Tripping Over (T)'s - Savage Less Telescope

[CINDERS]

I sorta played with my T with the bag up the front like yours pictured and the groups were not what I considered very good so I ditched the bag and went prone with it and shot a clover leaf 3 shotter at 100m you may want to invest in a repro WWII adjustable sling as a standard one is rubbish on a T (Of the type as pictured on my S51 '44). This one was made by one of the club members but has since been swapped out with one I purchased from the USA you could buy a WWII one but all the ones I have seen are badly crazed and would probably tear apart unless they have been exceedingly well looked after. Hand-loads may get you better groupings as well Mk VII ammo now is getting collectible and may be a bit erratic in ignition. Nice looking rifle.

[martin08]

I think that I will look for a reproduction sling. It won't be original, but it will be a proper accessory.

And I have hundreds of rifles, but none are more photogenic than this Savage. It has warm wood tones, shapely lines and lustrous metal finish. So here are a few more pics of the repro mount bracket and Weaver scope from this Christmas morning. Enjoy.

[husk]

Nice Savage! Thanks for posting detailed pictures.

[Brian Dick]

Can you move the scope so both cradles are behind the turret? Seems like the eye relief might be a bit dicey.

[CINDERS]

I was going to say something about that but as I did not know Martin08's shooting style he may have set this up to his eye relief me I would be a bit hesitant to shoot that set up prone and not end up with the Weatherby ring of confidence.
But in looking at it the scopes location it would have your head pushed back and having a consistent cheek weld could be an issue which is why there may have been verticals in the grouping as you may be looking up into or down into the scope and not through it if you follow my reasoning.

[martin08]

With the Weaver K2.5-1, there is no way to place the scope rings between the turret base and rear bell - lacking by nearly 3/4". To acquire full scope view on the bench, it is necessary to position cheek weld at the rear mounting screw position of the cheek piece. Any further rearward and the optics position would not allow for practical application. Prone position is not impossible, but uncomfortable for the need to crane rearward with the neck.

Eye relief was a topic of concern, which I raised a couple of weeks ago on a Gunboards thread.

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthre...ye-Relief-Talk

But since I already possessed the K2.5 scope, nothing was risked monetarily. I am, however, considering alternatives. The No.32 Mk I reproduction is assuredly a possibility, though still not cheap. A Weaver K4 would also be a choice, as it has enough clearance between the turrets and rear bell to mount properly forward.

No real need to spend $2,000 or more on an authentic No.32, as my gun will always be a (T) Less Telescope. No optic package will ever be truly 'correct'.

[Peter Laidler]

Really don't understand that last sentence........... A No4T without a telescope is in effect a bog standard No4. Just like a Ford Taxi without a taxi sign is just a Ford car. You need to look at the bigger picture and see your glass as half empty and needs filling as opposed to half full so why worry. Just my opinion of course. I know that telescopes ain't not cheap but they're out there waiting for you to find one

[martin08]

I may be leaning too hard on the technical term, 'less telescope', Peter. And I can most certainly appreciate your view of the matter. One day, an original No.32 may come along, and I may snag it.

But sometimes I am a too much of a stickler on the purist end. Even if I find a correct bracket and scope, they will never transform my No. 4 into a full-fledged (T) in my mind. If H&H would have finished the optics fitting, I would be in hot pursuit of the right stuff.

For now, and as long as I don't have to alter it in any way, I will be having fun stretching it out to my personal limits. It's a joy to shoot!

[Brian Dick]

A correct bracket and scope WILL transform your rifle into a full fledged (T), in my opinion anyhow. Sure; it'll never have the finish "T", examiner's stamps and serial numbers stamped on but if the bracket is fitted correctly, it'll be the same thing from the performance perspective. In time, I'd guess the valuation will be nearly as much as a numbers matched unit. My 2 cents.

[CINDERS]

It started down the "T" trail just did not quite make the end as I am sure work would have been done on the stocking up of it as is attested by the penciled No.'s underneath the top wood. Then fitting up of the pads as per MoD instructions so its probably 90% there and allot better proposition that just a bog standard 4 pretending to be a T. Guess its a bit like half a hot rod waiting for that last bit to complete it.