Questions about my 110 overhaul for hunting

[TonyBen]

I'm getting ready to overhaul my Savage long action (circa mid-1980's) small shank for the 2016 deer hunting season. I'm looking at either a B&C medalist stock, a McMillan M40 stock or a Manners Elite Hunter.

I'm leaning toward the B&C for price but have questions about the barrel channel. I'm looking at a medium weight barrel, maybe 26" in length. Maybe a varmint contour. What's the biggest barrel I can put in a B&C stock?

I lugged around a scoped, heavy barrelled M14 last year and it wasn't too much trouble for me. I was successful too and bagged my first deer with it. It weighed around 12 pounds, so lugging around a Savage with a varmint or bull barrel won't bother me.

I'm not looking for F-class accuracy. Just 5 rounds under 1" at 100 is fine. I'll probably go with a NSS recoil lug and a Criterion barrel in 1/11" twist. I'm going from 30-06 to 308 since I have thousands of pieces of 308 brass which I use to shoot out of my three M14's.

This will also be a switch-barrel gun that I'll use with a 300 WM, eventually.

Thanks,
Tony.

[jim_k]

B&C Medalist. You can't do any better at any price. Ask Stocky's if the channel can be enlarged, since they are narrow barrel channels, designed for sporter barrels. Accuracy should exceed your expectations. A sporter-weight barrel will be plenty accurate for hunting out to 750 yards, if you're good enough. I really don't think any shot on game is necessary beyond 400-500 yards, and I would use more caliber if shooting beyond that, although there should be plenty of energy in a 180 gr Sierra spitzer boat-tail hunting bullet to kill a deer at 750 yards. Just more weight and length, and same results. Long-range terminal performance is bullet-limited more than cartridge-limited, out to most applicable hunting distances. I.e., a 150 gr flat-base bullet isn't the right one for deer at 750 yards, but the Sierra 180 gr. will be just about as good from a .308 Win as from a .300 Win Mag, out to about 750 yards.

[lrshooting]

Buy once cry once. Actually you'll buy once and then keep buying so that's a lie but treat yourself to a manners or mcmillian. I run an A5 personally. Not that B&C is bad, but they are cheaper for a reason. I always use to say all my stuff was good and the expensive stuff was over rated and you were paying for the brand. Then I bought a nice scope and good barrel and good stock and I realized how nice it is too have quality stuff.

Honestly, your barrel is the single biggest factor in weight. My gun weighs around 16-17 pounds and 8 or so of that is a 28 inch MTU Krieger. For yours, chop that barrel to 22 inches. You don't really gain much by going to 26 except a slight amount of speed. I ran a 26 inch 308 barrel last year and I can say I won't do it again. Mainly just because the weight and length wasn't even close to worth the small velocity gain. Im going to get mine chopped to 20 inches so that I can switch barrels with my short mag if it's to long. Maybe consider a 1-10 twist for the heavies? 178 hornady hpbt match over 42.7 gr of imr 4064 shot consistently under .5, and often under .25 if I was doing my part at 100 with a shilen select match barrel. Criterion are suppose to be comparable if not better so you should be good there.

If your okay with 1 inch at 100, then you shouldn't be shooting too far. So get a light scope. The higher end scopes that have all the turrets tend to be pretty heavy. Id get a good 3-9 swarvoski or similar. Very clear and good FOV. Although you may decide to up your game especially with a 300 WM so you may want to get something like a vortex or night force depending on how big your budget is. Either way with your choices if done correctly, your going to have a pretty accurate gun. Way under an inch for sure

[TonyBen]

I called all three stock makers yesterday and put in my order for a McMillan HTG with an adjustable cheek riser and aluminum pillars in McMillan camo. I called Manner's and the guy I spoke with told me they don't make a stock in Savage long action. I thought that was strange. I called B&C and they said they only make stocks that accept sporter barrels, so that left me with McMillan. My stock should be ready in 3 months.

I talked to the folks at Criterion yesterday and they are going to hook me up with a varmint contour stainless barrel with an M118LR chamber in 1:11" twist.

For now, I have a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x50mm that I can throw on it but I might go with a Leupold VX-R or a Redfield Revenge with Accu-range reticle later. I don't plan on taking any game farther than 300 to 400 yards. I figure if I can get a 165 grain Accu-bond up to a good speed and get a good 200yd zero, I shouldn't have to try too hard to keep the shot placement in the vitals. I'm quite confident that this rifle will shoot at least .5 MOA consistently. I'm not going to be competing in any BR competitions but I may dabble in some 600yd to 1000yd paper punching, just for personal fun. Again, this will be primarily a hunting rig, but one that I can trust to be very consistent. If I miss a shot, I know it will be me.

This was my hunting rig last year...
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb423/tonyben3/IMG_3916_zpszdsjnlsg.jpg (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/tonyben3/media/IMG_3916_zpszdsjnlsg.jpg.html)

Took my first deer at 100yds, standing with no support.

Tony.

[lrshooting]

How long have you hunted?

[TonyBen]

How long have you hunted?

I hunted as a teen for a few years with my step-dad and his friends in the Sierra Nevada's of California but he was more of a beer hunter than a deer hunter and we were never successful. I had never come across a legal buck in those years; just does. My real dad was more of an actual hunter but he had a debilitating injury just as I was approaching hunting age in the mid-80's, so I never got to actually hunt with him or his crew. After I graduated high school in 1991, I joined the Marines, moved away, and got busy with life, so I never went hunting in CA ever again.

