backwoods blacksmith
07-03-2020, 09:59 PM
Several years ago, on the east side of Oregon, scouting for mule deer, I ran across a long volcanic ridge covered with rock chucks. Having my 30-06 AI, I started shooting at about 500 and worked my way out to 800. 180 gr Sierra GK at 3050 fps made quick work of them. What fun. But expensive and ran more rounds through that rifle than I wanted. So I started thinking of 70 to 90 grain bullets in 6mm. I knew that the 243 Win was not for me. so I stared looking for a 6 BR. What I found was a Savage 110 that had been re-chambered from 243 to 6x284. My thought was that If I did not like it I could barrel to the 6BR. Was I surprized. 85 gr Sierras at 3350. Bug hole at 100 1/2 MOA at 200. Out of a 22 in barrel that had who knows how many rounds had been through it,
I mounted a SWFA SS 16x and rebarreled with a 26 in Shilen heavy sporter and commenced to kill rock chucks and coyotes at surprising distances.. But the stock sucked. I made a cheek riser, which helped. but the trigger really sucked. Looking for a new stock I got a Boyds AT that fit a blind magazine J action. After in-letting where necessary and bedding the action and barrel, cammo paint over the laminated stock, back to the range we went. Did a load development ladder with the 85 grainers. 3350 still the most consistent. 1/2 MOA at 200 HECK YEAH.. Went after chucks and ground squirrels in N Calif. Shooting off of a tripod the really crappy trigger was frustrating. A stock that fit, a load that would shoot. I hate to blame misses on equipment but that trigger had to go. Shooting prone off a bipod worked really well but a better trigger was going to be necessary before I could shoot confidently off of the tripod sitting or standing.
So without any further study I proceeded to mess up one of the worst engineered triggers I have ever seen. Then to find that parts are none existent, you have to jump through hoops to get a newer trigger group from Savage or spend more than I want for the only trigger group that is complete. How frustrating. Two more months before the chucks disappear and no trigger in the near futcher. ARGH!!! Desperate enough to buy a used rifle and salvage the parts from it. Still thinking
I mounted a SWFA SS 16x and rebarreled with a 26 in Shilen heavy sporter and commenced to kill rock chucks and coyotes at surprising distances.. But the stock sucked. I made a cheek riser, which helped. but the trigger really sucked. Looking for a new stock I got a Boyds AT that fit a blind magazine J action. After in-letting where necessary and bedding the action and barrel, cammo paint over the laminated stock, back to the range we went. Did a load development ladder with the 85 grainers. 3350 still the most consistent. 1/2 MOA at 200 HECK YEAH.. Went after chucks and ground squirrels in N Calif. Shooting off of a tripod the really crappy trigger was frustrating. A stock that fit, a load that would shoot. I hate to blame misses on equipment but that trigger had to go. Shooting prone off a bipod worked really well but a better trigger was going to be necessary before I could shoot confidently off of the tripod sitting or standing.
So without any further study I proceeded to mess up one of the worst engineered triggers I have ever seen. Then to find that parts are none existent, you have to jump through hoops to get a newer trigger group from Savage or spend more than I want for the only trigger group that is complete. How frustrating. Two more months before the chucks disappear and no trigger in the near futcher. ARGH!!! Desperate enough to buy a used rifle and salvage the parts from it. Still thinking