Micro rifle action question

[bobcat93]

I suppose I could put this topic in different departments on our forum..but the heading is (small stuff) haha..

So I recently started cutting in my personal rifle range..made it about 120yrd and pooped out..
I can go up to 600 and still be in an extremely safe shooting distance from others
I have no machine other then my back and a few Stihl saws..
With my love of small cartridges I don't see the point of going any more then 3-400 yrds..besides even that is a completely different story then me sitting here typing..and me working in the forest..hahaha..reality and old age sucks
..(the dream is always...always..always better then reality) ...remember that young men. And apply it in your life .it will serve you well.

So..a .20 vartarg..or 22ppc may be the perfect cartridges for my rifle range..
I'm just punching paper...shooting little steel targets..and hunting small game..
But hunting in my forest is best left for the 20 or 12ga and/ or 30-30

So..if you had a single lane, 3-400yrd rifle range
Were thinking of a change barrel rifle to play target shooter with..to swap between little cartridges
What caliber and action would you build on?..

You guys ever see a savage sporter 32-20..
A little mag fed rifle..
I want to build something that size with a #4 18-20" barrel ..I would like the over all length to be about 38" ...hahaha..wouldn't that be cool
To have something like a savage sporter but built to bench rest specs..
..who makes a small action that I should consider as the foundation of this kind of rifle build?

 

[JSH]

Being a 32-20/30-20 fan for many years, I have not seen a modern bolt repeater. Savage made some way back. A 43 Winchester may be an option but they are spendy. Maybe with a lot of work a Howa mini. A 3D printer and knowledge could probably make one.
30 carbine is not far behind and no rim to deal with.
32-20 brass is tough to come by and has been for quite a while.

 

[joshb]

I bought my first Howa mini, a while ago. It’s a nice little action. I’m thinking of getting a couple more. Some guys really laud the 20 Practical, based off the 223 case. Could be interesting.

 

[SecondsCount]

I have had a few Howa Mini's. It's not the strongest action but a fun little shooter.

As far as your range goes, can you sell that timber to a lumber company and have them come in and do the clearing?

 

[Knotwild]

I would build something on the Remington 600 action. I have a fondness for them. And it might be a 6mm XC. Short enough for the 600 action to use long bullets, and long enough to give some velocity. I currently have been using a 600 in 6mm Remington to pole ax deer and that little XC would be nice as would the weight and length to get you to 400yds and past.

 

[durand mortenson]

I have had a few Howa Mini's. It's not the strongest action but a fun little shooter.

As far as your range goes, can you sell that timber to a lumber company and have them come in and do the clearing?

If you go that route, be sure you specify what you expect the end product to look like.

Mort

 

[joshb]

I would build something on the Remington 600 action. I have a fondness for them. And it might be a 6mm XC. Short enough for the 600 action to use long bullets, and long enough to give some velocity. I currently have been using a 600 in 6mm Remington to pole ax deer and that little XC would be nice as would the weight and length to get you to 400yds and past.

I did a 600 build last summer because a guy had an action for sale. Finding parts was a major headache! The Howa mini is perfectly suitable for the smaller cartridges.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

An interesting topic. I guess that the Howa is the shortest "factory" action that has been built for a while. I do have a BSA Hunter, 222, that is around the same size. Later BSA only built longer, culminating in the mostly awful CF2, which was available in only one length, kinda 30-06, but still available with short cartridges.

One friend was discussing building a 30 carbine bolt gun only yesterday - he has a swag of brass and projectiles remaining from the semi-auto ban, and a Howa is the likely choice for a platform. There's also a number of wildcats on the M1 case, which would make good varmint rounds - I know of 2 owned in NZ - a 25 Spitfire and a 22 variant.

 

[Knotwild]

I did a 600 build last summer because a guy had an action for sale. Finding parts was a major headache! The Howa mini is perfectly suitable for the smaller cartridges.

What parts did you need? I have 3 600's including an unfired 222. I'm kind of partial to them.

 

[DShortt]

If you go that route, be sure you specify what you expect the end product to look like.

Mort

You ain't kiddin. Typically those guys will rut the hell out of the property and leave the tops scattered about all over. Not to mention if something they don't want gets in the way they'll destroy it as well and leave yet another mess.

Not a fan of loggers as you can tell.

 

[joshb]

What parts did you need? I have 3 600's including an unfired 222. I'm kind of partial to them.

