[SWO1]

Ordered the Grand Daughters Christmas present today. Its a Savage Mark I with walnut stock. My LGS got it for me at $200. I also have my eye on a Barska Target scope 20X with target dot. She really want to shoot with the boys and me but the other 22s are to big for her (length of pull). She shoots her brothers 7X marlin Youth in .308 and it fits her good.

 

[SWO1]

Went by the LGS this morning. The Savage Mark I GY was in for my grand daughers Christmas. I brought it home ..... Her favorite color is Blue, so will refinish the stock in that. Also will pillar bed the action and free float the barrel. He had a .223 he was taking in on trade with a 20X target scope ..... $70. As soon as the guy comes in and picks up his other rifle I can get it. It has rings with it also. Now I have a gun project to get busy on.

Also picked up another 2 bricks of CCI Standard Velocity while there.

 

[SWO1]

Didnt go out this morning. Instead decided to start on the Mark I. Will disassemble and first check out the stock. Pics to follow the progress. Its wood so dont see any problems in the new blue finish or Pillar bedding. I have a lot of steel lamp rod for the pillars. Will free float it first and then see how the Pillars will set in. After the pillars, free floating will strip it down for the finish.

 

[SWO1]

I started on the Grand Daughters Mark I BY.

Rifle broken down, The stock is stamped Boyds

The barrel channel measured .709 width. Will take .75" dowel rod and with sand paper ddepen and wided it. The left side sits closer than the right. The Action is super tight in the stock.

Barrel channel deepened and widened.

Action back in and a dollar bill slide with no resistance all the way to the Chamber. When I install the pillars they will sit up about 1/16" of an inch from the wood and give a little more floating.

Next up will cut the threaded Lamp Rod to correct length, put a slot in one end (next to the trigger housing), screw them in leaving about 1/16" standing up from the inside and top of the receiver lugs.

 

[SWO1]

Now for the Pillar Bedding.

The 3.8" threaded lamp rod I use. Its steel. Some commercial ones are Aluminum, brass, ect. The Action screws fit (all I have used) thu it fine.

I used a dowel from one of the shotguns that limit # of shells in the mag. they have these neat little handy-dandy rubber rings. And they fit snugly into the predrilled holes in the stock. I insert them until they are just flush with the inside, slide the rubber O-ring snug. Remove and measure with a Mic the length. The front hole measured .593 long and the back hole .700.

I then cut two pieces to match the lengths. I slotted one end of each to use a driver bit to screw into the wood.

I test fitted the pillars on the Action lugs, making sure each one sat flush.

Then I measured the lamp rod diam, found a bit that was .03 smaller. I drilled out each hole in the stock.

I then screwed in each pillar to where it was flush with the "bottom" of the stock. That leaves it standing clear of the wood on the inside.

Action/Barrel re mounted and it is done. No play what so ever. Took about an hour. I put a thin coat of epoxy on the threads before I screwed the in.

Next I will strip the entire stock and get ready for the BLUE ..... Finish. I will prime and then use Krylon Fusion in Glossy Blue. I have never painted a stock before so dont know how it will come out. I can always re strip and start over

 

[SWO1]

SWO1 I have a ruger MarkII 22lr with a wood stock and am in need of a project... ...are these more accurate after a float & pillar ?

I really think, No I know so, most all anyway. .22 barrels vibrate, as well as the action and more so if its not snugged tight with either pillars or receiver bedding, or both. Barrel vibration is "Barrel Harmonics" The direction of the viberation will affect the point of impact of the bullet. Having Nothing touching the barrel and a snug receiver keeps the vibration in the same direction. Also a "Tuner" is used to redirect the vibration and hold it to a specific pattern. This can tighten up groups also.

 

[SWO1]

IN between trips to the deer stand got the finish off the Mark I stock. I dont know what ya'll think but that is one Butt Ugly Hunk of Walnut ....

Wont feel bad at all covering it up with Bright blue Paint.

A sample piece of wood with one coat of primer and 4 light coats of the Krylon.

I still have to do the finish prep on the stock prior to painting. I will put on two coats of Primer and then ever how many of the Blue. I am hoping it will buff out to a semi shiny finish. A bench gun need to recoil back in the bags, and yes the 22s do slide back about an inch or so on firing.

 

[SWO1]

Has your granddaughter seen the gun yet or she will not see it till xmas?

