Curly Wolf Gunsmith, Shelton, WA.

[Blacktail Sniper]

If anyone is looking for a smith in the Olympia or Puget Sound area, I can say these folks are great people to work with and seem to do some very top-notch work at what I thought was a decent price.

Took my Savage 12FV in .223 in to have the barrel chopped to 20" and a new crown cut.  Also have the chamber checked and a small burr polished out.  I figured since I got it on the Cabela's sale and the rebate, it was worth throwing a few dollars at it to see what I could come up with in the end.

Went to the shop and met Gary, he was very nice, lots of knowledge and willing to share, answered questions in a very laid back and relaxed manner.  Got a tour of his shop and an overview of how he does things and why he does them in that way.

Picked my rifle up on Friday, very happy with the results.  Barrel and chamber work came out to $181.00 out the door. 

The .223 next to the 6.5CM and a picture of the uncut 6.5 crown and the new .223 crown.

[bullfisher]

Nice,
What was the turnaround time?

[Blacktail Sniper]

A month, but part of that was my being unavailable due to surgery during that time, which added a week on the back end.

[Brushbuster]

I was out Tuesday & dropped off 2 guns for work. Gary is making a thread protector for one. Both guns will have bolts disassembled & cleaned & some trigger adjustments done. Very happy with his work & enjoyed visiting with him. He told me about 3 weeks but I am not really in a hurry. 

[762Armo]

Why'd you chop it down?

[Blacktail Sniper]

Why'd you chop it down?

These things are terribly nose heavy with the 26" barrel, in any caliber.  This helped some with the balance and I don't think there is a whole lot to be gained or lost, generally speaking, between 20" - 26" as far as velocity and usability in the .223 for my intents & purposes.

It is not intended to be hunted with, I have a Remington 788 in .22-250 for that.

Instead, it is strictly meant to be an experimental platform, that in the outside worse case scenario, since it is a Savage, a new barrel can be had and screwed on with little fuss & muss.

Also, since it was $219.00 + tax after sale price and rebate, what better one to experiment with? 

[762Armo]

Why'd you chop it down?

These things are terribly nose heavy with the 26" barrel, in any caliber.  This helped some with the balance and I don't think there is a whole lot to be gained or lost, generally speaking, between 20" - 26" as far as velocity and usability in the .223 for my intents & purposes.

It is not intended to be hunted with, I have a Remington 788 in .22-250 for that.

Instead, it is strictly meant to be an experimental platform, that in the outside worse case scenario, since it is a Savage, a new barrel can be had and screwed on with little fuss & muss.

Also, since it was $219.00 + tax after sale price and rebate, what better one to experiment with?

They are heavy rifles. I have the same rifle, what are your other plans?
I want a better stock and a mag conversion for mine to start.

[Blacktail Sniper]

I am not unhappy with the stock to the point of replacement just yet.  I do want to clean-up the barrel channel and bed the action.

Also take some of that hollow sound out of the buttstock and maybe add a little weight to more even out the balance.

A detachable mag is on the radar, but leaning more towards stock Savage parts for the conversion vs the more expensive after market options.

Somewhere along the the line have to get some optics for it also...

[762Armo]

I have a Primary Arms Scope on mine. I think you'd like it too.