A little gunsmithing on a hot afternoon

[McMXi]

The rail was made by Warne and the rings were Weaver. Rail and rings were aluminum.

I don't know if the rail and rings were anodized, but typically they are, and we add a note to every drawing that says something to the effect of "all dimensions apply after anodizing". I can't say I've ever encountered .040" error with rings, bases or rails on a properly built receiver, and that's with products from Accuracy International, Spuhr, Nightforce, LaRue Tactical, Badger Ordnance, Daniel Defense, EGW, Seekins, Warne, Talley, Leupold, Kimber, Remington and a bunch of others.

My favorite rings (by far) that mount to a Picatinny rail are Nightforce X-Treme Duty and I use them on a number of builds. I've also had good results with aluminum rails from EGW. Obviously those recommendations might help someone wanting to buy rings and rails/bases and not wanting to or able to machine their own rails. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

X-Treme Duty™ - Ultralite™ Rings (Titanium/Alloy)

Explore precision optics trusted by the world's best hunters and tactical shooters. Nightforce riflescopes offer unmatched clarity, durability, and accuracy.

www.nightforceoptics.com

Heavy-Duty Picatinny Rails (Steel & Aluminum) | EGW Guns

Equip your rifle for extreme conditions with a Heavy-Duty Picatinny Rail from EGW. Precision-machined in the USA from solid steel or 7075 aluminum. Find the ultimate mounting solution.

egwguns.com

 

[biketopia]

@McMXi that's pretty wild from Savage! I have a 93r17 bolt action .17HMR that has been a fantastic little critter gitter. The scope mounted up easy peasy and has been one of the most lethal items in the safe. I did win a 110 in 30-06 in a raffle, but I never mounted a scope on it, ended up trading it in on something else after it just sat in the safe.

 

[McMXi]

@McMXi that's pretty wild from Savage! I have a 93r17 bolt action .17HMR that has been a fantastic little critter gitter. The scope mounted up easy peasy and has been one of the most lethal items in the safe. I did win a 110 in 30-06 in a raffle, but I never mounted a scope on it, ended up trading it in on something else after it just sat in the safe.

It was Savage's lack of concern or accountability that pissed me off more than the fact that the receiver was out of spec. I've worked in design and manufacturing for decades and mistakes will be made, but it's how those mistakes are resolved that matters the most.

But truthfully, there are just too many things about Savage rifles that have kept me away years after that bad experience, but everyone has their idea of what's good and what's not, and there are plenty of options out there to keep most people happy.

 

[Yooper]

@McMXi that's pretty wild from Savage! I have a 93r17 bolt action .17HMR that has been a fantastic little critter gitter. The scope mounted up easy peasy and has been one of the most lethal items in the safe. I did win a 110 in 30-06 in a raffle, but I never mounted a scope on it, ended up trading it in on something else after it just sat in the safe.

I have the same rifle and the barrel is very accurate! However, the trigger and magazines are junk. Install a Rifle Basics trigger and do this fix for the magazine and you will have a top notch shooter!

 

[RCW]

.22-250 is my favorite for varmints and have posted same before.

Look forward to your finished project.

 

[biketopia]

I have the same rifle and the barrel is very accurate! However, the trigger and magazines are junk. Install a Rifle Basics trigger and do this fix for the magazine and you will have a top notch shooter!

Thanks!! I will agree that the mags leave a lot to be desired. A bunch of us at work all picked up one when the local sporting goods place was being bought out and everything was on super clearance.

 

[biketopia]

It was Savage's lack of concern or accountability that pissed me off more than the fact that the receiver was out of spec. I've worked in design and manufacturing for decades and mistakes will be made, but it's how those mistakes are resolved that matters the most.

But truthfully, there are just too many things about Savage rifles that have kept me away years after that bad experience, but everyone has their idea of what's good and what's not, and there are plenty of options out there to keep most people happy.

I can totally understand that. I'm also far from an advanced shooter or have any "high-end" firearms in the collection, under 200 yards is about all I'm ever going to see unless I travel out west.

