|
|
|
|
|
Jesse's Hunting > Gun Room Articles > Gun Room Archives > A Poor Man's Custom Rifle
A Poor Man's Custom Rifle
Tim Mancillas - JHO Pro Staff
November 15, 2003
All too often people are not aware that for a small investment in tools, there is an action/rifle out there that can be used a an inexpensive platform for a rifle that will perform well, and can be readily customized to give that person a “custom gun” feel for a fraction of the cost. Enter the Savage action…
Here's how I did it.
When I started this project my goals were fairly simple. I wanted a wildcat cartridge due to its unique capabilities and performance. I wanted to chamber a rifle to my specifications, and I wanted to spend no more than $600. Pretty simple huh? Well, I may have exceeded the $600 mark, but I can say it wasn’t by much.
First and foremost I needed an action. So I went perusing the local gunshops and online looking for a used action for the basis of this project. I immediately noticed that most people wanted almost as much for a used gun as a new one! Hrumpf! That wouldn’t do. Ironically, while searching I noticed there were very few Savage actions/rifles for sale. “Hmmm…What’s the deal with this?”
After doing some research and talking to several people, it became obvious people never sold them because they were accurate as any rifle available and were inexpensive. Yes, the triggers left a lot to be desired, but hey, that can be fixed!
So, I ordered a Savage Model 11G from a small local gunshop here in SoCal. Imagine the look I got from Sherri at “Whole Sale Guns” when I said I was needing this rifle for the action. She just kind of said…”Uh…Okay Tim, if that’s what you want.”
The action was ordered. While waiting on the “cool down period” to pass, I logged online (uh-oh) and ordered some of the tools I would need. What I ended up ordering was a barrel vise ($50), a Savage barrel nut wrench ($35) and an action wrench (not absolutely necessary, but hey, better safe than sorry, eh?) that ran something like $40. So far I’d invested in about $125 in tools. I say “invested” because in my mind that’s exactly what I did. Those tools were now mine, and could be used for future projects. While online (and hearing of the horrid triggers available on Savages at the time) I ordered a Timney aftermarket trigger ($60) and a headspace “go-gauge” ($20) that would be needed to correctly set the headspace. Now all I needed was a barrel.
Doing some more research, I found that everyone who was venturing down this same path spoke with great praise of Fred at Sharp Shooter’s Supply and the barrels that he provided. They are all Douglas premium air gauged blanks in 416 stainless steel, in a heavy varmint contour. The available lengths ran from 25” down to the barely legal 16”. I considered that since I was chambering this in the Tactical 20 and thought I might use this as a calling rifle, I would settle on a 20” length.
Incidentally the barrel cost $259. Though his barrels were running $215 at the time, he did not have the Tactical 20 reamer and as such there was an additional cost involved. So with my credit card information and address, Fred told me it’d be about six weeks to obtain the reamer and then ship the barrel (.20cal blanks were something of a new thing then as well).
Now without going into boring, step by step details, the barrel and trigger were installed. The stock was then inletted for the heavier varmint contoured barrel and given a new look ala Krylon Camo paint (another article). When all was said and done (sans scope, mount and cheek pad) I think I had a total of roughly $750 invested. The rifle was $300, the barrel was $259, the trigger was $60, and the tools ran $125.
If you wanted to be optimistic (which isn’t generally in my nature) you could deduct the cost of the tools because they would (and have been since) used for other projects. Factor in sand paper, paint, one piece scope mount and scope and we’re still talking in the ball park of $750 to $800 dollars. This for a rifle that was built specifically to my preferences and budget. Not too shabby, eh?
Ahhh, but the reader asks “How does it shoot?”
This rifle has consistently shot under a M.O.A.! It routinely prints half inch groups (in fact so regularly that it only impresses me now when it starts hitting the quarter inch size).
For all of those out there thinking/wishing they could have a rifle built to their tastes I say “Do it yourself!” It is this humble author’s opinion that you will derive much more pleasure from the rifle as well as have a bit more pride in it. Too often these days shooters have no clue as to how the firearm operates. Building a rifle from user installable parts is a great way to learn the basic functioning of a bolt-action rifle. It will provide the shooter with a better knowledge, more confidence in their rifle, and the know-how to troubleshoot any problems that may arise. So take the leap. But beware …Savage rifle building could become an addiction!
Author’s Note: Future articles will discuss the step by step procedures for building this type of rifle, so stay tuned!
~ Tim Mancillas
JHO field writer & pro staff
|
|
|
|
|
