That's about the snazziest one of those I've seen! I like the way you slimmed the fore arm compared to the factory profile.
Sticking with the iron sights? Going with a receiver sight maybe, or scoping it?
Very nice job of refining a utilitarian rifle into one that you can be proud of. I have used Minwax Antique Oil on some projects in the past and have been well satisfied with the results. The slotted screws in the replacement buttplate do a lot to ad a refined look too. Just goes to show that with some ingenuity it is possible to make a very presentable rifle without breaking the budget. Good luck and good hunting with your new prize.
That's cool and makes me smile. Nice re-stocking job!
I had a friend back in High School named Jerry who had one in 30-30. We hunted together many times and only once did he ask me to borrow my 270 for a long shot (about 350 yards) He had a peep sight on his Savage, and I never saw him miss a deer, or need 2 shots to kill one either.
Those old guns shoot well too. How well I can't say, but Jerry got a set of 30-30 dies and would come over to my house and we'd reload his ammo. He used spitzer bullets most of the time. I remember he got them from Herders. We had young eyes and with that rifle if we could see something at about 100 to 150 yards, we could hit it from prone. I believe he shot H322 powder, if I remember correctly.
Good memories.