Canadian Black Bear taken with 1st Buckles Custom rifle ever.

[VincentBuckles]

This is the first custom rifle that I built in my gunsmithing career. It is VZ-24 Mauser action with a ER Shaw Barrel that I chambered in .308 Win on a laminate stock that I built from a blank. I built this rifle almost 8 years ago and gave it to my father for Christmas of 2002. It has remained mostly a paper target killer until this past weekend when my cousin's husband David O'Dowd of Jackson, MI took a 300 lb French Canadian black bear with it using one 180gr Winchester Silvertip. One shot. One kill.

 

[Gus McCrae]

Cool.

 

[charliepapa]

nice! any more pics of the rifle?

 

[VincentBuckles]

i have some but they are all from 2002 when I still shot 35mm and i do not have a scanner these days. i will see if my dad can get a few and email them to me.

i'm just hoping my rifle i built wasn't dinged and scratched all to hell on this hunt.

 

[charliepapa]

i have some but they are all from 2002 when I still shot 35mm and i do not have a scanner these days. i will see if my dad can get a few and email them to me.

i'm just hoping my rifle i built wasn't dinged and scratched all to hell on this hunt.

character man! all my heirloom firearms have a little character...