And, I still at'nt dead. Heh heh.
I've long had a liking for single-shot rifles. But, finances, rather lack thereof, fored me to get rid of all my firearms long ago. However, I recently came across a nice little Marlin 915Y. It's a single-shot, bolt-action, termed a youth rifle. The stock is a bit shorter than usual, which is why it's called a "youth rifle". For the same price I could have gotten a similar one, but with a magazine, and about a 22" barrel. Mine has a 16"+ barrel.
Yep, it's woodworking related. I've long wanted a custome target rifle, so, I'm in the process of modifying the whole thing, icluding the stock, to suit me. It won't actually be a target rifle, but I doubt I'll ever shoot competion again, so that's OK, but it should be close. I'm just gonna call it a squirrel rifle.
It's still about stock so far. I just got the scope bases (came pre-drilled), so got those on - I've got a very nice, 3-12X - 50, high-power rifle scope, with illuminated rectile. And, found out the barrel was only free-floating for an inch or two, so free-foated it. A dime roll, wrapped in sandpaper fit the cannel just right. Then used a penny roll and sandpaper to finish it off. Worked like a charm. I mounted the scope, to check bolt clearance and all. The scope is about
15" long, including sunshade, with flip-up lens caps. Really looks good on the rifle.I need to get some of the kid's stuff out of the way, so I can get in and out of the shop, because I need to drill the stock for the sling swivels. For that I screwed four casters to a couple of chunks of 2X4, glued to a section of my knock-down book shelves. Two more sections will go on that, then I'll get his stuff out of the way. If that still won't do it, I've still got some book shelves. I was also planning on putting together a quickie carrying case - until I found out I couldn't get in the shop very easily. A few year back, no prob, but now with my knees, it's a pretty major effort for me. So, I stopped by Wally World, to see what they have, and got a plastic case for $12+. It'll work out OK, once I get some yellow on it.
The stock is, I believe, beech, very nice, with a "walnut" stain. I've striped stocks before, using some nasty smelling stripper, that worked very well. But, this time I think I'll just give it a light sanding. The pistol grip is going to be built up a bit, using plastic wood/wood filler. I used some of that quite a while back, to make revolver grips, for a .45 house gun . That worked out very well, got the grips formed so the sights were right on, where ever I pointed the gun. Another declining funds victim - sigh. A roll of quarters should be just the right size to send down the top right of the pistol grip, to allow the thumb a place to rest. I figure those mods should make a nice grip.
I've got a bit of very nice 1/2" plywood out in the shop, and part of that will be used to make a hand rest just in front of the trigger guard. Along these lines:
I found out that with the scope on, to get a really comfortable sight picture, I should move the butstock back about 1/2" - 1", I think that will do. Just now, it looks like I won't need acheek rest, so not planning on anything in that line - be easy enough to build one up later, if I decide on one. I pondered making an adjustable buttstock, but decided to pass, for now. Can always do it later. Anyway, for a non-competition rifle, I think it'd be more of a PITA than any real use. I'm not gonna bed the action, or fine tune the trigger, either. I'll use a couple of pieces of that nice plywood to make a couple of spacers.
Right now, I don't know what I'm gonna do for a finish. The beech should take a stain very nicely. But, some of the competion rifles are finished bright, and some are painted. No, I don't think I'll be painting it yellow - however, that is open to change, "especially" if one of the kids wants to borrow it.
I'm taking my time on this. It won't be a competition rifle, and I don't hunt anymore - so the squirrels can sleep easy - but it should be a real killer on aluminum cans, and even paper targets, out to 100 yards or so. It'll be easy to take out the buttplate spacers, if the grand-dau ever shoots, it, and it'd still be comfortable for an adult. Basically, life is good.
And, for the Gods' sakes, if any of you decide to post to this thread, please snip, don't just copy the whole damn thing. If you don't know how to snip, then learn. Sheesh.
JOAT Plans? Plans? Don' need no steenkin' plans.