The Firearm Blog

Nighthawk Custom have introduced two lines of high end semi-custom bolt action rifles.

The Nighthawk Tactical series is available with either their own hunting action, which includes a bolt-on picatinny rail, or a Surgeon action which has a picatinny rail machined into it. It is stocked with a Manners Composite Stock that can be finished in a Perma Kote color scheme of choice. The rifle can be chambered in .308, 7mm Remington Magnum, .300 Winchester and .338 Lapua.

The Nighthawk Hunter series is similar to the tactical series. The main differences are that it is only available in the Nighthawk action, it can be stocked with a HS Precision stock instead of a Manners Composite stock and can be chambered in a variety of hunting cartridges.

No prices are listed … in other words they are very expensive.

Newton Arms have revived the Leverbolt rifle that was invented by the famous gun and cartridge designer Charles Newton in 1929. The design borrows element from the Springfield, Lee Navy and the Winchester lever-action. By utilizing a lever the bolt can be cycled faster than a traditional straight pull bolt action.

Click to expand.

According to my copy of Bolt Action Rifles (4th Edition), the story of the Leverbolt is a sad one. Charles designed the rifle after this business, Newton Buffolo Rifle Corporation, folded in early 1929. Unbeknown to him, and everyone else, the stock market would crash in October of that year heralding the beginning of the Great Depression.

Newton approached Marlin who agreed to limited production only if he could secure at least 500 orders. The cost was a $25 downpayment and an addional $35 on delivery. He failed to secure the neccessery orders and once the market crashed any chance of the rifle being manufactured was gone. Charles died a few years later aged 62.

Mehul, a moderator at nitroexpress.com and expert of the topic emailed me information about the Newton rifle:

For a straight pull action that is much sleeker than any of its competitors today (the Blaser R 93, Strasser RS 05 and the Heym SR 30 are three popular designs that come to mind) the Newton Leverbolt is especially interesting because it comes with a controlled feed and extraction system that would make it ideal for dangerous game. The speed of reloading and getting repeat shots off would also be ideal for an African rifle – with a 5 shot magazine in calibers from 375 H&H to 458 Lott this could be much better than anything else available today.

I am not sure of pricing or availability of the rifle at this time.

A big thanks to Mehul for the info.

After the very successful launch at the 2008 SHOT Show, Phoenix Machine Technology is currently filling orders for bolt action receivers. Some of the finest custom gun manufacturers in the country are already building rifles with Phoenix Machine actions.

The first production receivers are Remington 700 derivatives that utilize Remington style bolts with equivalent primary extraction that are readily available from Pacific Tool & Gauge. The Phoenix receivers are being manufactured in long, short and M7 lengths with an impressive array of optional features. Some tang options may preclude the use of standard inletting in Remington stocks.

Some info on Glen’s new business

At SHOT Show, Martin (Marty) Bordson of Badger Ordnance, previewed the new Badger M2008 Tactical action. A slab-sided, flat-bottomed, “fat bolt” action, the new Badger action resembles an Accuracy International receiver externally, but it shares some Remington features internally. The M2008 will initially be available for .308 bolt face calibers, and it is designed to work with any Remington detachable-style magazine.

More info at AccurateShooter

GunBlast.com reviews Kimber’s Advanced Tactical Rifle Kit

As neat as the kit is, though, if the rifle isn’t good it’s just window dressing. Kimber’s Advanced Tactical Rifle is chambered for the .308 round, the standard for law enforcement and many military applications. Probably the first thing most shooters will notice with the Advanced Tactical is the McMillan A-5 stock in desert camo. It is very striking in appearance, but it also incorporates a lot of really useful tactical features.

For example, it incorporates five sling swivel studs, one of which is only for bipod attachment. The others, however, offer the ability to attach a sling in various positions using quick detach swivel connectors. Since the rifle weighs close to 10 lbs without scope and bipod, a good sling is a necessity.

The choice of attachment points allows a tactical marksman to tighten up to use the sling for shooting from the seated or kneeling position or even from off hand but or have the option for switching attachment points for ease of carry. Length of pull is adjustable through removal or addition of spacers beneath the recoil pad. Drop at heel and drop at comb are adjustable as well. I also like the flat on the forearm which allows use of a sand bag or other rest.

More here.

I found that several people have expressed an interest in obtaining a bolt action rifle in 45-70 caliber, most commonly done by converting a Siamese Mauser or P-14 Enfield. Many have suggested

instead getting a 458 Winchester magnum and loading it down, or using the 458 X 2″ wildcat. Now the 450 Marlin is available, and any bolt action with a H&H magnum bolt face can ve easily adopted to it.

An interesting discussion @ rec.guns.