Your Thoughts on an unusual project

dthunter

dthunter

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Hello fellow shooters!

I have a savage model 112, Series “J” rifle chambered in 222 Remington.
I havent shot the rifle in probably 10 years, but I donot want to let it go.

So I am considering an unusual modification, to rejuvenate some interest and fun.

I have a collection of high precision long range rifles, so I dont really need another one of those “right now” lol!

If I can source a 18.5”, .451 barrel, that is close to 1” diameter and Little to no taper, I was thinking this could be an interesting project.

With just switching out the old bolt face with a new .308 winchester case head diameter one, that should solve my bolt fit to the 45 ACP case.

The action is not machined for a magazine well, so I should be able to simply drop the short little stubby round onto the floor plate and feed away.

The action has a trigger that is around 6-8 ounces from benchrest shooting in years past.

I think this project could really find the accuracy potential of this round and be fun as heck plunking big old bullets in tight clusters!

I know this cartridge can shoot suprisingly accurate groups. My JR carbine can print 1” groups at 50 yards, so this combo should be able to maintain that size out further to maybe near 100.

I plan to shoot Mostly jacketed bullets.
All will be likely be in the 230 grain range.

So what do you guys think of any problems I may encounter in this project?
 
I have done such things with the Savage action.

Switching bolt heads is a breeze.

I just finished a project where I wanted to single feed rounds, instead of using the magazine.

If you don't want to use the mag (or can't, because it is the wrong size) take it out of the stock. Cut a piece of metal (I used a pop can) the shape of the opening on the bottom of the action, bigger by about 5mm.

My rifle had a blind magazine well, with no mag in it. I used a couple small dabs of contact glue to hold the pop can metal in place on the bottom of the receiver, and then squirted some expanding foam into the mag well, then put the rifle together.

The next day I took the rifle apart, and the pop can metal came out stuck firmly on the foam.

When I drop a 308 round into the action it falls into the flat tray at the bottom of the action and feed perfectly into the chamber. The front of the receiver has a little feed ramp. The tray feels solid, because the pop can metal is backed by the foam.

If I try to single feed rounds with the mag installed, they tend to fall off to the side of the mag lips and then jam in the bolt race way. That is why I took the mag out.

If your rifle has a removable mag, maybe you could wedge a piece of cardboard into the bottom of the well so it would hold the expanding foam.
 
^ The Savage 112 J is a dedicated single shot with a solid receiver floor plate. No cut out for mag well, I have one in .243, drop a cartridge and work the bolt straight in. Weighs about 11lbs with the straight barrel and oversized stock.
 
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The other barrel I plan to set up is a proper .308x39 russian. A heavy 20”, 1:10” twist bore would take advantage of many more quality match bullets, and yield top knotch accuracy.
 
Hello guys!
Just a bit of an update on the project I have underway.

As you know, I am taking a Savage Model 112, Series-J rifle that was originally chambered in .222Remington, and converting it to a 45 ACP rifle that should give me the opportunity to squeeze as much accuracy out of the 45 ACP as I can. Just to see what it is capable of.

Why? Because I enjoy shooting big, slow bullets like this, and would like to create a great 100 yard gopher/plate/rock etc. smacker!
The trajectory should be close to the 22lr, and would be more fun to see hits with a 230 grain bullet than a 40 grain bullet.

I may even try to shoot a deer or two with it sometime.


The barrel I am using is a custom job (thank you Jerry) that I am still waiting for. It should be complete and on it's way in about a month +/- a week. The wait is unbelievably painful! LOL!

The barrel is going to be 20.5" long, and a full 1" bull contour.
- .451" diameter
- Stainless
- 1:16" Twist

So far I have:

- Obtained another bolt head for .308win case head size, and fitted it yesterday to the bolt.
the pin protrusion is at .053", so that is fine.

- The trigger was set to around 10-12 ounces (safely) when shooting bench rest with the .222 Remington barrel. So that will help wring out the smallest groups.

- I have set up a Bushnell Forge 2.5-15x50mm scope with Burris 30mm Signature rings.
- Installed a +.010" shell in the bottom rear ring and a -.010" shell in the front bottom ring to bias the scope alignment vertically.
- Installed a .015" Brass shim under the rear scope base to further give me scope bias for the vertical plain. This should allow me to site the rifle in at around 80 yards, and leave me nearly all the vertical adjustment of the scope available for longer shots. (100-200 yards LOL!). Small adjustments may need to be made to fine tune this bias value.
"If the developed loads are accurate enough to take advantage of this option".

I am hoping to shoot 230+ grain bullets primarily, but will try everything I can in time.

I tried to upload some photos of the rifle project, but this site doesn't appear to allow me to upload from my computer direct.
So I created a google photo album and created a link to the photo album. Hope this works for you guys.

Note: The barrel presently on the action is still the original .222 Remington barrel. The barrel was left on for sake of the pictures.

Hope you like the photos.

here is the google link:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/8h75oYA36SK3KuzH9
 
This is great!!!

What a way to get the creativity and motivation juices flowing!!

I thought about doing the same thing in 450Bushmaster but sold my savage before I could make it a reality.

I’ve since done an 18” 45acp Mauser conversion and am working on an 18” 45winmag Mauser to get a little more velocity and use some heavier bullets.

I have to say, the 18” 45acp Mauser shoots very well!!! I love using 152swc and making perfect holes in paper. The gun shoots 10 round groups all touching at 25m ��

Good luck and keep the updates coming!!!

Jon
 
One more thing, have you thought about what powder you will use?

I haven’t tried yet but am toying with trying some WC-735 ball powder. Not sure if it yield desireable results but hey we’re here for fun right!? And who doesn’t love a fireball!!?

Also, get yourself some star line 45acp+p brass from rustywood!
 
jonh172 said:
One more thing, have you thought about what powder you will use?

I haven’t tried yet but am toying with trying some WC-735 ball powder. Not sure if it yield desireable results but hey we’re here for fun right!? And who doesn’t love a fireball!!?

Also, get yourself some star line 45acp+p brass from rustywood!
Click to expand...



I have been toying with the idea of trying some slower powders after I complete some experiments with CFE Pistol, Unique, Long Shot.
The slower powders I am thinking of trying are 2400 & Lil' Gun.


The +P Starline brass is not a bad idea. Do you have rustywoods contact info?
I have access to literally thousands of free brass of all brands except Starline.

My initial tests will be with Winchester and Blazer Small Pistol primer brass.
 
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