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[Steve Blair]

I have been preparing for an 8 May Palma at Camp Pendleton and performed a little butchery on one of my 12F Savages. I slabbed the forend sides, installed a Karsten cheek piece and a short section of Freeland-style rail, cut the bag riding section parallel and, wait for it, painted it yellow. Really yellow. The whole, ugly mess makes weight by 1½ oz.

The rifle is SSS-prepped with an Evolution trigger, bedded and a 30" Shilen .308 barrel installed. It shoots 185 Berger BT-LRs nicely. The cold bore shot was high to the left, the next four grouped well. Aggregate of the following eight groups was ~.350". I think the color provides a competitive advantage. Anyone that looks at it in the sun will spend the next twenty minutes blinking away the spots. I gotta remember to wear the Ray-Bans.

 

[270guy]

I think it looks good, but don't take it fishing - looks a little like a banana . If it shoots, who cares what it looks like :. Thanks for sharing.
cheers

 

[ChrisNZ]

Dunno if the banana joke will travel too well.

For those this went over the top with, bananas on board a ship are considered extremely bad luck, esp if you're fishing. Dates back to the sailing ship scurvy days when bananas prematurely ripened then rotted other fruit on board.

Chris-NZ

 

[memilanuk]

I like the relieved area for the rear bag... how'd you do that cut? Bandsaw and some file work, or just a whole lot of time with a rasp and file?

If all those ammo cans in the first pic are full of ammo, you're my hero...

 

[Taildrag15X]

Looks like a nice plan on the butt, might just have to butcher one of mine.

 

[GermanS1]

Steve, it looks great and shoots great! Best of luck at the match, let us know how it works out.

 

[Steve Blair]

I like the relieved area for the rear bag... how'd you do that cut? Bandsaw and some file work, or just a whole lot of time with a rasp and file?

If all those ammo cans in the first pic are full of ammo, you're my hero...

Monte,

I used a reciprocating drum sander and a shop-built fixture to hold the stock. The angle is 15° per side and about .5" bottom flat for my older, narrow Edgewood bag. I had to do a bit of hand sanding with a rubber block, too. The drum sander leaves characteristic ripples no matter how smoothly the work is moved.

The ammo cans contain brass and primers. The ones with the ammo are in the storeroom. South Bay Rod & Gun Club is frequented by many Border Patrol and law enforcement officers, who shoot for free. In return, they leave brand new, empty ammo cans for the club. They are sold for $5 each to raise a little revenue. A good deal from all angles. I love .50 ammo cans. They are one of the great, twentieth century inventions.

 

[Taildrag15X]

sleepygator,

Thanks for the measurments saved me guessing!

Love the fact the BP & LEO's leave them for you, most of time it's just a mess after they leave our Range, without their garbage.

 

[jonbearman]

That rifle is bitchin like the deuce coupe in american graffiti. I really like what you did with it instead of black with some stupid skulls everyone puts on them these days.It is unusual and beautiful.Keep up the good work.

 

[15Tango]

I think that's an awesome Savage, done right.

 

[nhm16]

Since I'm a Longhorn I'd do mine in Burnt Orange but otherwise that's awesome.

 

[FroggyOne2]

Looks to me like you did a really nice job.

 

[Dgd6mm]

WOW....!!!!! That sure is NICE.

 

[Samdweezel05]

I think it looks awesome. Nice work

Since I'm a Longhorn I'd do mine in Burnt Orange but otherwise that's awesome.

How about Atomic Orange?

 

[Dgd6mm]

WOO - HOO, that will work.

 

[nhm16]

How about Atomic Orange?

That's a thumbs up!

 

[jonbearman]

Is your orange a car color and did it come in spray cans or was it sprayed with a gun?

 

[Samdweezel05]

Is your orange a car color and did it come in spray cans or was it sprayed with a gun?

It was used on the 07-08 corvettes. I sprayed it from a gun, base/clear.

 

[Steve Blair]

The color is one coat?

 

[Samdweezel05]

The color is one coat?

No, sorry. It's a base coat then clear coat I was trying to say. There is also 3 coats of a high build filler primer and a coat of sealer under the color. All of that is over some Urethane glazing putty used to fill the small holes from an out of the mold stock.