Build thread for PHPD1295

[grit]

Here, the threads have been cut to final depth. The action is screwed on to about where it will contact the recoil lug. I've put an indicator on to illustrate thread fit. Wiggling the action produces about .002 movement. If you did the math, there's something like .0005 clearance in the threads. I'm going to have to clean the cutting fluid off my lense.

 

[grit]

Timing the action is next. All bores have a slight curvature. This barrel is exceptionally straight. I dial in the end of the barrel I'm working on, while allowing the other end to point where it needs to. I then indicate the muzzle end, mark the high spot, and time the action so the curvature points up. There is a faint line at top dead center on the barrel. The first photo is where the action initially fit. The second photo shows the action timed. I time just a fraction short to align correctly with torque.

 

[emn83]

great...another thread that gets me thinking about getting a custom LR build done....That looks awesome!

 

[elkaholic]

Grit....very interesting! I will be watching the build......Rich

 

[grit]

Time for supper! This is Dustin, our youngest. If he keeps on, I'm going to have to call him Tank. He's six months, doesn't really eat pizza.

 

[elkaholic]

Time for supper! This is Dustin, our youngest. If he keeps on, I'm going to have to call him Tank. He's six months, doesn't really eat pizza.

Man! Tank looks a lot like my grandson "Dozer"..............Rich

 

[grit]

Grit,
I wish I could tell you great hunting stories where I used this rifle on a hunt but I can't. This was the first deer rifle I ever bought and I bought it because it was a good brand (Remington) and I got the deluxe model (BDL) and looking back now it was the "perfect storm" of everything that could go wrong with a rifle. I bought this rifle new from Carter Country in the mid 80's so I could use it on a deer lease I bought in on. I put a basic 3-9 Redfield on it and I could never get it to group. I thought it was me and my shooting but when I borrowed friends and relatives rifles I was dead on. The rifle was unreliable and I just kept it in the safe and stopped deer hunting for a long time. Now that I've been lurking on this site and I've gotten more educated in what makes a rifle accurate I now know some of what was wrong with this rifle. For starters the barrel is a very thin sporter barrel. To add to this problem the stock is wood with no pillars or bedding and it is fully touching the barrel from action to the end of the stock. There is no room to allow for wood expansion and with the super thin barrel it just shot all over the place. Now that I am getting the work done on it Grit is showing how far out of true the action is. All of these things plus a cheap $100 scope made for a very frustrating experience that turned me off from deer hunting for years until I got married and started hunting with my inlaws and I bought a better rifle. I can't wait to get this rifle to the range and see what it can do. I really have to give a shout out to Lorenzo for this build. This was the first rifle I ever bought and I bought it in left hand to fit me and it just never shot well for me. My 308 I had to get it in right hand and it shoots like a dream but i shoot it left handed and the cheek rest and bolt are on the wrong side so followup shots are slow and awkward and I can't get a solid cheek weld.
I know that with some gunsmiths who have been n business for a long time it turns into just a job but with the two smiths I spoke with about this build (Lorenzo Young and Kevin Cram from Monitor County Rifles) they both have the passion and love for that they do and it shows.
Lorenzo, once again thank you for taking this project on and for not treating it as just another job. You're making my dream of a custom rifle built just for me a reality. I have a Browning A-5 shotgun that my mother gave my dad on their first wedding anniversary that was passed on to me when he passed away and now I will also have this to pass on my son along with his grandfathers shotgun.

Bill, it's my pleasure! Attitudes like yours make this job a real pleasure! I can hardly wait to test shoot!

 

[HUAINAMACHERO]

Hey Grit !!!
Very interesting. It sure is awesome to see a custom build taking form step by step.
Thanks.

 

[grit]

After the action is timed, the thread tenon is cut to length and counter bored. Here it is, ready to check zero and chamber. Very cool the camera caught "Grizzly" with things spinnin' 800 RPM. If anyone wondered how I get barrels fast enough to keep lead times short, this is one source. These Bartleins have been great! Grizzly has very good customer service.

 

[grit]

I'm using a piloted reamer and free floating reamer holder. For a small cartridge with decent body taper, I've chosen to cut the whole chamber with the finish reamer. In the first pic, the chamber is about half cut. You can see cutting fluid pumping through the bore. The second pic shows the go gauge inserted to check progress. I'm close enough to measure. The third pic shows measuring with a feeler gauge.

 

[phpd1295]

After the action is timed, the thread tenon is cut to length and counter bored. Here it is, ready to check zero and chamber. Very cool the camera caught "Grizzly" with things spinnin' 800 RPM. If anyone wondered how I get barrels fast enough to keep lead times short, this is one source. These Bartleins have been great! Grizzly has very good customer service.

I was re-reading this thread this morning and I now have a name for the rifle. "Grizzly"! I feel like I just named my new baby. Maybe I can start passing out cigars.

 

[WildRose]

I was re-reading this thread this morning and I now have a name for the rifle. "Grizzly"! I feel like I just named my new baby. Maybe I can start passing out cigars.

That should do.

The last one I named was "Final Retribution"... It isn't a hunting rifle.

 

[liltank]

Time for supper! This is Dustin, our youngest. If he keeps on, I'm going to have to call him Tank. He's six months, doesn't really eat pizza.

That's copyright infringement! He's handsome enough, I'll let it slide!

Tank

 

[phpd1295]

I called Lorenzo to let him know that I had the scope in and that I would sent it to him to check for clearance issues and to test fire. He let me know that the bolt fluting is being done now and he will be posting more pics later.
On a side note my son got married today so we spent all day with him and his wife and future in-laws.