New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

[Hogstooth]

Hey guys
I'm conducting an eval of a rifle that was built by Mark Williams (Triple 6) of Old Lodge Armory, Mark is also a machinist by trade and it shows in his work. Here are the specs of the rifle followed up by some pictures, I will be shooting this rifle over the next couple of months from 100 to 1000yds. I will continue to add to this as I shoot it, currently I don't have any pricing so you will have to contact him if you are interested in any barrel work or full builds.

Mark Williams
Old Lodge Armory
540 239-6285
[email protected]

Here are the specs of the build:
Remington 700 SA blueprinted
Badger Bolt knob
Heavy recoil lug
Krieger 1/11.25 @ 26" 4 groove and MTU
Chambered in 308 Win.
McMillan A4 stock with adj cheek/length of pull
Flush cups and bipod stud
Badger Ordnance M5 magazine system with 1 5rd magazine
LaRue 1pc 20MOA rail

When I recieved the rifle I just gave it a once over and it looked really good on the machining and finish, I wouldn't pick these colors for a build but now that I have had the rifle for a couple of weeks it has grown on me a little.

I mounted my S&B 3-12 and installed my Harris bipod, filled the magazine with 5 dummy rounds and cycled them thru the action with no problems. Next I headed to the range to get her sighted in, the rifle had zero rounds thru it, so I conducted a five round break in. I cleaned in between each shot while I was getting it sighted in and moving it to the center. Once I shot the five rounds I shot 4 five round groups as an initial test of the accuracy and WOW!! I used two different kinds of ammo and chrongraphed each load for 10 shots thru an Ohler 35, the diamonds that I used are 11/16" so roughly 3/4"

First group of Fed GM 168gr ammo

2nd group of Fed GM 168gr ammo

Readings for the 10 shots
Hi 2704
Lo 2656
Ave 2678
ES 48fps
SD 15

I then shot 10rds of Black Hills Match 175gr, the rifle liked the 175's alot better and gave better readings.

1st group BH 175gr.

2nd group BH 175gr.

Here are the chronograph results
Hi 2703
Lo 2667
Ave 2688
ES 36fps
SD 11

I plan on shooting the rifle for accuracy to 1000yds on paper, I will shoot it at 300yds this friday and post up the groups.

If you have any questions about the post or the rifle I will try to answer them as best I can, I didn't build the gun so anything technical you will have to direct them to Mark.

 

[Trigger Monkey]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

Nice, it's always good to know that there's a smith that looks like they know what they're doing here in the state.

 

[Raven 6]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

I want to think Sean for putting in the time and effort to give this rifle a complete shake down. His background in the shooting community as a shooter and instructor is part of the reason I ask him to do this for us, and his tips and pointers are priceless. As Sean stated, I am Machinist by trade and have been for 15 years with a background in a job shop producing parts for such companies as ITT/Alcatel, Va Tech University Research Depts, and a diversity of others on both manual and CNC machines. I have had an FFL and built custom rifles on a local level for 8-10 years, but about a year ago I joined forces with another local shop owner, Len Fagan. Len has had a long background in the firearms industry for many years. Len teaches Gunsmithing classes at Montgomery Community College in North Carolina on a full time basis during the school year. And spends weekends and other free time at the shop. Len is great on a 700, but loves to build AR's and 1911's. Thanks Again for a great intro Sean.

Mark Williams

 

[Jon Lester]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

Where is Old Lodge Armory? SW Va isn't that big of a place.

 

[Raven 6]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

Our shop is located in Willis Va, which is a small community of Floyd county. I live in Pulaski County.

 

[Mgordon]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

There is a ton of talent with this partnership and it looks like they are producing some great rifles!!! Between Mark and Len, it looks like they have been in the industry for quite some time. I know Len has worked with and for some pretty great companies and has acquired lots of real world know how.

Len has a wealth of knowledge and is exceptional with the AR platform. My goal in life is to school Len one day.....haha

I dont know if/when that will happen though.

Mark

 

[Raven 6]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

Hey guys I thought I'd put up a few pictures of some of the machining that was done on this rifle and a few pictures of it during assembly before painting of the action. We're open and taking work.

Re-Cutting threads, face, lug shoulders.

After machining on action and bolt.

Barrel threaded, parkerized and company logo.

Assembled and bedded in stock.

Ready for Gun Kote baked on finish.

 

[nashlaw]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

Good work, gents! I like the looks of the rig.

What is the color mix on the stock- I think it looks good.

 

[Raven 6]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

If I remember correctly it's 65% Med Brown, 20% Lt. Brown, and 15% Tan.

 

[AlabamaShooter]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

I like that swirly, looks like Alabama clay. Great lookin rifle!
Im sure Sean will run her hard.

 

[Raven 6]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

I just finished up a customers rifle and thought I'd post up a few pics. Complete build using customers Action and PSS Stock. Blueprinted, Krieger MTU, Bedded Etc.

I'll get some targets up tomorrow from the 100 and 200yrd line.

