I have owned a Savage 23b for about twenty years now.
A couple years ago I needed a good close to med range Coyote rifle. I took the 23. Only problem was the open sites and lo light... they are not so good and I dont see as well as I once did either... I wanted to mount a scope... BUT as no bases are made and I am not willing to cut up the stock to fit a side mount... I cheated... I used the #12 screw that was tapped from the factory, I drilled a small base and screwed a single base to the back of the receiver. I used a single ring and a small Adco red dot.
Well I have a need for the red dot on another project. I have been drilling and tapping allot since shelfing the idea of scope mounting the Savage. SO, I pulled it out this AM and pulled off the red dot.
I found that a Rem 760 Weaver base fit the smallish action very well. Those who know this action, know that the factory had a peep that used that big screw along with a small 6/36 hole. I re threaded the small hole to 6/40 simply with running a 6/40 tap thru it. Then I bolted down the base and marked the other three holes. I was lucky that the holes fell nicely. Three holes where cake, tapping was easy too as the action was fairly soft. I found good screws and cut them to length, cleaned the holes and action of oil and burrs and lock tited everything together.
Using a old set of Weaver rings and a VXI 2x7 scope I mounted it. Looks great I think!
Then I broke a part.
I broke the standing ejector/magazine ''clip''. Its a thin piece of steel that accepts a protrusion in the magazine, holding it in place. I am gonna weld it back together in the AM. I have to set the welder up for such thin stuff. Kinda a hasle for a 1/4'' of weld...
But I am the dumb ass that broke it.
I am now thinking I may refinish the stocks... The Sheridan and Sams Marlin set came out real good and I am kinda in the zone for refinishing wood...
This is the broken parts, I would just buy new... but who knows if I would ever find it!
CW