Nobody even knows I have it. Will Unvail Christams eve with the family gift opening.

Next will fill the holes left by removing the Swivel Studs .... No studs for bench, they tear up the bags. Will set the filler dry a couple days or three then do final sanding and cleaning of the stock before starting to paint.

 

[SWO1]

Got the swivel stud holes filled before going out this evening. Now have to wait till it drys nice and hard and then final sanding and prep for Painting.

 

[SWO1]

The stock is painted. Fusion says after 7 days the finish is "Chip Resistant" Wendsday will be 7 days. Today I will break down and clean the barrel and receiver. Will mount the bases, Adjust the Accu Trigger to see what it ends up at. I will leave it stock for a while and then will install the Apachee Trigger kit. Monday I will check with the LGS about the 20X target scope. If its availaible will mount it to the receiver and bore sight. After Wendsday I will shoot it with availiable ammo and see what it likes. Xmas it will be ready to go for Carlie. Pics wendsday of the finished product.

I Love being Santa Claus .........

 

[SWO1]

Cleaned the receiver, bolt with brake cleaner, then swabbed the barrel with Butchs bore bright. Two well soaked patches and then dry ones till they came out clean. I dont use a brush on any of my bores. But then I clean them after every shoot, 1 round or hundreds.

Wont be polishing the feed ramp, Its a plastic insert ..... GEEEEEEEZ

Used the buffing wheel on the Dremel with polishing rouge and slicked up the slot in the reciever that the bolt handle cams on, also polished up the edge of the bolt handle. The Action is Real tight to start and after a few thousand rounds will smooth up.

I then cleaned the reciever where the bases go with Acetone. Also cleaned the bases and screws with it. You dont want any thing on any of it for a good snug fit.

I test fitted the bases to make sure none of the screws protruded into the action. No worry about the front as the holes are in the Chamber area with lots of metal, they dont go through. But the rear base holes are drilled through into the bolt carrier channel. I visually inspected and test fitted the bolt to make sure. All was good to go.

I then applied VERY LITTLE Lock Tite ( blue ) to the screw threads and tightned down. Before doing the rear I stuffed the channel with a large piece of cotton cloth just in case the Lock Tite dripped down. the cloth came out clean so all is well. The base mounting instructions said that Lock Tite was not required on .22s ...... but I figure cant hurt.

I then check the Trigger Pull Weight with the gauge. 10 pulls yielded all readings in the 2.14X range. I will leave it at that for now..... Not Bad, none of my other Savage Accu triggers would go that low.

 

[SWO1]

Nothing wrong with the "very little" blue Lock-Tite.
Just information. Lock-Tite makes a Purple version that is for 1/4" and smaller "removable" bolts.

Thanks greyhawk ..... I didnt know that. That info goes into my "Learn something every day" bank .......... I will pick some up tomorrow.

 

[SWO1]

Well here is the Mark I Youth. Still have to do more polishing on the stock. These rings are a little high, will look for something a little lower. The scope is on loose and I will tighten it some beforfe shooting it. I will torque the receiver bolts to 13 inch lbs on both to start and go from there.

Tomorrow afternoon is supposed to be in the mid-upper 40s. I will take it to the bench and shoot at 25 yards for zero and preference of ammo. Then I will shoot at 50 yards.

 

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I have to admit the blue looks better than I thought it was going to look. She likes blue then she should be thrilled with how gramps made it look. Is she going to like the single shot versus a semi auto?

She shoots the Model 60 real well, but always wants to shoot the bolt guns that Carson, Cameron, and I shoot. but like the 60 all the LOPs are two long for her. She shoots the Marlin 7X youth in 308 well also. It will be just for bench shooting and I hope she stays interested in it. She is 11 now and later on can go to a full sized stock if required, OR A WHOLE NEW GUN .......

 

[SWO1]

My grand daughter Carlie with her Savage Mark I. The barrel is free floated, pillar bedded, and I painted the stock Blue, her favorite color. It shoots great, Aquila SV, CCI SV and Eley Target all about the same at 25 yards. It has a 20X Target scope with dot. The trigger pull is 2.14X constant. I will let her shoot it a while with the stock accu trigger and then probably put in an Appache trigger kit to bring it down to around 8oz. I will work it down to where she likes it, it can be adjusted back up also. Now she can shoot with her brothers and me at the bench rest range.

Merry Christmas Carlie