drilling/tapping - savage 340A 30-30 bolot action advice requested

[cody c]

Hello, I'm looking for some info:

I picked up a savage 340A bolt action, its to be used by a friend for his first season of hunting.

Also picked up the side mount scope rail and wish to mount it, but after pulling the furniture off I see that there is no factory holes drilled for the rail, I was under the impression there was already holes there.

My question is this: Is there a certain location (distance from a landmark like barrel or bolt hole) that it should be drilled and tapped?

Is there a good resource for finding taps in Calgary, or Canada?

It could be brought to a gunsmith, but this is supposed to be a cheap rifle, and waiting times at gunsmiths are not going to be conducive to hunting season I suspect.

Anyone with experience drilling these to give my some insight before I start drilling holes in a rifle?

 

[guntech]

Anyone with experience drilling these to give my some insight before I start drilling holes in a rifle?

Unless you are more talented than most, you will screw this up. Getting the holes in the correct place is not easy if you haven't done a few.

 

[cody c]

I don't have any experience drilling rifles, I have drilled and tapped a lot of things though as I work with metal in the oil patch or on automotive stuff in the garage. I think I should be fine to get the holes in the right places, I'm more concerned with interference or weakening the action.

 

[guntech]

I don't have any experience drilling rifles, I have drilled and tapped a lot of things though as I work with metal in the oil patch or on automotive stuff in the garage. I think I should be fine to get the holes in the right places, I'm more concerned with interference or weakening the action.

Alignment of the holes in the correct placement is going to be a challenge. Once located careful center punching is important. Using a drill press is advisable. Tapping in the drill press is advisable as well. That means you need an adjustable milling vise.

Drilling free hand and tapping free hand lends itself to problems.

Borrow another 340 that is factory tapped and see just where the holes go... or mount a scope in rings on the base and using a bore sighting device hold the assembly on the action and decide where it should sit.

The whole thing is even a bit of a challenge for an experienced 'smith'. I believe the screws are 8x40 on this model. So you may need an 8x40 starting tap and an 8x40 bottoming tap... and a #29 drill.

 

[mbogo3]

I've seen more than a few "done at home" and it wasn't pretty.........Harold

 

[cody c]

Alignment of the holes in the correct placement is going to be a challenge. Once located careful center punching is important. Using a drill press is advisable. Tapping in the drill press is advisable as well. That means you need an adjustable milling vise.

Drilling free hand and tapping free hand lends itself to problems.

Borrow another 340 that is factory tapped and see just where the holes go... or mount a scope in rings on the base and using a bore sighting device hold the assembly on the action and decide where it should sit.

The whole thing is even a bit of a challenge for an experienced 'smith'. I believe the screws are 8x40 on this model. So you may need an 8x40 starting tap and an 8x40 bottoming tap... and a #29 drill.

I think u may have just talked me out of it, thanks for your advise

 

[sunray]

"...the oil patch or on automotive stuff in the garage..." Isn't anywhere near the same thing. No precise hole locating required.
"..."done at home"..." Smithies love it though. DIY 'smiths' are money makers.

 

[cody c]

"...the oil patch or on automotive stuff in the garage..." Isn't anywhere near the same thing. No precise hole locating required.
"..."done at home"..." Smithies love it though. DIY 'smiths' are money makers.

Thanks for your support. Do you do quality gunsmithing work, I suppose I will need to send it somewhere.

 

[Winchester30-30]

nothing wrong with diy, personally mechanics and other trade workers are better at doing stuff themselves, i do 95% of my own gun work, untill it get to changing barrels and stuff like that, I have a 340 with a side mount ill snap a pic or to maybe give you an idea,