Author Topic: Savage scout project (Read 10401 times)

First Shirt · « **on:** September 17, 2016, 06:06:50 pm »

As mentioned in the scout rifle thread, my granddaughter (a.k.a. Senior Minion #1) has been plotting to steal my Savage sorta-scout rifle ever since I let her shoot it last year. Recently, during the slack period of a hog hunt, she mentioned that (a) her rifle is a M-11, as is mine, and (b)the holes to mount the B-Square scout scope mount were already in place.

Thus, The Project. I'm going to re-install the ramp front sight (possibly with a better post, if I can find one) that went away when I cut the barrel to 20". Then a WGRS rear ghost ring sight. Then, the B-Square mount, to which I plan to attach a Burris 2-3/4X LER scope.

Looks like the only tricky part will be drilling and tapping the hole for the front sight screw, which may get contracted out, since my warranty only covers disassembly.

Don't think I'm going to try to convert it to a DBM from the blind box mag, since she seems pretty comfortable with the current configuration, and can unload the magazine safely.

Have I missed anything? I'd really like to have this done before deer season starts in mid-November.

WeTheArmed.com

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #1 on:** September 18, 2016, 12:16:16 am »

Have a Gunsmith cut the barrel, recrown and put in a new front sight. Wont cost much and you'll get great results.
The Burris is a good option too. Burris has been impressing me a lot lately. Last 4 years they've been doing awesome.

First Shirt · « **Reply #2 on:** September 18, 2016, 10:56:29 am »

I had already cut the barrel and recrowned it when I put it together for her four years ago. (Part of the whole "make it HER rifle" thing, along with a minion-length laminated stock, and Rifle Basix trigger kit.) The problem is that the drilled/tapped hole for attaching the front sight base was in the two inches I cut off, so I'll need a new hole for reattaching the front sight in it's new location. Not something that I would approach with a happy heart, which is why I'm planning on sub-contracting that bit to professionals.

First Shirt · « **Reply #3 on:** December 27, 2016, 08:52:57 am »

Well, it turned out pretty well, I think. Was a bit of a rush to get it ready before her birthday, and didn't get any pictures, so when they were down for the holidays, I managed to sneak it away long enough to get this one.

It's not a for-real "Scout" rifle, since it doesn't make the weight limit, but it's a very handy little utility rifle, and she shoots it pretty doggone well, and she's even getting pretty good with the ghost ring rear.

This is what it looks like:

And I'm pretty proud of how it turned out. Come to think of it, I'm pretty proud of how she turned out, too!

MTK20 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 27, 2016, 09:04:54 am »

mqondo · « **Reply #5 on:** December 27, 2016, 10:33:01 am »

That looks awesome.

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #6 on:** December 27, 2016, 04:53:32 pm »

Freaking LOVE it.

coelacanth · « **Reply #7 on:** December 28, 2016, 12:37:47 am »

Nice.

First Shirt · « **Reply #8 on:** December 30, 2016, 04:29:38 pm »

The Minion and I would like to thank you all for your kind words regarding her sorta-Scout rifle. She's tickled to death with it, and wouldn't trade it for a solid gold monkey!

Kaso · « **Reply #9 on:** December 30, 2016, 04:56:54 pm »

Quote from: First Shirt on December 30, 2016, 04:29:38 pm

The Minion and I would like to thank you all for your kind words regarding her sorta-Scout rifle. She's tickled to death with it, and wouldn't trade it for a solid gold monkey!

I'm sure that would depend upon the size of the solid gold monkey. I mean, a small gold monkey, No, but what if it was a rather large one?

MTK20 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 30, 2016, 05:08:04 pm »

Quote from: Kaso on December 30, 2016, 04:56:54 pm

I'm sure that would depend upon the size of the solid gold monkey. I mean, a small gold monkey, No, but what if it was a rather large one?

First Shirt · « **Reply #11 on:** December 30, 2016, 05:48:26 pm »

When I originally set the rifle up for her (she was 12 at the time) I replaced the noodle stock with an aftermarket laminated wood stock, cut it to 12.5 inches, and cut the barrel two inches. The factory trigger was crappy, and I could make it less crappy, but not un-crappy, so I replaced it with a Rifle Basix trigger group. When all was said and done, I put a note inside the stock, under the recoil pad, that said "This rifle, a Savage M-11, serial number G-XXXXXX, in caliber 7mm-08, was assembled for (her name) by her Papa, who hopes that she enjoys shooting it as much as he enjoyed putting it together for her." Couple of years ago, I saw the note, in a picture frame, hanging on the wall of her bedroom.

I'm thinking that it would have to be a really BIG gold monkey!

MTK20 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 30, 2016, 06:25:41 pm »

Quote from: First Shirt on December 30, 2016, 05:48:26 pm

When I originally set the rifle up for her (she was 12 at the time) I replaced the noodle stock with an aftermarket laminated wood stock, cut it to 12.5 inches, and cut the barrel two inches. The factory trigger was crappy, and I could make it less crappy, but not un-crappy, so I replaced it with a Rifle Basix trigger group. When all was said and done, I put a note inside the stock, under the recoil pad, that said "This rifle, a Savage M-11, serial number G-XXXXXX, in caliber 7mm-08, was assembled for (her name) by her Papa, who hopes that she enjoys shooting it as much as he enjoyed putting it together for her." Couple of years ago, I saw the note, in a picture frame, hanging on the wall of her bedroom.

I'm thinking that it would have to be a really BIG gold monkey!

