So I was thinking about putting a custom barrel on a $149 Compass? Why? Because I have probably 12 or more custom match grade barrels I got dirt cheap over the last decade just sitting around collecting dust.
The Compass in question is in 30-06.
I would likely rechamber it in 30-06.
I have a couple of 29" profiled, polished and crowned SS 1:8 twist #1 or #2 barrels just sitting around. I have a few hundred rounds of Creedmoor 30-06 ammo in Lapua brass with 167gr. Scenar OTM bullets.
So I know it is fine to just touch off the recievr face. The floating bolt head seems to me to be cast maybe investment cast? I do not know this as fact just what it looks like and feels like to me. I was thinking about lapping the lugs in for at least 65% engagument. I am a bit concered about cupping like some Savage bolt heads are known to do. I am sure I could get a comptent gunsmith to precision face the recoil lug locking recesses for me.
I understand that it is an ecconomy action but the tubular action itself seems to be very sound design. The cost savings seems to be in the bolt itself and the use of MEM parts and such. I do not alway have an action blue printed before rebarreling but since it is such a modern design and made with modern alloys it just seems like some level of blueprinting is in order to get the most out of it.
I like the idea of giving this ecconomy rifle it's best possible chance to shine. I want to use my 29" SS 1:8 barrel and this action seems like a good canadate for upgrade. Since the after market barrel is thinner than the OEM barrel it will drop back into the factory stock with zero issues.
Since the barrel is already finished out at 29" I have even considered doing 30-06 AI to extend the life of the Lapua brass I already have. I am thinking that as a 30-06 AI I could probably get 6 to 10 firing of the brass.
Just seems like an intersting build idea.
I ran into a guy that got amazing velocity out of a 32 inch 30-06AI in F-open a long time ago. While my barrel is only 29" long with the 1:8 twist I suspect that I could get a lot out of a 30-06AI with moder ELD bullets and modern powders froma 29" barrel!
This would be a hunting rifle and plinker. I like the idea of being able to re-use the factory stock which is pretty rigid and the lighter profile barrel would gurantee that even with a sling or bipod the barrel wouldnever make contact with the stock.
If I do not like it with the 29" barrel I could always shorten the barrel to get a slightly heavier contour.
That guy I ran into at an F-Open meet a long time ago claimed that he was getting 2900fps with a 30-06AI in his long F-Open 30-06AI with 190gr. bullets. I know hard to believe.
I do not care about intrinsic value of the rifle and losing money if I ever want to sell it since we are talkng about a Thompson Compass. So value vs cost is not really an concern. This is just about fun and playing around with an action everyone craps on! That is just collecting dust!
Thanks for opinions!
The Compass in question is in 30-06.
I would likely rechamber it in 30-06.
I have a couple of 29" profiled, polished and crowned SS 1:8 twist #1 or #2 barrels just sitting around. I have a few hundred rounds of Creedmoor 30-06 ammo in Lapua brass with 167gr. Scenar OTM bullets.
So I know it is fine to just touch off the recievr face. The floating bolt head seems to me to be cast maybe investment cast? I do not know this as fact just what it looks like and feels like to me. I was thinking about lapping the lugs in for at least 65% engagument. I am a bit concered about cupping like some Savage bolt heads are known to do. I am sure I could get a comptent gunsmith to precision face the recoil lug locking recesses for me.
I understand that it is an ecconomy action but the tubular action itself seems to be very sound design. The cost savings seems to be in the bolt itself and the use of MEM parts and such. I do not alway have an action blue printed before rebarreling but since it is such a modern design and made with modern alloys it just seems like some level of blueprinting is in order to get the most out of it.
I like the idea of giving this ecconomy rifle it's best possible chance to shine. I want to use my 29" SS 1:8 barrel and this action seems like a good canadate for upgrade. Since the after market barrel is thinner than the OEM barrel it will drop back into the factory stock with zero issues.
Since the barrel is already finished out at 29" I have even considered doing 30-06 AI to extend the life of the Lapua brass I already have. I am thinking that as a 30-06 AI I could probably get 6 to 10 firing of the brass.
Just seems like an intersting build idea.
I ran into a guy that got amazing velocity out of a 32 inch 30-06AI in F-open a long time ago. While my barrel is only 29" long with the 1:8 twist I suspect that I could get a lot out of a 30-06AI with moder ELD bullets and modern powders froma 29" barrel!
This would be a hunting rifle and plinker. I like the idea of being able to re-use the factory stock which is pretty rigid and the lighter profile barrel would gurantee that even with a sling or bipod the barrel wouldnever make contact with the stock.
If I do not like it with the 29" barrel I could always shorten the barrel to get a slightly heavier contour.
That guy I ran into at an F-Open meet a long time ago claimed that he was getting 2900fps with a 30-06AI in his long F-Open 30-06AI with 190gr. bullets. I know hard to believe.
I do not care about intrinsic value of the rifle and losing money if I ever want to sell it since we are talkng about a Thompson Compass. So value vs cost is not really an concern. This is just about fun and playing around with an action everyone craps on! That is just collecting dust!
Thanks for opinions!
