Native American "J " Rifles

[Danny]

My local fun store had a Native American (you can't call them Savage) 110 rifle from the 70s, I guess, a "J Model" that I hear about as being somehow different. How are they different? Is it a parts dead end or bad choice to get one of the J Models?

[Nor Cal Mikie]

My first Savage (not Native American ) is a 110 V in .223. Love it and will never part with it. It has been my test bed for a LOT of different calibers. Difference? Longer than the now short actions. Shorter than the now long actions. Difference in action screw spacing is about 1/4". I get a short action stock and move the front screw up less than 1/4". Works for me.
Everything is the same except the bolt is longer. Everything in the back end is the same as any other Savage. Some of the "J" actions were single shots. Came with wood stocks with palm swells and a large barrel channel.
Mine started life as a .223, then .221 Fireball, then 6 BR, then 22 BR, then 6.8 SPC, then 6.8 BR Wildcat, then 20 VT, then 20 VT "Short", then 17 VHA and I think now it's a 20 TCM. I'd have to look.

Not too long after I got it, I changed it into a single shot with a ss follower. All my Savage rigs are either modified with a follower or ARE single shot actions.

Could be a "parts dead end" BUT, there's ways around that issue. Some of the Savage rigs had issues with the scope mount holes being drilled in the wrong places. Fitting mounts could be a problem. 4 holes and only 2 of them would line up and at times there wasn't enough adjustment. Two piece mounts worked but I wanted a one piece with the rear windage adjustment. None available SO, I had one built out of two new mounts. Cut them up, switch parts to get the fit needed and had them welded back together. Can't tell it from factory and it fits all the holes and doesn't hang over the loading port. A true custom build.

[Tackdriver]

J models are a bargain if it comes with a decent stock. I believe the bolt heads and barrels are interchangeable with current model small shanks. The issue is that the inletting is different from anything in the past 20+ years.

[Nor Cal Mikie]

As far as the inletting? It IS different but you just move the recoil lug cut forward a bit and just about any short action stock will work.

[Kiwishooter]

About 10 years ago I bought 2 x Savage J actions, the actions were brand new never used, they have sequential serial numbers and latter I found out they were part of a special order............Just can't remember the details now.

Absolutely nothing wrong with them and they both shoot great.......oh both are L/H actions.

Question were all the J actions made with detachable magazine? I need a magazine ejection spring for one........kiwi

[Nor Cal Mikie]

You really lucked out getting the left hand actions. Few and far between. I'am right handed but bench shoot a lefty action right handed. Right hand controls the thumb hole stock and free left hand works the bolt and feeds ammo. Love it.
Mine is a staggered feed. The mag in attached to the bottom of the action. Just pull the spring/follower and added the single shot follower on top and stuffed it back together. Works great.

You might try here for mag parts. (www.gunpartscorp.com)