Results 1 to 19 of 19

Thread: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342

  1. #1
    Ballistica
    Guest

    Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342


    Glad i found this site, i have several vintage Savages and my newest acquired is a Model 342 in .22 hornet and she is sweet, but i have a Slight problem with her, i'm pretty sure it's got the Original Side mounts with rings and one of the thumb screw detach screws was over tightened and stripped. I have tried to match up the originals but i couldn't find anything on them at all so i ordered the Weaver set and they throw the scope 3/16th's off of the center line of the barrel, i called Weaver and they said they sure do...Why Sell Them Then ..Lol! So back to the dealer they went and now i'm trying to match up the thread so i can tap the hole out and possibly Heli-Coil it with Red Loc-Tight, i'm Mounting or trying desperately to mount a Leupold VX-II 3x9 on her! I wanted a new base but i can not find one...Any Suggestions out there! Thanks so much in advance!

  2. #2
    Basic Member rjtfroggy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Ct.
    Age
    72
    Posts
    1,621

    Re: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342


    Try www.gunparts.com that should be Numrichs web site about the only place I can think of for vintage parts.
    And Welcome to the site.
    FROGGY
    See profile for fire arms
    Do it today there maybe no tomorrow

  3. #3
    Airedaleman
    Guest

    Re: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342

    B-Square offers base and rings for the 340 series.

  4. #4
    Basic Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Brushy Mtns, NC
    Posts
    619

    Re: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342

    Just ordered one for my neighbor's .222 from Midway, came with weaver rings. It had several sets of allingment holes drilled to move/match the 340 riciever. The mount and rings were about $50.

  5. #5
    Ballistica
    Guest

    Re: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342

    Quote Originally Posted by appleseed
    Just ordered one for my neighbor's .222 from Midway, came with weaver rings. It had several sets of allingment holes drilled to move/match the 340 riciever. The mount and rings were about $50.
    Yes Sir, that is what i had last week and i talked to their tech and he said they mount up like this -that's just the way they are, so i called a weaver tech and he said the same thing..I said the Why Make them ..LOL..Thanks though!

  6. #6
    Ballistica
    Guest

    Re: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342

    Quote Originally Posted by rjtfroggy

    Try www.gunparts.com that should be Numrichs web site about the only place I can think of for vintage parts.
    And Welcome to the site.
    Thank you for the welcoming, i've been on the phone with Numrichs and same thing there "New Weavers"..But on the positive side they had the Original Butt plate!

  7. #7
    Ballistica
    Guest

    Re: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342

    Quote Originally Posted by Airedaleman
    B-Square offers base and rings for the 340 series.
    Thank You, they say they have them but they can not supply a picture of them and they are look through's so i need to see how high they sit. Oh well , i guess i will order them ! Thanks so much!

    I will post a Mounted pic. once i get them so anyone else that may run into this problem may get some use out of this!

  8. #8
    Airedaleman
    Guest

    Re: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342

    Due to the design of the 340 series, all the mounts, be they stamped Weaver N mounts (or the same supplied to Savage), or the detachable mounts by Weaver and B-Square are effectively "see-through." At one time, the Weaver mount sat lower, but the base has been extended to allow the mounting of soda bottle-sized scopes. Beginning of the year I picked up a 340B ('53 mfg) in .222 Remington.
    It wore a mutt Tasco 3X9X40 scope in a Weaver mount - the 1H. Long story short, Bubba "fixed" the thumb screws (he lost one and replaced with a cad-plated machine screw, stripped the other, and tried to secure it with Loc-tite. Didn't work.) I got a pair of thumb screws gratis from Weaver (great customer service), but Bubba fouled up the base so badly that the new screws would not make up. I decided that I was not going to be removing the mount from the base (plus I wanted to shoot the rifle without waiting for a new base) so I just J-B welded the mount and screws to the base. Worked like a charm. The rifle is in excellent shape, and shoots one-inch five shot groups at 100 yards all day long. By the way, although high, my rig IS centered over the bore.

  9. #9
    Basic Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    SE Tennessee
    Posts
    610

    Re: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342

    A gunsmith can easily drill and tap the holes to the next larger size. Many folks do that on hard recoiling guns, but the process works well on buggered screw holes too.