 

[Hogstooth]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

Got to shoot the "Brown Rifle" out to 600yds yesterday on R4 and it did pretty well using Fed GM 175gr match ammo. At 300yds I wish I had shot a little better, and at 600yds I had about an 8 mph gusting wind to contend with so the group strung left to right quite a bit. I will post up pics tommorow of the groups, and I will be shooting it with handloads this weekend at my Precision Scoped Rifle class. There I will be able to get it out to 800yds or a little more, if I have time, will post pics of any targets from the class next week.

 

[Hogstooth]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

BTT, will be posting the results of shooting here soon, got it out to 800yds gota get my pics off my phone

 

[Sniper52]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

Glad to see some local guys doing some good looking work. I'll have to be in touch soon to see about doing some work on a couple of my rifles. JAA

 

[NOMAD]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

Thanks for the heads up!!

PS Sean when you get done fouling the barrel up and need some accuracy testing done with it send it over and I will get you some quality groups!!

 

[Raven 6]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

Sniper 52, you might want to get that work done and get over to RRRC for the egg shoot they have in the spring. Big Fun

 

[Hogstooth]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

My initial groups out of the gun were at Quantico R4 for the club rec fire, I shot two at 300yds and two at 600yds

300yds

2nd group at 300yds Grip, I do the same thing with a handgun string 1to7

600yds
I didn't do very well at 600 but here are the groups, I don't account these groups to the rifle, I didn't start very well at 300 so I think I just kinda wasn't in the grove.

Well I couldn't get these to download in a timely manner so I will post them tommorow?


I shot a few groups while I was teaching my last PSR I course down in NC using the rifle as a demo
300yds 3 shots slow fire and 3 shots at a sustained rate

800yds didn't give it nearly enough wind but the group is good, the orange circle thru the paper is 3", still getting a little separation on my shots.

 

[Sniper52]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

triple 6, That egg shoot sounds fun. I need to make it out this year. I am sending you a PM now to take care of that work. JAA

 

[Togeneral99]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

Where's the egg shot going to be held @ Triple6?

 

[Sniper52]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

The egg shoot is at Roanoke Rifle and Revolver Club, on Truman Hill Rd, in Franklin County. JAA

 

[Sniper52]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

Just got my rifle back from Mark @ Old Lodge Armory, his work is awesome. I'll be posting some pics soon. I will be sending all my work to him from now on, which says a lot considering all my rifle's were GAP Built. JAA

 

[Sniper52]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

Hear are a few pics of the rifle. I will post some pic's of the range results soon as the weather decides to cooperate. I did shoot it already but the targets were trashed form the rain. After Mark did the work installing the break, and reassembled the barreled action and I put it back in the stock, but the base on, and reattached the scope the zero did not even change. His work is perfect. JAA

 

[Sniper52]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

I finally had a decent day to make it to the range. I am working on my long range hunting load, and here are the 100 yard results. I'll stretch the legs on this one since it seems to be doing pretty good to me.

Group #1 (round to the right is CB shot, or as I like to call it Cold Shooter Shot)

Group #2 (my normal results one flier all me)

Group #3 (adjusted .1 Up and .1 Left, three good rounds)

Load data:

180 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip
41.8 gr of Varget
FC case
CCI BR2 primer
Velocity: 2654 fps

 

[Hogstooth]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

Nice work installing the brake, just finished sending off my barrel and EFR to Mark to finish out my A5 build.

 

[BobinNC]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

Sean,

Thanks for posting all this, and informing us about Old Lodge Armory and Mark's work.

I'll keep them in mind for some of my build work coming up next year.

Bob

 

[tkbowes]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

Sean, I have to Echo what Tony mentioned, bring that beast down here and WE will put it through its accuracy paces.

 

[Raven 6]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

Sean says this rifle is to ugly, even for him, so I had him sprinkle it with some fairy dust and Krylon. See if she looks any better to you.

 

[Hogstooth]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

Paint job came out a little lighter than I wanted but kinda hard to see in my garage where I was painting usually I'm outside in the nice weather but with all this snow kinda hard.

 

[CST]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

might have to have you paint mine!

 

[Macduff]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hogstooth</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Paint job came out a little lighter than I wanted but kinda hard to see in my garage where I was painting usually I'm outside in the nice weather but with all this snow kinda hard. </div></div>

I like it a lot better painted. Mike C told me yesterday that I had to paint that if I bought it. lol

I got to shoot that rifle and I loved it. The craftsmanship and attention to detail show. Old Lodge Armory makes a great product.

 

[cttbax]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

I just hired Mark to rebuild a family heirloom. I am really looking forward to it. This is my first custom rifle and I feel like a kid at Christmas!

 

[Sniper52]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

Paint looks great. Does not even look like the same rifle. I had a former ARMY sniper teach me to krylon my rifles (trobertson5-0). I may have to get some pointers from Sean and combine the two expert opinions. JAA

 

[xxxredlead]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

red neck true love say it with krylon

 

[Raven 6]

Re: New Virginia Gun Smith- Old Lodge Armory

I've made a few changes to this rifle to bring it more in line with a true M40A5 spec rifle. I Cut the "clip slot" for the spec base, cut the barrel to 25" and installed the Surefire break. I did change the Badger Bolt Knob, alittle to big for me, wish I had left the orginal on to start with. These are also Badger spec rings, wish I had a S&B scope but the Premier works fine for now. Not a perfect clone, but a damn good second if I may say so myself.