it's time!

[bob_spangler_jr]

a while back i was hell bent on getting some magnum long range rig. i borrowed my dad's old 308 m70 sporter and i bought reloading stuff instead. great investment! i've had a great time with it.
now i'd like to start on my own rig. after shooting the 308 a bunch, i've decided that the magnums are for tougher men (and women!) than i. i'd like to have either a 7mm-08 or a 260.
i'd like to get started on around an $800 or $900 bill, excluding the scope. i'm asking you guys for help with my game plan. here's the plan so far:

1. buy a savage sa on a mcmillian stock.
2. sell the barrel and buy a new one.
3. buy a bipod and get it tuned up later on

it's not really a very involved plan yet. are the barrels easy to sell (and for what price)? also, is it really as easy to replace the barrel as some people say it is? my gunsmithing skills are limited to one winchester trigger adjustment and one dennis the menace slingshot.
the local gunsmith said that he would want $175 to switch the barrel, and that's a significant part of $900.
i really appreciate all that i've learned from this group of people, and i thank you for your help,
bob

[abinok]

Id say youre on the right track... with one exception.
Why are you in a hurry to sell the barrel? The ones savage turns out are good (a bit of an understatement).
If you are just dying to have some special barrel bolted on, there are a number of folks here that have sold them through the buy/sell section of this site. You can get a good idea what you can expect out of one from those threads. The barrels are very easy to change. Once youve done it a time or two, its a 5 minute job, once you have all the tools and the rifle on the table.
As for scopes, what magnification/features are you looking at?
Oh, and are you planning on shooting this new rig to ranges sufficent to make a tapered base nessicary?
I firmly believe that your target price of $800-$900 is completly feasable.

[longtooth]

I agree with the previous post, Savage will do what you want. If you want a new barrel they are easy to add on, and you can do it yourself as long as you get a few tools, and a set of go no go gages from Brownell's, and have it chambered and threaded by a competent smith. There are several very good triggers made for it also. $800 is doable and you will have a decent rifle for long range shooting.

[fmsniper]

save yuor self time and go get a Savage, 26 inch barreled LE2B, comes with mcmillan stock, accutrigger all for about 778.00.



Law Enforcement Series
Model 10FP-LE2B – with AccuTrigger™
Action Short
Caliber 308 Win
Overall Length 46.5"
Barrel Length 26"
Weight 10 lbs
Magazine Capacity 4 rounds
Stock McMillan fiberglass tactical stock with stippled grip areas
Sights Drilled and tapped for scope mounts
Rifling Rate of Twist 308 Win (1 in 10")
Features AccuTrigger™, matte blued barreled action, heavy free-floating and button-rifled barrel, oversized bolt handle, internal box magazine, and third swivel stud for bipod


when you shoot out that barrel get a new one and you can even change caliber buy only changing the barrel..

[bob_spangler_jr]

thanks for the input, guys.

response to abinok's questions:
the only reason that i'd change the barrel is to have a 260 or 7mm-08. it seems kinda wasteful, though. you asked about the scope, too. from what i've read here and have seen at the local gun shop i decided that a sightron 4-14x would be good.

thanks again,
bob

[abinok]

OK... gotcha. Savage dosen't do a heavy barrel in the calibers of your stated preferance.

In that case I think you would be well off to sell the origional barrel... to pay for a piece of the replacement barrel.
You might want to run by www.savageparts.com/barrels.html and have a look at part # 104440
Its a 24" varmint contour (heavy barrel) 8 twist 260 Rem... $135.36
They show a 7mm08 for $10 more... but its not in stock for the varmint weight barrel...
I think the Sightron is a good scope to start with. There are some who complain about its clarity for varmints at 1k, but its a good all around scope in its price range.

The LE package is definately the way to go if that MCmillan stock is the one you want. You can't even come close to buying all the parts and putting them together for the same price.

[Brent]

I'd go with the Savage there too.


Farmsniper,
What model McMillan stock is that? The sloped forend isn't an A4. Something special for Savage?