Oh, don’t think I don’t like them. I’d buy one if they weren’t priced into the Collector’s stratosphere.
I got an action with a bolt. The bottom metal and trigger were available, tho the trigger’s bolt release part wouldn’t function with the bottom metal. I had to cobble a 700 internal magazine to work in it. The hardest part to find was the bolt release and spring. A very kind gentleman in Texas finally came to my rescue. I made a redneck bolt release button out of some brass rod. It came together in the end but it was a process.

 

[durand mortenson]

You ain't kiddin. Typically those guys will rut the hell out of the property and leave the tops scattered about all over. Not to mention if something they don't want gets in the way they'll destroy it as well and leave yet another mess.

Not a fan of loggers as you can tell.

I get it. Most of us who worked in the industry will find little if anything, in the way of approval from the general public. Not all loggers approach timber harvesting the same. Some will care about public concerns and others not. You can meet restrictions imposed by the county, state or federal govt. and still leave what some view as a mess. You can designate how the slash is disposed depending on how heavy it is, scatter , burn or bury are options for the land owner. Trading logs for labor can be done but you need to be careful.
I would advise anyone contemplating this process to contact your county forester first.

 

[SmokinJoe]

FWIW, the Howa Mini in 223 can be made into a nice single shot varmint rifle for the 30 M1 Carbine based brass. Mine is a 22 Spitfire because I found brass, dies and reamer all available off the shelf. It performs quite well, giving 3350fps with a 40 V-Max using SW SBR-SOCOM or AA 1680. There is also the Spitwad which is shorter but loaded rounds will fit into a 30 Carbine clip if that's important. Also, JARD makes a nice trigger for the Mini if you don't care for the 2-stage HACT trigger. Picture of mine is attached.

 

[Knotwild]

Oh, don’t think I don’t like them. I’d buy one if they weren’t priced into the Collector’s stratosphere.
View attachment 1490500View attachment 1490501I got an action with a bolt. The bottom metal and trigger were available, tho the trigger’s bolt release part wouldn’t function with the bottom metal. I had to cobble a 700 internal magazine to work in it. The hardest part to find was the bolt release and spring. A very kind gentleman in Texas finally came to my rescue. I made a redneck bolt release button out of some brass rod. It came together in the end but it was a process.

That is a slick little rifle. What caliber? My guns are factory, but I bought them back when they could be had in the $350 - $400 range. I used to hang out at Kenny Jarrett's and he used the 600 to make "truck" guns. Sadly I didn't purchase one. But I had a mutual friend who had Kenny barrel and pillar bed his wife's 600/6mm with a mid weight barrel using the factory stock. I think back then he used a Hart barrel. But it doesn't look like that one you built! If I can get to work on time I plan to use my factory 600 to play "wack a doe".

Again, that one makes my mouth water.

 

[swd]

Sako L461, CZ 527, Rem 600, XP100. M7. If you want true benchrest accuracy the Borden BR and Nesika J are a Rem M7 bolt throw.

 

[joshb]

That gun is a 223 in a Mesquite stock. I made for a young girl here in Texas, as her first rifle.
You made me check out Gunbroker. There’s a nice early one in 222 for sale. $925 to start. Not much interest, so far……

 

[sandwarrior]

I suppose I could put this topic in different departments on our forum..but the heading is (small stuff) haha..

So I recently started cutting in my personal rifle range..made it about 120yrd and pooped out..
I can go up to 600 and still be in an extremely safe shooting distance from others
I have no machine other then my back and a few Stihl saws..
With my love of small cartridges I don't see the point of going any more then 3-400 yrds..besides even that is a completely different story then me sitting here typing..and me working in the forest..hahaha..reality and old age sucks
..(the dream is always...always..always better then reality) ...remember that young men. And apply it in your life .it will serve you well.

So..a .20 vartarg..or 22ppc may be the perfect cartridges for my rifle range..
I'm just punching paper...shooting little steel targets..and hunting small game..
But hunting in my forest is best left for the 20 or 12ga and/ or 30-30

So..if you had a single lane, 3-400yrd rifle range
Were thinking of a change barrel rifle to play target shooter with..to swap between little cartridges
What caliber and action would you build on?..

You guys ever see a savage sporter 32-20..
A little mag fed rifle..
I want to build something that size with a #4 18-20" barrel ..I would like the over all length to be about 38" ...hahaha..wouldn't that be cool
To have something like a savage sporter but built to bench rest specs..
..who makes a small action that I should consider as the foundation of this kind of rifle build?

I have one (32-20) as well as a 25-20. Both in a Savage Model 23 (sporter) Great 'little' rounds. So far, the best I can do with either is 200 yds.

 

[bobcat93]

I'm not a machinist, gunsmith, nore do i hold a degree in metallurgy .....just a gun loving guy.
The winchester 43.or is it the 42? . the model..
Looks just like that savage sporter ?

