Savage 112 Picatinny Base

Not all rifles are readily adaptable to meet our specific needs, but with a bit of ingenuity we may arrive precisely at that which we are seeking. Here I am going to demonstrate how seemingly minor changes may draw us ever nearer the pinnacle of rifle accuracy. When I see a crack of light where accuracy and precision can be improved, I use the resources available to me in attaining this goal. In this particular case, I had an older Model 112B Savage single-shot target rifle with three chamberings.

These include a 243 Winchester with a Douglas 1:8 twist select barrel, a 6.5mm Creedmoor with a 1:8 twist Criterion Match barrel, and a 257 Improved 1:12 twist Pac-Nor select barrel. The three cartridges were delivering good accuracy scoped with Talley two-piece ma- This optional central screw hole was added to fit the existing base screw hole of the altered base. The part seen below will be used to interface the base to the rear of the receiver. chined saddle design bases.

With these bases, recoil shoulders immobilize the rings under heavy recoil. Acceptable accuracy notwithstanding, I was convinced that I could equal or improve performance of this setup with adaptation of a more rigid, precision mounted Pic ati nny base. I would then use Talley 30mm Tactical rings on a modified Brownells Savage 110 RT solid steel Picatinny base. I was unable to locate a Picatinny base that would precisely fit this particular Savage Model 112B action which has a flat rear receiv-

er. The base at the receiver ring is identical to the models 112, 12, and 110. Talley Manufacturing (Talley- Manufacturing.com, and Near Manufacturing (Near Mfg. com, both informed me such a base was not available, so base modification was in my plan. Base Fitting While the front base holes and receiver ring were a perfect fit, the rear underside surface required total revamping.

This involved flattening the rear underside of the new base and interfacing apiece between the underside of the base and atop the rear of the receiver. Precise thickness of the adjoined part was determined after carefully measuring the space between the milled scope base and flat surface of the receiver with the scope base attached at the front. Precise positioning of the new screw holes was accomplished by using ascribe from below through the existing base screw holes.

The new screw holes were then drilled from the bottom of the base. Following drilling, the screw holes were countersunk from the top for correct screw head size. This left an extra base screw hole just back of center of the existing screw holes. I chose to use this existing base screw hole for a third screw. These countersunk holes for the screw heads may be located between the ring locking lug bars but this presents no problem.

Inspection/Testing Inspection and testing of the altered With the rear base spacer correctly fitted, the new part was bonded to the underside of the base. Here I used a film of J-B Weld and clamped the parts squarely together as they set. The resulting part was again attached to the receiver and checked for solid fit. base and rings was required. Seldom will a scope mounting system fit the receiver without some slight space between parts. This is termed stacking tolerances.

As a positive way to rule out even the slightest scope ring misalignment, Brownells Sleeved Scope Alignment Rods come to the rescue. These rods are set up to be used on both one-inch and 30mm scope rings and will reveal even the slightest asymmetry in scope ring coaxial alignment. The scope can then be mounted and sighted-in with confidence that it is properly aligned.

Though a few scope mount manufacturers feel the two-piece scope base system is essentially as rigid as the onepiece system, like the Picatinny scope base, I have conducted tests that prove otherwise. This proved particularly true in piezometric tests performed on bolt action ri-

A more durable and precision mounting system would not be possible with a wood stock. fles with comparatively less rigid receiver rails. Rifle receivers do, indeed, flex and it may be enlightening to know there is something we, as gunsmiths, can do about it. Following carefully controlled tests at the range, this rifle and others showed measurably improved accuracy with the properly mounted scope on a one piece rail.

This is particularly evident where an added central action screw can be properly positioned, drawing the action into a perfectly bedded stock. I have included an illustration of a Model 112 Savage receiver with added central action screw bedded solidly into position with Brownells Steel Bed. These, along with a good, one-piece steel scope base, are but one of several adaptable combinations comprising the fundamental keys for the true precision shooter. AG