Well, the father son project is well on the way. For those who don't know what I'm talking about it's my nine year old son Logan's,soon to be ten Dad, he reminds me) first attempt to make the jump from 22 rimfire to center fire with shooting the Ground Hog Matches in mind. This summer he'll be in training at our Tuesday fun shoots and when he feels ready,and Dad's satisfied he's capable) I'll let him compete in his first real Match.
Rifle is a Savage 12 Varminter single shot in .223,not the new LRPV)but the laminated stock version RBRP. Out of the box the accutrigger is at 22 ounces. I had to relieve the wood around the tang somewhat since it was touching, so now we have .012 all the way around. The throating is like a custom chamber, not long at all. If I seat a 69 grain Sierra MK long and let the bolt do the final seating the OAL measures 2.380 with boat tail bearing surface junction just a bit above the neck shoulder junction. Sweet, free bore must be in the .060-.070 range. That's absolutely fantastic for a factory chamber. Don't tell the lawyers. Savage is definitely doing something right.
Even though this is a .223 I wanted it to be heavy enough to further eliminate recoil for Logan. With the factory class restrictions in mind the only legal way to add weight is with the scope, rings, and mounts. So I got to scrounging around and came up with a Warne 20MOA steel 1913 Pictanny base, and a pair of Big A**ed Max 50 Badger rings which weigh about 14 ounces on their own. Didn't need rings for a 50 BMG, but they are heavy, and can add legal weight. Digging around I mounted a Nightforce 12-42BR that came off of the short range BR rifle that I sold. Logan already knows that maybe Dad will someday give him the rifle, but I'm keeping DIBS on that Nightforce. LOL!
Threw all this together, added a little salt and pepper, and now the complete rifle weighs 13 pounds 12.5 ounces. Since he won't be carrying this around, it will be shot off a front rest rear bag setup on a bench, so not to worry.
I didn't bed the action yet, we will see how it shoots first, and if needed I'll skim coat it later. Savage does use steel pillars so I think it may be ok.
Figuring on a load of 25.0-25.5 grains of Varget, CCI 450, Sierra 69 grain Match King.
That's as far as we are, so we will keep you posted!
Danny
Rifle is a Savage 12 Varminter single shot in .223,not the new LRPV)but the laminated stock version RBRP. Out of the box the accutrigger is at 22 ounces. I had to relieve the wood around the tang somewhat since it was touching, so now we have .012 all the way around. The throating is like a custom chamber, not long at all. If I seat a 69 grain Sierra MK long and let the bolt do the final seating the OAL measures 2.380 with boat tail bearing surface junction just a bit above the neck shoulder junction. Sweet, free bore must be in the .060-.070 range. That's absolutely fantastic for a factory chamber. Don't tell the lawyers. Savage is definitely doing something right.
Even though this is a .223 I wanted it to be heavy enough to further eliminate recoil for Logan. With the factory class restrictions in mind the only legal way to add weight is with the scope, rings, and mounts. So I got to scrounging around and came up with a Warne 20MOA steel 1913 Pictanny base, and a pair of Big A**ed Max 50 Badger rings which weigh about 14 ounces on their own. Didn't need rings for a 50 BMG, but they are heavy, and can add legal weight. Digging around I mounted a Nightforce 12-42BR that came off of the short range BR rifle that I sold. Logan already knows that maybe Dad will someday give him the rifle, but I'm keeping DIBS on that Nightforce. LOL!
Threw all this together, added a little salt and pepper, and now the complete rifle weighs 13 pounds 12.5 ounces. Since he won't be carrying this around, it will be shot off a front rest rear bag setup on a bench, so not to worry.
I didn't bed the action yet, we will see how it shoots first, and if needed I'll skim coat it later. Savage does use steel pillars so I think it may be ok.
Figuring on a load of 25.0-25.5 grains of Varget, CCI 450, Sierra 69 grain Match King.
That's as far as we are, so we will keep you posted!
Danny
