Accurizing Savage Model 112s

A variety of rifle models have been important in my accuracy and research work for well over a half century. I’ve worked with more than a score of Model 40X Remingtons alone and in a wide variety of calibers with most bedded into original factory wood stocks. They have been a benchmark in my work. In the interim I have also used and tested other available rifle models chambered in a variety of factory, modified, and wildcat cartridges as well as several of my own design.

But for unknown reasons it took much longer for me to recognize the merits of the Savage bolt action rifles, particularly the older Model 112 single-shot series. This prompted me to add the older Savage 112 to my switch-barrel rifles. These fine old single-actions, made from 1975-1979, would demonstrate, along with a few changes, accuracy potential equal to my other rifles, These medium-length single-shot actions were produced by Savage Arms circa 1975-1979.

With some precision bedding work the Savage Model 112 medium-length action will deliver most excellent accuracy. including a number of the Model 40X rifles. Though I could have gone to custom stocks in these older Savage Model 112 rifles, I chose to use the existing solid walnut stocks. They were Every square inch of stock bedding surface is utilized where metal meets wood.

The advantage of a central bedding screw is apparent here. most durable and would bed down well with their solid cylindrical single-shot actions. They didn’t have the easier-to-shoot, flat stock forend, but I could live with this. I did, however, stiffen the forends as I will cover later in this article. So this treatise will deal with the gunsmithing and accuracy evaluation of these older Savage Models 112 medium-length actions used as switch-barrel rifles.

The stock hole provides a perfect tapping guide. A brass escutcheon is added later. Unlike most other actions, the forward guard-screw hole is used for the rear action screw, placing this screw forward of the trigger assembly. The rear screw is a wood screw used only to hold the trigger guard. Receiver Bedding I already had the newer Model 12 Savage and also had another older Model 112 long action Savage. I eventually added extra bolts to all four actions for a most versatile Savage switch-barrel series.

This would eventually include around a dozen barrels chambered to a good variety of cartridges used in target work and testing at my range just outside my gunsmithing shop. In a well thought out approach to developing true accuracy from these single-shot actions, nothing would be left to guesswork in the bedding department as the interfacing between metal and wood became one.

Some rifles adapt to accuracy bedding more readily than others and the Savage Model 112 medium length single-shot action posed no extraordinary challenges, particularly with the original wood stocks. Close observation of the older medium length Model 112 Savage action reveals a cylindrical section of steel 1.350 inches in diameter with a total length of 8.75 inches from the front of the receiver ring to the rear tang. The action is drawn down by two major bedding screws with 1/4-28 threads.

The front screw enters the bottom of the receiver about an inch from the front of the receiver ring. Immediately forward of the receiver ring is the recoil lug sandwiched between the barrel lock-ring and the receiver, similar to the 40X Remington. But this is where the action screw function differs between the two. The Model 40X Remington rear action screw draws the tang down into the stock bedding at this juncture for a functional two-point bedding.

Though the rear tang bedding surface is virtually identical on the Savage Model 112 and the Model 40X Remington, the rear action screw placement on the Savage Model 112 is much more forward,. It enters up through the front trigger guard screw hole immediately ahead of the forward aspect of the trigger mechanism, leaving the two action screws 4.490 inches apart at centers, whereas the action screw centers are 7 1/2 inches on the 40X Remington.

As a heavy, free-floating target barrel is interfaced to any action, regardless of receiver screw placement or receiver rigidity, there is a finite measurable amount of springing within the action, albeit very small. Thus, in my overall evaluation of the Model 112 action bedding, I considered a logical way to improve things here, and this was accomplished.

The approach was to fully bed the action from the rear tang through the receiver ring and recoil lug, leaving clearance at all points of the recoil lug except the rear bearing surface. On one of them I would install a metal bedding pillar at the existing rear screw where the front trigger guard screw enters. Further, I would install a central action screw with a solid stock escutcheon between the two existing action screws on both rifles.

