Can I convert my Savage 111 to .308?

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I have a Savage 111 in 30-06 and I would like to convert it to .308 to save money on ammo (I don't reload) and I would like to have a .308 anyway. How if its possible, where can I get a barrel?

 

[browningguy]

midwayusa.com offers barrels among others. Also Shilen offers drop in barrels. Also get a .308 magazine follwer to drop in, and you may or may not need to put a spacer in the front of the magazine. I think you will probably be able to get away without a spacer though.

 

[nhm16]

Yeah, all you need is a new barrel. Plus the tools and headspace gauge to install it. Check out savageshooters.com for all you need to know. I bought my McGowen from Northland Shooters Supply. They always have a bunch of good barrels in stock. Or if you're on a budget, a factory take off will work, and the Adams & Bennet (house brand) barrels from Midway are apparently decent.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

308 will work in the 30.06 length magazine just fine without the spacer and with the 30.06 follower.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Going from 30/06 to 308 you'd have to shoot A BUNCH of ammo to offset the cost of even a $140 A&B bbl from midwayUsa. Heck I'm more than halfway convinced that right now 308 is the MORE expensive of the two.

 

[DIM]

Does Long Action and Medium action have any meaning to you guys? it's not just the barrel you need to switch, you need to get short - medium action for it which is par of the 11 line and not 111, Sorry you can't do it with 111.

 

[natman]

Does Long Action and Medium action have any meaning to you guys? it's not just the barrel you need to switch, you need to get short - medium action for it which is par of the 11 line and not 111, Sorry you can't do it with 111.

Yes, it does. However the OP has a long action and wants to convert to a short cartridge. There's no problem fitting a short cartridge in a long action. Savage built them like that for years.

The other way around would be a problem.

 

[DIM]

I see what you are saying, but this will beat whole concept of .308 short action, however I see how you can still chamber the round... But I would definitely not do it on my rifle, would rather go down to 270, 25-06. Just my opinion

 

[nhm16]

You won't save money re-barrelling to .308, but nothing wrong if you want a 308, and nothing wrong if you run a short action cartridge in a long action.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

It MAY not feed flawlessly all the time.

 

[R.W.Dale]

As a handloader and rifle nerd I view short action bolt guns and short throats as a cartridge handicap and not a benifet. Were I to build a 308 or 260 tomorrow it would be on a long action and throated accordingly to take advantage of this.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

It MAY not feed flawlessly all the time.

Mine does(it is a Mauser 98 not a Savage which MAY make a difference).

 

[natman]

I see what you are saying, but this will beat whole concept of .308 short action, however I see how you can still chamber the round... But I would definitely not do it on my rifle, would rather go down to 270, 25-06. Just my opinion

If you want to say that there's not much point in converting a 30-06 to 308, I would agree completely. But that's quite different from saying that it won't work.

 

[natman]

As a handloader and rifle nerd I view short action bolt guns and short throats as a cartridge handicap and not a benifet. Were I to build a 308 or 260 tomorrow it would be on a long action and throated accordingly to take advantage of this.

And how would a 308 on a long action be better than a 30-06?

 

[Daizee]

Spend the $140 on a basic Lee reloading setup. It will pay itself back MUCH faster than a new barrel, plus tools, plus factory .308 ammo.

There will be a learning curve, but you'll be able to make much more accurate ammo for much less money.

-Daizee

 

[DIM]

Cabela's has Lee reloading kit on sale for 99 bucks ;-) go for it

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...de=IA&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233