"New" Cobbled Youth Rifle in the Works!

[efw]

I've got a couple of boys (7 & 9 yrs old) who are getting into shooting & hunting. The latter loves shooting my 6mm-250 and can take out 12 ga hulls at 100 yds, so I thought it was time to put together something more serious than their .22 lr/.410 switch-barrel NEF handi-rifle. While digging around by my workbench I had an epiphany...

I had an old Savage 110 action that'd been a .270 WCF originally but shot nicely w/ an ER Shaw 338-06 tube which I sold "just because". It came w/ a Weaver V9 scope that I'd long ago spray painted (rather poorly, I might add ) and I had some Burris Sig Zees in gloss as well. Using the funds from the sale of the Shaw tube I bought a Stevens 200 take-off in .243 Win, a take-off tupperware stock, and a SS lug from Jim at NSS.

The receiver is parkerized (dark gray) and the barrel matte-blued (basically black) and I had a SS nut lying around, so it looks kinda cool... add in the glossy rings & poorly spray painted scope, and it... uh... has... um... character? The plan is to glass bed the factory tupperware, trim it back to length for the boys, and let them decide together on an appropriate rattle-can scheme... probably get some matte rings at some point, too...

Anyway, this week I took it to the range a couple of times for the first little bit of load development. I've tried 87 gr VMax & 80 gr RP-PSPs w/ IMR-4350. The former hasn't worked out well at all, though I've only tried 3 loads and had 'em crammed into the lands pretty hard. The latter, however (4-shot group):

I'm happy with... I'm positive the coyotes will hate it :twisted: !

I'll keep updating this thread as the project goes on. I've got a few hundred 95 gr VLDs & NBTs. The former I plan to couple w/ some Nosler Custom brass I purchased on a whim with leftover barrel money and see how they'll do out beyond 400 yds, while the latter will be used as deer hunting bullets for the boys this fall.

Thanks for looking,

efw

 

[Elkman]

That is really nice, they will be really happy with that. Shoots well also, nIce job!!

 

[FOTIS]

Good on you! I am sure they will be loving it!

 

[gerry]

It does look cool with the silver lock nut. Nice gun, your boys will do well with it, load some 85 gr Partitions and you will be set.

 

[DrMike]

I should imagine that the boys will enjoy that rifle. Great and thoughtful gift for them.

 

[Songdog]

Too cool... can't wait until my boys (2 & 4 now) are old enough to run rounds through the .243... can't think of a better caliber for a young'un.

Side note... What twist is that Stevens barrel? Thinking, if it's a 1:10"... you may have a problem with the 87s... most 10-twists will shoot them, but I've run into an occasional one that won't... same for the 95 Berger. I've also made the switch to RE17 where a 4350 would have been used... I find accuracy is equal... but I tend to gain 100fps or so over the corresponding 4350 loads.

 

[SJB358]

Awesome work Eric! You did really well buddy! Can't beat that rifle for accuracy!

 

[muleman]

I think it was Johnny Cash who built that 56,57,58 cadillac. Way to go on the boys' rifle - sounds like it was a lot of fun - accurate too!

Scott

 

[JD338]

Eric,

Nicely done buddy.

JD338

 

[efw]

Side note... What twist is that Stevens barrel? Thinking, if it's a 1:10"... you may have a problem with the 87s... most 10-twists will shoot them, but I've run into an occasional one that won't... same for the 95 Berger. I've also made the switch to RE17 where a 4350 would have been used... I find accuracy is equal... but I tend to gain 100fps or so over the corresponding 4350 loads.

Savage runs a 1/9.25" twist, so I'm pretty sure the 87s won't be an issue. Berger suggests 1/9", but I've talked to guys who've gotten 'em shooting through 1/10s so here's hopin'! If you see me trying to trade off 300 moly'd Bergers you'll know why !

Thanks for the tip on RL17... I've got a lb for experimentin' and haven't found it exceptional in other cartridges, so I'll definately see if my experience matches yours in the .243 Win.

My plan is to dip into my 8 lber of Hunter and put that toe-to-toe w/ IMR-4350 in both accuracy & speed departments. I've had extraordinary results from it in the latter, and about average in the former.

Thanks for the compliments fellas. Now the trick is to stay on task and cut that stock down rather than just leave it since it is such a perfect fit for me :wink: !

 

[Songdog]

Yep, should be good on the twist... I'd imagine you could get the 105 Amax to shoot too, they shoot fine for me in a 1:9.125" factory Rem. barrel.

I too like Hunter, and still have a pound or so... I had a .25-06 that loved that powder with the 85-90 bullets, and a 6mm Rem. that shot 87 Vmaxs in ragged holes with Hunter. I'm a big fan of Ramshot Magnum too... it works well in the .243 with the 105 Amax, I can get close to 3100 out of a 24" pipe with MOA accuracy (or a little better) out to 600 or so.

 

[efw]

VERY disappointed with 95 gr VLDs & Hunter & RL17, as well as w/ the 87 gr VMax & RL15 & IMR4350. The former were more like "patterns" than "groups" and the best I'm getting from the latter is something like 1.5".

Gonna get the whole thing completely completed (bed the stocks, trim & paint tupperware) before I mess w/ any other test loads. I think that bedding might help tighten things up a bit.

Pretty disappointed in one sense... in another, it is good to know that this rifle won't suit my personal purposes, as that guarantees my boys will get quality time with it as theirs' and theirs' alone.

At any rate, the summer is nearly upon us so I gotta get this thing wrapped up so they have their recyclable poppin'/steel clangin' rig ready!

Going 'chuck whackin' Monday evening w/ Samuel. Gonna see if he can take one out w/ my 6-250. Will put up pics if we're successsful in getting him his first live target!