The saga of the Stiller Action "Mutt"

[jamesdmock]

Some time ago, my friend (Ricky Reeves) bought a rifle at a yard sale. It was a Stiller Cobra and it was UGLY. It had some paint showing and some fiberglass and it showed at least three colors. He put it aside and later on bought a used Krieger 6 PPC barrel for it. This barrel was chambered for a Panda, but it fit the Mutt perfectly.

The amazing thing about this yard sale rifle is that it shot great. Ricky won a couple of matches with it and I saw its potential and traded for it. Since I shoot mainly 300 and 600 yards, I decided to put a 6mm Dasher barrel on it. Dusty Stevens chambered a 7.5 twist Krieger for it and I took it to the next 600 yard match. It has been a long time since I have won a match, but the Mutt carried me to victory. This was the third consecutive victory for this unlikely tack driver. With this new lease on life, I decided that the Mutt needed a facelift. Joey Jarrett of Young's body shop agreed to paint the Mutt (at a very reasonable price) and I chose a predawn gray color and it looks SOOO much better now. Pictured below is the Mutt with a IOR Terminator and a 5x-50X Delta scope that I am presently testing.

 

[jamesdmock]

Some time ago, my friend (Ricky Reeves) bought a rifle at a yard sale. It was a Stiller Cobra and it was UGLY. It had some paint showing and some fiberglass and it showed at least three colors. He put it aside and later on bought a used Krieger 6 PPC barrel for it. This barrel was chambered for a Panda, but it fit the Mutt perfectly.

The amazing thing about this yard sale rifle is that it shot great. Ricky won a couple of matches with it and I saw its potential and traded for it. Since I shoot mainly 300 and 600 yards, I decided to put a 6mm Dasher barrel on it. Dusty Stevens chambered a 7.5 twist Krieger for it and I took it to the next 600 yard match. It has been a long time since I have won a match, but the Mutt carried me to victory. This was the third consecutive victory for this unlikely tack driver. With this new lease on life, I decided that the Mutt needed a facelift. Joey Jarrett of Young's body shop agreed to paint the Mutt (at a very reasonable price) and I chose a predawn gray color and it looks SOOO much better now. Pictured below is the Mutt with a IOR Terminator and a 5x-50X Delta scope that I am presently testing.

I do not know who made the stock. Does anyone have an idea of whose stock is this?

 

[INShooter]

James, I can’t say for sure but it kind of looks like an early Borden. I had one very similar.
Steve

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Looks an awful lot like a borden to me. As to the winning with it id say it has a lot to do with the indian, but ill take some credit on it cause it turned out good. I told you it was going to be a shooter!

 

[urbanrifleman]

Where the heck do you live where a benchrest rifle is on the table for sale at a yard sale?

 

[jamesdmock]

Where the heck do you live where a benchrest rifle is on the table for sale at a yard sale?

Rural Louisiana

 

[snert]

The only thing at yard sales around here are old shoes and baby strollers.

 

[ebb]

I had a 1989 chevy painted that color, so now you can change the name from Mutt to Caprice.

 

[1bamashooter]

Just out of curiosity how much does a yard sale BR rifle cost?

 

[jamesdmock]

Just out of curiosity how much does a yard sale BR rifle cost?

I am not sure what he got in the "package" but I think there was a barrel and perhaps a Weaver scope. The package cost $700.

Looks an awful lot like a borden to me. As to the winning with it id say it has a lot to do with the indian, but ill take some credit on it cause it turned out good. I told you it was going to be a shooter!

Dusty, I appreciate the confidence, but this old Indian is about worn out. Ricky won with the 6 PPC barrel at the shorter ranges and I won a 600 yard match with the Dasher. The action is not glued in, but it seems to have good bedding. Thank you for the great chambering job and thank Krieger for such great barrels. Also, the Mutt has an intimidating affect on my shooting partner, Kent Bennett. For years we have had informal matches at his personal range and the loser must buy lunch. I shoot the Mutt, a CZ 453 .22 LR, a S&W Model 41, and a S&W model 19 .357. Kent has some very accurate firearms including a SAKO p94 .22LR that is hard to beat. We vary the course of fire. Kent does not have a CF match rifle, but he has some great hunting rifles. For the pure hunting rifle, he shoots at 100 yards and me at 200. If he brings out a custom barreled hunting rifle, he must shoot at 150. The Mutt has not lost one of these informal contests.

 

[snert]

$700???? Dang!

All I seem to ever see is Zebco reels and boxes of paperback romance novels. I guess its different in Louisiana fer sure

 

[jamesdmock]

Some time ago, my friend (Ricky Reeves) bought a rifle at a yard sale. It was a Stiller Cobra and it was UGLY. It had some paint showing and some fiberglass and it showed at least three colors. He put it aside and later on bought a used Krieger 6 PPC barrel for it. This barrel was chambered for a Panda, but it fit the Mutt perfectly.

The amazing thing about this yard sale rifle is that it shot great. Ricky won a couple of matches with it and I saw its potential and traded for it. Since I shoot mainly 300 and 600 yards, I decided to put a 6mm Dasher barrel on it. Dusty Stevens chambered a 7.5 twist Krieger for it and I took it to the next 600 yard match. It has been a long time since I have won a match, but the Mutt carried me to victory. This was the third consecutive victory for this unlikely tack driver. With this new lease on life, I decided that the Mutt needed a facelift. Joey Jarrett of Young's body shop agreed to paint the Mutt (at a very reasonable price) and I chose a predawn gray color and it looks SOOO much better now. Pictured below is the Mutt with a IOR Terminator and a 5x-50X Delta scope that I am presently testing.

