have the same gun only in 7mm Mag that I inherited from my father. Elk killing machine it is.

[justplainbill]

Damn, That's a cool looking gun and the wood is stunning. They just don't make em like that anymore at any price. If I remember they were selling for $249.00 in 1974

[foxtrapper]

Wow just wow!

[potatojudge]

Well I thought a 26 mm tube probably meant 1 inch, nope. That was an old Kahles Helia Super 3-9.

So I sourced an old Schmidt and Bender 6x42 that was sold as a 1 inch tube. Turned out to be 26mm too!

So I’m at a crossroads. Just use a 1 inch gloss Leupold, which won’t match the gun like a steel tube would, source uncommon 26mm Leupold rings to fit the bases, or buy a PTG reamer and make these 1 inch rings 26mm. Or break down and put 30mm rings on it and go with other vintage glass I’ve got set back.

Edit: or use 26mm reducers in 30mm rings, a $15 fix. Also, reaming scope rings sounds like a losing proposition from what I read. 

[45MAN]

Apr 27, 2021 10:04:19 GMT -5 potatojudge said:

Well I thought a 26 mm tube probably meant 1 inch, nope. That was an old Kahles Helia Super 3-9.

So I sourced an old Schmidt and Bender 6x42 that was sold as a 1 inch tube. Turned out to be 26mm too!!

So I’m at a crossroads. Just use a 1 inch gloss Leupold, which won’t match the gun like a steel tube would, source uncommon 26mm Leupold rings to fit the bases, or buy a PTG reamer and make these 1 inch rings 26mm. Or break down and put 30mm rings on it and go with other vintage glass I’ve got set back.

1) USE A GOOD SCOPE, 1 THAT WILL WORK FOR WHAT YOU WANT TO USE THE RIFLE WITH; AND 

2) DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO WITH THE SCOPES THAT WORK FOR YOU TO SET THE RIFLE UP LIKE YOU WANT.

[dutchman]

Quality/function over fashion. Not to discount fashion - priorities matter.

[rkcohen]

that rifle is gorgeous!

in the 70s those rifles were the "shizzle!"

and now when you look at a new browning single shot, you just have to wonder - the metal-work is still first rate, the wood - what happened?

[squawberryman]

What's the vintage glass you have set back?