What do you do to your rifles...

3500 Views 17 Replies 15 Participants Last post by jlh820, Nov 9, 2012

Darkangel

Discussion Starter · Oct 23, 2012

I just recently purchased my first Savage rifle the other day, the MK II in .22, and LOVE it.. I decided to go looking for a less expensive way to squeeze some impressive accuracy out of my rifle, rather than mod out my 10/22 until there wasnt anything factory left on it..lol The savage fit the bill well.. inexpensive, very accurate, feels good in my shoulder.

That got me to thinking.. What does everyone (you guys/gals) tend to do to your rifles to make them your own, or to make them better for you? (mods, customizations, ect)

I think it will be interesting to see what things are most common

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

Revoliver

· #2 · Oct 23, 2012 (Edited)

I just put on sights that I like. I read and talked to others all about all the customization that can be done to guns, and in the end, while I really enjoy all the possibilities, for me it comes down to good sights.

About the only thing extra that I would do is sand the barrel bed a bit to if not free float the barrel, then to at least ensure that the barrrel's bed is smooth and even. I feel anything above and beyond that is either the factory's problem/fault, or above my skill level.

Edit: I should add that I will also change out grips as well (on handguns) if I wish.

Darkangel

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 23, 2012

With my 10/22 all I did was the bolt hold open mod, and slap it into an ATI plastic stock (and put a scope on it).. fully factory outside of that..

As far as my Savage MK II, put a scope on top, perfection!

LimaCharlie

· #4 · Oct 23, 2012

The only thing I do to my rifles is add optics or change the sights. The only thing I do to my handguns is add night sights or change the grips out.

I don't understand people playing Barbie with their guns. I see people changing out parts with the latest tacticool parts until they are no longer reliable. If a gun isn't reliable and accurate out of the box, then I don't want it.

ditto1958

· #5 · Oct 23, 2012

I wipe mine down with a soft cloth with a little Ballistol on it.

Seriously, I do change the sights if I don't like them.

North country gal

· #6 · Oct 23, 2012

The only thing I have done to my Mark II Classic is add a Nikon Prostaff Rimfire 150 BDC scope to it. The good or bad with a Savage MKII, depending on how you look at it, is that they don't really need much added to them to get their maximum potential accuracy. Good thing, too, because, other than a spare magazine and a scope of your choice, not a lot of add ons available.

My 10/22s, on the other hand, just never seem to be finished. Always one more add on I'm considering and, heaven knows, there is no shortage of 10/22 accessories out there. The 10/22 is definitely the all time champion add on gun.

Darkangel

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 23, 2012

how do you like that scope for your savage? I have a tasco varmint 6-24X42mm on mine so far, and loving the extra zoom for target shooting.. can really see what your aiming at.. but the nikon sounds pretty sexy...

Tiger Ruger

· #8 · Oct 23, 2012

My 10/22 I upgraded the bolt buffer, auto bolt release, bipod, and scope right when I got it home. Then I upgraded the stock for comfort issues. After suffering wrist fatigue I upgraded the trigger group for lighter pull and better accuracy. I also upgraded to a bull barrel for accuracy as well. Nothing was put on my rifle for "tacticool" reasons. My upgrades were for 50% comfort and 50% accuracy. Out of the box the 10/22 was pretty good and I was satisfied at the time with what I purchased.

North country gal

· #9 · Oct 23, 2012

Darkangel said:
how do you like that scope for your savage? I have a tasco varmint 6-24X42mm on mine so far, and loving the extra zoom for target shooting.. can really see what your aiming at.. but the nikon sounds pretty sexy...

Love the scope. The BDC gives me the option of several holding points without having to touch the elevation adjustments. That's a big plus at our range because I can move to various stations with targets at varying distances and not have to worry about holdover or under. The Nikon Spot On site is also very helpful. Makes for a nice package.

krwada

· #10 · Oct 23, 2012

Oh ... this is a very easy question.

The 1st thing, is to add some optics or a better sight. The second is to tune up some hand loads for the rifle. Every rifle, or firearm for that matter, needs either tuned up loads or match grade ammo. Since match grade ammo is $$$, I prefer to load up some rounds and test them. I get:

1. Ammunition that is hand tuned for that firearm
2. Lots of ammo
3. Lots of enjoyment from shooting and loading

gunjunkie

· #11 · Oct 23, 2012

I put a Volquertson hammer on my Remington 597, that reduced the trigger pull by about half and also feels much smoother. Now at 50 yards I can keep a beer can dancing till the mag runs dry.

Wrangler John

· #12 · Oct 23, 2012 (Edited)

What do I do?

Depends. With Ruger Single Actions I disassemble them and do a complete action cleaning and polishing, and using trigger jigs, a trigger job. I prefer the pull weight somewhere around 2.5 lbs. With the Redhawk and Super Redhawk, the springs are replaced with Wolff kits, the action cleaned and lubed and tested for function. Sight inserts may be changed, or a scope installed, depending on use.

