doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com New project:: Savage/Valmet 333

I just purchased a Savage/Valmet Model 333 "Skeet" 12 guage O/U to make into a knockabout upland field gun. Haven't seen it yet, but the price was right.

From the not-too-good seller pix it looks like it needs a new pad and (at a minimum) a field forend and the checkering recut. I may be able to reshape the wierd "skeet" beavertail forend to field shape, but would rather replace it with a factory field shaped one and not destroy the original, just in case somebody wants it someday.

If I do the whittling, it will need new checkering, of course, something like Ahlman's simplest pattern and coarsest grade ("Minnesota Mitten Grade?").

Anybody know of a source of factory Savage/Valmet wood? The forend would, I think, have to be the 333 12 guage; the 330 wood won't work because of the ejectors on the 333.

If I really like this gun OR can't find replacement wood if it needs it, I may have a new stock/forend made. Any recommendations for somebody who could pantograph copy the stock and forend on my other 333 Field gun if I sent them the wood from that gun to copy? Somebody who will work with straight-grained field-grade wood? (These guns are users, not showpieces, IMO....)

Any info, opinions gratefully accepted!

I think you can find what your want at Macon Gun Stocks, Warsaw, MO. Just Google the name. I think they might have them in stock.

I was just looking through their site and they have a large collection of Savage and Stephens stocks. It looks like they will also do custom work (per your suggestion), but I suspect the cost would exceed the value of the gun.

If you are like me, "the price was right" means cheap. I just finished a rehab on a Savage Model 430 and I don't know what to do with it. I don't want/need it and neither do my grandsons, but it was fun to rejuvenate it.

oldr31, thanks for the info; I'll do as suggested. Actually I found that Numrich's/Gun Parts apparently has the 333 stock and forend in stock, and I'll just buy those if they really have them and this gun needs them.

I say "apparently" because dealers regularly confuse the Valmet 330 non-ejector guns with the 333, and I'd have to make sure this isn't the case here. The 330 stock will fit the 333 but usually (not always) has even plainer wood; the 330 forend won't fit because of the 333's ejectors.

One of the flaws in these otherwise quite usable guns is that the combination of weak/cheap/poorly laid-out wood in the wrist area plus the die-stamped "checkering" sometimes makes for a VERY weak wrist. I've seen both 330s and 333s with severely cracked and un-repairable wrists from this condition. Fair game for cheapskates like me; I got my first 333 this way, for nearly nothing (Clearly, you got my number, which is two-digit: I'm very cheap when it comes to fixer-uppers). Hven't seen this gun yet, but am looking forward to working on it when I get back from the land of the "cuerno de chiva".

Mention that you have that 430 over on the www.24hourcampfire "Savage Collectors" forum. Somebody will want it.

Thanks again for the info!

Thanks for the suggestion. I posted it as available on the Savage Collectors site.

That's quite a forum! There is a guy looking for used 10-32 screws for a Williams sight. No one has suggested calling Williams. Go figure.

Yeah, all these sites have their own flavors. Speaking of obvious, one of the guys over there suggested that I look for the Savage/Valmet wood at.....Numrich's/GunParts! DUUUHHHH! (I've only been dealing with those guys for about 60 years, so why I blanked on them I dunno. But then I lose my car in the parking structures these days, too!).

Hope you find a taker for your 430. One of my friends in upstate New York has used a 16 guage 430 for grouse hunting since the 1960s. It kills them.

FINALLY got back from Mexico City (What NICE "next door neighbors" we have!) and got my "new" 333 out of the California 10-day waiting period "gun jail."

Metal is about 95%, with minor wear on sharp edges, and one little spot of surface rust on the side of the top barrel under the forend wood (bronze wool and Kroil made it go away). Ejectors work great; selector selects; bores are pristine; no nicks or dents in the rib.

Stock is an amateur (I hope) restock with what for some reason screams "Fajen" wood to me. The wood itself is of just-less-than-exhibition grade, with the "sunburst" burl grain in the comb radiating toward the pistol grip but not to it or in the wrist (properly laid out blank). American black walnut; medium brown. Has a Fajen metal grip cap. Forend is a reverse-taper to a rather clubby rounded forend tip; I think I remember that Fajen advertised this style for skeet guns, which this one apparently was.

I say that the restock is "amateur" because the fitting is not quite up to even my rather low standards. My other Valmets, stocked in Finland, are a low-end gun for them (the original "Lion" 27 1/2" 12), another 333 (a 28" 12), and a 330 "Magnum" 12 w/30" barrels. All have closer wood-to-metal fit than this gun. The Pachmyer pad is also ill-fitted. Stock is uncheckered, which is not a problem for me at all.

That's the "bad news". HOWEVER, for what I paid for this gun and what I want it for (a beater) it seems like a very good deal. There is PLENTY of "meat" to reshape this (did I say "clubby"?) stock into a neat sporter, and a new pad is easy. Only question is whether I can do the job myself to my own satisfaction???? Gonna take some planning and figuring, and elbow grease if I take it on.

BTW, the seller, Michael Murphy and Sons of KS, was excellent to deal with. I'll cruise their site regularly now.

other then wood quality this gun has extremely high quality+durability/cost ratio. these are genuine sleepers of o/u world. i find it incredible that almost nobody wants them.

Agreed, Jager. On the other hand, it's incredibly good for those of us who DO want them.......

I need forend iron for a Savage 333, anyone have spare?
Gun parts is out
Mike

Still needing forend iron
Thanks
Mike