Custom smokeless Savage .45cal

[ATH]

I started with a Savage .243Win package gun from Gander Mountain and added an HS Precision varmint stock, 26" 1:22 twist PacNor 45cal barrel, Rifle Basix trigger, 20MOA base, quick release rings, Bushnell 6500 Elite Tactical scope, custom breech plug to use shortened 308 cases as primer carriers, and a single shot follower.

It throws 200gr Shockwaves at 2770 fps with a duplex load of AA5744/H322. First load I tried, and I'm sticking with it.

On to 300 and perhaps 400 yds next weekend, if I have time.

 

[Bill Maylor]

This is COOLgun). You have B@##RAINS. This is very impressive. Please tell us more. Bill Maylor..

 

[ATH]

This is COOLgun). You have B@##RAINS. This is very impressive. Please tell us more. Bill Maylor..

What else do you want to know? I haven't shot it a lot yet, just over the chrono and that one group. I use Federal Large Rifle Magnum primers. I used QR rings so I can access the barrel nut easily, switching back to the factory 243 barrel if I want to shoot coyotes. Although that little sporter barrel looks a little silly in that big varmint stock!

 

[Bill Maylor]

I just have never herd of any one doing something like this. I like when people thing out side the box. I dont know much about muzzle loaders, I dont own one, but I like what you have attempted. Do you know other people that have done this with a rifle? Bill Maylor..

 

[ATH]

Bill,

Yes: Doug's Message Boards - Home

This is where I learned all I needed to know and found someone who had designed the breechplug and convinced a machinist to make them, as well as worked with PacNor to make the barrels available in stock.

People are doing the same thing with other actions, but of course the Savage action with barrel nut makes it a lot easier and cheaper for us DIY types.

 

[Bill Maylor]

This looks like fun.Thanks for the heads up.. Please let us know how the longer shots work out. Bill Maylor..

 

[dirtboy]

I like the 308 cases, i seen simalar thing done with ultimate muzzle loaders. the video they had it seem real easy to take the primed casess in and out for primeing instead of mess with a little disc.

 

[Frank7mm]

I did the same with a rem action but I used 45 win pistol brass which is basically a short 308 with out the work. I also used 45 cal and with simialar chamber pressure to a 7rem mag I could get a 250grn power belt over 3000fps. Bullet selection become's very narrow at the velocity's that can be obtained. Recoil can be severe even in a fairly heavy gun.

 

[edge]

Frank7mm, I am not a fan of Powerbelt bullets as they are pretty fragile...IMO.

Many folks use the 40 caliber XTP, SST, and Barnes Spitfires mainly in Harvester Blue sabots.
Sizing 45 caliber bullets or picking the Parker bullets for a snug fit sabotless work well too.

Nice looking rifle ATH, and very nice shooting

edge.

PS I use a 45 ACP with either a LRM primer or a modified ACP case to accept a 209 primer...generally the latter, in a converted 30-06 Savage model 110.

 

[johnp034]

ATH, what does Pac-Nor get for the .45 cal. barrel and also for the breech plug? Did you do the barrel installation yourself and if so, how difficult. Would love to try it! Wonder if the ol' Ruger #1 would be able to be converted?

Thanx,

 

[edge]

A few folks on Doug's have converted their Ruger #1's to ML's.

Lots of options with conversions.

edge.

 

[ATH]

ATH, what does Pac-Nor get for the .45 cal. barrel and also for the breech plug? Did you do the barrel installation yourself and if so, how difficult. Would love to try it! Wonder if the ol' Ruger #1 would be able to be converted?

Thanx,

I can't remember the barrel price, I think mid-300s to mid-400s? My breech plug, which allows me to use the shortened cases, was about $90 from Pete's Machine in PA. All of this in detail is available on Doug's Savage Board (run a quick google search for the URL).

Regarding barrel swap -- the beauty of the Savage is you can change the barrels very easily. All you need is a $35 wrench and a homemade vise to hold the action while you do it (www. switchbarrel.com). Trick is you need to carefully heat it the first time, after that it's very very easy. With a "set-to" gauge (midway between a go and no-go gauge) I can swap back and for between my smokeless ML barrel and my .243Win barrel in about 10 minutes (scope on QR rings).

Ruger #1s and Rem700s have also been converted....but usually requires a smith or good machining knowledge.

 

[13point]

The guys over on Doug's Message Board almost have the Remington 700ML Conversion ready. Pac Nor is going to make a drop in barrel for them also. A .45 would be nice in a Remington sitting in a VSF stock.

 

[John-Pure Precision]

Is there anyway you can use 777 or 209 powder in your converted ML. In colorado you can not use Smokeless powder. If you can is there anyway you can reach the FPS you are with smokeless. Thanks for your time