Keith Glasscock
Gold $$ Contributor
I started out this afternoon with a simple project, I was going to take a cast of the chamber of my 308 F-class rifle so I could figure out what reamer was used (I love this barrel, and want another like it). So off I go with Alloy 158 (cerro-safe) and my trusty rifle. Everything was going to be peachy until I slipped while pouring the metal - oops! There was even alloy rolling out of the pressure relief holes! There I was with an excellent shooting Savage knowing I was going to have to take it apart.
I did the first smart thing all day when I got out my bore sighter and documented the boresight settings - it was fortunate because every time you pull and reinstall (or re-headspace) a Savage barrel things change.
Off came the barrel and fortunately, the alloy snapped just ahead of the neck. A light push with a cleaning rod removed that. The action, however was full into the locking lugs and it took a little bit of very gentle heating to melt enough of it to get it out. A full cleanup of the locking lugs, threads, and holes ensued and I made the cast I needed with the barrel off.
Back together everything went - oops! Forgot the recoil lug. Back together everything went and threw the bore sighter back on - Surprise! the elevation had moved 3 MOA and the windage 1.5
Since I was there, I checked and rechecked everything on the rifle. I found a little wear spot on the bottom of the barrel. That really surprised me! Come to find out, the barrel was close enough to the stock that it would be just touching (or darn close to it) while sitting on the bipod. Since I was there, I adjusted the barrel channel to eliminate that problem.
Now I have to go out to the range and verify my 300 yard zero so I can shoot it at 600 on Saturday. I think I'll make up a few of its favorite load just to make sure I didn't lose the tune - what are the chances of that?
I did the first smart thing all day when I got out my bore sighter and documented the boresight settings - it was fortunate because every time you pull and reinstall (or re-headspace) a Savage barrel things change.
Off came the barrel and fortunately, the alloy snapped just ahead of the neck. A light push with a cleaning rod removed that. The action, however was full into the locking lugs and it took a little bit of very gentle heating to melt enough of it to get it out. A full cleanup of the locking lugs, threads, and holes ensued and I made the cast I needed with the barrel off.
Back together everything went - oops! Forgot the recoil lug. Back together everything went and threw the bore sighter back on - Surprise! the elevation had moved 3 MOA and the windage 1.5
Since I was there, I checked and rechecked everything on the rifle. I found a little wear spot on the bottom of the barrel. That really surprised me! Come to find out, the barrel was close enough to the stock that it would be just touching (or darn close to it) while sitting on the bipod. Since I was there, I adjusted the barrel channel to eliminate that problem.
Now I have to go out to the range and verify my 300 yard zero so I can shoot it at 600 on Saturday. I think I'll make up a few of its favorite load just to make sure I didn't lose the tune - what are the chances of that?
