Building a "Sweet Rifle"

[DeBee]

Ah, Fall has arrived and I have already found my winter project...

I'm looking to build a "sweet rifle" on the Sako Forester action I've located-- I believe it is the Pre Garcia type with the Mauser type bolt shroud in .308 length and bolt face. Although I haven't seen it, I'm told there is some light rust pitting around where the stock met the metal and the blue is quite worn.

I'm thinking .243, .260, or 7-08 for a walking varmit/deer dual role rifle with a 22" to 24" barrel of yet unknown contour with a front sight (hopefully Sako if I can find one and the Sako peep) snuggled into a Richard's Microfit Old Classic fancy walnut stock cut for a Neider buttplate. I want steel, wood, and leather for this project.

I'm looking for a light recoil so the Neider plate doesn't eat my shoulder, smooth handling, quick mounting, well balanced rifle not necessarily a featherweight. Should be able to do 1 MOA with selected factory ammo. This will be my "practice" rifle to keep my eyes sharp throught the seasons.

Any "Rifle Designers" out there are welcome to help select barrel make, metal, contour, length and caliber as well as rust removal/refinish suggestions and scope mount selection/location and scope choice. Any general Pre Garcia Sako rifle building comments welcome.

Any pictures/links of other's Sweet Sakos would be appreciated...

[This message has been edited by DeBee (edited September 08, 2000).]

 

[Kernel]

I'd suggest the .260 Rem for a good varmit/deer combo. .243 is great for large varmints a bit light for deer beyond moderate range. 7-08 is optimal for deer, to heavy for varmints IMO. There are many excellent 6.5mm bullets to choose from, 85 - 100gr for varmint and 120 -140gr for deer, all with the good sectional density & ballistic coefficients that make the 6.5mm such a wonderful choice. Though I don't pay much attention to factory ammo I'd think there would be more .243 factory fodder to choose from than the other two.

For barrel a barrel I'd pick sporter weight or one step up, I think they call it a #2 contour. A heavy barrel won't make a rifle more accurate, it just allow you to shoot longer strings before heat buildup affects accuracy, not a concern for a walkabout rifle. When you bench shoot just take your time between shots, two or three minutes, and it's shoot as tight as a heavy barrel. -- Kernel

 

[labgrade]

I'd disagree with ".243 light for deer" - of course, it depends on what kind of deer. For big ol' up-north Canada deer, the comment may be right on. For your average bean-field-type North American whitetails/muleies - the .243 will shine - with proper bullet placement. Bigger ones should have a bit bigger bullet construction to punch through the heavier bone, etc. & a varying angles.

I've one standard load in my .243 (that I've used since ~'64) - an 87 gr Hornady SP which is used for every varmit and all deer to date (for that caliber/rifle).

Each has been a one-shot kill & dropped on the spot (OK, deer within 10 feet - varmits stop sooner).

BTW, my acient Rem 700 ADL .243 has a knurled aluminum butt-plate which has yet to cause a problem at the bench = pretty light recoil & I'm a wimp re recoil.

 

[DeBee]

Upon further inquiry, the action is .308 length and has a 23 1/2" .243 barrel attached complete with front site... which the gunsmith was going to remove for me... Provided the bore isn't too shot out, I think I'll leave it in the original .243

The .260 Remington interests me but in order to conserve cash for a good scope and some light metal work...

It's a straight barrel, not the "pencil" barrel so the weight will be more and I'm shooting for a 7 1/2 lb. total weight rifle. Am I dreaming? I'm going to keep the stock on the trim side like an English express rifle but fancy wood is heavier than plain lumber...

I saw a Shelhammer stocked Oberndorf Mauser .30-06 at the gunshow today which was a work of art. Despite being a long action, the stock was trim and 'small'- for lack of a better word- no extranious wood- I'm going to use that as my inspiration... Made certain other stocks look like clubs...

Pictures, advice, and links appreciated.

 

[Kernel]

labgrade, If the .243 isn't on the "light" side, what is? Hunter's have been debating the merits of the .243 for nearly 40 years. I do consider it a viable Whitetail cartridge, it's probably one of the 5 most popular deer cartridges in the lower 48. Though lots of deer have been killed with the .22 Long Rifle, but I'm sure we both agree that adequate deer cartridges don't start at the .22 LR. IMO the .243 Winchester represents where the best deer cartridges begin - they go up from there and peak out somewhere around the .30-06 (which could start a whole other argument). That's my reasoning for considering the .243 on the "light" side. I certainly wouldn't call it middle of the range or on the heavy side, would you? The .243 was initially conceived as a combo deer/varmint round, I think it makes for a better varmint round. For the large varmints like coyotes it's optimal, which is what I use my .243 M77V for. Personally I like a handloaded 6.5x55 in a modern action for deer which ain't exactly a huge leap in performance over the the .243. But that's just me, you've been hunting with your .243 since '64 I certainly respect and acknowledge that and wish you many more successful seasons. -- Kernel