AusVarmint

My start on the first budget build in about 15years- I don't expect it to be done in a few months- so if you're in a rush- "rack off Normie" as they say. Wont be any of them million dollar scopes, exotic actions, nor a flash trigger will be seen here. I don't even know if I'll keep this updated. Anyways.

Still thumping pigs with the 454- but them dogs have been staying back a bit (must be missing them too often with the bow I reckon) cheeky buggers.

Usually it's not a problem if i have the 223- but with a fair caliber jump in the safe, and a self-justifiable excuse for a new toy- means the 22lr will have to wait. I went on the snoop for a 25-06/Rob (whilst a tad heavy for dogs- it is a fair compromise without catching an even worse case of wrong gun syndrome).

Ideally I wanted- fairly flat shooting to around 300-400yards+ with not much buggerising around and guessing bullet drops.

The current place I am shooting on- is one of them Hot'N'Cold affairs- which usually goes, "just seen a huge mob of pigs- when can you come out?" Or "Oh golly gosh- a dog- we are in plague portions now" type of affair followed a bunch of "Nope, sorry mustering, calves," blah blah blah..

Suits me fine- as lately I am working 6days a week. Nice guy, great workers on the place- but not the sort of place that I can go out for a weekend and camp, hunt, and cull. I won't bitch about it as my other 2 favourites places are still "off limits" and still up for sale. Anyways, back on subject.

There seems to be a severe lack of midrange calibers if you don't like 243s #hack spit# and don't want to pay $900 for a 300dollar rifle.

Bitching to a mate down Toowoomba way, resulted in a phone call from him a few days later. And so started the thoughts (again) of changing barrels, maybe a Rob, a 25-06, or maybe a 35Whelen (always been a fan after I stumbled across a bloke shooting camels and donkeys- he raved on about sliced bread).

I know, I know- it's caliber creep vs smile factor with a fair splash of curiosity..... But my curiosity has always held one eye on the 35Whelen. And I do have the Territory block and all. Damn it.

A few days passed, a couple of calls- deal done- cops did their bit- and a box of someone else's problem was promptly in transit with Aus'take'ya'bloody'time'lia Post.

Opened the box and it looks to have been an ex-vehicle rifle and not a paddock basher. It appears to have recently been shortened a few inches and chamber reemed out to fresh twirley bits. Crown is still the original.

Barrel was undercoated and painted- which has since been removed. What a job.
Fore and rear sights have been removed- holes fill with white chewing gum before painting.
Sling stud holes- more chewing gum filing them in.
No rust- but a few pock marks but just bluing damage.
Bluing is not bad on the action. The barrel has a lot of the bluing gone.
Bolt face is pretty good.
Stock was "sanded" back to bare timber. I've thrown 2 coats of clear acrylic over it as a protectant until I get my act sorted.
Old sight Hilver/Lynx/Tasco mounts. Currently slapped a Tasco 4x32 on it. Probably step up to a fixed 6x/8x later on. Depending on what I can find. That old Tasco was on my 22H then the 22LR for a few years. No doubt it'll drop its' guts on the first shot.
I introduce Blondie-
Savage 110- 270Win- 5" long actioned, Flat back, blind magazined, piece of project for $300.

The "chewing gum" in the stock, and sight holes in the barrel appears to have Araldite. Drilled it out on the press, and then cleaned the threads with a tap.
Sling swivels are installed.
Found some brass plugs (predamaged for me) laying around in the gun box- installed into the barrel sights holes until I can find factory Savage 110 sights. That's the progress so far. Overall it's better than I hoped and has the right bolt face for whatever I eventually decide.

Looking forward to shooting it if ever I can stop working for a couple of days.

Tex.

Sounds like a very worthwhile project mate. Good luck with it, a 25-06 or Roberts will be a good dog gun.

Oh, would you mind either getting a spray tan or leg coverings if you put up more photos.

At least they primed it before the paint. They could have just hit it with the $2 stuff.

Sounds like an interesting project. Nothing more fun that restoring something...

Hey- them's is sexy legs! Or so my desperate, soon to be needing glasses, wife says : )
Damn, why did it have to be you that noticed! It's still summer up here mate.

The 257Rob is one of those cartridges that everyone likes- rarely a bad word said- but few ever own one. But I am biased to the 25-06.

