Building a new "Survival Rifle"

[Sourdough]

Mostly for "Kicks & Giggles" I am building a light (4.9 pounds) survival rifle. It will incorporate several features from the Savage M-24C "Camper's Companion" with it's storage compartment in the butt stock. It will have basic open sights & a weaver 1913 type rail for a quick release scope mount. the scope should fit in the butt stock (I hope).

The Caliber: 6 MM The Cartridge: 243 Winchester. Barrel length will depend on the balance point when the 8.5 ounce scope is in the butt stock. However as the H&R youth model comes with a 22" barrel, it will be some place in the 16" to 22" range, the rifle could end up as short as 29.5". This firearm is partly for redundancy of my Winchester Model 70 Stainless Steel "Classic" Featherweight which is also .243 Winchester.

[Ole WV Coot]

Good Luck, I don't believe I will ever find the "perfect" rifle, handgun or knife and don't think I could make something I would be happy with.

[hunter63]

Sounds intresting.
So what action are you building it on?
Savage 24 or H&R?

[Pal334]

Sounds like a plan. How/why did you decide on .243 Winchester?

[Sourdough]

Sounds like a plan. How/why did you decide on .243 Winchester?

Pal334: I did not care about the cartridge as long as it fell with-in a very broad range of acceptable choices. It could have been .22 Hornet to 30/06. My priority was weight first, and package length of the disassembled rifle second. So the finale package should be 16 1/2" long and 4.9 pounds weight, which will fit under the seat of the snow machine or into a small day-pack.

HUNTER63: I am starting with your pet receiver the H&R. The start point is the youth model superlight synthetic which is 5.3 pounds in .243 Winchester, the lightest center fire rifle I could find for under $265.00 with factory open sights installed.

[SARKY]

I'm in works on a survival/field rifle. Mine is a bit more high tech. I'm starting with a Stainless Ruger M-77 MKII chambered in 7.62x39, I am rebarreling/rechambering to a carbon fiber barrel in 6.5 Grendel. I am also altering the feed mechanism to accept AR mags. It will have popup irons and keep the Ruger scope mounting system. Haven't decided on the stock yet.

[hunter63]

SD, I hear you, my first Handi came with a .243, I really like this round.
It's just I like the .270 better, (what's on #2 Handi now).

Can't wait to see pic's.

[hunter63]

So, SD, how is it comming?
Been away for a while.

[Sourdough]

So, SD, how is it comming?
Been away for a while.

It arrived in Anchorage a week a go, I might drive in this week, I need hydrolic oil filters for the logsplitter, and well pump supplies, and fresh food.

[hunter63]

SD, if your project does weigh in at 4.9 pounds, I thinking you are gonna like that .243 a whole lot more than say, a 30-06 or .308.

Raining to day so headed into town for a the Wifi

[beetlejuicex3]

We need some pics!

Survival guns are an underserved niche in my opinion. Nice work piecing together your own. For survival rifles I tend to be attracted to the combination guns. Stuff like the Savage Model 24F appeal to me.

Sparky's making a 6.5 grendel! That round looks so awesome...


greenbeetle

[Rick]

I have to agree with you. There is not a forum that discusses guns that doesn't lament about the loss of the Marlin camp gun, the M6 Scout or even the Savage 24C. With all that interest out there, you'd think that some of the makers would re-introduce one or two.

[2dumb2kwit]

I have to agree with you. There is not a forum that discusses guns that doesn't lament about the loss of the Marlin camp gun, the M6 Scout or even the Savage 24C. With all that interest out there, you'd think that some of the makers would re-introduce one or two.

I saw a Marlin camp gun, at a gun show saturday. It was a 9mm, and the guy was asking either $675 or $875. (Poor writing on the tag.) I laughed and went on my way. Two months ago, I passed on one for $325.

[aflineman]

Sourdough,
Midway has the Choate Survivor stock and Storearm forearm. Scope will not fit in the butt-stock, but the forearme in nice fro some storage, and the screw makes it easy to take-down. If you do not go that route, I found that the knurled screw that fits in the side of my old CB radio (to mount it) is the same thread and length for my forearm. Works well on my .243 to take it down or change barrels. (I don't have the Survivor set-up on my .243, just my 12ga and 20ga/.357mag).
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=869991

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=763418

I have a some on a couple of my NEFs. Work well with a small slip-on butt-pad and a Velcro shell holder.
I also like the weight of the .243, but make sure your barrel shoots well. Some of the light .243 barrels don't hold a group. Mine does now, but it took me 3 of them and finding a load she likes.

[Sourdough]

Sourdough,
Midway has the Choate Survivor stock and Storearm forarm.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=869991

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=763418
.

WOW, Ten Thousand thank-you's. That is 1/2 the price that H&R "Parts Department" charges. (Rep point coming)

[aflineman]

WOW, Ten Thousand thank-you's. That is 1/2 the price that H&R "Parts Department" charges. (Rep point coming)

No problem. These little NEF Survivors have a soft spot with me. IIRC, my little 12ga was my first post on the site.

[hunter63]

So, SD, how's the little guy coming?
Never did hear, unless I missed a post while on the road?

[Sourdough]

So, SD, how's the little guy coming?
Never did hear, unless I missed a post while on the road?

Well, I could not figure exactly what I wanted to do with the .243, as they wanted $90.00 just to cut and crown. So I but that on the back burner, and doug out all the pieces and parts form other H&R projects. I found a 20 Ga. barrel that went to nothing.

So I cut it off at 18 1/8" and squared it up on the belt sander, and it would not take to forend screw, so I duck taped the forend on, and fired a few rounds. Then cut the Butt-stock off so as to have a over-all length of 27". So intriem I have a "Mad-Max" road-warrior shotgun.

I am going to order the survivor butt-stock and then cut the .243 barrel to about 16" I do that in the spring.

[hunter63]

SD, thanks for the up date, was kinda wondering.
Sometimes you just have to wait to let the project tell you what it wants to be.

I brought my .243 barrel back from "The Place" has been stashed for a year or so, wanted to clean it up and make sure it wasn't rusty.

[kyratshooter]

About a year ago I bought the Rossi version in 30-06. I may have to get a .243 barrel for it.

the 30-06 is a dandy and is very accurate for the first 3 shots. On the third shot the scope flies off. Last time I put it back together I used JBWeld instead of locktite so I am hoping I have the problem under control.

It would be nice to have deer killing capabilities without the recoil.