Early 110 in .308 - stamped 11J
I was searching for a well used 110 in order to build a custom rifle and came across a beautiful early 110 in .308 Winchester. This particular rifle is just too nice to break down and customize, the stock is a beautiful piece of Black Walnut, and the finish shows the owner took excellent care of his firearms. It's going to remain original.
According to everything I've been able to find on the 'net indicates this rifle was made in 1958 - it's stamped 11J in the oval inspectors mark. It's a true short action according to all the measurements with a serial number of 121xx - wondering if I have one of the first short action 110's in .308. My understanding is that the short action came out in 1959 not 1958...
A few pics:
http://i.imgur.com/WeIgaa0.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/1p1Okpo.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/bYKLqCE.jpg
Ignore the scope and rings, this was all I had in the parts bin and I needed something on there to shoot with. It will soon be replaced with a Weaver V7 and a set of pivot rings for a more aesthetic look. I like vintage, the smoother more graceful lines appeal to me more than the sharp and abrupt angles that seem to be the latest trend. To each their own.
This rifle likes 42gr of IMR4320 topped with a 150gr Sierra GK SBT in once fired military brass, it shot .78" @ 100 yards this past Sunday (Easter) in a 12mph cross wind. It does not like the Hornady A-Max in 150gr for some particular reason, not a big concern as I'm partial to the Sierra line for deer hunting. Once the new/old scope is mounted, its back to the range for some more load testing with the monolithic copper bullets.
Compiling evidence of the 1958 release of the 110 Short Action
I purchased the October 1958 issue of Field & Stream that has an advert for "the new short action .243 and .308" 110 to ensure I had empirical evidence of Savage's 1958 release of the short action.
I'll be looking for the September and earlier publications too, just to try and confirm the month of release. Does anyone have adverts from earlier than September of 1958?