  10. #10
    Ballistica
    Guest

    Re: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342

    Quote Originally Posted by Airedaleman
    Due to the design of the 340 series, all the mounts, be they stamped Weaver N mounts (or the same supplied to Savage), or the detachable mounts by Weaver and B-Square are effectively "see-through." At one time, the Weaver mount sat lower, but the base has been extended to allow the mounting of soda bottle-sized scopes. Beginning of the year I picked up a 340B ('53 mfg) in .222 Remington.
    It wore a mutt Tasco 3X9X40 scope in a Weaver mount - the 1H. Long story short, Bubba "fixed" the thumb screws (he lost one and replaced with a cad-plated machine screw, stripped the other, and tried to secure it with Loc-tite. Didn't work.) I got a pair of thumb screws gratis from Weaver (great customer service), but Bubba fouled up the base so badly that the new screws would not make up. I decided that I was not going to be removing the mount from the base (plus I wanted to shoot the rifle without waiting for a new base) so I just J-B welded the mount and screws to the base. Worked like a charm. The rifle is in excellent shape, and shoots one-inch five shot groups at 100 yards all day long. By the way, although high, my rig IS centered over the bore.
    I tel ya, i am going Nuts over this Project but it will be nice when i finish her! The original detach mounts that were on there have a real nice set of caps on them Unlike the weaver cheapies but they are just not marked in any way form or fashion but the 40 MM Objective sits perfectly above the bore and sits low..Not see through's at all! My Son -n- Law just picked up one similar to mine and has the Identical mounts, but No markings! I'm Mounting this Scope 1 Time and that is where it will remain for it's life so i want to keep her Purdy

  11. #11
    Ballistica
    Guest

    Re: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342

    Quote Originally Posted by LHitchcox
    A gunsmith can easily drill and tap the holes to the next larger size. Many folks do that on hard recoiling guns, but the process works well on buggered screw holes too.
    My Gunsmith is backed up 6 mnth's :-\, so i am scrambling to get a decent mount , i am purchasing the B square and i'll know weather i like it or not as soon as i see it! If this doesn't work then i will ship it to a Gunsmith along with the scope and have a custom Permanent mount Made..If i can find one that will do it! ;D I would do the Drill and tap myself, but i can't find a set of nice thumb screws to use and i want it to all match! Still scratching my head!

  12. #12
    hailstone
    Guest

    Re: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342

    I've found several different thread pitches used on these detachable side mounts and if memory serves even with Weaver. If I understand you original post the thumb screw threads were damaged. Those threads are a special fine pitch size. Recently had similar problem with same mounts and rifle series. I lucked out being a collector by taking mount off another rifle before selling. Believe the taped holes in receiver are not the current size but something like 10-32 machine screw. Apparently there were several makers who sold that side mount style besides Weaver. You may have to do some research in old gun magazines, catalogues etc. to determine what make you have.

  13. #13
    Ballistica
    Guest

    Re: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342

    Quote Originally Posted by hailstone
    I've found several different thread pitches used on these detachable side mounts and if memory serves even with Weaver. If I understand you original post the thumb screw threads were damaged. Those threads are a special fine pitch size. Recently had similar problem with same mounts and rifle series. I lucked out being a collector by taking mount off another rifle before selling. Believe the taped holes in receiver are not the current size but something like 10-32 machine screw. Apparently there were several makers who sold that side mount style besides Weaver. You may have to do some research in old gun magazines, catalogues etc. to determine what make you have.

    The threads on My thumb screws are OK,but it is the Base thumb screw hole that is stripped-what i have seen is the Weaver base Thumb screw holes are at least threaded all of the way through as the Existing Base has only 4 threads entering the holes, it wouldn't take much more than hand tightening to strip them even wit the Extremely fine threads! If i knew what this Exact thread pattern is, then a Heli Coil would repair the problem but i have not as of yet been able to figure the super fine threads are! I may have to do this if the B-squares aren't what i want! Thanks!


  14. #14
    Airedaleman
    Guest

    Re: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342


    The threads on My thumb screws are OK,but it is the Base thumb screw hole that is stripped-what i have seen is the Weaver base Thumb screw holes are at least threaded all of the way through as the Existing Base has only 4 threads entering the holes, it wouldn't take much more than hand tightening to strip them even wit the Extremely fine threads! If i knew what this Exact thread pattern is, then a Heli Coil would repair the problem but i have not as of yet been able to figure the super fine threads are! I may have to do this if the B-squares aren't what i want! Thanks!


