Homemade savage AICS

[PandaBearBG]

Hi new to the forums, I have some guns but just recently took a step into the bolt gun world when I found a Savage 110 (pre-accutrigger) in 30.06, with 4x scope, 120 rnds of Federal Premium 168 bthp Sierra Matchking/Remington 165 psp CoreLokt for only $330 + shipping! STEAL! I took it to the range and it shot like a champ! I added a 20 MOA rail, so I could add a 6x20x50mm rifle scope ($36 Baska ebayed) bipod, and 4 Burris rings (maybe over kill but it keeps it solid) and it was producing much tighter groups. Anyways the thing shoots like a champ but it is UGLY as hell, so I decided get a better stock, unfortunatly stocks are $$ and I want to spend that on a better caliber/rifle in the future, so I decided why not play around and upgrade my existing stock. Fear of blowing my face off, I stayed away from the barrel channel, bedding, screws, action, trigger, anything vital. I added some fitted Douglas fir (strong and flexible wood), finished it off with some fiberglass and bondo (so its smooth) and gave her a good 25 yd toss and she pinwheeled end over end and is solid as a rock. I was going for the pricey AICS look and the thumbhole/pistol grip is much more comfortable.

I'm jsut looking for some input/comments/bashing on my little stock job. I love it and is very comfortable to shoot. Before you lay into me too much remember it basicly cost me $20 bucks instead of $950 a real AICS who by the way doesn't make any savage stocks.

What is looked like before (not mine but almost exactly alike)


What it looks like now

 

[MrCleanOK]

If you're really into the look, more power to you. That is pretty decent bondo work.

FWIW, I think the AICS is ugly as sin, but it has to be to incorporate the features which make it a good tactical stock. Your stock has all of the ugly, and looks to have very few of the features. Wouldn't be worth it to me. But, that's why it's on your gun and not mine. Go shoot the hell out of it and have fun!

 

[Deer Hunter]

Kudos!

But, how does it shoot?

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Thats very cool, I like the look of the AICS stock.

 

[praharin]

Observations:

The reach from the grip to the trigger looks too short.

The length of pull looks too long.

The cheek piece is essentially unusable without the cheek rest you have added to it. Sharp edges, from what I can see.

The area next to the ejection port could probably be lowered to allow (A little bit) easier access

 

[gvnwst]

Actually, that looks really good. Much better than most of the bondo stock jobs one sees.

 

[handle02]

I think you did a hell of a job with your homemade stock! As far as looks goes.....lets just say to each his own.

 

[jerkface11]

You can use the money you saved to put a good barrel on it too.

 

[praharin]

Savage barrels are some of the best in the business though... ?

 

[jerkface11]

I wouldn't say that. Their barrels are probably on par with most other manufacturers though. However it's so easy to switch to a Shillen that there isn't a good reason not to.

 

[PandaBearBG]

The main reason I wanted the stock change as I stated was the vertical grip, and I chose AICS design vs McMillian or whatever is because I wanted as much as the original stock to run thru the entire thing for a solid structure, I am by no means a gunsmith or stock maker. It is more comfortable to shoot and is far from a tactical stock, its doesnt have the indestructable internal skeleton or light weight of a real AICS, I just punch paper.

The grip is a little over 1 1/2' wide so the trigger pull fits my hands just right
-praharlin-
Observations:

The reach from the grip to the trigger looks too short.

**The grip is a little over 1 1/2' wide so the trigger pull fits my hands just right, I measure and fiddled around before any construction cuz I know its important

The length of pull looks too long.

**well its a long action so the bolt is long and the pull is long, I have a very large frame so the length of the stock is perfect for me. I added a pic of its pull.

The cheek piece is essentially unusable without the cheek rest you have added to it. Sharp edges, from what I can see.

**The cheek piece is just a bunch of chopped up glued together mousepads just so I can get the proper height for a good solid cheekweld, its soft and grippy, I was looking for something more aestheticly pleasing but it works quite well.

The area next to the ejection port could probably be lowered to allow (A little bit) easier access

**The immediate area around the port and basicly the entire action is the original rifle as you can see in my little diagram, I was too afraid to cut or do anything besides paint those parts in case I screwed with the strenght or integrity of the stock. I wanted to make sure it would stand up to the recoil!

I appreciate the feedback fellas! like i said this whole setup probably cost me $400 thats including 120 rnds so its teaching me some lessons of what works for me and what doesn't before I buy something serious.

Red is what I added and green is what was removed. The original stock runs thru the whole thing to ensure solidarity.

 

[praharin]

If it fits you run with it, as that's what really matters. I never held it, obviously, so I was just making observations based on sight.

The area I meant could be radiused (on the stock, not the steel) just outside the action. It just seems to add too much material around the action, which is otherwise obscured by the optics. Opening that up with a little removal of the stock material would make clearing a malfunction or reloading a little easier. I didn't mean to sound like I was advocating altering the receiver, my fault for not being clear on that.

Again, if you like how it runs now, leave it and have fun.

 

[JDGray]

One thing for sure....That scope ain't movin!!
And you can even put another ring in there for good measure

 

[PandaBearBG]

praharin, you mean rounding it out? the area, maybe droppin it down an 1/8 or 1/4 inch so a bit more of the action is exposed? This is my first bolt and I haven't dealt with a jam, do you think it would improve loading and clearing? I appreciate the advice, I'll have to give her a look over, but that sounds like a fine idea, if I do alter it more I will let you know. Thanks!! Any ideas from more practiced guys is always welcome!

 

[MAX100]

You did a very good job for your first try. I see stock manufacturing in your future.

Round the top of the butt stock over.

What does it weight?


GC

 

[PandaBearBG]

Thanks MAX100, appreciate the vote of confidence. Don't have scale but heavier than than it started, weighs roughly the same as my Mosin 91/30, mostly cuz the scope, the stock was maybe, MAYBE a half lb heavier than the original. But like I said, its a bench rifle for me and the added weight helps with the recoil. The flat buttstock is the same on the AICS and it looks a little different but I am going to keep it and tape down my dope sheet on it, its the perfect place, easily seen and I can keep my head and rifle in relatively the same position if I have to make adjustments.

** Thanks JDGray, just wanted to make sure that scope stayed put!