Then, in lieu of a two-point bedding system, the result was a totally bedded receiver with three draw down screws. I had used the central action screw in conjunction with the Score High Gunsmithing (ScoreHi.com, Bedding Pillars on some of my Model 40X Remingtons with a measurably improved outcome, so this worthwhile bedding improvement wasn’t an untested process, and it should work out on the Savage walnut stocks as well. Proper Bedding Procedure Our approach to proper stock-toaction fit must be well thought out.

There must be no springing of the action in the stock as the bedding screws are alternately loosened and tightened. This is often felt by sensitive finger contact between stock

Wood chips are seen at the sides of each stock. and action. Even minor vertical group stringing or double groups can be a telltale sign of poor bedding. Proper bedding can largely prevent this, and we don’t correct it by placing shims or washers between wood and metal as is sometimes done. The surface must be cleaned up where metal meets wood to ensure a perfect bonding for the bedding material.

I carefully mask any areas of wood I don’t want bedding material by placing electrical tape on all surfaces of the recoil lug, leaving only the rear surface of it to contact the stock mortise. This produces the necessary freedom between the recoil lug and stock after the tape is removed. The action is then coated with release agent to prevent bonding to the stock as the action is placed in position. I also coat the recoil lug and guard screws with release agent.

Holes and indentations on the action should be filled with clay or the like before applying release agent. I always use the best bedding material I can get and the best I’ve found is Brownells Steel Bed. It has less than 1/10th of one percent shrinkage and sets up very hard with stainless steel in the mixture. It doesn’t run and has ample working time to complete the job. Before placing Steel Bed into the stock I place the stock horizontally in a padded vise with the buttstock supported.

You’ll need to have access below the stock to guide and turn the action screws in place after lowering the action squarely into its bed. I also place a shim between the bottom of the barrel and forend channel to keep the barrel and action in line during the bedding operation. The action is then lowered squarely into the stock as it pushed down into the bedding material. Keep things as evenly as possible and start the rear tang screw first while holding the barrel.

Then, with both screws started, draw them down evenly, but not too firmly. You should notice some oozing of bedding material at the tang and along the sides of the stock, which is then cleaned up. The bedding material should set while the barrel is suspended horizontally, just as you would shoot it. Any small amount of midreceiver action springing or bending will become part of the bedding process as the barrel tends to cause an infinitesimal amount of central action flexing.

I rarely wait until the bedding is steel-hard to remove the action from the stock. Once it is set firmly, after about three hours at room temperature or warmer, the action can be removed from the stock. It cleans up easier at this time too. Then, following clean-up, place the action back in the stock and tighten the action screw moderately firm. Leave the release agent wherever it ends up at first inspection and remove this later.

Savage M112 Forend Rails While utilizing the Savage Model 112 factory walnut stock, I added an element of rigidity to the forend. This was helpful in achieving accuracy from this fine rifle. The pictures show pretty much what I did here. I put the stock in the milling machine and bonded-in a length of 1/2-inch steel from the recoil lug forward to within a couple inches of the forend tip. Of course, I used Steel Bed to accomplish this. Pressure tests later demonstrated a

Far Shown here are 100 and 300-yard groups made with the 30BR cartridge using a 1:17 twist Shilen match select barrel. Groups in the quarter-minute range are very encouraging using Sierra 135 grain and Berger 135 grain bullets. 243 Winchester 1:8 twist Douglas select grade barrel. The 300-yard group measured under 0.600 inch (0.002 MOA) using 107 grain Sierra Match King bullets.

The same 107 Sierra Match King bullets produced quite regular quarter-minute 100 yard groups. more rigid forend, which is always helpful while bench shooting. It is also helpful when shooting the lighter style stocks from a bench rest, particularly with a heavy barrel, and helps steady the rifle while making those longer shots. The stock was plenty strong through the pistol grip that has a nice bulge in the palm area reminiscent of a Wundhammer Swell. Both are an aid to benchrest shooting.

