need help picking a savage action for a custom

[ilcoalminer]

Hey my first post here guys. thanks for looking at my question. I'm new to shooting atleast since i was a young kid and i'm wanting to build a 308 tack driver for around 1000, not counting a scope of course

so i know i want a bell and carlson medalist stock and a McGowen Precision barrel. I also know i want a savage action because their cost friendly and still work well enough. what i'm wondering is do i have to find a action chambered in 308 or will one from other caliber work? if so can i have some ideas on calibers to look for. i plan on buying a used rifle and stip it for the action or just buy a really cheap new rifle for the action.

thanks for your time,
ilcoalminer

 

[ranger1183]

Re: need help picking a savage action for a custom

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ilcoalminer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">what i'm wondering is do i have to find a action chambered in 308 or will one from other caliber work? if so can i have some ideas on calibers to look for. i plan on buying a used rifle and stip it for the action or just buy a really cheap new rifle for the action.</div></div>

Actions aren't chambered. Barrels are chambered.

Actions come in a variety of lengths: Short Action SA, Long Action LA, and sometimes an XL length for the Ultra Magnums and Lapua Magnums.

What you are looking for is a short action savage with a standard bolt face. The bolt face will measure .473 inches in diameter and will be good for any of the following calibers.

.308 Winchester
.243 Winchester
.260 Remington
7mm-08 Remington
.22-250 Remington

You can also use a long action if it has the same diameter bolt face. A long action of this size will fit the following calibers.

.30-06 Springfield
.25-06 Winchester
.270 Winchester
.280 Remington
7mm Remington Express
6.5x55 Swedish Mauser
.284 Winchester

Do NOT buy an action that has either a Magnum bolt face or a bolt face for the .223 Remington or .204 Hornday


Once you have you action, then buy your barrel and have your gunsmith cut, thread and chamber it for you. Bed the action into the stock and you're ready to fire.

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: need help picking a savage action for a custom

spot on. except now most makers have the savages premade. chambered and ready to install and then its just a a wrench away. mcgowen can be had at northland shooters supply from Jim and he can also sell you an action and stock and everything else you need. plus you can look in the classifieds here and it may be worth the $12 to join the board in the link i sent you just to get at their classifieds

also consider this. buying a savage is a journey and the road map keeps changing, lol. let me ask you this. what do you want to do to the rifle? what are your plans for it? DBM eventually? you are already gonna change the stock. there is a stainless action for $500 available thats been timed and tuned from SSS. its a savage place. there are quite a few changes in the savage action in the past few years. if you are just looking for a base or donor rifle, there is a 10fp for sale now here on this board. a base savage action blued is $385 i think at northland. you still need a trigger, guard, bottom, stock. so you sound like you have a plan, just add it all up, look around. feel free to PM me and ill give you some good savage links. and savage is a little better than just ok http://www.savagearms.com/news/article/?id=1DoKxAoZh

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: need help picking a savage action for a custom

there are two savage actions for sale here now. in the firearms section. one stainless thats been T&T'ed and a model 10 with an accustock that another guy wants to buy. snag that and sell the stock. bam. first step

 

[Dirty D]

Re: need help picking a savage action for a custom

Academy Sports sells short action Stevens for $240, the action is identical (the barrel, stock and trigger are crap but you will be replacing those anyways).

 

[ilcoalminer]

Re: need help picking a savage action for a custom

hey guys thanks for all the great info. I'm not sure what i'll be doing with this in the end. i just wanna build a nice shooter and see where it takes me from there. I dont think there are many rifle comp shootings around southern illinois no ranges around here have more the 250ish yards to shoot.