A Rifle for Max

[Hick Industries]

Max is my 14 yr old great nephew. He decided he wanted to reload ammo last fall, and his grandfather taught him to load for a buddy's 243 Win. I helped him along by giving him reloading components for christmas. But Max did not have his own gun.

I had a spare Mauser type receiver laying around, and since I'm the gunsmith in the family, I gave it to him. Not an entire gun, just a striped Brno VZ-24 receiver, with a bent bolt handle, two position safety, an adjustable trigger, and a composite sporter stock. I also gave him two books, "Cartridges of the World" and Frank de Hass "Bolt Action Rifles". I also offered to fit the action with a new barrel, but first Max had to decide what cartridge, barrel profile, twist rate, and length.

A couple days later, Max calls me a declares he wants a Varmint rifle, suited for field carry, and chambered in 22-250 Rem. Plus, he wants to mount a 4-12x scope, and have the option of handloading heavier than normal bullets in .224 dia. I ordered him a Shilen #3 with a 1 in 9 twist.

And so it begins.

 

[LoonWulf]

Right on!

Looking forward to seeing how it turns out!

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Max is blessed to have such a cool uncle. Excellent heart warming report. Thank you!

 

[stringnut]

Max made a good choice. He’s covered varmints thru deer. Hopefully it will get shot , and loaded for, a lot! Great job

 

[Hick Industries]

I spent a very long day in the shop, and the barrel now has threads.

I had not used my engine lathe for about eight yrs, and I moved it when I left California, and it was in storage most of that time. Fortunately I had coated the ways with cosmolene, I had not lost any parts. But the gear head had leaked much of its oil, and all my lathe tooling was dull.

I started out working on a practice barrel, untill I got my machines, and my skills working again. Then I strated on the barrel for Max. I turned the barrel shoulder to 1.200", the shank length to .625", and cut the 1.100-12 Threads with a single point tool.

Once I trued the outer dia, and cut the threads, I backed off the live center, and supported the barrel using a steady rest. This frees up the bore to start reaming the chamber.

 

[somethingbenign]

This seems like a great thread for a few photos. Has he decided what kind of stock he wants to put on it yet?

 

[Speedo66]

This seems like a great thread for a few photos. Has he decided what kind of stock he wants to put on it yet?

He mentioned he included a composite sporter stock.

 

[WisBorn]

What a cool project! Congratulations to you and Max for growing your love of rifles together!!!

Isn't being an Uncle (Great Uncle) great!!! Another positive person in someone's life.

Can't wait to see the pictures!

 

[Hick Industries]

Have to figgure out how to post pictures from my tablet on this site. Bear with me.

 

[somethingbenign]

He mentioned he included a composite sporter stock.

Must have missed that, I was too busy being jealous of Max.

Have to figgure out how to post pictures from my tablet on this site. Bear with me.

Take your time, just figured I'd rib a little bit now early in the project while you can still take some photos instead of after it is all done. Really cool for you to do this for your nephew. Wish I had the skills and tools to do something similar.

 

[DocRock]

Smart kid!

 

[Bfh_auto]

Have to figgure out how to post pictures from my tablet on this site. Bear with me.

You deserve an atta boy.
You click the (upload a file) link next to the (post reply).
Follow that to your pictures file on your device. Then click full size or thumbnail

 

[high country]

Agreed, I am in for some photos on this. Max is a lucky young man, and I am sure will treasure this for a lifetime. Solid choice on chambering and twist.

 

[Grumpy_old_Fart]

i like the twist. 1:9 lets you run 80gr bullets. those will be very effective.

 

[Steve Milbocker]

“He mentioned he included a composite sporter stock.”

Tell Max for me that a custom built rifle by an obviously loving uncle deserves a beautiful piece of walnut! This is one helluva fine gesture sir.