Had been wanting to play with a savage for a while to see how the whole barrel swap thing worked, and since i have also been wanting a .223 bolt gun it only seemed right to try a .223 savage.
the bulid
-started with a stevens 200 7mm-08 traded a scope for
-swapped out bolt face, shroud, and extractor for .223
***quick tip: put bolt in a clear plastic bag to take extractor apart to avoid detent ball shooting across the garage*** (got that from someone after my detent ball flew away)
-Mcgowen barrel .223, #7 contour, 1:7 twist, 20" length, recessed crown
-Sharp Shooter Supply recoil lug
-3 screw savage trigger (changed the spring and adjusted nicely)
-Bell & Carlson medalist stock, sanded down forend, and installed flush cup sling swivel studs on left side
-center feed .223 mag box to go in the stock
-oversize oe savage bolt handle
-bolt lift kit from stockade gun stocks
-Weaver ffp mil/mil 3-15x50 scope mounted with weaver 20moa base and weaver 6 screw rings.
Ordered a wheeler barrel wrench and a .223 go gauge to get the headspace right. hardest part of the whole thing was getting the factory barrel off.
Loaded up 2 10 round strings ranging from 23-25.2 grains of varget in nosler brass behind a hornady 75gr bthp.
Loaded to 1.876" length at the bullet ogive. this jumps .001" to the lands on this barrel.
Also put together a few rounds with 24 gr of varget to play with and was impressed with the results.
these are 100yd groups. both are 7 shot groups. left was quick fire and right i waited about a minute between shoots.
5 shot 300yd groups.
Only parts i'm not happy with are the weaver rings and stock. They are working fine but the top ring half seems awful flimsy and should have also put a little more time in reshaping the stock. Will replace the rings sometime. Not sure if i want to reshape the stock again or get something else
The ladder test results look like 24.5gr of varget may tighten this thing up a little more and i'll play with loading for it. I'm putting a chronograph on my birthday want list if anybody wants to get me one.
For it's first range trip i feel like i've accomplished something. Pretty neat being able to rebarrel a rifle in my garage.
the bulid
-started with a stevens 200 7mm-08 traded a scope for
-swapped out bolt face, shroud, and extractor for .223
***quick tip: put bolt in a clear plastic bag to take extractor apart to avoid detent ball shooting across the garage*** (got that from someone after my detent ball flew away)
-Mcgowen barrel .223, #7 contour, 1:7 twist, 20" length, recessed crown
-Sharp Shooter Supply recoil lug
-3 screw savage trigger (changed the spring and adjusted nicely)
-Bell & Carlson medalist stock, sanded down forend, and installed flush cup sling swivel studs on left side
-center feed .223 mag box to go in the stock
-oversize oe savage bolt handle
-bolt lift kit from stockade gun stocks
-Weaver ffp mil/mil 3-15x50 scope mounted with weaver 20moa base and weaver 6 screw rings.
Ordered a wheeler barrel wrench and a .223 go gauge to get the headspace right. hardest part of the whole thing was getting the factory barrel off.
Loaded up 2 10 round strings ranging from 23-25.2 grains of varget in nosler brass behind a hornady 75gr bthp.
Loaded to 1.876" length at the bullet ogive. this jumps .001" to the lands on this barrel.
Also put together a few rounds with 24 gr of varget to play with and was impressed with the results.
these are 100yd groups. both are 7 shot groups. left was quick fire and right i waited about a minute between shoots.
5 shot 300yd groups.
Only parts i'm not happy with are the weaver rings and stock. They are working fine but the top ring half seems awful flimsy and should have also put a little more time in reshaping the stock. Will replace the rings sometime. Not sure if i want to reshape the stock again or get something else
The ladder test results look like 24.5gr of varget may tighten this thing up a little more and i'll play with loading for it. I'm putting a chronograph on my birthday want list if anybody wants to get me one.
For it's first range trip i feel like i've accomplished something. Pretty neat being able to rebarrel a rifle in my garage.
