Handsome Rob

I'm waiting for my barrel to come in right now. I'm having it custom machined to be add light as possible (I specified 2lb max. Most sporter barrels come in between 2lb 8oz & 3lb) I can't find anyone that manufactures a stock that's lighter than the Boyd's as I have it now, without going to a carbon stock & that is a couple of grand beyond me! Right now, I've got the stock down to under 2lb & there's really not much more I can remove whilst keeping it rigid. I've left the wrist/grip as it came, because this is the one area I know would be most prone to failure if I mess it up. I'm looking at scope rings right now, trying to work out what is lightest & I can do a bit of drilling/slotting etc there if needed. I'm not going for a super accurate gun. Anything under a 2"/100yd grouping will be perfectly adequate. This really isn't a rifle I'll shoot much. Enough to work up a load & zero & after that maybe 10 rounds a year, if I'm lucky.

My actual goal here, is to end up with a finished rifle that I have no more than $500 in & weighs under 7lb, loaded with a scope. A tall order, no doubt, most guns in this field are either small-run or full custom & cost well north of $2-grand. There are a few factory offerings that meet my criteria, but that removes all the fun of thinking, planning & building, plus the pride of ownership that comes with making something your own.

I used a Boyd's & hollowed out the butt. I also reprofiled & thinned the forearm. I left the receiver area/recoil lug area alone, but everything else has been hollowed, thinned, narrowed & lightened. I'm having the barrel finished at 20" which I know is 6" shorter than optimal for any 6.5/.264 bullet, but within the limits of what kind can accept in performance loss, whilst still being very light recoilling. My shots will be limited to an absolute maximum of 400yds with the shorter tube & it's mainly going to be a backcountry/high country antelope, sheep & deer rifle. As much as anything, if I'm being 100% honest, it gives me an opportunity to create something & be a metal worker again, as opposed to a poodle polisher! I've always liked the principle of building rather than buying, be it motorcycles, cars, fishing tackle... I don't think I own many things that I haven't modified or tailored in some way!

Well, I'm already invested in this Axis. A Tikka wasn't within my initial budget constraints (under $500, minus scope). I've already replaced the stock & lightened the replacement to within an inch of it's life (I'm already 1lb 3.2oz under factory weight) & I've custom ordered an ultralight profile 6.5x55 barrel that should shed another 8 or 9oz

This pertains more to the Axis than the 110, but I suppose a receiver is a receiver... I'm trying to build an ultralight mountain rifle & I'm down to trying to grasp that final ounce or two. Can any of you think of a reason that I couldn't or shouldn't machine some relief cutouts into an Axis action, basically to match the style & pattern of the new Lightweight Hunter? I'd be leaving the bridge over the bolt, but I'm seriously thinking of milling out the left side of the bolt way, through to the bolt (along the angled flat) plus some relief cuts at the very back of the receiver. Not through cuts, just troughs maybe up to 3/16 deep. I can't see that these cuts will affect the strength by much, but I'm kinda loathe to start milling until I hear from someone who knows far more than I!

Also, if you're not already aware, make 100% sure your lead is dry before you add it to your pot. Deadly serious. If you add a screwed up ball of pipe-Jack that happens to contain a droplet of water, your entire pot very probably will erupt like a science project volcano. Of 650° lead. All over you. It literally only takes one drop of water.

Thanks! They're a lot prettier as a freezer full of sausages! :D Unfortunately I only managed the 2 over the weekend (both on Friday night & only 10 minutes apart) but both ran well north of 150 pounds. I'm not sure exactly their weights, but I do know that boning them both out & packing the meat 2 miles back to the truck in one go, left me wobbly kneed & took 4½ hours! Damn fine pack training for later in the year though! The little 65gn Sierra Gameking that I recovered from the larger pig performed awesomely. 95% weight retention with total jacket separation. Both were neck shots, 1 at 135yds (measured) & the other at 90 paces (80 ish yds) & both hogs dropped on the spot.

Nossir. Ruger Gunsite Scout .223

135yds, neck shot.

Check out the cutters....

So far the little .223's paying off.... Will update soon....

And 'color' should be spelled with a 'U' ;) Rob. The resident English guy :)

Thinner & fitter, but beer & barbecue.... You?

Lol!

Until it's raining sideways.... ;)

Best thing I ever did was rip the dang tint off all my Windows. You ever try reversing a boat, down a steep ramp, at night, at an unlit launch site?

I love this place! You guys! Luke, thanks for your more than generous offer. You're right, I'm much more of a traditional guy than a modernist. I've decided, after much deliberation, range time, conversations, more range time, Googling & anecdotal evidence, that I'm going to take my GSR .223 I'll be taking my Savage .308 anyway for feeder sitting in the evenings, so if the little gun let's me down, as uncomfortable to carry as it is, I'll still have the Hammer along. I'm also very much limiting myself to 100yd & under neck shots, not that this is an issue, I'm used to being limited to 15yds!

Oooh.... Next silly question: You hunt? The reason I don't have pigs as livestock is purely because I hunt. 2 weekend trips per year (usually Florida/Georgia/Alabama) or a week in Texas, gives me enough pork for the entire year, without the cost & concern of raising my own. The ONLY meat I eat, is stuff that I've hunted or raised myself & The Wife's a vegetarian so I don't need much, but I figure on a base line of 2 hogs plus 2 deer per year, supplemented with small game & fish as the mood takes me! Our tribe of feral chickens mostly gets a pass, but every now & then I need a Korma... It's a damn sight more fun than farming, plus you have an excuse for a couple of mini vacations!

How good's your fence? I know from experience that if a pig wants to be out, it'll be out. Have you thought about sheep? As suggested, Craigslist is a really good bet. Although at this time of year, be prepared to pay a premium. Calves are a few weeks away from being finished, lambs are nearly ready & are ready for market by the end of May. The best time of year to buy is late fall, if you can wait a while. Everything's half the price it is now due to feed costs!

Took it back to the range yesterday & problem solved! 65gn Gamekings over Varget cured the issue. It shot well with everything from 25-26gn, increased in 0.2gn increments, but shot a 4 rounds cover leaf (maybe ½") with 1 called flyer with 25.8gn The flyer I'm putting down to the trigger, which is akin to dragging a railroad tie over a corrugated tin sheet (#@$#*€ lawyers! :( ) A bit of a file & polish has fixed that issue ;) Thanks for all the help guys!

Well just finally managed to score some Varget. Had to buy 8 freaking pounds for just north of 2 freaking bills but... I'll try Gordon's recipe (modified for the loss of 4gn bullet weigh) & report back tomorrow night...

If my ol' Fbig50 starts to smoke like that, my mechanic would be getting a call. What a waste of diesel. It seems like a lot of young rednecks (the ones with the golf ball sized dip) in my area are doing it. I'm assuming it's a new attention getting/macho posing thing. Along with 16" exhaust tip amplifiers.

Hmmm... I removed the flash hider & tried the cotton ball test on the crown. A-ok there. Removed the scope & checked the factory rail. Remounted the scope & I'll go try again on Saturday. I'll grab a couple more boxes of different factory ammo to try. I bought a set of dies last night from Midsouth, so one I find which weight it groups best, I'll start messing with different loads & see if rolling my own tightens things up at all.

Ah, if it's standard mags, I'm afraid you're on your own! I've been so wrapped up in building my own savage recently, my brain just jumped to the custom conclusion!

Does that use the AICS bottom metal? If it does, you can get 10rnd polymer mags from MDTTAC for $40 ;)