doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Custom Safari rifle by Bill Sturtevant - 416 Rem

Custom Safari rifle by Bill Sturtevant - 416 Rem caliber

This weekend I added another 416 to the family. I hope to have it in hand in a couple weeks. 416 is my favorite caliber. This makes number 12 - eight (8) 416 Rigbys, a 416 Hoffman, a 416 Taylor, a 416 Van Horn, and now a 416 Remington.

I can find very little information about William (Bill) Sturtevant. I would hope someone here may have additional information about Bill. I would like to get in touch with him in hopes that he might tell me about this most interesting rifle. It appears the action of this rifle was built from scratch as I cannot find any others like it. Here is the information posted on the auction site.

as always I appreciate your comments

http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/416rem-000.jpg

There was an instructor that taught summer classes at Trinidad State some years ago by that name. You might be able to find out more by contacting the school. Not sure if she still does, but Donna ran the summer program.

Gasgunner may see this and have some info as well. He taught summer classes there around the same time.

Edited to add: Bill has a linked in page showing that he currently works for Sportsman’s Warehouse out of Salt Lake City.

Hello,
I called Sportsman's Warehouse Gunsmith dept. and no one remembers him. He must have worked there a long time ago.

Well, I got the rifle in hand today - what a remarkable Custom Rifle. Bill Sturtevant is truly a Master Gunsmith. Every aspect of this rifle is absolutely perfect. Everything was made from scratch - action, bolt, and stock. I tried to show all the detail in the pictures below. The custom action is variation of a double square bridge. The tops of the bridges are machined to accept the 30mm Leopold Rings - no bases required. The custom bolt has enlarged locking lugs and a sleek custom shroud with a Winchester style 3-position safety. Stock inletting is perfect and border-less checkering is flawless. L.O.P is 14-3/8" and weight is a recoil absorbing 11 pounds 12 ounces.

As far as I've been able to find - this is the ONLY Sturtevant Arms Bolt Action Rifle ever made. Serial number is SS-001.

The only other Sturtevant rifle found is a Custom .375 H&H Flanged Caliber Dangerous Game Rifle built as a traditional Farquarson action single shot, currently for sale on Guns International.

http://www.buckstix.com/buckpi...16rem-details-000.jpg

Range Report.

I took the rifle to the range today. The load is conservative, velocity to the magic 2150fps. The rifle came sighted perfectly and no scope adjustment was necessary. Its sighted 2-1/2" high at 50yds = 4" high at 100yds = dead=on at 200yds = 6" low at 250yds. So sighted you can aim point-blank over the entire distance and be assured of a kill. With the 12 pounds loaded, recoil was barely noticeable.


http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/416rem-targ-sm.jpg

That’s an impressive group, Buckstix! I’ve never seen bridges machined to directly accept rings in that manner. Impressive metal work!