Wasn't those rifles produced with an action a little larger then the winchester model 69 22lr?

Thats what I'm talking about..if I could take a model 69 convert it to a centerfire...hahahaha
A light compact rifle for small cartridges
I suppose that would be done and has be done plenty with a Remington 221 fireball pistol..(I forget the model)
But boy is it ugly...yuck!...
Even using a CZ 527 ...they are pretty..but I don't think that action is worth investing more money on..and I own a few..
Any small action you try to take the barrel off is gonna twist in my opinion...so I believe they are one and done...no one engineered anything past 2005 with the thought..hey let's make it stronger so it lasts after the barrel is junk..no..its lets make it lighter say its easy to carry so they have to buy another one..
I dont know if those old winchester actions are able to be trued up with out a lot of work after the barrel comes off..or if there is enough meat on them to be worked on...or if the metal is even worth it..
I believe the products made for machining rifle actions today are at its scientific peak ..its not going to get any better and can't be beat
These guys are turning out pretty cool product in the custom gun industry.
Mainstream gun industry should be shut down...haha its looking like the American Auto industry now....personally I think S&W made a big mistake.
They look boxed in and about ready to be taken out ...but thats off topic.

I've seen old Larry Porterfield convert a rimfire to centerfire..for a 32 S&W.. hahaha
And there in lays another issue...can a small action withstand the twist of a modern cartridge like the .20 vartarg...thats alot of Umff to contain and controls in a little package
More passing thoughts.
I think I just answered my own question..
A rifle action can only be so little...I guess it's like setting a backhoe on a truck frame and asking it to perform..

 

[bobcat93]

Sako L461, CZ 527, Rem 600, XP100. M7. If you want true benchrest accuracy the Borden BR and Nesika J are a Rem M7 bolt throw.

NASIKA...MAYBE THAT IT!?..
I know some one makes a cool little repeater action..skelitonized with milled in 2pc scope mount .it was black and I believe I was reading its the shorter action they make..it also had the push button bolt release on the side of the action..
It came left hand bolt and would use AI mags

Anyone know who this may be...Alpine action ..I dont know its given me a headache...maybe I should ask in gun project or gun smiting section
Thanks for any help
It was made for short cartridge it was about 3yrs ago this action was added to the manufacturers offerings..if that helps also...
This is like tell you buddy about a movie you don't know the name of and he has to help hahaha

 

[TrapperBR549]

I'm not a machinist, gunsmith, nore do i hold a degree in metallurgy .....just a gun loving guy.
The winchester 43.or is it the 42? . the model..
Looks just like that savage sporter ?

Wasn't those rifles produced with an action a little larger then the winchester model 69 22lr?

Thats what I'm talking about..if I could take a model 69 convert it to a centerfire...hahahaha
A light compact rifle for small cartridges
I suppose that would be done and has be done plenty with a Remington 221 fireball pistol..(I forget the model)
But boy is it ugly...yuck!...
Even using a CZ 527 ...they are pretty..but I don't think that action is worth investing more money on..and I own a few..
Any small action you try to take the barrel off is gonna twist in my opinion...so I believe they are one and done...no one engineered anything past 2005 with the thought..hey let's make it stronger so it lasts after the barrel is junk..no..its lets make it lighter say its easy to carry so they have to buy another one..
I dont know if those old winchester actions are able to be trued up with out a lot of work after the barrel comes off..or if there is enough meat on them to be worked on...or if the metal is even worth it..
I believe the products made for machining rifle actions today are at its scientific peak ..its not going to get any better and can't be beat
These guys are turning out pretty cool product in the custom gun industry.
Mainstream gun industry should be shut down...haha its looking like the American Auto industry now....personally I think S&W made a big mistake.
They look boxed in and about ready to be taken out ...but thats off topic.

I've seen old Larry Porterfield convert a rimfire to centerfire..for a 32 S&W.. hahaha
And there in lays another issue...can a small action withstand the twist of a modern cartridge like the .20 vartarg...thats alot of Umff to contain and controls in a little package
More passing thoughts.
I think I just answered my own question..
A rifle action can only be so little...I guess it's like setting a backhoe on a truck frame and asking it to perform..

Winchester 43. I have one in 22 Hornet. They also made them in 218 Bee. I think that is all but I could be wrong.
You are correct that it is just a beefed up 69. There isn't a lot of information about them but I found one article that discussed it and they claimed the action was a little weak if you loaded hot. I don't push them and the rifle and brass is holding up very well. I would probably pick another action if I wanted to build something higher pressure than the Hornet.