T
tomo
Guest
So, I decided that I was going to put together a 280 Ackley on a Savage action for my son. I bought a cheap donor Savage LA at Wal Mart because it was actually cheaper the buying an action. I also ordered up a stainless Shilen match grade tube that they finished up a tad over 26". A few weeks later I came across a good buy on a 116 American Classic in .270. It is a very nice piece, nicely finished, and was on "closeout" at our local Sportsman's Warehouse. I bought it, and sold the Wal Mart rifle thinking I would just put the Shilen tube on it, a recoil lug, and call it good. Since the 116 had a nice stock on it, as well as a nicely polished action, it would save me a few bucks over adding polish and a decent stock to the Wal Mart unit. While I was waiting for the Shilen barrel to get here I decided to take the 116 to the range for a test drive. I loaded a few .270 rounds that performed reasonably well in other rifles and set off to the range. Long story short - this is the best shooting factory rifle I have ever seen, and I have owned more than my fair share of them. I am not touching this thing for fear that the Shilen barrel will make it shoot worse! It cannot be made any better. To date I have fired nearly 20 5 shot groups out of it of various bullet weights and powder charges and not a single group has printed over an inch, and most are less than half of that. Not bad for a $550 skinny barrel closeout. Sometimes ya just get lucky.