My 280 AI is finished

[mountainman56]

For 40 plus years I've been thinking about building my own rifle. Now that I'm creepin up on retirement I decided to go ahead and start gathering up the equipment needed to keep me out of trouble when I have time on my hands. Took me 5 months of slowly acquiring the equipment needed to get started. After much reading and research, mostly on this forum and from knowledgeable folks willing to share their expertise I finally chucked the barrel in the lathe, checked everything repeatedly, thought about it some more and finally started cutting.

The finished product is a Savage 110 action, Bartlein barrel chambered in 280 AI, PTG oversize bolt body, PTG recoil lug, timney trigger, a tactical bolt (that is a little too much), muscle brake turned to barrel diameter and weaver 20 moa base. Bedded it in a Boyd's pro varmint in coyote color, then duracoated it in coyote tan.

All in all I'm very pleased and have managed a couple good groups while working up a load. I did post pictures in the gunsmithing section but being like a proud father I wanted to post here as well and show the rest of the crowd.

 

[sheepaholic]

Very nice

 

[MudRunner2005]

****! I don't like Savages, but I wouldn't have a problem owning that one...

 

[gohring3006]

I'm diggin that stock, I'm considering the thumbhole but now I looking at yours and having second thoughts. Did you pillar bed it your self?

 

[WildRose]

Great work, you should be proud.

If it shoots as good as it looks you have a real winner there.

 

[Unofficial Gun Addict (UGA)]

Beautiful rifle. Love the stock to barrel/action contrast. Lovely. That stock really sets the whole thing off so nicely. Congrats on the build!

 

[mountainman56]

****! I don't like Savages, but I wouldn't have a problem owning that one...

Ha! Thanks MudRunner. I always felt the same way you do. I knew they were pretty good rifles but I always said "Life is too **** short to shoot an ugly rifle" I got this one for a song and decided to build a switch barrel, changed my mind and got rid of the ugly barrel nut and wound up with this. It's a pleasure to shoot with the heavy barrel, brake and decelerator pad it's like shootin a 223.

Gohring3006

I did not pillar bed it. Still has plastic triggerguard and Boyd's stock has plastic insert for front action screw. I just bedded the recoil lug and skim bedded the action for now. Once I get my steel triggerguard I am going to machine a front pillar/insert and a rear pillar and do it up right.

 

[mountainman56]

I think I might be on to something

 

[jjmp]

cograts she's Beautiful, thanks for shareing regards jjmp