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‘Pulled the Trigger’

Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
5,248
178
Ross County, Ohio
I recently upgraded my 2017 regular sporting barrel $229.00 ‘Savage Arms' Axis XL Bolt/Short Action WIN .308 Rifle. My rifle build...

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I created this thread specifically to share my experience for anyone who may also consider much the same in the future. Considering all the different investments and time that I put into this rifle, my impression of the final product is that I'm absolutely thrilled with it. I have no regrets in taking this budget rifle and making it into a sharp shooting firearm.

_____________________________________________

While online back in April, a Coyote colored Boyds ‘At-One’ stock was up for auction on Ebay.com. I placed a single bid and won that auction. The purchase for the stock was considerably less than what it was through Boyds at the time.

Savage308.jpg


Finial Build Configuration:
  • SightMark Core SX 10-40x56 Riflescope w/ 4" Sunshade & Butler Creek Scope Covers
  • Weaver Tactical 6 Hole Low Profile 30mm Rings attached to Weaver 20 MOA Base Rail
  • Timney Trigger polished and set to a crisp 2lbs.
  • 10 Round Extended Capacity Magazine
  • Glades Armory Bolt Handle
  • Witt Machine Slip-on Muzzle Break
  • STNGR 5-Slot M-Lok Aluminum Picatinny Rail
  • 2 - TipTop Tactical Rifle Bipod Quicklock EZ Pivot & PAN 9" - 13" & 13.5" - 27" Picatinny Mount Quick Action, Extendable, Folding, with Sling-attached Hole
  • Wicked Lights W403iC & ScanPro iC Red Night Hunting Light and Headlamp Combo Pack for Predator, Varmint & Hog Hunting
  • Blend-in Ultimate Grip Anti-Slip Quick detach Rifle Gun Sling (Black)
My intended purpose for the new Boyds ‘At-One’ stock was for three reasons;
  1. To improve the accuracy and consistency of the rifle over the original synthetic stock.
  2. To be able to shoot longer range, 500 yards or better
  3. To adjust stock setting with ease for a different shooter
I purchased additional upgrades directly from Boyds, such as;
  • Oversized ‘Target Palm Handle & Forearm Grip’
  • ‘Steel Black Matte Trigger Guard’ (to replace the standard plastic trigger guard, which is known to break when the action screws are torqued to the recommended rifle manufacture specifications or used over time in colder conditions)
I also purchased through 'V3Precision.com' an upgraded aluminum magazine catch plate steel pillar kit.

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The rifle is now pillared with a full action glass bed within the new Boyds stock. I also went ahead and glass bedded the new Boyds steel trigger guard to make it perfectly flush with the stock surface rather than recessed.

Through the entire project, I documented each process that I took. I've made that document available online. A complete tutorial in what I did to pillar and glass bed my 'Savage Arms' rifle action into my new Boyds stock, including bedding the trigger guard.

Anyone interested in a copy of my document and use it as a guide for most any kind of wooden stock upgrade, then click the following link below.

First, there is no guarantee of success implied by following these steps or using these products. This is not meant to be a product endorsement, or recommendation – nor should it replace the manufacturer's instructions on any products used. Always fully read, understand and follow the manufacturer's instructions on any products used prior to starting any project. If you choose to complete this project, using this document, you are doing so at your own risk. Do your own research prior to taking on this project.

With that in mind, I will also make myself available to answer any questions to try to help in anyway possible regarding any of the information that I am providing.

'Pulled the Trigger' - https://view.publitas.com/wildlifeoh...d-the-trigger/
_____________________________________________

RANGE DATA:

Wife shooting steel target @300 yards.

Me shooting steel targets @300, 400 & 500 yards.

10 shots @ 100 yard paper target.
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Different day, similar weather conditions: 8 shots w/ synthetic stock vs. 10 shots w/ Boyds stock that's pillared & glass bedded.
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By no means do I consider myself any type of a sharp shooter, however you can distinctly tell that there is a significant and a more consistent improvement over the original synthetic stock configuration.

The rifle performed flawlessly each time I've taken it out.

Thanks and good luck!
 
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Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
5,248
178
Ross County, Ohio
Appreciate the nice comments guys,,,

I see that I needed to do some further edits in some of the wording, but it was late for me last night when I put it together. Like I said, I hope that the overall information is beneficial for anyone who decides to take their rifle to the next level as did I.

Thank you!
 
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Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,835
260
Appreciate the nice comments guys,,,

I see that I needed to do some further edits in some of the wording, but it was late for me last night when I put it together. Like I said, I hope that the overall information is beneficial for anyone who decides to take their rifle to the next level as did I.

Thank you!

Awesome write up man and that rifle looks sweet. I promoted this to a front page article do display it more prominently. Thank you for taking the time to do such a detailed writeup.
 

Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
5,248
178
Ross County, Ohio
Some additional work that I did that allows me to quickly change out the two different size bipods for the rifle.

First off, I am a fan of the 'TipTop' bipods. I own two of them at different lengths (TipTop Tactical Rifle Bipod Quicklock EZ Pivot & PAN 9" - 13" & 13.5" - 23" Picatinny Mount Quick Action, Extendable, Folding, with Sling-attached Hole) that I purchased prior to my Boyds stock upgrade. I appreciate the ease of changing them out or removing them on the fly if need be, plus the quality and performance for the price suited me quite well.

So, instead of purchasing the "Boyd's 'At-One' Bottom Cap with Picatinny Rail Section" for $61.00 plus shipping, I choose to purchase a STNGR 5-Slot M-Lok Aluminum Picatinny Rail Section Accessory through Amazon Prime for $14.99 with free shipping.

Once I received the new rail, I went ahead and made a few modifications to that and my Boyd's 'At-One' "Oversized Forearm Grip" as a solution for my quick disconnect 'TipTop' bipods. Basically about 20 minutes of physical work and enough time to allow some bonding epoxy to set up. Then a little cleanup afterwards.

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Tools and products that I used was a Dremel with carving & grinder bit, exacto knife, allens, some masking tape, Brownell's release agent, some decent epoxy compound mix and a little bit of patience.

All in all, I'm satisfied how it turned out and it obviously performed perfectly after a recent shoot. I can easily take the rail off at anytime, which I really don't intend to. Now I can easily change between the two different bipods that I have depending on what I intend on doing with the rifle that day, hunting or target shooting.
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Again, I wanted to share as a possible solution for anyone else to save a little money and still get the same results if not better. Don't hesitate in contacting me if you have any questions about anything that I did for my Axis rifle build. I'd be happy to help out if I can.
 

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giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
How’s it perform on coyotes?

At what ranges do you prefer to shoot them with this set up?

Was that factory ammo?

Keep the pics coming man! You do a great job at capturing the moment.
 
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Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
5,248
178
Ross County, Ohio
How’s it perform on coyotes?

At what ranges do you prefer to shoot them with this set up?

Was that factory ammo?

Keep the pics coming man! You do a great job at capturing the moment.

I have approximately 1000+ acres total that I hunt that can vary in range for me (from 50 -500+ yards). Typically though, I try my very best to call them into me as close as possible, wait/try to get them to stop to take the shot.

Depending on where I'm hunting, I may take two rifles with me, my Savage Axis WIN .308 & my 12 gauge Beretta semi-auto shotgun. Both will destroy a coyote!

Beretta 12g A390 Semi-Auto w/ 3" Federal Premium #4 Buck Magnum 41 Pellets Ammunition.

BerettaA390.jpg


For my Savage Axis WIN .308 I use Federal American Eagle - Varmint & Predator 130 grain JHP.

308 130gr.jpg
 
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Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
What made you decide to build a .308 yote gun? Seems most guys prefer a smaller, faster round. I also have that same light and it performs well.
 
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Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
5,248
178
Ross County, Ohio
What made you decide to build a .308 yote gun? Seems most guys prefer a smaller, faster round. I also have that same light and it performs well.

It was on sale at the local retailer (dirt cheap), plus I also groundhog/boar hunt as well.

I have no desire of dealing with the dead yotes or even the groundhogs. Not worth the time considering today's market. I just try to thin them out to save the deer in my area and to help out some of the farmers with the groundhogs. I've boar hunted in the past with my bow & my Marlin 30-30. The Marlin does a fantastic job on the boars. Dropped them in their tracks. I expect the .308 to do much same.
 
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giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Not to side track at all, but this is what happened when I got bug dope on my rifle with the duracoat. Took me a minute to figure out what happened...then it happened to my shotgun.
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I believe I used this gun twice after the new paint job and it looked like this. Once to sight it in and once on a moose hunt. Very disappointing...
 

Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
5,248
178
Ross County, Ohio
A YouTube playlist of coyotes in my area if anyone wishes to see them in action.

I also have several still trail camera photos of them as well. In two of those videos, you'll get to see one of them carrying off a fresh newborn fawn just yards from my home. I've had them spoil many of my hunts over the years. I also find all kinds of different age groups of deer carcass (presumed killed by them. A few I know for fact were killed by them.) while in the field much to often.

I really enjoy hunting them late in winter time, both day and night. I take them each time an opportunity presents itself while deer hunting or any other. I'm more of a novice coyote hunter than any other even though I've killed several already. I've taken up coyote hunting more seriously just over the past year and half. Something I wish I got into sooner!

HUNT0028.JPG


https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX-1JMYXAH9PUXvclqLpkp0bjYK2_Qn1v
 
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