So this rifle started out life with me as one of the recent sino-banian imports from Classic. Everything was very serviceable with little to no rust, typical finish wear, and stocks bumps and bruises. No mods other than installing a Murray firing pin/spring. About a year ago, I got the bubba bug and when considering the choices between my Russian, two Yugos (59 and 59/66), and this Chinese... the arsenal 26 lost out. At first, it was a fully reversible bubba, but later... not so much. Some days I think about lost collectibility, other days I'm glad I have a serviceable, practical, fun-to-shoot, built-like-a-tank SHTF gun.
Here it is in its original state:
(https://i.imgur.com/Zo1pwQql.jpg?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/j53ZHYjl.jpg?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/SJD1oWLl.jpg?1)
After having her for a couple of years, I added Tech-Sights, installed a donor FSB that I neutered, and then mounted in a Ram-line stock. I never really liked this configuration but, it was reversible.
(https://i.imgur.com/Rl0hhDFl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/L8vfrAul.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/BjFisWcl.jpg)
Eventually, I went full bubba, cut the barrel to 16 1/2", added a Prince50, and shed the Ram-line in favor of a custom, cherry stock from a guy on Etsy.
Here's the way she looks today:
(https://i.imgur.com/tmD7lLHl.jpg?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/J4ErkByl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JoaGGCal.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/a02ip8Ul.jpg)
I'm happy with it. dance2
That's a pretty stock, I like the blonde-ness of it. Usually cherry wood stocks are stained dark (nearly black) and you never get to see any of the grain.
Turned out good looking. Is it very heavy? PAX
Quote from: echo1 on August 20, 2018, 03:18:28 PM
Turned out good looking. Is it very heavy? PAX
Pax, definitely heavier than the Ram-line you have but honestly I haven't weighed it. I have been tempted to taper the fore end a bit. The finish looks great at a distance but the actual woodwork quality is just average; the fore end grip slot has a sharp edge on it that needs to be rounded smooth, there's a couple of spots where the spar urethane didn't fully cover, and if you see the inletting, looks like a hammer & chisel went crazy. So a CNC-machined Boyd it is not, but it does have character. The longer I wait, the darker the stock with get from the spar so I need to do it soon.
Quote from: echo1 on August 20, 2018, 03:18:28 PM
Turned out good looking. Is it very heavy? PAX
Just FYI, with a not-so-accurate luggage scale, the M59 weighed 8.5 lbs., the Russian refurb 8.25 lbs., and the chinese bubba 8.0 lbs. Never weighed the chinese when I had it in the Ram-line.
Now that you've had some time to bond with your rig, how's it doing for you yj? Sweet no doubt. PAX
Quote from: echo1 on November 27, 2018, 12:58:44 AM
Now that you've had some time to bond with your rig, how's it doing for you yj? Sweet no doubt. PAX
PAX, haven't been around here lately but i will be posting an update on this project soon. The cherry stock has darkened with age and I added sling swivels (not perfectly aligned headbang2). On the P50 front sight, I ended needing to take some feeler gauge stock and insert underneath the sight as it wouldn't clamp adequately.
Anyway, pictures to follow by Sunday.
Nice work!
Posting updated photos of this project as it looks today. As expected, the cherry wood has darkened a good bit and I changed the glossy finish. Tapered the fore end a little more to better match up with the ferrule and added sling studs (which I’m not completely satisfied with the placement).
(http://i.imgur.com/hkt2RpQ.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/8RXPb96.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/0pLP4KN.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/dNofxjc.jpg)
Looks really great. How's she run, getting a good, quick sight picture? I'll venture that the LOP is perfect with that recoil pad. For carrying, I like the stock sling location, but for a shootin sling, it's better not on the barrel. PAX
Pax, it’s a very natural shoulder-aim-fire rifle. The LOP is perfect for me and I like the feel better than the butler creek. I had to shim the p50 to keep it from walking on the barrel.
Probably my favorite which means my 54 Tula will just collect dust. My M59 and 59/66 already found new homes.