 

[Yooper]

Touching 90 degrees today with dew points in the 70's. Great day to stand in front of the mill with the a/c blowing on me!

I cut a relief slot on the bottom of the rail for the ejection slot on the action.

Then I clamped the action (with the barrel this time) in the vise and using an edge finder determine the center.

Then using a pointed edge finder I rotated the action until the mount screw holes were centered with the table locked on zero. I thought this would be the best method but I would soon find out it wasn't.

Mounted the rail block on the action and torqued down the screws. Now I'll let it set there for a bit to relax in place so to speak.

 

[Yooper]

So now I'm at the point of sweeping the surfaces with an indicator to check my setup. I check for parallel with the barrel and its perfect!

But when I sweep the block I notice that the holes offset from the indicator.

So I put a .25" dowel in a collet and check for alignment with the counterbored hole.

Uh oh! This isn't cool. So I use the dowel to center the hole and start checking everything with indicator. I also check the block with the edge finder and it is still off center at the top by .010" So I start looking for another surface to establish center.

 

[Yooper]

So I decide to try the flats for the bolt lugs on the bottom.

I sweep this with my indicator and get these to zero on both sides.

Then I check the block for center with the edge finder and it is .001" within center. Bingo! I also sweep the top just for the heck of it and it is only about .004" from end to end. Time to start machining.

I did the roughing of the surface and will return after letting it relax to start the final.

 

[McMXi]

So I decide to try the flats for the bolt lugs on the bottom.
View attachment 157993

I sweep this with my indicator and get these to zero on both sides.
View attachment 157995

Then I check the block for center with the edge finder and it is .001" within center. Bingo! I also sweep the top just for the heck of it and it is only about .004" from end to end. Time to start machining.
View attachment 157996

I did the roughing of the surface and will return after letting it relax to start the final.
View attachment 157997

A fun project for sure! Are you going to machine two cross slots for the rings only, or slot the entire rail like a standard Picatinny rail?

Cylindrical receivers always were, and still are, more about economy than performance. Obviously there are more modern variations that focus on compatibility with the aftermarket, but still not the best design for a mass-produced product.

I have four rifles that have flat-bottomed receivers that are bolted and epoxied to the aluminum chassis at the factory, so clearly not focused on economy but rather performance under adverse conditions.

Ruger has done a good job with their second generation American. The way the receiver locks into the stock is really good, particularly for such a cheap, mass-produced product.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Very interesting thread.

I can't comment but I like reading/learning.

Keep up the good work sir!

 

[Yooper]

A fun project for sure! Are you going to machine two cross slots for the rings only, or slot the entire rail like a standard Picatinny rail?

View attachment 158023

Cylindrical receivers always were, and still are, more about economy than performance. Obviously there are more modern variations that focus on compatibility with the aftermarket, but still not the best design for a mass-produced product.

I have four rifles that have flat-bottomed receivers that are bolted and epoxied to the aluminum chassis at the factory, so clearly not focused on economy but rather performance under adverse conditions.

Ruger has done a good job with their second generation American. The way the receiver locks into the stock is really good, particularly for such a cheap, mass-produced product.

It will be picatinny. As many as I can fit between the mount holes.

 

[Yooper]

Finished machining the profile and the slots.

Then I mounted the scope and checked for its position relative to center. Came in at .003" which was way better than I anticipated!

I checked it by sweeping back and forth across the tube and noting where it hit the same number on the rise. I found this to be more accurate than the dwell at the very peak of the tube. This one is done!

 

[Yooper]

Went to the range today to shake down the new setup. Didn't take much to dial in the scope and this is my ten shot group at 100 yards.

This is the best the gun has shot but I have to caution myself on drawing any conclusions. I just bought a Garmin chrono and I discovered my reloads are terribly inconsistent. Got some work to do there. The clarity of the scope was definitely better but I have no way to test this other than my perception.

In the end, it was a fun and maybe worthwhile experiment.