Savage 7x57 build- Dumb Idea?

[Chemguy]

Wanted to solicit some expert advise. I really like the 7x57 as a hunting round and my main rifle is a winchester m70 featherweight chambered in that caliber. I also have a nice Kimber .257 Roberts for deer and what-not. Recently I picked up a Stevens 200 in .25-06 for a good deal with the thought of rebarreling it to 7x57 as well. I currently have brass, dies, bullets, an 1K + factory loaded rounds for the caliber.

My initial thought is to pick up a premium barrel throated for 160-180 gr 7mm bullets and drop it into an XLR chassis. The goal with this rifle is to begin shooting competition.

Additionally I work in the oil and gas industry and expect to take at expat assignment in the next few years. Gun smith availability may be spotty.

The questions I have are:

1. Overall is this a dumb idea?
2. Is the savage action worth doing this?
3. Is there another action better suited to long range shooting that I could also work on myself?
4. Would I be better off with another 7mm of some sort?
5. Would I be better of with a different stock/chassis system?

Broad question I know but would appreciate the feedback.

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[0311@LAR]

If you can get it to shoot, then its not a dumb idea. Everybody has different likes.

 

[Chemguy]

Or maybe just a .280?

 

[Hunt4life]

Wanted to solicit some expert advise. I really like the 7x57 as a hunting round and my main rifle is a winchester m70 featherweight chambered in that caliber. I also have a nice Kimber .257 Roberts for deer and what-not. Recently I picked up a Stevens 200 in .25-06 for a good deal with the thought of rebarreling it to 7x57 as well. I currently have brass, dies, bullets, an 1K + factory loaded rounds for the caliber.

My initial thought is to pick up a premium barrel throated for 160-180 gr 7mm bullets and drop it into an XLR chassis. The goal with this rifle is to begin shooting competition.

Additionally I work in the oil and gas industry and expect to take at expat assignment in the next few years. Gun smith availability may be spotty.

The questions I have are:

1. Overall is this a dumb idea?
2. Is the savage action worth doing this?
3. Is there another action better suited to long range shooting that I could also work on myself?
4. Would I be better off with another 7mm of some sort?
5. Would I be better of with a different stock/chassis system?

Broad question I know but would appreciate the feedback.

Misspellings and grammatical errors brought to you by iPhone.

Perfectly fine idea. I sent my savage action to Dan Wynne of McGowen and he built my new barrel a 28" 1in8 twist, spun the brake on it, and got it back to me in a reasonable amount of time for a very fair price. I would at least do a 1-9 twist for the 162amax or the Berger projectiles. Only downside may be quality brass,but that is a problem for a lot of cartridges.

Heck, I may build one myself in7x57. Mine was a 7mm rem mag and so far it is between .3-.4 Moa. Very happy, it is in an xlr chassis.

 

[wilecoyote]

If you're already on the euro side of the handloading, and you and/or your Gunsmith know that the rifle would tolerate the added stress, please, will consider even the 7 x 64 Brenneke...

 

[Chemguy]

Thank you. I'm in Texas, which while a great country in its own right, is still surrounded by occupied America. However, I may look into it because Aberdeen is a possible assignment.

A quick search confirms that Hornady and Norma brass can be had along with dies. Loaded ammo can also be found.

Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[Chemguy]

Bump for more input. I really want to do this I think. I have a 26" 7mm barrel blank on order. I'm very curious to see if anyone has had any luck pushing 168 smks to 2800 fps in a 7x57?

Also I may have changed my mind regarding the chassis system and may just get a Manners Gat.

 

[Hunt4life]

Bump for more input. I really want to do this I think. I have a 26" 7mm barrel blank on order. I'm very curious to see if anyone has had any luck pushing 168 smks to 2800 fps in a 7x57?

Also I may have changed my mind regarding the chassis system and may just get a Manners Gat.

Would think it easier to do with 162amax when Hornady paroles their production. .625 bc is rocking.