I took the Mutt out this morning with the PPC barrel installed (Used Krieger w/14 twist), This barrel was purchased by Ricky for $65. We have a 300 yard match next Saturday and I have thought about trying a 6 PPC at that distance. The PPC barrel has worked well for Ricky when he owned the Mutt, so I thought I would try it. After shooting a few "junk" rounds at 100 yards to get scope zeroed, I cleaned the rifle and headed to my friends 300 yard range. I adjusted the Delta Stryker up 2.5 MOA from that 100 yard zero. I fired two of the "junk" rounds to foul the barrel, and then proceeded to shoot a three shot group with some rounds loaded on 1/26/22. These featured 29.8 gr. N133/ 205M Federal and Bart's new Avenger 68 gr BT seated to just touch the lands. The picture shows the results of those three shots. I QUIT after that and vowed to save components. The Mutt is an amazing yard sale find, but the driver is not all that great. James

 

[STS]

I'm pretty sure that the stock is a Lee Six made SPG model. I had 2 of those and this stock is identical to the ones I had. Good stiff stock.

 

[Bocephus]

I took the Mutt out this morning with the PPC barrel installed (Used Krieger w/14 twist), This barrel was purchased by Ricky for $65. We have a 300 yard match next Saturday and I have thought about trying a 6 PPC at that distance. The PPC barrel has worked well for Ricky when he owned the Mutt, so I thought I would try it. After shooting a few "junk" rounds at 100 yards to get scope zeroed, I cleaned the rifle and headed to my friends 300 yard range. I adjusted the Delta Stryker up 2.5 MOA from that 100 yard zero. I fired two of the "junk" rounds to foul the barrel, and then proceeded to shoot a three shot group with some rounds loaded on 1/26/22. These featured 29.8 gr. N133/ 205M Federal and Bart's new Avenger 68 gr BT seated to just touch the lands. The picture shows the results of those three shots. I QUIT after that and vowed to save components. The Mutt is an amazing yard sale find, but the driver is not all that great. James

Pi$$ on the pedigree, that's some dawg you got there mister!
And a slightly green(envy) "congratulations!"

 

[jamesdmock]

Maybe I have raised the expectations for the Mutt too much. Tomorrow, I am going to try it in a 300 yard BR match. We shoot four targets for score only on an IBS 300 yard target. I will shoot 29.8 gr. of N133/205M with Bart.s 68 gr. Avenger BT seated to just touch the lands. The barrel is a 14 twist Krieger 4-groove. I will continue to evaluate the Delta Stryker 5x-50x HD riflescope. I don't doubt the Mutt's ability to shoot a high score, but have some doubts about the old trigger-puller. I debated shooting the Dasher barrel on the Mutt, but decided to go with the PPC. I hope the wind is kind to those of us shooting the mouse cartridges. LOL The picture below was the Mutt's first outing and it was at 600 yards with the Krieger 7.5 twist Dasher barrel.

 

[jamesdmock]

Maybe I have raised the expectations for the Mutt too much. Tomorrow, I am going to try it in a 300 yard BR match. We shoot four targets for score only on an IBS 300 yard target. I will shoot 29.8 gr. of N133/205M with Bart.s 68 gr. Avenger BT seated to just touch the lands. The barrel is a 14 twist Krieger 4-groove. I will continue to evaluate the Delta Stryker 5x-50x HD riflescope. I don't doubt the Mutt's ability to shoot a high score, but have some doubts about the old trigger-puller. I debated shooting the Dasher barrel on the Mutt, but decided to go with the PPC. I hope the wind is kind to those of us shooting the mouse cartridges. LOL The picture below was the Mutt's first outing and it was at 600 yards with the Krieger 7.5 twist Dasher

The above pictures show the sad story. I started with a clean barrel and the Mutt posted a 50 but I managed to miss the x dot. I again cleaned and shot a similar target a little lower in the ten ring. I did not clean between targets 2 and three. My first shot on target 3 went wide left and I corrected and shot another 9 but to the right this time After another 9, I managed a couple of 10's. WHAT A MESS I MADE ON THE 3RD TARGET. For the 4th and final target, the conditions got much worse with increased wind velocity plus mirage. I cleaned the barrel well and decided to use the mirage for the final effort. As one can see, the Mutt shot well for three of the four targets. Disregard the bottom picture with four targets. Today's match are shown on the four pictures above.. I am not sure but I think Ole Donald Trump had something to do with the bad third target. Well, according to CNN and MSNBC he caused all of the other problems.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Great shooting. Kinda gives the 100rd before cleaning guys a vision into why we clean between every target

 

[slm9s]

What make/model are those scope base adaptors? (from dovetail to pic?)

 

[Dusty Stevens]

What make/model are those scope base adaptors? (from dovetail to pic?)

They are BKL. (He may not be here for a bit)

 

[jamesdmock]

They are BKL and I had to epoxy them to keep the bases from sliding on the slick anodized surface of the Stiller action. The Delta scope is heavy and even the recoil of the Dasher is enough to cause movement. PS-The Delta Stryker 5x-50x is very impressive. I had no trouble seeing my bullet holes even after the mirage reared its ugly head.