No plans have been set in stone yet- and with 250x 270 cases on the way- I am not in a rush.... Yet.

Tex.

Nothing wrong with having white legs mate, mine very very rarely see the sun, the Good Lord knew that my legs were coming around one day, that's why he invented long pants. There are some things that shouldn't be seen.

I had a Roberts for a fair while, I really liked it and should never have moved it on, but we all do silly things every now and then. Those Savage 110 actions are sposed to be pretty good, from what I have read, if memory serves me well, the only complaint that I heard of them was having the bolt release behind the bolt, or something like that. Keep us updated as you go.

Nice project Tex and like it as a budget on a savage.

Those long actions avail plenty of length. My 358 on the stevens is almost the same action but round back.

Are you going to chase a 25 cal tube or shoot the 270 a bit?

Ryan

Thanks Ryan- yeah I've been peeking at your project mate and following it. You're right about the action being similar.

In that unboxing photo of yours- I had to look twice. But umm, err- yours has no nuts!

Must be a girl one


I believe being the round back means you have a smaller thread in the barrels than mine.

Currently- I stress that point- the plan is to shoot it a bit as a .270 and get a feel for it- while keeping an eyeball open for a barrel or 2. But who knows when that will be- I am not in a rush.

A trigger was on the list as every bloke complains about the "non accutrigger"- but this one has been played with by someone else. It isn't gritty, breaks well enough, is not as heavy as I expected, so I reckon it can stay unless I stumble onto a bargain.

Being the 270, and IF I go 25-06, I can just run the 270 shells and resize them down. So it makes sense- unless I go to the 257Rob then all bets are off.

Cheers,
Tex.

I know you are talking 25-06 and there is nothing wrong with that, but have you considered the thinking mans Ackley, the 280AI. 7mm pills, flat shooting and more punch than the 30-06.

I restored/resurrected an old station rile and had it rechambered to this calibre and I love it. I take it on those trips where I could be shooting anything from cats to camels.

you could save yourself some time and buy the bargain 257wby on used guns

trevort wrote:you could save yourself some time and buy the bargain 257wby on used guns

Trevor, you would be the last person that I could think of that would do things the easy way.

trevort wrote:you could save yourself some time and buy the bargain 257wby on used guns

Both are good buys but to get the most out of the cartridge they really need another 2 inches on the barrel.

It is probably trevorts rifle

No Dave. Would you believe, I did it the hard way. But I got the extra two inches

TexNAss wrote:Thanks Ryan- yeah I've been peeking at your project mate and following it. You're right about the action being similar.

In that unboxing photo of yours- I had to look twice. But umm, err- yours has no nuts!

Must be a girl one


I believe being the round back means you have a smaller thread in the barrels than mine.

Currently- I stress that point- the plan is to shoot it a bit as a .270 and get a feel for it- while keeping an eyeball open for a barrel or 2. But who knows when that will be- I am not in a rush.

A trigger was on the list as every bloke complains about the "non accutrigger"- but this one has been played with by someone else. It isn't gritty, breaks well enough, is not as heavy as I expected, so I reckon it can stay unless I stumble onto a bargain.

Being the 270, and IF I go 25-06, I can just run the 270 shells and resize them down. So it makes sense- unless I go to the 257Rob then all bets are off.

Cheers,
Tex.

Round back flat back all same barrel threads unless you have the larger target/lap action and the odd was I believe has the larger barrel. Both mine are eunuchs

My target action in 6.5 X55 and this one.

Thinking this one will be nicknamed the angry green eunuch lol.

Beauty of your long action is you have many choices on cartridge.

Will see how the 270 barrel shoots. Have fun.

Ryan

trevort wrote:you could save yourself some time and buy the bargain 257wby on used guns

I like the look of that Wetherby Deluxe stock. That's nice. Too damn nice.

But at a grand it's outside of my budget. And there's some nice shiny Norma brass to go with it too.

DrG- the 280(A)Imp is an interesting bit of kit. But the idea of running heavier projectiles holds little value to me currently. If I was territory side then yeah it'd make a lot of sense with donkeys and them "humped horses" (just for you Mark) always being present. But not for dogs and the smaller-medium pigs.

The 270 is more than adequate as it is I reckon. Still thinking the 25Cal family is on the money.

Tex.