Range Test Of An Early R.G. Owens Custom Springfield

quicksylver

Well-Known Member
Well I feel a little guilty posting this considering what you guys are going through weather wise right now...

In our neck of the woods we are experiencing days like today..72 degs.,68% humidity., 13 knot winds out of the South , gusting slightly (For us)..

I wanted to see how the new range improvements were coming along..and not wanting to waste a trip to the range...I reached way back in the safe and hauled out an early Springfield sporter that a friend sold me .....
this was one of the ones where I asked him if he had any Lyman 48 sight parts ...he said yes but I would have to buy all of the parts....should have known the gun would come with it...
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So RG Owns was a maker of custom Springfields, (more information can be found in W. Brophy's book on Springfields)..back when you could get a match grade barreled action from Springfield to build a custom rifle with..

This particular rifle is an early example of this work on a 1926 Springfield...although he did not sign his early work...they were easily recognizable by his trade marks...arrow heads on the stock, distinctive but plate and usually a small storage area on the pistol grip cap..

This particular gun has a horn inlaided arrow, of his style,located on the tang, the storage cap is also horn with his engraved screw and it has his trap door butt plate...

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Other custom features include the back side of the bolt handle being flattened and knurled..

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All metal parts are inscribed with the last three digits of the serial number..or part drawing number...

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She may be a pretty example of early gunsmith craftsman's ship but does she shoot ...you ask
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Given the slightly gusty conditions as evidenced by the ammo box being tipped over and considering who the shooter was.. the answer IS YES ..not too badly given the basic sights...AND that I used AL checks...

Hope you guys cool off soon...

Dan
 
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quicksylver

Well-Known Member
Thanks Ben...what I like most about this rifle is that ..( and I don't know why I hadn't considered this earlier) is that the front sight is exactly the same width as the taget..so the only thing I really have to watch is the amount of white between the target and the top of the front blade...

Those 315's really perform don't they!!!

The AL checks are no slackers either..
 

Josh

Well-Known Member
Glad to see the checks are working well, that is a very respectable group you have there!
 

Josh

Well-Known Member
I didn't want to comment on the rifle, I was afraid I would get drool on it via the Internet ;) it is absolutely beautiful.
 

Brother_Love

Well-Known Member
What a beautiful rifle and a good shooter too. I have a couple of plastic rifles but they will never possess the character these old walnut and blue rifles have.