Restoring a lost cause

[Branxhunter]

Remember this one?

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An old L461 varmint .223 I bought cheap for a donor action for my .20-222 project. Part of the attraction was the beautifully light trigger, the Hillver bridge mount and 30mm rings, and that poor bashed up stock which I would have no qualms in modifying.

Two seperate gunsmiths looked at the action and declared it was beyond saving due to very worn bolt lugs. What to do?

Well first thing was to find another donor, which was done with a sporter .222 in much better shape found in the LGS.

While the worn barrelled action (did I mention that the barrel has no rifling for the first 1-2 inches) languished in the safe that poor old stock was sent away to a couple of stock duplicators (inc Cameron Hatcher) to allow them to cut a pattern.

Once the stock I shot a few groups with the worn out .223 barrel, and the equally poor sporter .222 barrel from donor #2. Both shot just over an inch at 100m which I found extraordinary given their condition. The mental cogs got turning- perhaps with even a half decent barrel this thing might shoot OK?

Marcus

[Branxhunter]

I posted on AV looking for second hand barrel options and Chappo offered me a Tobler HV stainless fluted barrel chambered in .223 and threaded for a L461 for $50 to Ivy's Army - the deal was done.

I screwed the barrel in, checked the headspace (had to created a false shoulder on the cases using a 6mm sizing button followed by a .22 button), and added a Hillver bridge mount, rings and Tasco World Class PLUS 3-9x44 from the parts box.

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Next loaded 8 cases with a starter load of AR2206h and 55gn Sierra SPs, and got this group at 100m.

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Happy days. Worth putting a some time into this thing, even just for a bash around lender rifle. I had polished the action, bolt and floorplate for rebluing but didn't want to sink money into a gunsmith reblueing job. A tube of Birchwood Casey liquid blue was bought and used over a couple of nights, with pleasing results.

Marcus

[Branxhunter]

My attention then turned to the stock. Added a grind to fit butt pad, steamed out most of the dents, reshaped the butt slightly to take out the deep gouge and rounded heel. Had an oil stain turn up on the LHS that I couldn't get out. Have applied 5 coats of Tru-oil so far and this is what it looks like.

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So with a bit of scrounging and elbow grease this basket case rifle is now looking and shooting OK without having spent a great deal of cash - a very satisfying outcome.

Marcus

[Branxhunter]

And a few more from this morning.

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Marcus

[Camel]

You gotta be happy with the way that turned out,

[Waldo]

Looks good Marcus and the L461's are kinda sweet

[LoneRider]

very nice job mate.
well done.

[223 fanboy]

Nice work Marcus

[trevort]

So if the bolt lugs are worn too much does that mean they may not lock in and when worn enough the bolt handle is the only locking surface and if that shears off the bolt becomes a rear firing projectile ?


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[Camel]

So if the bolt lugs are worn too much does that mean they may not lock in and when worn enough the bolt handle is the only locking surface and if that shears off the bolt becomes a rear firing projectile ?


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I think its more an excessive head space issue Trev, something you would know all about with a melon like yours.

[B4408]

That looks great, well done. Being worn out is relative to what you want it to do with it. There must be a lot of target barrels that still have some useful life like that one.

Bruce

[mick_762]

There must be a lot of target barrels that still have some useful life like that one.

Bruce

Yep there are, i have 2x 30" ones at home now. 1:10 30 cal and a 1:9 7mm


Great looking rifle Marcus, very pleasing result from a budget built.

[New to 223]

Your patience is to be admired.
A great effort.

With all the different surface coatings for wood and metal now available, nothing is really beyond repair.

I'm sure if the gun could talk. It would say a big thank you.

[Branxhunter]

So if the bolt lugs are worn too much does that mean they may not lock in and when worn enough the bolt handle is the only locking surface and if that shears off the bolt becomes a rear firing projectile ?


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I think its more an excessive head space issue Trev, something you would know all about with a melon like yours.

Still plenty of bolt lug thickness left Trev, just that the rear faces have worn on a slight angle (I.e more at the bottom than the top), with a resultant increase in headspace. There is also some loss in primary extraction.

I think the gunsmiths both probably thought that it is not worth sinking $500-600 into a new barrel and a further $200-300 in gunsmithing on a well worn action.

Marcus

[Branxhunter]

Loaded up some more loads with AR2206H and 55gn Sierra Gameking SPs, being 4x each of 25.0, 25.5 & 26.0 gns. This thing seems to like the top charge. The two lower loads were still less than 0.6" for four shots.

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Make you wonder what Chappos other barrels are like.

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Marcus