Parker - Hale .30-06 Safari Looking for Info

Jim C · #1 10-30-2011, 08:30 PM

Can anyone tell me how I might nail down the year this rifle was made?
I believe it is a P-H model "Safari 1200".

vcmm · #2 10-30-2011, 08:34 PM

Wait for cat to chime in

catnthehat · #3 10-30-2011, 09:06 PM

Great rifle!
Roll over cheek piece and rosewood caps peg it with a Sile stock, BTW.
I can't nail down the exact date, but it would have been between 1968 and 1990.
Spanish Santa Barbara action as well, a good one.
there is nothing you will be able to find wrong with that rifle!

Cat

Jim C · #4 10-30-2011, 09:23 PM

Thanks Cat,

I just picked it up last Thursday night and haven't had a chance to fire it yet.
research tells me the bolt action is based on a Mauser design. Not 100% sure about that but it's a lot smoother than my Remington 700 SPS 300 w/m.

catnthehat · #5 10-30-2011, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim C

Thanks Cat,

I just picked it up last Thursday night and haven't had a chance to fire it yet.
research tells me the bolt action is based on a Mauser design. Not 100% sure about that but it's a lot smoother than my Remington 700 SPS 300 w/m.

It is a Mauser, yes, right down to its CRF system!
The bolt shroud is different , because the safety is incorporated into the PH trigger, the original Mauser safeties were on the bolt shroud.
The Santa Barbara Mauser is a much cleaner action IIMO.
Cat

Jim C · #6 10-30-2011, 09:31 PM

All of that sounds right.
It came with a Weaver K4 scope that has a "T" stadia mark. Not sure I'm going to like it...we shall see.
The ol fella who sold it to me says it has a real high arc on the trajectory and that when I'm zero'd in at 200 yds, it would be hitting about 4" high at 100 yds. If that were true I think I'm going to have some trouble getting used to it.

corky51 · #7 10-30-2011, 09:40 PM

It is indeed a Parker Hale safari 1200, with a very tunable trigger right down to very light weight with minimal travel [i sold one a couple of years ago same], very accurate [altho I glass bedded mine], a great hunting rifle. Mine was 7mm rem mag and accounted for many moose and elk. Have fun with it. I just inherited another in 270.

catnthehat · #8 10-30-2011, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim C

All of that sounds right.
It came with a Weaver K4 scope that has a "T" stadia mark. Not sure I'm going to like it...we shall see.
The ol fella who sold it to me says it has a real high arc on the trajectory and that when I'm zero'd in at 200 yds, it would be hitting about 4" high at 100 yds. If that were true I think I'm going to have some trouble getting used to it.

4" high at 200 sounds a bit off, 2.5" would be closer I think.
The only way to be sure is to try it with the ammo you are going to hunt with.
I prefer 165's in the '06, but others like either the 150 or 180 grain bullet.
LOTS of choices!
Cat

Big Daddy Badger · #9 10-31-2011, 12:49 AM

I have 2 of those and I can tell you that if the stock is pinned...and your looks to be...it is one of the newer ones.
PH stocks had a habit of cracking behind the recoil lug and they eventually started to pin the stocks to correct that.

My first one is in a Boyds now and the other was bedded before I got it...for that reason.

Mine are both sub MOA 30-06's.

If you reload PM me and I'll share what they both seem to like to be fed.

If not...they both did well with plain old Winny 150' Powerpoints...Silver Box.

Jim C · #10 10-31-2011, 07:24 AM

Wow, lots of good information guys. Thanks I appreciate it.
No I don't reload, but I do use 150's mostly. I bought a box of Noslers to try it out with and I'll have to see how those work. This rifle (I'm told) hasn't been fired in 9 years. Think I'll get it to an outdoor range next weekend and see what it does.

Best, Jim

Big Daddy Badger · #11 10-31-2011, 06:41 PM

I'm sure you'll be happy...both of mine are great shooters.

The only thing I don't like is how much scope clearance you are left with because of that bolt handle.

You have to be careful to make sure any scope you buy will clear with the mounts used...it's pretty tight.

cliface · #12 10-31-2011, 09:05 PM

I have that exact gun but in a .270 I have been hunting with it for 20 years since I was 12

Jim C · #13 11-01-2011, 08:09 PM

Okay, now I feel stupid.

I can't for the life of me figure out how to get the bolt out.
My other rifles have buttons I can push...
This one has a small blade that pops up and holds the bolt just withing the bolt housing, not quite releasing it. And I'll be damned if I can figure out how to get that blade out of the way.
There's got to be something simple here I'm just not seeing.
Can one of you Gents, tell what I'm not doing right?

canadianhunter · #14 11-01-2011, 08:41 PM

Try the bolt release lever on the left side of the bolt.

Jim C · #15 11-01-2011, 10:04 PM

That worked!
I guess I'm used to how my Remington and an old Enfield I have release the bolt. I wasn't looking for the spring loaded lever on the left side.
I searched you tube for removing a bolt from a Mauser and there it was...plain as day.

Thanks Canadianhunter...needed the push in the right direction.

rayjr26 · #16 12-18-2012, 06:57 PM

Ive just acquired a parker hale 30 06 from a gun show... beautiful gun IMO. It looks just like yours but does not have the bolt through the stock (I think someone refered to it as "pinned" sorry im new to hunting rifles) and its also got the engravings on the bolt carrier and floor plate. Im wondering if this is an older safari or a 1200? Ive seen mention of removing the barrel to check the stamp underneath to get exact dates but Im really just looking for an approximate manufacture date. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Muskeg Swede · #17 12-18-2012, 08:04 PM

I have a 1200 Centennial supreme that was built for the Canadian Centennial
in 1967 the serial number is z-273-- This may help you narrow it down a little.

Big Daddy Badger · #18 12-19-2012, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayjr26

Ive just acquired a parker hale 30 06 from a gun show... beautiful gun IMO. It looks just like yours but does not have the bolt through the stock (I think someone refered to it as "pinned" sorry im new to hunting rifles) and its also got the engravings on the bolt carrier and floor plate. Im wondering if this is an older safari or a 1200? Ive seen mention of removing the barrel to check the stamp underneath to get exact dates but Im really just looking for an approximate manufacture date. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

If it has a floor plate... its not a PH 1200.... they have detachable box magazines.
Likely a 1100....doesn't matter.... it'll still be a nice shooter.
The engraving might have been done after purchase or the rifle was a higher grade to begin with.

Hard to say with PH's but it seems to me that the newer ones... the ones made in the states all seem to have that brass coloured trigger.
Can't remember what year that started....

Catinthehat will probably know.

catnthehat · #19 12-19-2012, 06:15 AM

The 1200 Safari deluxe has the engraved floor plate, but I'll have to check the years of manufacture- mid 70's to '85IIRC but I'm not 100% right.
Cat

claykuch · #20 12-19-2012, 12:08 PM

I had one once. I wish I never sold it. Good gun!