Savage MkII tapered barrels & Boyd's Stocks

mh434

mh434

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Even though my new Savage MkII has a tapered barrel (no sights), I ordered a Boyd's Tacticool stock for it anyway, figuring I'd live with the barrel-to-stock gap. I've seen several others discussing this issue, both here & on Rimfire Central.

Made an interesting discovery last night though, when a friend came over and was looking at the rifle with me. He noticed that the barrel didn't appear to taper at all for quite a distance from the breech forward.

Sure enough, a steel straight edge showed that the barrel only tapers in the last 5" to the muzzle - from the chamber forward, it's straight as a die (i.e., it's a true bull barrel except for the last 5").

What does that matter? Well, it appears to me that the barrel will fit the stock channel perfectly, as the tapered section of the barrel is well past the end of the forestock. So, barrel-to-stock gap should be identical to that for a varmint (non-tapered) barrel.

Pleasant surprise!!
 
I've never measured the diameter of a non-bull barrel. Is it still the same as the bull barrel at the chamber end? The bbl's are .800"....

When I got my tacticool I had to ever-so-slightly open up the channel to fully float the barrel. But I ended up opening it to 7/8" to accomodate a few coats of paint as well.
 
hometownhero said:
With my 93r17(bull barrel model) The stock fit perfect. There is a slight gap between the stock and the barrel no need to open it up.
Click to expand...

Yours would fit... Boyd's inlets for the heavy barrel version... the OP was referring to the "gap" he expected because his gun is a "standard taper" barrel... but his discovery of taper only in the last five inches is news to me... all my guns are heavy barrel models... I will check this at the gun shop next time I am there... interesting.
 
hoytcanon said:
Yours would fit... Boyd's inlets for the heavy barrel version... the OP was referring to the "gap" he expected because his gun is a "standard taper" barrel... but his discovery of taper only in the last five inches is news to me... all my guns are heavy barrel models... I will check this at the gun shop next time I am there... interesting.
Click to expand...

Ya the mark II I had had open sights and a tapered barrel from the chamber to the muzzle. Never seen what he is talking about b4
 
Well, just to confirm, I took the stock off my F model and measured it. Sure enough, the barrel measures 0.6855" from the receiver to within 5" of the muzzle. From that point forward, it tapers down to 0.5755" at the muzzle. I haven't been able to locate an actual measurement for the diameter of the varmint barrels, though I suspect it's a little larger than .6855".

So, there's 14" of dead-straight barrel from the receiver forward. The stock won't be near the tapered section at all. Sweet!
 
hometownhero said:
Mine measures .802" (heavy barrel)
Click to expand...

Thanks!

Okay - I guess that means that the gap for my barrel will be .058" larger on each side of the barrel than it would be with the varmint barrel. Considering that's less than 1/16" difference, I think I can live with that.

Anyway, those that have been worrying about using a Boyd's stock with a tapered barrel now know what the results will be. I'll post pics when I get my stock & install the action in it...
 
Tapered barrel Savage MkII F & Boyd's Tacticool - the review!

Well, My Boyd's Tacticcol stock for my tapered-barrel Mk.IIF arrived, and is now installed. So, how'd it turn out? Here's my review -

First, the Tacticool is an awesome stock!

- The textured grain is grippy, without feeling abrasive. It appears to be Rhinoliner or something like it - seems to be tough as nails.
- The shape of the rifle, in general, is a vast improvement.
- The pistol grip is man-sized, and the more-vertical angle is more natural.
- The wider forestock, too, gives a more positive feel.
- The greater height of the comb allows proper cheeking with a scope, yet isn't so high as to give problems removing the bolt.
- There is a rubber butt pad which, of course, isn't needed for recoil attenuation, but does keep the rifle from slipping around on your shoulder.

The inletting is perfect. The action slips into it, bottoming out with a solid 'click'. Once it's in, nothing moves. There is ZERO play. From the action forward, of course, the barrel is fully free-floated. This was intended to be the case with bull barrels, and tapered barrels fare the same. The difference in appearance between a bull barrel and a tapered barrel in this stock is negligible, as the difference is less than 1/16" (around 1.5 mm.).

Surprisingly, the original front action screw was *just* long enough. The rear, of course, wasn't. As I didn't yet have replacements, I made one up on the lathe, although it's clunkier than I like. It's a #12-32NF thread - good luck finding one anywhere but Savage or DIP (who won't ship to Canada:mad:). I've ordered the longer TR screws from Savage. What I've done so far works, but I prefer the lower-profile screws from Savage.

I also needed a magazine well bottom plate, as the original doesn't fit anything but the plastic stock. I also needed a trigger guard, as the plastic stock one is molded in, and is not transferable. As I wanted to shoot the gun right away (of course!), I went out to the shop and fabricated a bottom plate & trigger guard out of 1/8" plate steel. They won't bend or deform anytime soon! I ordered a TR-type trigger guard from Savage, too, but what I have for the moment works fine.

At the range, it all works as advertised. The gun is still shooting under-3/8" 50-yard groups as before, but the gun is much easier to hold & sight.

I also put a used 6-18X40 AO Sweet 22 scope on it (I know, I know...don't razz me - it's all I could afford:D), as well as a UTG tactical bipod. The package is fantastic.

For those with tapered barrel Savages, DON'T be put off by the idea that the Boyd's Tacticool is intended for bull barrel guns. They work great with tapered barrels, too!

Here's a pic of the gun, and one of the (temporary) screws & trigger guard -

MkIIhomebuiltTR.jpg
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MkIIbottommetal.jpg
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A quick update...

The trigger guard and screws I ordered from Savage (to replace the temporary, homemade parts I fabricated) have arrived. I know some others have had issues getting the correct screws, going by part numbers.

Clearly, the easiest way is to simply order the action screws for a Savage MkII TR, which is what I did. No confusion over part numbers, etc.

The trigger guard that arrived was very nice indeed! It's steel, fits the inletting in the Boyd's stock perfectly, and is finished in a very tactical-looking matte black phosphate finish. It seems tough, is absolutely even, and looks great.

Again, this was specifically ordered as a MkII TR part.

The bottom plate, of course, I didn't order from Savage, as I've heard that no matter which model you order for, they're flimsy. For that part, I'm sticking with the 1/8", plate steel floor plate that I fabricated myself.

This is one smokin' rifle!!
 
Awesome write up... I'm eventually (hopefully?!) getting a Savage FSS off of a friend and was wondering if I could put a TR stock on there as the stock one seems rather flimsy. Looks like it shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks again!
 
Great job tracking all the details! I need to stop by my local dealer and make sure that style of stock feels as nice in my hands as I think it will, then I'll be doing the same with my GL.
 
I guess that raises the question though: would a left-handed action fit in the right-handed stock? Other than carving out a niche for the bolt and maybe the safety.
 
Other than, as you say, carving out a notch for the bolt handle, it should work great. I think that a Dremel would do a good job of this, or even just a hand-held rattail rasp.

The beauty of the finish on this stock is that you could fill the bolt notch on the right side, carve the new one on the left side, shoot the areas with nubbly paint & matte black, and the change would be invisible, like it was factory-done. Try THAT with a fancy walnut stock!!
 
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