    [/quote]

    Do I understand correctly that the two thumb-screw holes in the base are not drilled through, but only four threads deep? Sounds odd to me. At any rate, I'd suggest that you do what I did. Solid as a rock and easy! When I want to change a scope, I simply undo the rings. If I want the rig gone completely, (not a consideration on a .222) I can remove the four screws holding the base to the receiver and put the four filler screws back in place. The receiver mount holes are 8-40's if I remember correctly.

  15. #15
    Ballistica
    Guest

    Re: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342

    Quote Originally Posted by Airedaleman

    The threads on My thumb screws are OK,but it is the Base thumb screw hole that is stripped-what i have seen is the Weaver base Thumb screw holes are at least threaded all of the way through as the Existing Base has only 4 threads entering the holes, it wouldn't take much more than hand tightening to strip them even wit the Extremely fine threads! If i knew what this Exact thread pattern is, then a Heli Coil would repair the problem but i have not as of yet been able to figure the super fine threads are! I may have to do this if the B-squares aren't what i want! Thanks!

    Do I understand correctly that the two thumb-screw holes in the base are not drilled through, but only four threads deep? Sounds odd to me. At any rate, I'd suggest that you do what I did. Solid as a rock and easy! When I want to change a scope, I simply undo the rings. If I want the rig gone completely, (not a consideration on a .222) I can remove the four screws holding the base to the receiver and put the four filler screws back in place. The receiver mount holes are 8-40's if I remember correctly.
    [/quote]

    No Sir, they are drilled all the way through but the threads are only at the entrance of the Hole! I don't get it either Lol!

  16. #16
    Basic Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Posts
    3,361

    Re: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342

    So what's wrong with being 3/16" off the centerline? Does the bolt handle clear the scope?
    "As long as there's lead in the air....there's still hope.."

  17. #17
    Ballistica
    Guest

    Re: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342

    Quote Originally Posted by sharpshooter
    So what's wrong with being 3/16" off the centerline? Does the bolt handle clear the scope?
    I didn't check that , i just don't like it to be off Center-It doesn't look right and it Freaks me out ! I'm pretty Anal about my rifles so i want everything lined up as perfect as i can get it! Just a Personal Thing !

  18. #18
    hailstone
    Guest

    Re: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342

    If you have a Weaver side mount scope setup for a Savage 342 these are the screw sizes and pitches off a Savage 342 in my collecton with the Weaver scope mount setup. Four receiver screws to hold base to receiver 8-40. Two thumb screws that hold the scope ring/base mount assembly to receiver base are 3/16-32 -- old odd ball size from by gone era. One of these holes is almost tapped clear through while the second lacks 1 - 2 threads of being tapped clear through. Weaver marked there mounts on the scope ring/base assembly if memory serves.

    As mentioned in my earlier post there were other makers who sold similar side mount versions. I know there thumb screws were not interchangeable in the ones I have in my collection. Most of these side mounts the center line of the scope and bore were not exactly over each other. In those days people were happy just having and being able to mount a scope while the rifle came with a set of iron sights. Today the role is reversed and one is hard pressed to find a rifle equiped with iron sights while all are tapped for scope mounts and some come with intergral bases/set of rings.

  19. #19
    hailstone
    Guest

    Re: Newb Here Need base info. on Model 342

    Another set of thumb screws for a side mount of undetermined make and manufacturer are .194 OD threads and 50 TPI. These threads are very fine and would be over six threads in 1/8" length. Threads this fine can easily be stripped out or cross threaded in alumnium. If I find any other thumb screw sizes in my collection will post that information.

Similar Threads

  1. Rimfire: Montgomery Ward Model 81 ( Savage Model 29 ) Looking for info and a firing pin
    By rydermike in forum Vintage Savage/Stevens/Fox Firearms
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 04-17-2016, 10:38 AM
  2. scope base info needed
    By chuck m in forum Optics
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 10-09-2015, 06:59 PM
  3. Replies: 3
    Last Post: 10-11-2012, 10:48 AM
  4. Model 12 BTV Questions from a newb
    By wyoplinker in forum 110-Series Rifles
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 04-14-2011, 11:12 PM
  5. Stevens 200 long action base info. FYI
    By troglodyte in forum Optics
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 12-06-2009, 10:45 AM

Members who have read this thread in the last 1 days: 0

There are no members to list at the moment.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •