Hornady’s First-Ever Rifle Featured at SHOT Show 2015
Hornady Manufacturing has created its first-ever rifle. Well, kind of, sort of, maybe…. In actuality, Hornady hired Bill Wiseman & Company to craft the barrel and action and Hornady commissioned Lucid Solutions (Clem Boyd) to build the stock. But the Hornady name IS now engraved on the side of a rifle receiver and that does represent a genuine first. This one-of-a-kind rifle, serial number “H-001″, is a bolt-action hunter, chambered for the .300 RCM cartridge. The historic “Hornady Number One” rifle has two (2) stocks — a highly figured walnut stock plus a second camo-pattern Hogue synthetic stock. So this rifle is not just a safe queen — it was designed to work in the field as well.
This “Hornady Number One” rifle was commissioned as the featured 2015 SHOT Show Gun. It will be displayed in Las Vegas and auctioned on Gunbroker.com. As of December 22, the bid price was already over $14,525 with 45 bidders. The action and bottom metal is elaborately engraved by Baron Engraving of Trumbull, Connecticut. “We’ve had the privilege of designing and engraving more than a dozen SHOT Show rifles, shotguns, handguns and knives but it’s a unique privilege to be asked to help craft the Hornady Number One”, said David Baron.
Not Just a Beauty Queen, This Rifle Can Shoot
Bill Wiseman & Company, of College Station, Texas crafted the barrel and action for this special rifle. This outfit is the leading producer of test receivers/barrels for the firearms industry. About the Hornady project gun, Bill Wiseman commented: “Our Wiseman barrels have earned a bit of a reputation for accuracy. Now I guess there will be at least one other rifle out there as accurate as our Texas Safari rifles.” The 24-inch blued barrel is fluted and fitted with a muzzle brake. Thus far, the gun has shown impressive accuracy. Three test-firings of the “Hornady Number One” using 180-grain SST, 165-grain GMX and 150-grain SST Hornady cartridges produced groups between ¼” and ½” at 100 meters.
About the Stocks
“Hornady Number One” is equipped with two separate custom-fitted stocks, one for shooting and one for display. A very special select American Walnut stock was selected, fitted and checkered by Clem Boyd of Lucid Mfg. Systems & Solutions (Mitchell, SD). Boyd’s challenge was to design a functional walnut wooden stock that would frame the beauty of the Wiseman barreled-action. Several weeks of design went into a Solidworks 3-D CAD model before the group made any CNC machine cuts. The stock was produced from a XXX walnut blank grown in the Great American Heartland and selected for the vertical-line color pattern. The stock shape incorporates the natural hex design of the receiver.
The trademark Hornady name was inlaid into the stock using African Padauk wood wafers. Padauk was also used for red-tone grip cap and butt pad spacers.
Oops. Someone mounted the Leupold scope incorrectly. The diopter marks should be TDC, meaning the scope should be rotated 90° clockwise.
The Lucid stock design repeats the hexagon features in the forearm, allowing a wide forearm floor to aid in bench rest practice. The stock features a distinctive 13.5° linear checkering pattern on the grip and side panels. A custom aluminum bedding block supports the barreled action. Recoil is absorbed through a 1″ black recoil pad. Three swivel studs provide multiple options for carry and tripod use.
Auction Details and Extras
The GunBroker.com auction will conclude at 5:00 pm Eastern Time on Friday, January 23, 2015, the last day of the 2015 SHOT Show. During the Show, the rifle will be displayed at the GunBroker.com booth in a custom glass and walnut display case. In keeping with SHOT Show tradition, this 2015 SHOT Show rifle will be auctioned on GunBroker.com. At its current $14.5K bid price, “Hornady Number One” has a ways to go before it sets a record. The all-time record SHOT Show auction price was $136,014.00 set in 2013. To complement the Hornady package, the gun will be delivered with a case of Hornady .300 RCM ammo, with each box signed by Hornady President, Steve Hornady. In addition, the high bidder will receive a signed Letter of Authenticity from Hornady Manufacturing.
Quad-Pistol Gear Hauler
Sometimes you’ll get a barrel that doesn’t stabilize bullets the way you’d anticipate, based on the stated (or presumed) twist rate. A barrel might have 1:10″ stamped on the side but it is, in truth, a 1:10.5″ twist or even a 1:9.5″. Cut-rifled barrels, such as Kriegers and Bartleins, normally hold very true to the specified twist rate. With buttoned barrels, due to the nature of the rifling process, there’s a greater chance of a small variation in twist rate. And yes, factory barrels can be slightly out of spec as well.
