What to do with worn-out rifle?
- Thread starter Ronbert
- Start date
I have a 1941 German model 98 mauser, with an ugly barrel but it shoots pretty darned good for a 72 year old gun, give the Savage a chance you might be surprised.
My 1951 Savage model 99 works really well with Sierra Pro Hunter 150 grn round nose bullets and 38 grns of BLC-2 or H-335 powder (1 grn below max), so work up to it.
My 1951 Savage model 99 works really well with Sierra Pro Hunter 150 grn round nose bullets and 38 grns of BLC-2 or H-335 powder (1 grn below max), so work up to it.
Some more information to set context.
My Grandfather died about 7 years ago at age 93. There aren't any of his friends left to ask about the rifle.
My parents are still alive and doing well but they have no stories about Grandfather going hunting. They don't even know when he got it though we all remember seeing it hanging from the nails in the basement in the 1960's.
The only story is him taking me out to shoot a stump once.
So there aren't any stories to be had to cherish. Wish there were.
Meantime, I've loaded up some test rounds of ammo and found some factory ammo to test the next time I have a day off and there's adequate weather to shoot in. The rush for guns and ammo has really pinched the supply of bullets to test with so the only 150 grainers I could find are round nosed ones intended for 30-30. But with some 180s, the 150s and a few 168 Matchkings I might learn something useful.
My Grandfather died about 7 years ago at age 93. There aren't any of his friends left to ask about the rifle.
My parents are still alive and doing well but they have no stories about Grandfather going hunting. They don't even know when he got it though we all remember seeing it hanging from the nails in the basement in the 1960's.
The only story is him taking me out to shoot a stump once.
So there aren't any stories to be had to cherish. Wish there were.
Meantime, I've loaded up some test rounds of ammo and found some factory ammo to test the next time I have a day off and there's adequate weather to shoot in. The rush for guns and ammo has really pinched the supply of bullets to test with so the only 150 grainers I could find are round nosed ones intended for 30-30. But with some 180s, the 150s and a few 168 Matchkings I might learn something useful.
Tom Matiska
New member
mapsjanhere
New member
I think giving it to your oldest niece for her 18th is the way to go. No cost, it stays in the family, and it will p off some anti-gunners. Restoring a $400 rifle for $250 doesn't sound like a great move.
Tom Matiska
New member
I was thinking more like $250 to restore a free rifle, but I wasn't thinking about the carrier assembly and cartiridge guide....... a $250 rebore may cost more than a $350 rebarrel.
Used scopes without grandpa's SS number are cheap enough. Engraving on butt plate is a $14 fix. Few hundred solves all problems except the SS on the action. They ain't making any more of them.
aarondhgraham
New member
I build driftwood furniture,,,
I've done this with several long guns,,,
And you don't have to demage the barrel to do it.
Or make a one-rifle display rack,,,
Mount a couple of inexpensive lamp sconces,,,
And you have a very nice heirloom decorator wall lamp.
Aarond
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kilimanjaro
New member
Look at it like it was Grandpa's favorite axe, the one that's had two new heads and three new handles, but it's still Grandpa's favorite and not to be parted with.
GunXpatriot
New member
Agree with others. There is no reason to get rid of a gun. Ever! 
Def try it out first, if not replace barrel. If you do replace the barrel, do not get rid of the original barrel. If you sell it one day, someone may want the original one with it.
Def try it out first, if not replace barrel. If you do replace the barrel, do not get rid of the original barrel. If you sell it one day, someone may want the original one with it.
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Man, you guys are a tough bunch!
The best I can hope for in a descendant is that one of my nieces will someday marry a gun guy. That would be just dandy by me but it's a long shot and hopefully 5 or more years away.
I still haven't made it to the range to see if it will shoot well or not. So the story isn't over yet. It's still winter and I shoot outdoors so it may be awhile - especially if it requires multiple trips to find a load it likes.
The best I can hope for in a descendant is that one of my nieces will someday marry a gun guy. That would be just dandy by me but it's a long shot and hopefully 5 or more years away.
I still haven't made it to the range to see if it will shoot well or not. So the story isn't over yet. It's still winter and I shoot outdoors so it may be awhile - especially if it requires multiple trips to find a load it likes.
As those of you who have messed with used rifles probably figured, the gun is just fine.
Range 50 yards- shooting seated at a bench off a toolbox padded with a rolled up mattress pad using factory Federal 150gr spire points yielded a 2 5/8" group diameter for 3 shots.
Limiting factor likely is the gold bead and peep sight against my 4" black bullseye target. Doesn't quite have the precision of an M1 Garand or M1A type sight. *
But this was good enough results for me to proceed to reattach the scope and see if I can do even better with a more precise sighting system.
I'll report back with more results.
Thanks for your advice and encouragement.
* While there I had my young friend shoot my rack-grade Garand. I showed him the High Power stance used for standing and put my 2 rounds in the black on a similar 4" target at 50 yds. Let him shoot the other 14 rounds.
Range 50 yards- shooting seated at a bench off a toolbox padded with a rolled up mattress pad using factory Federal 150gr spire points yielded a 2 5/8" group diameter for 3 shots.
Limiting factor likely is the gold bead and peep sight against my 4" black bullseye target. Doesn't quite have the precision of an M1 Garand or M1A type sight. *
But this was good enough results for me to proceed to reattach the scope and see if I can do even better with a more precise sighting system.
I'll report back with more results.
Thanks for your advice and encouragement.
* While there I had my young friend shoot my rack-grade Garand. I showed him the High Power stance used for standing and put my 2 rounds in the black on a similar 4" target at 50 yds. Let him shoot the other 14 rounds.
After spending a bunch of time trying to shim the scope mount so that the scope's bell wouldn't touch the barrel I gave up on the original scope and put on a 4X Leupold borrowed from another gun.
Finally the light dawned that I was a major error factor and I bought a front and rear shooting bag so that I was shooting from a really stable position instead of just resting the front on a padded toolbox.
My first sample of my own handloads with round nose 150 gr bullets put 5 into 3" at 50 yds.
The gun is just fine and the scope mount is fine. With this scope I can tune the load then when that's stable can go back to trying the original scope to see if it's broken or needs different mounting.
Gun kicks hard thru the steel buttplate so a LimbSaver is next.
Finally the light dawned that I was a major error factor and I bought a front and rear shooting bag so that I was shooting from a really stable position instead of just resting the front on a padded toolbox.
My first sample of my own handloads with round nose 150 gr bullets put 5 into 3" at 50 yds.
The gun is just fine and the scope mount is fine. With this scope I can tune the load then when that's stable can go back to trying the original scope to see if it's broken or needs different mounting.
Gun kicks hard thru the steel buttplate so a LimbSaver is next.
If the butt plate is in decent original condition don't put a pad on it. Keep it original and get a slip on pad for the range.
Rather than a rebore consider having the barrel's crown recut by a smith. It's fast, not expensive and may make a significant improvement in accuracy.
Keep the chamber as a .300 Sav. for now.
http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?ic=16_0&Find=Find&search_query=slip+on+recoil+pad&Find=Find&search_constraint=0
Rather than a rebore consider having the barrel's crown recut by a smith. It's fast, not expensive and may make a significant improvement in accuracy.
Keep the chamber as a .300 Sav. for now.
http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?ic=16_0&Find=Find&search_query=slip+on+recoil+pad&Find=Find&search_constraint=0
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