I said I wasn't gonna, but here we are...

MacAR · Apr 27, 2021

Lots of good thoughts here. But a couple things to address:

1. Some one said get a 30-30. That ain't a bad idea, but they're unobtainable right now. And I refuse to pay $750 for a $350 rifle. I can build myself a 6MM whatever for about $450, including dies, brass, and bullets. Those dollars make more sense to me.

2. Shooting cast bullets. Now that's a grand idea, but I don't cast. I suppose I could follow @Barbaroja 's advice, lop the '06 barrel off and invest the money saved in casting equipment.

3. I have a somewhat silly desire to "build" a rifle for myself. My dream is a .257 Rob on a 700 action with grade AAA walnut, but that likely won't happen anytime soon. So you might call this a "stop-gap" rifle to hold me over til then.

At the end of the day, I'll likely bob the barrel and shoot it for a while before making a final decision on which caliber to go with. And thanks to you guys, I've a lot to mull over!

Mac

adcoch1 · Apr 27, 2021

Here is your receiver sight.

I'd probably stick to 18" if it stays an 06. But even at 20" those are still a pretty handy rifle. I have a 20" take off in 30-06 that was a great shooter on my 110 before it became a 35 Whelen. If you want to try it out I could send it to you. But a long throated 260 or 6.5x55 would be where I was looking IF you can find some dies right now. 6.5 creedmoor is the easy button though.

For 30-06 family cartridges, anything bigger bore than 25-06 would work. 25 cal doesn't need that much case to kill deer in my opinion, just go 257 roberts for that one.

MacAR · Apr 27, 2021

adcoch1 said:
Here is your receiver sight.
View attachment 995025 View attachment 995026
I'd probably stick to 18" if it stays an 06. But even at 20" those are still a pretty handy rifle. I have a 20" take off in 30-06 that was a great shooter on my 110 before it became a 35 Whelen. If you want to try it out I could send it to you. But a long throated 260 or 6.5x55 would be where I was looking IF you can find some dies right now. 6.5 creedmoor is the easy button though.

For 30-06 family cartridges, anything bigger bore than 25-06 would work. 25 cal doesn't need that much case to kill deer in my opinion, just go 257 roberts for that one.

Sent you a PM.

Mac

rbernie · Apr 27, 2021

That Savage 110 long action is a solid 3.3" OAL magwell/bolt throw. It's just begging for you to use all that space....

<cough> 240 Weatherby Mag <cough> <cough>

Barbaroja · Apr 27, 2021

MacAR said:
Lots of good thoughts here. But a couple things to address:

1. Some one said get a 30-30. That ain't a bad idea, but they're unobtainable right now. And I refuse to pay $750 for a $350 rifle. I can build myself a 6MM whatever for about $450, including dies, brass, and bullets. Those dollars make more sense to me.

2. Shooting cast bullets. Now that's a grand idea, but I don't cast. I suppose I could follow @Barbaroja 's advice, lop the '06 barrel off and invest the money saved in casting equipment.

3. I have a somewhat silly desire to "build" a rifle for myself. My dream is a .257 Rob on a 700 action with grade AAA walnut, but that likely won't happen anytime soon. So you might call this a "stop-gap" rifle to hold me over til then.

At the end of the day, I'll likely bob the barrel and shoot it for a while before making a final decision on which caliber to go with. And thanks to you guys, I've a lot to mull over!

Mac

Yea sorry Mac, I real enjoy casting and shooting cast Bullets so thats often the lenses I’m looking through when I’m evaluating what I would do with a gun. Let us know how it goes!

MacAR · Apr 27, 2021

rbernie said:
<cough> 240 Weatherby Mag <cough> <cough>

Don't think that didn't cross my mind... It even uses the same .473 case head...

Barbaroja said:
I real enjoy casting and shooting cast Bullets so thats often the lenses I’m looking through when I’m evaluating what I would do with a gun.

No need to apologize! I'm not against cast, I just don't do it. I would like to though, I think. A cast load in an '06 would mimic a 300 Savage, wouldn't it? That's the ballpark I'm wanting to be in.

Mac

dcloco · Apr 27, 2021

MacAR said:
Ok, tell me why? Not trying to be rude. I'm just not familiar with the 6.5x55; I had a 25-06 and was kinda "meh" with it. What are we looking at as far as differences in the two?

Mac

I always look at the cost to build and load for any caliber, before I start finding parts and pieces.

Why 6.5x55 AI?

223 and 6.5x55 brass are the least expensive Lapua brass - You don't need 500 pieces of brass either. 100 or 200 will do.

Shoot the brass to fireform while beginning to work up loads - they WILL be accurate.

As somebody mentioned, a 6.5x55 AI loaded to modern rifle pressure, is superb. The 6.5 CM is not in the same class. 2900 to 30xx is NORMAL for 14x grain bullets.

Off the shelf dies are available from Redding.

AI= Ackley Improved, once formed, your brass maintenance is minimal. 40 degree shoulder helps to stunt brass growing from firing.

Take advantage of the long action that will allow powder space for the slow powders.

Round does not beat a person up either.

Personally, go with a light varmint contour, 24" 1:8 twist barrel. Not too heavy, not too light.

LoonWulf · Apr 27, 2021

dcloco said:
I always look at the cost to build and load for any caliber, before I start finding parts and pieces.

Why 6.5x55 AI?

223 and 6.5x55 brass are the least expensive Lapua brass - You don't need 500 pieces of brass either. 100 or 200 will do.

Shoot the brass to fireform while beginning to work up loads - they WILL be accurate.

As somebody mentioned, a 6.5x55 AI loaded to modern rifle pressure, is superb. The 6.5 CM is not in the same class. 2900 to 30xx is NORMAL for 14x grain bullets.

Off the shelf dies are available from Redding.

AI= Ackley Improved, once formed, your brass maintenance is minimal. 40 degree shoulder helps to stunt brass growing from firing.

Take advantage of the long action that will allow powder space for the slow powders.

Round does not beat a person up either.

Personally, go with a light varmint contour, 24" 1:8 twist barrel. Not too heavy, not too light.

With a long action savage this is probably where I would end up.

The other one I probably be looking at is the 280 AI, but It sounds like it's a bit more gun than you're looking for on the savage.

MacAR · Apr 28, 2021

LoonWulf said:
With a long action savage this is probably where I would end up.

I think that's a good idea, honestly. Would probably work better in the long action than a .260 or 7mm-08, too.

For now, I have located a shorter barrel in '06 (thanks @adcoch1 ) to try out. Gonna try it out with the peep and see how I get on with. With any luck, I'll get to test it next month on our local feral hog population. Later on, I will probably get another barrel for it in the 6.5x55AI but that will be a while. And having slept on it, getting set up in a new caliber right now might not be the best idea, what with component availability what it is.

So, thanks again to all who have given their input on this "dilemma" of mine. It's sure been an interesting discussion!

Mac

I said I wasn't gonna, but here we are...

MacAR

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adcoch1

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MacAR

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rbernie

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Barbaroja

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MacAR

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dcloco

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LoonWulf

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MacAR

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