It Ain't A Levergun - My January Project

[JimT]

Back before Christmas I was in Walmart and saw the Savage Model 62 on sale for less than $100.00. Well .. I couldn't pass it up so I bought one. It's a nice accurate .22 rifle and I have been collecting bits and pieces of things to do some custom work on it.



The first thing I did was lighten the spring on the magazine release. It was HEAVY. But it also was a quick easy fix.

I also removed the sling studs from the stock and filled in the holes.

I wanted to put an aperture sight on it and looked around until I saw the rear sight assembly for the little Crickett .22 rifle. I ordered on of those.



Then I cut a dovetail into the side of the receiver so the sight can slide up and down to adjust elevation.



I drilled and tapped the receiver for the lock screw. Ain't pretty but it will do until I get a better one.



I decided to take 4 1/4" inches off the barrel, leaving it 16 3/4" long. I cut a dovetail for the new front sight, installed a Marbles sight and cut the barrel off.



I polished the end of the barrel and used a 45 degree reamer on the muzzle.



I may shorten the forend later. I want to shoot it some first and see how I like it.



I shot it on my indoor range and have it centered as far as windage. It will go to the range soon.

[JerryB]

You made a fine looking little rifle out it, Savage should put that on the market.

[crs]

My Cricket .22 has that same type peep.
My kids, grand kids, and some of their friends learned to shoot with it. It is tucked away in the safe until next needed.

[JimT]

My Cricket .22 has that same type peep.
My kids, grand kids, and some of their friends learned to shoot with it. It is tucked away in the safe until next needed.

That is a great sight. They sell the entire assembly ... it would work well on many rifles.

[M. M. Wright]

Thanks Jim. So important to get those kids started off right. I need to figure out an adjustable length butt to allow different size kids to fit the rifle. Any ideas?

[JimT]

Thanks Jim. So important to get those kids started off right. I need to figure out an adjustable length butt to allow different size kids to fit the rifle. Any ideas?

Sorry.. I don't know much of anything anout that... Yiu might try some of the "slip on" recoil pads? Add something in them to make the length correct? Or maybe someone on this forum has abetter idea.

[ollogger]

Nice handy work, you now have a slick little rig!


Brad

[AJMD429]

Thanks Jim. So important to get those kids started off right. I need to figure out an adjustable length butt to allow different size kids to fit the rifle. Any ideas?

It would be a totally different direction, but we wound up using a CAR-15 with a 22 LR adapter. It was the ONLY gun (even including 'kids' guns) that truly had a short enough stock the kid didn't have to stick it in his/her armpit to shoot (watch a 4-6 year old kid trying to use most 'kids' rifles). The high sights helped the kid not have to scrunch their head down un-naturally low, and the rugged design meant they couldn't mess it up (the bird-cage flash hider was more than once seen clogged with mud but the bore stayed open). Plus - it looks 'cool' (although my kids liked leverguns better - but couldn't actually hit the target with them, or our bolt-action cut-down 'kids' gun, nearly as well as with the CAR-15. When the kid grows up enough, you take the 22 LR adapter out and use regular 223.....

[Nath]

I like it, can't wait for the testing reports

N.

[M. M. Wright]

Great idea Jim. The kids have an airsoft AR around here that has an adjustable CAR style stock on it that I can rob for the project. There are several single shot 22s in our stuff so I'll probably modify one to take the CAR stock.

[mikld]

Good Job! I'm in the "thinkin' phase" of a 22 semi-auto truck gun and like your customization...

[2ndovc]

Cool! I was given a Model 62 a couple years ago. Looked like it had been left on the beach somewhere. I painted the plastic stock and put a new trigger spring kit in it and it shoots surprisingly well. I like your carbine conversion!

jb

[Griff]

[Francosonny1120]

I just bought the same riffle 3 days ago and put a 3 X 9 CP Scope on it. At 100 yards you can put 5 for 5 the size of a dime, this riffle rocks and is so accurate. BTW, nice shooting open sights at 200 yards.