Sako rifle conversion

[Sandamer]

Hello all,

I am brand new to this site, and have suddenly become obsessed with studying precison and/or long range shooting. I have learned a whole lot about it from reading what you all have to say on a BUNCH of topics, but I had an idea I wanted to throw out there and see what you guys thought of it.

I have a very basic understanding of guns and their performance, but converting from one caliber to another is somthing I do not know much about. SO what I am thinking is that I have a Sako 75 in 375 H&H which I have little to no use for, and was thinking of tearing it down and having a gunsmith convert it to a .338 Lapua. Is this posible? My assumption is that it is probably something that can be done, but I do not know where to begin, and what would be involved. Also I live in Wyoming so id there anyone in this area (Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska) that you would recommend to do the work and what compnents would you use? Is this a good action to have a build done on?

I am sure that my newness is showing through in this question, but I figured I would throw it out there.
Thanks

Jason

 

[buckey]

Re: Sako rifle conversion

Yes, it can be done. I had Patriot Arms (APA) build me a custom 300 Win Mag on a Sako 75 action.

Basically keep the action, trigger & bottom metal, then use these as your "building block" for a custom rifle.

 

[Sandamer]

Re: Sako rifle conversion

I decided to go ahead with this project, and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for a twist rate on the barrel? I am working towards the 300 gr SMK's as bullets and was going with a 1-10 twist rate. Is there any reason I should use a different twist rate then that?

Secondly, What magnification scope would people suggest for it? I am not a hugely skilled shooter (yet), but working on it. So I am not going to be doing 1k yards right out of the gates, but would like that capability later.

Thanks for any advice.

Jason

 

[chrfuh]

Re: Sako rifle conversion

10" is what you want for 300's

 

[Sandamer]

Re: Sako rifle conversion

I am not sure how to react, so wanted to hear an opinion or two and needed a place to vent. After all of the research and gunsmith shopping I found a guy that said he would have no issue doing this conversion for me. I left him my gun and a deposit on the barrel etc. This is roughly 60 days ago. A couple weeks in he said that he needed me to buy a chamber reamer since they did not have one and although they had made several 338 lapua rifles in the past each customer had supplied one so the customer would be able to keep it. I immediately ordered the reamer and while i was at it decided to buy some 300 smk's and 100 new brass. I also searched high and low for the right primers and powder. All totaled a little over 500 dollars.

After all this I find out today he cannot do the conversion because they discovered the action was too small. How angry should I be? Is this typical gunsmith behavior? Since this was going to be my first custom I have had little to no experience with them. Thanks for letting me vent!

Jason

 

[steve123]

Re: Sako rifle conversion

Sandamer,

First go get your stuff back if you can!!! The gunsmith should have known all this to begin with!He's just waisting your time.Did he tell you that the bolt face would have to be opened up to accommodate 338L?If the bolt face can be opened up "safely" then 338 Norma mag would fit in the length of the action.

If he's already spent the money for the deposit and refuses to refund it then all you have to do is change your cartridge choice.338RUM "I think" would work fine for this.375Ruger necked down to 338 would work good.300WM necked up to 338 would work too.

You should be able to sell the brass here easily.

Hopefully you can change or cancel your reamer order.Try Nate at Strait Shot gunsmithing!He'll steer you strait.

I just noticed this post in the 338 Norma magnum thread.

Originally Posted By: stiller
The main reason we only offer the Lapua size cases in a bigger bolt action is that after I analyzed the loads I determined that the .700 bolt size was not sufficient for catastrophic problems. We only offer it on the .750 bolt for that reason. I know remington and a few others do it on a .700 bolt, but I am not sure to what level of analysis they did on it. As a registered professional engineer, it is my duty to only build and sell items that I am completely confident are safe.

Steve

 

[Sandamer]

Re: Sako rifle conversion

Steve,

Thanks for the advice. I already have the reamer, but (fingers crossed) I think i can return it to midway for a refund. I think I am going to hold on to the brass and bullets for now, this is still a caliber i want, but I am not in a position to buy a 1200 dollar action to finish that project at the moment.

I did find a 700 in 308 that I think I am gonna do a semi build on. Then when that is finished regroup and build the Lapua. I will probably just sell the Sako and go from there.

So looking to buy 308 stuff

Jason

 

[steve123]

Re: Sako rifle conversion

Well...hopefully it will all work out in the end for you in a favorable way.

At least you have a rifle you can shoot for now.

Steve

 

[Sandamer]

Re: Sako rifle conversion

I got all my money and my rifle back, so I am back to square one. Will probably regroup then try to re-start this project.

Jason

 

[Brain]

Re: Sako rifle conversion

Anything against going with a 338 Edge chambering?

 

[Spuhr]

Re: Sako rifle conversion

I would drop this project.
By the end of the day you would spend huge money on a rifle that not comes close to a real decicated sniper rifle like AI, TRG, Unique or whateever.
You would probably be better of buying one of those factory rifles, than rebuilding a 75.
The stock on the 75 is nearly useless for prone shooting, and that means you have to spend a fair sum on a decent stock as well.
I shoot qiuite a bit .338 Lm and I am tempted to switch over to .338 Norma as I dont get the high velocitys combined with high accuracy. Then the 338 is an expensive round to reload.
And really noting that gains your shooting now to begin with.

My own .338 TRG will soon be rebareled to 6,5 Ackley as to distances out to 1000 meters the 6,5 is as good as the 338, but to a fraction of it's ammunition/barrel price.
But maybe in the future, will a .338 Norma be a fun thing, but as I only shoot paper at long range, I don't really need that punch.

Håkan

 

[Sandamer]

Re: Sako rifle conversion

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Brain</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Anything against going with a 338 Edge chambering? </div></div>

I really haven't looked at the Edge. I will look into the ballistics. I have all but decided to just be patient and sell the Sako, then just buy a new action and move forward with the project.

Jason

 

[Sandamer]

Re: Sako rifle conversion

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Spuhr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would drop this project.
By the end of the day you would spend huge money on a rifle that not comes close to a real decicated sniper rifle like AI, TRG, Unique or whateever.
You would probably be better of buying one of those factory rifles, than rebuilding a 75.
The stock on the 75 is nearly useless for prone shooting, and that means you have to spend a fair sum on a decent stock as well.
I shoot qiuite a bit .338 Lm and I am tempted to switch over to .338 Norma as I dont get the high velocitys combined with high accuracy. Then the 338 is an expensive round to reload.
And really noting that gains your shooting now to begin with.

My own .338 TRG will soon be rebareled to 6,5 Ackley as to distances out to 1000 meters the 6,5 is as good as the 338, but to a fraction of it's ammunition/barrel price.
But maybe in the future, will a .338 Norma be a fun thing, but as I only shoot paper at long range, I don't really need that punch.

Håkan </div></div>

Thanks! All of this is good information. I did not have any intentions of using the stock from the Sako just the action, but since that is not an option I will just go a different route. I just picked up a rem 700 to do a 308 build on.. that should make me feel better while I wait for the Sako to sell.

Jason