Skeet, I still don't have a source. About to send my 333 to Ahlmans for checkering; reshaped the "skeet-styled" forend to a field style and refinished it.
Taking a closer look at my several Valmets, I found that the 330s and the 333s DON'T have similar stocks: the 330s (and the "Lion" and the 2400 combination gun) have the stock secured in the old style with tang screws, but the 333 has a stock bolt. Part of the problem with the stocking of this 333 was that Bubba tightened the stock bolt trying to make up for some less-than-stellar fitting. With a nylon washer, some delicate Dremel relieving inside, and some glue and a clamp I've been able to cure the gaposis fairly well. So off for some functional (Of course, I really mean COARSE....) checkering and she'll be ready for the field.
In the meantime I've acquired a Model 2400 12x.308 WCF to go with my 12x.222 Rem. Like its little brother, it shoots. The 12 bore barrel is Imp. Mod. (they're really more like extra full with present day shells), so I just got 4 boxes of spreaders in case I want to actually hit something little that flies with it. Stock wood is even nicer than the first one I got; almost as nice as the old "Lion." I put a Weaver V1-3x on it; have a 1.5x5x on the .222. Waiting for .308 dies.
I have the suspicion that these combination guns would walk bullets all over the map if you could shoot them fast enough to heat up the skinny rifle barrels. But I can't. They shoot the first 3 dead nuts accurate: just under 1" ave. for 3 shots with the .222 from a rest on 5X; about 1.4" ave. for 3 with the .308 on 3X. A really good shot would do better.
Also found a 28" 12 ga. 330 for my son at a reasonable price and in about new shape. Since it's choked F/M, he gets two boxes of the spreaders.
Suddenly I'm awash in Savage/Valmets. But alas no 333 forend iron....I'll keep my eyes wide open while looking for other parts. Somebody has one.