I found the Savage line of rifles one of the best values on the market today. My Savage 93R17 BTV in .17 HMR proved to be an accurate and pleasant shooter. With a spare Leupold VX-2, 6-18x 40mm AO scope I had laying around, it makes a good short range varmint rifle. This is one that I removed from the box and used as is, no other modifications were necessary.

My other Savage rifles are homemade using bare Savage Precision Target Actions, prefit barrels from Brux, Pac-Nor or Shilen. Stocks are laminated wood from Sharp Shooter Supply or Savage. The barrels are threaded and chambered by the vendors, so all I have to do is install and headspace. Each rifle has several barrels in different cartridges and interchange with all the actions, some by swapping bolt heads. I never received an Erector set as a kid, so assembling my own rifles scratches that old itch. Each of these rifles shoot under .5" due to the quality barrels. It's a real fun addition to my hobby.

The latest acquisition was a Ruger 10/22 Takedown. It had a few problems, in that the barrel clamp was loose and wouldn't accept the barrel when tightened. That was corrected with a bit of fitting. It had problems with misfiring due to firing pin misalignment, which was corrected with a new pin, and the trigger was replaced with an aftermarket drop-in. Now it's a fun little rifle that is ideal to toss in the truck when traveling.

Now I am into the AR-15 scene, I consider the AR a giant 10/22. My current project is building a straight pull bolt action upper, to avoid California's loony Assault Rifle law, and determine the accuracy potential of the AR platform in a non-semiautomatic configuration. It is being built on a Fulton Armory side cocking flat top upper, using a Hart Barrel without gas port, chambered for .204 Ruger. If it pans out, the ground squirrel population will rue the day.

So that's what I do, just trying to fend off retirement boredom by keep my mind busy.

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trigger creep

· #13 · Oct 23, 2012

I stoned the action on my Savage MKII and polished the bolt up in the same process, that made it "mine".

scooter.maclusky

· #14 · Oct 24, 2012

Darkangel said:
I just recently purchased my first Savage rifle the other day, the MK II in .22, and LOVE it.. I decided to go looking for a less expensive way to squeeze some impressive accuracy out of my rifle, rather than mod out my 10/22 until there wasnt anything factory left on it..lol The savage fit the bill well.. inexpensive, very accurate, feels good in my shoulder.

That got me to thinking.. What does everyone (you guys/gals) tend to do to your rifles to make them your own, or to make them better for you? (mods, customizations, ect)

I think it will be interesting to see what things are most common

Out of the box stock my Savage MK2 BRJ is the most accurate rifle I own. Can't think of any mod that would make it better.

RAC55

· #15 · Oct 24, 2012

Since a lot of my guns are C&R or antique, I keep them original as possible and just do repairs if I acquire them with a problem. Even some of my more 'modern' guns that are not produced anymore...same thing. The only changes I've made is to my Mk II Government Target by putting a set of birch thumb rest grips on it, and putting a flash suppressor on my Mini 14 (and some high cap mags for the Mini 14 & 30).

jmvargas

· #16 · Oct 24, 2012

so far i have only put sling swivels/sling and a scope(bushnell elite 4200 6-24x40) on my new 10/22 carbine..

planning to put other stuff to improve performance--ie--accuracy primarily--and perhaps
some other smaller stuff but would like it as close to to original as possible..

next is surely going to be a trigger job and a good suppressor..

attaduck

· #17 · Nov 9, 2012

A customization (yes a "z") I like is to inlay my initials on the rifle butt. Involves a little work but if done correctly it really gives it that "Personalized" look. (Put brass inlay of your name or initials or dates, etc.)

jlh820

· #18 · Nov 9, 2012

Darkangel said:
I just recently purchased my first Savage rifle the other day, the MK II in .22, and LOVE it.. I decided to go looking for a less expensive way to squeeze some impressive accuracy out of my rifle, rather than mod out my 10/22 until there wasnt anything factory left on it..lol The savage fit the bill well.. inexpensive, very accurate, feels good in my shoulder.

That got me to thinking.. What does everyone (you guys/gals) tend to do to your rifles to make them your own, or to make them better for you? (mods, customizations, ect)

I think it will be interesting to see what things are most common

I find that paying for them usually works for me.

But seriously folks, (as I get, anyway), I don't do too much to guns. My rifles I try to put good optics on them, which can cost more than the rifle. I've changed out the sights on my XDm9c 3.8", because the factory Springfield "Trijicon" night sights, really aren't Trijicon night sights. They're Springfield sights with Trijicon inserts. NOT the same! Anyway, I changed those out to a set of Trijicon green/orange HD night sights. Major improvement!

On pistols, I'll swap out a plastic guide rod for a solid stainless steel, IF I'm looking to reduce muzzle flip.

The main thing is practice, practice, practice. That's the best way to spend your "extra" money.

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

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