In the meantime, I've been just target shooting and paper-punching, mostly with M14's. I build them and match condition them now. The rifle I pictured above was the first M14 I ever built from scratch. I installed the barrel, cut the chamber and bedded the rifle. it shoots MOA consistently. I've built four more since then.

So, no hunting at all for about 20 years. I finally got back into hunting about 5 years ago with my uncle and his crew out here in Oregon. Admittedly, I shot the first legal buck I saw. Now that the monkey's off my back, I can take more time and actually wait for a choice buck.

The Savage I'm overhauling was my departed step-dad's rifle. He almost never shot it. It was the cheapest of the cheap. The stock had no metal and the trigger guard was plastic. Groups were about 3" and POI would shift 6". I pillar-bedded that rifle and replaced the trigger guard with a steel one as well as changed the scope and mount. POI shift disappeared and using 168 SMK's I could hold about 1" groups, but it couldn't do it with hunting bullets.

Here's what she looked like before I tore her down for the overhaul...
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb423/tonyben3/DSCN1851.jpg (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/tonyben3/media/DSCN1851.jpg.html)

Tony.

[futurerider103]

I'd say you could fit a heavy contour barrel if you'd like but it might be a tad thin up top for a full heavy but like a hog hunter .690 should be just fine. On the other hand that stock you have may look very nice refinished. My late late 70s 110e looked very nice. Can I get some pics from the side of yours.
BTW this is my first deer as well 3yrs ago after not hunting since I was 13 and a 17yr break.

Before $149 pawn shop find .270win
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160418/aa34d8e03186fb90387e0c76fefa56c7.jpg

After a few hours of work sanding and clearing and more sanding. Now I won't ever sell it.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160418/eb370764a88c1d67098bb33de087d0e1.jpg

The rewards. First deer ever.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160418/d2769737e320e554f4b7f7f70594c096.jpg

[TonyBen]

That's a great looking stock! My Savage was originally a .270 as well. I still have the barrel. I loaned my rifle to a friend of mine who moved away. I tracked him down and he sent my rifle back after being gone for 5 years. He refinished the stock and it came out nice. Here's a couple more pics from different angles.

http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb423/tonyben3/DSCN1850.jpg

http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb423/tonyben3/DSCN1852.jpg

Tony.

[futurerider103]

Cool deal. I took ex roommate and friend from high school hunting for the first time last year and he had never shoot anything bigger than a 5.56/.223 AR and he bagged a small buck at 182yds using my Remington Core-Lokt 150gr and the deer went 10yds with an exploded heart and dislocated shoulder on the exit side! The .270win has some power for sure. I'm currently waiting on my Stainless 7.62x39 .690 Hog hunter contour X-Caliber barrel from Apache(hopefully in a week or so I'll have it) and my Richards Microfit AAA Fancy Claro Walnut Custom Rollover stock(should have been cut today)

Here's my current action for that build
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160418/3cc3c633309ed3307fab108c6297b0c2.jpg

[TonyBen]

Very nice! Is that an actual Savage receiver from a stainless model? I'm not familiar with the new models.

Tony.

[futurerider103]

It is a factory Model 16 Lightweight Hunter. It was originally a synthetic stock with the crappy plastic bottom metal and magazine in 7mm08. The only thing I've done to the action is swap the bottom bolt release for a top bolt release sear other than that all stock including the fluted bolt

[scpaul]

Mr. Rider, Am I understanding you right? All you did to that stock was sand, refinish and sand, you didn't even stain it. It sure is purdy. If there's any other minor things that you did to the stock, please tell me. I've never seen such a change from a stock re-finishing job. If I do a couple of mine and can't get them to come out better than what I started with, would you be interested in picking up a few bucks? I know alot of it is the wood but I would have never thought that there would be that much of a change. Congratulations on the finished product, Later, Paul

[futurerider103]

1. I sanded down to 320 grit or 500 grit. (Make sure you use a block sander and sand with the grain)
2. Applied 3 coats of mahogany stain. Hand rubbed.
3. Shot the stock through a gravity feed paint gun. 7 or 8 coated using Verathane Lacquer
4. Let sit for 2-3 weeks
5. Wet sanded to 1000 grit(use a block sander again)
6. Polished issuing a small polishing wheel.
7. Shoot the hell out of it.

This is my current 7.62x39 build I'm doing using a Richards Microfit Custom Rolloverstock in AAA Fancy.
I hope it turns out as nice as my factory stock.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160522/ef489aed53c2ee673b13ced6efab09e7.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160522/cb19bbcc96a0a886ca67e6138411a173.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160522/c1d381e64cb2ed5252d57bc32943c8a5.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160522/81c7b8a39297a1fe669df316e5991802.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160522/b27516ce7c8f99531aa4b913dee86b4f.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160522/ad393e5fb7eef2b0a911fa83448fab04.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160522/82a97700b9f0fe8748c093a30a4b772e.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160522/c89a34469c221dc07dd7232d0e57fb1f.jpg

[futurerider103]

Prior to staining my factory stock still looked awesome
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160522/83fd8a2adf52a1c47c84ed0a802c2fd7.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160522/88fc4def67b62675f2aeaa19ae8080bd.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160522/913002299c0eaaf8b4bce6b542b32491.jpg