Aww, now that's not playing fair. My heart has never been able to stand sentimentality, it always melts

. Something tells me that seeing that note in a frame was worth the cost of the whole rifle and then some.

First Shirt · « **Reply #13 on:** December 30, 2016, 06:37:53 pm »

Seeing that note in the frame was worth the world to me! I'd give up every gun I own if it would make sure she got to keep that one!

MTK20 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 30, 2016, 08:01:05 pm »

coelacanth · « **Reply #15 on:** December 30, 2016, 10:44:23 pm »

Amen.

Kaso · « **Reply #16 on:** December 30, 2016, 11:28:39 pm »

Quote from: First Shirt on December 27, 2016, 08:52:57 am

It's not a for-real "Scout" rifle, since it doesn't make the weight limit...

I wanted to go back and touch on this. It has been said before, the scout rifle concept is more 'guidelines' than hard-fast rules. Of all the parameters, I feel the weight restriction is the most negotiatiable. To be honest, short and light rifles kick hard. Maybe not the 7mm-08, but it will still be worse than with a full-size rifle in the same caliber. For a younger shooter, particularly a young lady, having less recoil would seem advantageous. Enough so that I would consider a bit of extra weight to be a fair exchange.

First Shirt · « **Reply #17 on:** December 31, 2016, 07:42:04 am »

Weight has always been the hardest part of the criteria to achieve. Even the Steyr Scout, blessed by Col. Cooper himself, doesn't quite make weight with all accessories attached. But for me, personally, I'm more concerned with balance and handling characteristics than I am with weight. If six or eight ounces is a problem, I probably need to step up my exercise program, rather than whittle away at the rifle. Some folks feel differently about that, and will spend time and money trying to shave the last one or two ounces off of the rifle, often to the detriment of the balance and handling.

Her rifle's balance point is two inches in front of the trigger guard, and all up, with scope, sling, ammo cuff and loaded magazine, it weighs 8 lbs, 2 oz. With full power loads, the recoil is quite manageable, even for a tall-but-skinny girl, and she shoots it well, and likes to shoot it. So while I agree with the original design criteria that Col. Cooper laid out for the scout rifle, I'm not married to it, and I won't discard a good rifle just because it's a little overweight.

Just my $0.02.

coelacanth · « **Reply #18 on:** December 31, 2016, 11:24:18 pm »

Well said, and as Kaso pointed out, short, light weight rifles have considerable recoil and muzzle blast so something that falls outside the parameters Col. cooper laid down is not necessarily a bad thing - especially if the shooter can make it perform well.

First Shirt · « **Reply #19 on:** January 14, 2017, 01:49:30 pm »

And now the little twerp tells me that she's been playing with the BDC on her new scope. Since I've got the same scope on my sorta-Scout, and mine doesn't have any sort of BDC, I asked her what she'd been smoking.

Turns out that she's discovered that using the thick part of the lower vertical crosshair as sort of a German post, that she's about 12 inches high at 100 yards, which should have her about 3 inches high at 300 yards.

We still have to get to a range to prove this, but initial tests at 100 yards are positive.

(Gotta love a smart-a$$ Minion, don't you?)

MTK20 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 14, 2017, 02:02:06 pm »

Quote from: First Shirt on January 14, 2017, 01:49:30 pm

And now the little twerp tells me that she's been playing with the BDC on her new scope. Since I've got the same scope on my sorta-Scout, and mine doesn't have any sort of BDC, I asked her what she'd been smoking.

Turns out that she's discovered that using the thick part of the lower vertical crosshair as sort of a German post, that she's about 12 inches high at 100 yards, which should have her about 3 inches high at 300 yards.

We still have to get to a range to prove this, but initial tests at 100 yards are positive.

(Gotta love a smart-a$$ Minion, don't you?)

First Shirt · « **Reply #21 on:** January 14, 2017, 03:17:32 pm »

Quote from: coelacanth on December 31, 2016, 11:24:18 pm

especially if the shooter can make it perform well.

I've personally seen her, with that rifle, off sandbagged position on a solid bench, and under near-as-dammit perfect conditions, deliver a 3-shot group that measured 0.738" CTC. At 200 yards. I'd be hard pressed to match that, with anything I own.

So, yeah, I'd say she can make it perform well.

coelacanth · « **Reply #22 on:** January 19, 2017, 09:03:13 pm »

Sweet.

Its gratifying when you raise them right. The dividends are sometimes a while coming but always worth the wait.

First Shirt · « **Reply #23 on:** January 19, 2017, 09:28:27 pm »

If I had set out to design, from the ground up, the perfect granddaughter, I don't think I could have done as well She's my hunting buddy, my running buddy (it's her fault that we do any mud run that we can get to) and, despite the difference in ages, she's my friend. And I am the luckiest SOB you will ever meet because of it!

I had almost quit shooting, had gotten to the point that even practice with my CCW piece was a chore, when she asked me if I'd teach her to shoot, and take her hunting. That was five years ago, and since then, I've reloaded more rounds, spent more time afield and on the range, and had more fun than I had in the last twenty!

Along the way, I've acquired three more Minions, mainly because of her. They keep me busier than a one-armed paper hanger with crabs, cause me to spend a bunch of my toy fund on reloading components and non-resident licenses, and help me keep the freezer full of free-range pork and venison.

Between The Boss, who tolerates my foolishness, and The Minions, who encourage it, I'd hate to see what happens when I pass on, because I think that this is all the Paradise I can handle!

coelacanth · « **Reply #24 on:** January 19, 2017, 09:31:32 pm »

Live long and prosper.