Customizing a rifle.

PaulT

PaulT

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Hi all,

What would you do to customize an old Savage 110 bolt in .308?

I want to keep it a .308win, but would like your opinion on what to do beside the stock work. I already did a bedding job (action) on the stock, changed the recoil pad and did a camo job so lets say the stock is taking care of. Don't like the trigger, nor do I like the bolt so what where to start?

Thanks to all
 
Do a trigger job or install an aftermarket trigger. Timney makes one for the 110. Timney Model 631. $100US.
You could have a different bolt handle put on, but that involves a smithy. Or jewel it.
Parkerizing or black phosphating the steel can be done too. Not as easily as it used to be though. Before all the stupid current laws, you could take a barreled action to any metal finisher to be phosphated. Now you have to go through a smithy or gun shop due to the PAL requirement. Mind you, it's not impossible to do it yourself. There are kits available for home phosphating that won't cost you the rent/mortgage money. It looks slick and adds a bit of protection. You tap a cast bullet into the muzzle, just enough to keep it there and put an empty case with a spent primer in the chamber to keep the phosphating out of the barrel. Doesn't hurt the bore if you don't put the cast bullet in though. You want the cartridge to keep the chamber unfinished.
 
sunray said:
Before all the stupid current laws, you could take a barreled action to any metal finisher to be phosphated. Now you have to go through a smithy or gun shop due to the PAL requirement.QUOTE]

Could you please explain the "PAL requirement".

Parkerizing tends to etch a surface. You don't want to etch the bore, or chamber. Fill with water, cork the ends, or drop a threaded rod through and tighten a sealing plug on both ends. You fill the bore with water so that the heat of the bath doesn't pop the plugs.
Savage bolt handles can be easily removed and replaced. You can get different Savage factory handles, or aftermarket ones. You can work on the handle yourself, and if you mess it up, a replacement is inexpensive and readily obtained.
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I am just about done polishing my turd, will post pictures when i am done. Why polish a turd youy say, mine is a stevens 200 in 358 win. Total expenditure on it was 765. It produces 0.617 5 shot groups (back when it had the craptastic plastic on it) And i have a rifle that fits me, and is exactly what i wanted in a gun. Like i said, i will post a pic or two when done polishing, the new laminate stock is just drying, then it will be done.

As for that 308 of yours, the trigger can be tweaked if you have any mecahnical aptitude, or an aftermarket Sharpshooter or Rifle Basix can be chucked in there. I dont know what to say about the bolt, as i do not know what it is you dont like, but if it is the looks, find someone who will jewel it for you, or parkerize it. Savages are hardly turds, remington shooters are just pissed that they spent twice the money on a rifle that shoots half as good.
 
Savage triggers are adjustable for pressure and engagement. Be VERY cautious if you decide to do any polishing. Some parts are surface hardened, and if you damage the case, the piece is ruined. Also make SURE that the safety works after you have done any work on the trigger. Engagement and safety function are related.
 
tiriaq said:
Savage triggers are adjustable for pressure and engagement. Be VERY cautious if you decide to do any polishing. Some parts are surface hardened, and if you damage the case, the piece is ruined. Also make SURE that the safety works after you have done any work on the trigger. Engagement and safety function are related.
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Good point, the safety on these is picky, and have a mind of its own, especially after trigger ajustment.

As for the bolt, its not that I don't like the look, I find it hard to operate so I will see what can be done, might be some polishing to do there, where the bolt handle touch the rear baffle.

I'll probably take the sights off and use it with the scope only, have a new Elite 3x10x40 short action that will fit perfect on it.

Thanks to all, good ideas, keep it comming.
 
The best advise I can give you for turning your savage into a customer rifle would be to replace the stock, barrel, and action with a Sako, Winchester, remington, Tikka, or something similar.
Savage rifles are great guns, and accurate as hell, but they have an ugly you just cant cure... And thats an opinion form someone who likes em :)

The 114 U I bought my dad in 270 is about as nice of a rifle as you can get from savage IMHO.
 
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220Swifty said:
I am just about done polishing my turd, will post pictures when i am done. Why polish a turd youy say, mine is a stevens 200 in 358 win. Total expenditure on it was 765. It produces 0.617 5 shot groups (back when it had the craptastic plastic on it) And i have a rifle that fits me, and is exactly what i wanted in a gun. Like i said, i will post a pic or two when done polishing, the new laminate stock is just drying, then it will be done.
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Coulda bought a stainless ruger in 358 for the same price, but... to each his/her own.
 
yeah, i am actually a ruger guy at heart, and was waiting for one to come out, but dindt have the patience, so i got started on this project. Plus the ruger has a 16" tube, mine has 20". Less muzzle flip, but still nice and compact. Plus the raised cheekpeice on my new stock makes it a bit faster to the eye for a snap shot in the bush (what i built it for) Plus the ruger triggers are ####.
 
220Swifty said:
yeah, i am actually a ruger guy at heart, and was waiting for one to come out, but dindt have the patience, so i got started on this project. Plus the ruger has a 16" tube, mine has 20". Less muzzle flip, but still nice and compact. Plus the raised cheekpeice on my new stock makes it a bit faster to the eye for a snap shot in the bush (what i built it for)
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you can get it in the standard 22 inch, blued and synthetic... Sorry to be the bearer of bad news :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D


I'd have to say, Im betting on the 358 stainless version to be my next rifle. the 358 has been a cartridge I've been facinated by for years, and havent owned one. (but had a 356 same ####, different pile:D)
 
Thanks alot Daryl, now i feel like a ####tard! All seriousness though, if every rifle i bought was off the shelf, i would get bored. I am a tinkerer at heart, so when i learned what could be done with the savage/stevens platform, i had to try it out. This one will shoot up there with my rugers, and i built it to my definition of a fine hunting rifle, and i thnik its purdy. 22" is to long for an ideal truck/bush gun, 16 gives excessive muzzle flip, i cut the barrel from 24 to 20", and this is what i ended up with

DSC01132.jpg
 
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