Custom Rail for Anschutz Sights

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  • Rayne

    Grandmaster
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    5   0   0
    Jan 3, 2011
    14,945
    48
    Former Tree Sniper
    This journey began almost a year ago when I was competing in the Blue Grass State Games and was offered the use of an Anschutz Match Rifle to level the playing field between myself and a friendly wager I had going with a fellow instructor. I absolutely fell in love with the sights on that rifle. Oh the rifle was nice, but I already had a tack driver at home. Now my girl is just an old Marlin 25N but she is amazing when I do my part. All I needed were some match style sights for her.

    The problem with match style sights is that the rails are usually in a metric European style dovetail and my plain jane sure didn’t match up with them. So what to do? What any other INGO member would do, that needs something custom built, call Allen at Diamond Collision.

    I handed Allen a rifle and a set of sights and asked him to figure out a way to mount them. A gentleman named Deene is a friend of Allen’s and works with him on gunsmith projects. Deene took the lead on this project and it turned out amazing. Below are a series of pictures of the progress and how they took a hunk of aluminum and turned it into a custom rail for my girl.

    They start out by cutting a dovetail into an aluminum block and fit it to the receiver.

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    Putting the dovetail on top and rough fit it.

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    A problem arose at this point. I needed to be with the rifle to custom fit it to my length of pull and head placement. The problem is I live almost two hours from Diamond Collision. We tried measuring off other rifles but Allen, Deene and I, all felt it was important for me to get my hands on the rifle and set the sights where I need them instead of making an educated guess.

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    I was ready to head to Indy when I remembered that 308Jake and Brown, who live near Diamond Collision, were coming to a Revere’s Rider’s event in Bedford that I was working the next day. Brown gave her a ride down and 308Jake took her back. Thanks fellas for your help.

    Below you can see the blue makers where we placed the rail and sight, marking them in case there would be any bumps or movement during transportation that would change where I set them. I do need to thank Unbridled Liberty, who has this type of sights on his match rifle, for his guidance on how to place them.

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    This is what she looked like after they removed the extra material, cutting out the ejection port and bolt area. Now it’s really beginning to take shape.

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    The sights needed to be as low as possible and they lowered the rail as much as they could without ruining the integrity and strength of the rail.

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    Next mounting the front globe sight. Again a hunk of aluminum was milled into a custom fit sight block.

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    Deene worked his magic and just look at the results.

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    Here is the finished product. All dolled up and finished. Isn’t she just beautiful!

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    Look at the precise machining done to create the clearance for the bolt handle.

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    Here are a few more close-ups.

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    This rifle was always a great shooter and I am generally a 2 MOA shooter using only a sling for support. This set up was shooting 1 MOA groups this evening as I zeroed her in. These sights have a learning curve and I need a smaller front insert as this one was too large for the distance and target size I was shooting. I’m convinced after a little bit of time with her and finding her favorite ammo she can be a 1/2 MOA rifle if I do my part.


    I have no way of thanking Deene and Allen for figuring out how to get these sights to work on my rifle. Not only did they make it work, they made it look professional. If you need custom work done or any type of gunsmith work done, don’t hesitate to call Allen and Deene at Diamond Collision. I can’t say enough good things about my experience with them and I shouldn’t have to. The pictures of their work above speaks volumes. My girl looks Beautiful.
     

    Rayne

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    5   0   0
    Jan 3, 2011
    14,945
    48
    Former Tree Sniper
    That is some great work.
    I am glad that the "sock" is serving you well and you are getting great use out of her. :)

    It all started because you were so generous to sell me this little Marlin for a steal. She has made a lot of riflemen in the Appleseed program when it was active in Indiana and has qualified a few at Revere's Riders events too. Now her days with revolve around competing with me.
     

    308jake

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    78   0   0
    Feb 5, 2010
    2,442
    63
    Brownsburg
    The best thing I've seen since someone dropped off a pecan pie. :D

    That set set up really does look sharp, and I hope you beat him this year....sorry UL but you don't bake.
     

    db1959

    Resident Dumbass I
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Jan 4, 2011
    82,424
    99
    In a garage
    It all started because you were so generous to sell me this little Marlin for a steal. She has made a lot of riflemen in the Appleseed program when it was active in Indiana and has qualified a few at Revere's Riders events too. Now her days with revolve around competing with me.

    I am glad that Miss Marlin Socks is getting used, it makes me happy. :) I knew she would have a great life with you.
     

    Rayne

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    5   0   0
    Jan 3, 2011
    14,945
    48
    Former Tree Sniper
    RAYNE!!!!

    Now show the cheek riser. :)

    Yes, she's had a bit more custom work done to her. I've done these custom stock riser on four 10/22's before but cutting into this older Marlin gave me pause. I knew I'd have a hard time replacing this stock if I truly messed up on her.

    We started out strapping her down in a rifle sled and drilling two pilot holes for the bolts before cutting the stock piece out. I had made a paper template that we taped to the comb that gave us a guide for placing the holes and cutting the stock.

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    Everything was sanded down smooth.

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    We needed to use a locking nut to screw the the wood slotted insert nuts into the hard oak stock. If not you will break the soft brass insert nut. We also have to drill the holes out bigger to accommodate the insert.

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    Here is what it looks like finished. I opted to keep the riser flat and parallel with the barrel verses the downward slant it was in, which is why I put uneven spacers in. We also drilled the holes at the top a bit bigger so that the socket cap screws would be counter sunk. At this point you need to take it all apart and stain and varnish the bare wood.

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    Here is the finished product.

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    Now as beautiful as I think she looks, she's just a hilljack like me, but she shoots just fine and we held our own at the match we shoot yesterday. I continue to struggle with the learning curve of these sights and making changes to get comfortable behind her. We're getting closer to that comfortable place and when we get there is will be glorious.
     
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