Ok, have been skulking around behind the scenes trying to cobble together the last pieces of this project so that I can finish it once and for all. I have most of the hard stuff done so I figured it was time to post a thread about it.
You all remember the article in that magazine a few years back regarding the TKIV 85 and that they had been converted to 300 Winchester magnum. Well being an amateur machinist and half ass gunsmith, these are the challenges that I like to take on. I had recently purchased a SAKO TRGS in 300 WM and pulled the barrel. I bought this rifle for the action and put the barrel on the shelf. After reading the article I started measuring and it turns out that the TRGS barrel could be used with not a terrible amount of trouble.
First things first. I spun off the threads on the barrel to get the appropriate OD for the new threads and single pointed them in. Then installed the barrel into the action. Measured and cut the relief for the extractor into the barrel. This was the point that I realized I wanted a little more stability in the rifle. So I removed it, set the shoulder back and made a custom recoil lug, just like a Remington 700. Torqued everything down and voila! Checked head spacing again and did need to touch it up slightly with a chamber reamer. No big deal.
Now comes the fun part. I know that it is supposed to work and that others had done it but dang it, I didn't trust it. We have a vice on one of the benches at the range for just such occasions. So off we went. Locked the gun down in the vice with a nice string to pull the trigger. Loaded up some federal 180g soft points as that is what I had on hand. We fired the rifle 5 times at a 50 yard target the size of a pizza. Checking each time for signs of pressure, nothing. After 5 shots we went down range just for funzies to see what it had done and found a nice little clover leaf of 5 shots. Moved the paper over and shot 5 more from the vice. Clover leaf again. I know this isn't benchrest accuracy but hey, this was supposed to be fun.
I am now in the stage of looking for a stock for the rifle. Priority being an original TKIV 85 stock or something similar. While pounding the internet pavement looking for a stock, all the parts for the scope mounting have been ordered. I do not know what I am going to use for optics as of yet but hope to find something that at least appears correct. I have also ordered a biathalon harness and muzzle cover with front sight for skiing. My cabin in the mountains is regularly snowed in with drifts of 6-8 ft being common. I am waiting to get back home before continuing on the project and hoping that I can start coating my barreled action and all the other parts that I have in Moly Resin. I chose the OD green for metal parts. I think it would match nicely with the wood on the stock. Pictures to follow once I am back home and I'll give some play by play on it. Until then..
You all remember the article in that magazine a few years back regarding the TKIV 85 and that they had been converted to 300 Winchester magnum. Well being an amateur machinist and half ass gunsmith, these are the challenges that I like to take on. I had recently purchased a SAKO TRGS in 300 WM and pulled the barrel. I bought this rifle for the action and put the barrel on the shelf. After reading the article I started measuring and it turns out that the TRGS barrel could be used with not a terrible amount of trouble.
First things first. I spun off the threads on the barrel to get the appropriate OD for the new threads and single pointed them in. Then installed the barrel into the action. Measured and cut the relief for the extractor into the barrel. This was the point that I realized I wanted a little more stability in the rifle. So I removed it, set the shoulder back and made a custom recoil lug, just like a Remington 700. Torqued everything down and voila! Checked head spacing again and did need to touch it up slightly with a chamber reamer. No big deal.
Now comes the fun part. I know that it is supposed to work and that others had done it but dang it, I didn't trust it. We have a vice on one of the benches at the range for just such occasions. So off we went. Locked the gun down in the vice with a nice string to pull the trigger. Loaded up some federal 180g soft points as that is what I had on hand. We fired the rifle 5 times at a 50 yard target the size of a pizza. Checking each time for signs of pressure, nothing. After 5 shots we went down range just for funzies to see what it had done and found a nice little clover leaf of 5 shots. Moved the paper over and shot 5 more from the vice. Clover leaf again. I know this isn't benchrest accuracy but hey, this was supposed to be fun.
I am now in the stage of looking for a stock for the rifle. Priority being an original TKIV 85 stock or something similar. While pounding the internet pavement looking for a stock, all the parts for the scope mounting have been ordered. I do not know what I am going to use for optics as of yet but hope to find something that at least appears correct. I have also ordered a biathalon harness and muzzle cover with front sight for skiing. My cabin in the mountains is regularly snowed in with drifts of 6-8 ft being common. I am waiting to get back home before continuing on the project and hoping that I can start coating my barreled action and all the other parts that I have in Moly Resin. I chose the OD green for metal parts. I think it would match nicely with the wood on the stock. Pictures to follow once I am back home and I'll give some play by play on it. Until then..
