Possibly my best cast bullet group ever!

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
Hi Folks,
I have been doing some serious work on my Savage 340A 30-30 I got back in December.
With a whole lot of help from Ben I glass bedded the rifle and eliminated the barrel band ( free floated the barrel & added some lead weight to the fore end where the Barrel band was) Also a refinish of the stock was in order...I like a bit more RED color!

Then With a ton of help from Ian I was able to recut the throat in it to make it into a cast bullet shooter!
( plus I did a nice throat taper ala Ian's "pointed stick" idea!

Now all of a sudden none of my old loads nor the COL's were correct so I had to start all over ( thanks Ben)
So it was like getting the gun brand new again!

So To jump weeks ahead: I'm quite excited by the target I shot on this Friday the 13th of October!
As many of you know I shoot plain base rifle bullets at low speed ( shoulder saver) at the "Senior Distance" of 50 yds:)

OK here are the specs: I was shooting the NOE Ranch Dog 165 gr bullet that I plain base ala Ben! This was Al's version with full lube grooves ( not the original TL bullet) As alway I pan lubed these in Ben's Red & a Roll in BLL.....to seal! The load was 6.0 grains American Select ( another idea from Ben & I just love this powder) Primers were Winchester Large Pistol: My measured COL to engage rifling was 2.450"

The five shot group measured 1/4" center to center ! A first for me with cast bullets!

My 340A Sports a 6 to 24X Tasco scope on a special Receiver mounted rail ( no side scope mounts for me;))
It has been a great learning experience! Trying to make a bench rest rifle out of a Savage 340 A
Well almost but Not quite a BR rifle but I'm very happy!
165RDPBSav340.jpg

Updated%20340-a.jpg
 

Ian

Notorious member
Holy smoke! Looks like a "benchrest rifle" to me, at least the group on the target does. Congratulations on sticking with it and putting a fantastic rifle system together.
 

Jack Swilling

New Member
Sorry to ask, as this project looks like it has been in the works, but how did it shoot pre-makeover? I have seen a number of reports that the 340 is a shooter. That wood looks real good.
 

Brother_Love

Well-Known Member
Wow! Although I cannot see the pics that is some fine shooting. I have a 340 waiting to be picked up Monday. I will be looking to you guys for some advice to tune mine up.
 

quicksylver

Well-Known Member
You know ..it's not often that one gets to go on a journey and the destination turns out to be far better than we could have imagined...nice work buddy...
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
the 340's will shoot but they are generally more like 1" at 50 and 2" at 100.
the work he done cut that in half.
 

Kevin Stenberg

Well-Known Member
I am interested in the scope mount. Besides all of the other upgrades. Is the scope base only attached only to the front full round of the action? That is how I had a smith attach my scope base.
 

35 shooter

Well-Known Member
Nice JW, very very nice indeed! The rifle looks great and i like the stock color.
I do believe you found a load there that will hold up well further down range.
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
Well the Mount was suggested by Lee Roy http://www.leeroysramblings.com
He has done a lot of work with 340's He machined a special mount he designed Unfortunately after checking with my good friend who is a machinist
he told me it has to be a labor of love since if he did it it would be costly. I have the plans
So I contacted Lee Roy to see if he may have an extra to purchase ( he doesn't make them!) but he told me that he has found you can use a a Commercial Base
This are his letters to me :

"I made that base before I found a commercial one that is very close to fitting & with little modifications. In all probability you will need to take it to a gunsmith for the drilling & tapping anyway(as these guns are not drilled & tapped), so suggest you have him acquire the Weaver #60A base, install it & make the modification at the same time. Have him look at my article showing the modification."


"I understand their dia is to match the barrel, however I just looked at the gun I put the Weaver base on and there is possibly .030 clearance between the top of the receiver and the center of the base. It bears on the outer edges rather good.
It would be hard to machine that down (not a lot to get a good grip on). It would be easier to mount it & then release agent the receiver, & Bondo or JB Weld to fill the gap."
Try it & see
LeeRoy


So I got the 60 A base and change the radius with JB weld But I had to seek out a machinist to D&T the from of my receiver for 3 - 6-48 screws ( yes it is only held on by these!)
He used the factory provided screws for the just the front hole ( at the barrel / receiver mating area) He used longer screws for the middle & rear holes.
I did not machine the extra clearance on the bottom of the mount as Lee Roy suggest ( & I have no problem ejecting cartridges)
This way the mount strength has not been compromised ! Now as an addition : Since I have a williams 340 Receiver sight base on it. I'm making a elevation arm that I can drill & tap for a rear screw ( that is if I feel I need more strength) but As of now I'm pretty satisfied the way it is. I do wish the mount was steel instead of aluminum but it is very strong and there is no flexure shooting light cast loads ( which is all I want it for)

fiver hit it on the head: With aperture receiver sights and a Lyman 17a Aperture front sight I was used to getting on average 3/4 inch groups at 50 yards after the work I did ( except the mounting of the scope) I got a few 3 in one holes and ten shot groups around 5/8 inch but they were far and few between. However the big question to myself was "Did I make it better?"
And with the guidance of the great folks here I have to say yes! Thanks go out to Ben and Ian.......but I have to say I gain a little bit of knowledge from all of you here at this great site!
The thing that is different about this place is when folks speak you can take that to the bank! The knowledge here is outstanding!
I would like to thank Brad for pulling us all together!
Jim
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
BTW You will see I take my gun work to Machinists....Not gunsmiths! In my area there are no "real gunsmiths" Just guys that mount scopes on factory drilled receivers and put on slings!
Very sorry state......I trust myself more to D&T a receiver then I would trust them! There is one guy 1 hr away but he builds custom rifles and has a job wait time of 6 months
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
Another thing I want to mention is that this Plain Base mould now drops .312" with my bhn 12 alloy I did not size these bullets. If I had, I know I would have pulled a skirt! So I let the rifle do the work ! and it seems to know better then me!
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Want ever happened it wasn't an accident. That is a fantastic group.
You did write down the load, right? I hope so, I tend to forget and am horrible at record keeping like that.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Well done, JW.

I have the same model and caliber of rifle, but need to find a pocket full of round tuits.

Bill