Central Action Screw Though the addition of a central action screw or central pillar may have its critics, my own experience bears out the benefits of these added supports. I have used them on a number of single-shot actions, including the 40X Remingtons and now three Savage Model 112s. When properly installed they most definitely will improve action-tostock stability and rifle accuracy. As you approach the quarter-minute level of accuracy you’ll note a difference. Here is how to do it right.

I always install the central pillar or action screw as a separate procedure following a good, solid bedding job. In no case will these be installed as a stop-gap or means of trying to remedy already poor bedding. The central action screw is essentially there to help minimize action springing or flexing and to further unite metal-to-wood as a solid, integral unit. The addition of a central action screw and escutcheon is basically a simple gunsmithing procedure.

Most of the work is performed with the barreled action upside down in the stock while held squarely in a padded milling/drilling vise. They are medium-length action, single-shot rifles precision bedded into the original walnut stocks. The rifle on the left has a Shilen 1:17 twist barrel chambered for the 30BR and is equipped with a Sightron SIII SS8-32×56 scope. The rifle on the right has a Douglas 1:8 twist barrel chambered for the .243 Winchester.

It is equipped with a 6-24X Bausch & Lomb Elite scope and Talley bases and rings. The target performance of these switch-barrel rifles would rival most custom built rifles. With everything square, a through-hole is drilled midway between the existing action screws directly through the stock and on through the cartridge ramp inside the action. This lead hole is made with a number 3 drill size for a size 1/4-28 thread tap.

The Savage receiver is not case-hardened so tapping will be easy but I do recommend a quality tap. The stock hole is then enlarged to a 1/4 inch down to the action as it serves as a perfect tapping guide. The thread is conveniently tapped with everything still in place. Next, the escutcheon hole in the gunstock is formed using a clean-cutting end mill to correct depth. Everything is totally in-line for a perfectly square screw draw down.

I make a brass escutcheon to fit an Allen head socket screw to match the other action screws. I finally enlarge the stock screw hole to 17/64 inch to (Continued on page 23)

avoid screw contact with wood. I then bond the escutcheon in position and clean up the holes for a neat job. It’s all done perfectly in line. As the work is proof tested, there will be no springing of the action as the new center screw is torqued down. All three action screws should be alternately tightened, resulting in a most solid bedding of the entire receiver. Testing the Work I have always placed high regard on the "Three B’s" of accuracy in rifle evaluation: Bedding, Barrel, and Bullet.

Though dozens of other elements enter into the accuracy equation, I always look first to the three B’s as each compliment the other. As I approach the sub-half minute level into quarter minute accuracy with non-custom rifles, it isn’t always how much I gain but that which I don’t lose that matters as well.

As I worked with these two older Savage Models 112 singleshot rifles, I knew I was on the right track as inherent accuracy was quite comparable to that being delivered by my Model 40X Remington rifles and some others. I had to work a little harder to attain such levels of accuracy with some rifles but it became readily apparent as I worked with the Savages. I had fitted 12 barrels to the four Model 112 and 12 actions. All of these Savage actions have two bolts for a wide chambering selection.

One of the two 112s covered in this treatise was chambered for one of the three experimental 30BR cartridges I was working on with a 1:17 twist Shilen select match barrel. The other was chambered for a standard .243 Winchester special 1:8 twist Douglas premium barrel. I’ll include here a series of targets shot with these two Savage 112 single-shot rifles in the varying stages of load workup.

I had no trouble at all shooting sub-halfminute groups mixed with many quarter-minute groups using the Shilen 30BR chambering with its 1:17 twist match select barrel. Several groups measured well under an inch for five shots at 300 yards. This is outstanding performance in any rifle where the barrel, bullet, and bedding must flawlessly come together. The Savage chambered for the special 1:8 twist with a Douglas barrel was also a performer.

Here too, a variety of bullets and components came through—quarter-minute groups were quite regular and groups under an inch at 300 yards were common. Though there are sundry things that comprise the makeup of a well shooting rifle, accuracy evaluation is incomplete where all things are not closely observed. With close access to a shooting range, it was a gunsmithing fulfillment to see these fine old Savage rifles perform with the best of them. AG