What would you do?

[K22]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

For a long time I had misgivings about the Tikka recoil lug. But there were so many positive reviews on this rifle that I took the plunge. I have since purchase several more. They all are outstandingly accurate rifles, out of the box with tailored reloads.

My poor range buddy stressed out about his "horrible" looking Savage 6.5 Creedmoor barrel after he purchased a bore scope and started examining the bore. Yet the rifle shot sub moa with factory ammo! The poor fellow began a "scorch earth" cleaning campaign that opened up his groups.

If the target tells you all is well, believe it!!!

 

[ebb]

In the movie the Good , the Bad and the Ugly. Tuco was the Ugly. Tuco said "that is the problem with gringos when it is time to talk, talk, but when it is time to shoot shut up and shoot. After the good advise I got here with my ugly purple gun, I am going to shoot. Enjoy the mutt for what it is and when it has to come apart by all means fix it. Don't make a problem where there is none!

 

[jamesdmock]

I want to know where I can go to a yard sale and find something like that!

I did not get it at a yard sale, but a friend did. He got action, stock, and some more junk. He bought a used 6 PPC barrel for it. I traded for it after seeing how well it shot. I added a new 6 Dasher barrel and had a friend at the local body shop paint it. If I had a mill, I would probably correct the inletting, but the action has a thick tang and the function is not hurt. This rille won the first three matches in which it shot...two w/ PPC and one shown in the picture. I have had it for 1.5 years, but shoot it very little now. I have used it to test scopes and bullets. Occasionally, I shoot a 300 yard match and a 600 yard match with it.

 

[jamesdmock]

Send it on up here

Dusty you have done great by the Mutt. Dusty chambered the Dasher barrel for me and it shot well from the get-go. It won the 600 yard match soon after I got it from Dusty. PS- Dusty's uncle Billy chambered a fire-form barrel for the Dasher and guess what.... it shoots almost as well as the regular barrel. Those Stevens "boys" do good work.

 

[Ccrider]

All depends on which crowd you are trying to impress. If you want to impress by having the prettiest, shiny new gun, then by all means fix it and paint it. If you want to impress by kicking ass shooting small targets, leave it alone.

If you got to have it all, take a chance, fix it and paint it. My bet is it will still shoot small, and it may shoot better.

 

[Bill K]

Leave it as is, until you need to re-barrel, then doing a better bedding job.

 

[AlNyhus]

James, if it bothers you....redo it. -Al

 

[jimmymac]

I wouldn’t change it.

 

[perazziguy]

Well James, coming from the world of trapshooting, we can't leave well enough alone. So change it until it don't work so good...

 

[jamesdmock]

Well James, coming from the world of trapshooting, we can't leave well enough alone. So change it until it don't work so good...

A local gunsmith once told me that I could take a rifle shooting 1/4 inch groups and bed it, free float the barrel and get it to a 1.5 inch shooter and be satisfied. LOL

 

[boltfluter]

Do not touch or change anything! It's even more fun to win with an "ugly duckling ". Not that it looks bad to me at all. Wait till this barrel is dead and then fix it if you want. Me, I would be happy and go kick some a$$!
Paul

 

[ebb]

There are many "things" we do when building a rifle or loading cartridges that we assume help, some most likely do nothing , others may be harmful, but how many actually help? Cleaning primer pockets may be one of those things that does nothing. Calfee and his 22BR guns, and he knows how to make them shoot, But I used to read his posts and i don't think he even knew why some of the stuff he did worked. If only someone could teach me to look down my and Woodies Hawkeye and pick a hummer every time. There are just so many things we don't know and things we think we know and don't, that when you get one that shoots, maybe its time to leave it alone and appreciate it as is and enjoy it with all its warts.

 

[AlNyhus]

James, if that was here, I'd put a bit of rear bias in the newly lowered inletting.

It makes a difference....hint, hint.

Just sayin' -Al

 

[perazziguy]

A local gunsmith once told me that I could take a rifle shooting 1/4 inch groups and bed it, free float the barrel and get it to a 1.5 inch shooter and be satisfied. LOL

I get a kick out of watching guys and gals with adjustable ribs, stocks choke tubes and all kinds of gizmos. Miss a target or two and change something or break a great score and then...change something. Always looking for better, me included. That is a dandy shooter you have there, James.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

Consider yourself lucky and leave it alone. You don't win matches with a beautiful rifle!

 

[Bronsin]

I just got a rifle back today that my sense of perfection just wouldn't let me live with any longer. it's a great shooting rifle, but the stock was designed to be bolted in and the barreled action was glued in. Crooked I might add. Who knows if it was level or not, and the trigger screws were completely hidden so fixing a malfunctioning unit in yet another rifle would have been impossible.

I took it to Tom Meredith when I picked up another rifle to have it worked on. The previous owner told me he had oiled it, but I didn't know the extent until Tom took it apart. There was enough oil in the bedding that it was only a matter of time before it came apart. Now it's completely finished and balanced, ready for a scope. One occasion where I was glad I didn't just leave it alone.

 

[BartsBullets]

Follow your heart James!

Bart

 

[jamesdmock]

I think that I will leave it as is. As it is now it shoots both the Dasher and the PPC better than I can guide it. Thanks all for the replies.

 

[jamesdmock]

I think that I will leave it as is. As it is now it shoots both the Dasher and the PPC better than I can guide it. Thanks all for the replies.View attachment 1412030

I have received some comments on my antiquated rest and bags. I have used this set-up since 1993, and I have no plans to change. I did add the Dunrud sighter cam about 20 years ago.

 

[DaveTooley]

Just an observation after seeing the rifle. The barrel at the end of the forearm would stay in the same location and by lower the action would change the angle during recoil. Might not change anything but then it might.