Help Deciding on Cartridge for Savage 110 Precision Build

[chuckhammer]

Have a donor action from a model 110 in 7mm Rem Mag so preference would be something with a ~.540" bolt face. The Savage bolt face is easily changed but I'd rather not if it makes sense.


.30-cal would be nice as I have lots of match-type .308" bullets to shoot up. Not a show-stopper, though.

Some other notional criteria:
- Max 28" barrel
- Min MV 3,000 fps
- Min G1 BC 0.600
- Max free recoil energy 22 ft-lb w/14 lb rifle
- No muzzle brake
- Wildcats OK (I reload)

 

[Daveworkslocal]

300WSM Would be my choice. Same bolt face, and slightly under WM energy when loaded with the heavies.

 

[chuckhammer]

Turns out Savage-compatible barrels chambered for WSM and RUM cartridges require the Large Shank barrel thread size (1.120"x 20tpi). My action is threaded for the Standard or Small Shank (1.055" x 20tpi) which is used for all other cartridges. Might be able to get a custom WSM barrel made with a Small Shank from one of the typical barrel makers. As long as it's not considered a strength/safety issue.

I only just realized this. Shame.

 

[chuckhammer]

The folks on Savage Shooters tell me I can get a Small Shank WSM or RUM barrel made so those are back on the table.

 

[TRTAC]

Why not keep it a 7 Mag? I have one with a 28" barrel, solid bottom bat action and I'm crankin a 180 VLD out at 2960. The gun has put up a three shot group at 1400 yards that you could cover with a dollar bill. Thats off a bipod too. Give the 7 a thought.....

 

[Daveworkslocal]

Or, down-load a 300WM?

 

[njbowhntr]

I have always been a fan of the 7mm STW. If I ever get my hands on a long-action receiver I would like to have one built up, and the money for the build.

 

[broylz]

I would swap the bolt head and do a heavy barrel 30-06. Should get you what you're looking for. Just shy of the 300 win mag with warm hand loads. It is going to be my next project.

 

[Hawk45]

Don't make life hard. Pick the 300WM or 7mmRM.

300WM = better barrel life, more knock down power, easier to spot misses.
7mmRM = flatter trajectory.

Choose what is more important to your needs. 300WM does it for me.

 

[The_FNG]

7WSM or 7 SAUM...orrrr 6.5 SAUM

 

[chuckhammer]

I have always been a fan of the 7mm STW. If I ever get my hands on a long-action receiver I would like to have one built up, and the money for the build.

Yeah, the STW caught my attention as well. Kind of an old-school (long and skinny) style of cartridge but the ballistics are amazing with 162-180 VLD bullets. What kind of barrel life could I expect if I let it cool (mostly) between shots? 2000 rds?

 

[chuckhammer]

I would swap the bolt head and do a heavy barrel 30-06. Should get you what you're looking for. Just shy of the 300 win mag with warm hand loads. It is going to be my next project.

You must have been picking around inside my head! I'm currently shooting a Win M70 Super Grade in .30-06 and have enjoyed it but unfortunately the sporter barrel is very picky about bullet weights. It really likes the 165-168 stuff (0.5 MOA) but I wanted to shoot 175-208 and the BEST I got from those was ~1.5 MOA. Tried three different medium-to-slow powders (IMR4350, H4350, RL22) and a range of seating depths for each of 5 different bullets in that range (175 SMK, 178 AMAX, 178 Hornady BTHP, 190 SMK, 208 AMAX) and no luck. Also shot the 155 Scenar and 155 AMAX and no luck there, either. 167 Scenars took the prize with no challengers.

For this project, I considered a heavy barrel .30-06 (and the AI). However, QuickLoad is telling me I can't reach 3,000 fps with 178+ grain bullets, even with the 28" barrel. Why 3,000 fps? Because this project is all about fun and getting what I want.

 

[broylz]

The sporter barrels usually do ok for a few rounds at most before heat starts its effect on them. A heavier barrel will help with that a bit.
As far as 30-06 is concerned, my next build is going to be a m24 clone in 30-06. It was described to me as able to do 90% of what a 300 win mag can do without the extra recoil, blast, and short barrel life. The reason I started even researching this was because I'm the only 308 shooter in my circle of friends and family. The cartridge consolidation is a decent factor for me as well as the better source of brass from them. I can do anything a 308 can do with a 30-06 and then some with the only exception being subsonic loads as far as I've researched. That was a small factor for me with a goal of suppressed subsonic use in the future but a new caliber has taken that role in my mind, the 300 blackout, and has brought me back to the30-06 idea.

 

[ArmyJerry]

I am building a 300 wm right now, look at bottom metal and stock options before you consider the wsm.

 

[njbowhntr]

chuck: I shot a stock Remington 700 chambered in 7mm STW. They made it one year in the mid 90's with dbm and a muzzlebrake in the BDL series. I never got to handload it, but did put a little over 1000 rounds through it. The last round I was shooting was the Nosler Accubond in 160gr. It was still holding .750' to .500' at 100 yards. Out to 300 I was getting around 2.5" inch. I have since sold it to a buddy who does a lot of hunting in Alaska, he needed something to reach out and touch something.

I am hoping to get a new one build up in the next few years.

 

[y5e06]

I've started gathering parts for a 110 build also, I've pretty much narrowed down what I'm going to go with:
30-06 AI
I have tons of '06 supplies and for some reason, i've had a hankerin' for that round for the last few years. Being able to shoot regular box ammo is also appealing if I ever end up needing some for whatever reason.
Probably a Shilen Match at 24" 1-10 Varmint contour, maybe 22". Not necessarily a bench rifle nor a light field gun, but just something to play around with.