savage 300 ultra

[new shooter]

I found a savage in a 300 ultra mag. What would it take to turn it into a 338 ultra or 338 norma ? Who would you recommend to ture the action and put a after market trigger? Thank for your input. Joe

 

[liltank]

It wouldn't take much at all. Since it is a RUM, the 338 RUM brass and I believe even the Norma will fit. A good smith that is straight forward and works exclusively w/Savage products is Kevin Rayhill of Stockade Stocks. He produces stocks exclusively for Savage/Stevens rifles. He's a little rough around the edges, but knows his stuff and willing to share any information you ask him. Check out his sight and give him a call. He will be more than willing to help you out. You can shoot him and email, or if he doesn't answer the phone, leave a message and he will get in touch with you.

Stockade Gun Stocks - specializing in custom rifles

Tank

 

[jeff 300]

i have built a 300rum, 2-338 edges, and 1-7mm rum all on savage actions and they all shot great just as good as my 338 edge i spent a LOT more $$$$ having built. no need for a smith just rebarrel it to a 338rum or what ever you want and add a trigger it really easy. if you can change spark plugs you can change a barrel on a savage and add a trigger. With a free floating head and barrel nut don't worry about trueing up the action unless you just want to spend the money. go over to savage shooters web forum you'll find all the info you want plus some.

good luck

 

[Good]

The 338 Norma Mag has a bolt face in the bigger arena with the Lapua Mag of .585". The RUMs have a .540" boltface. People say it can be done on a Savage but I don't know how. Good luck though, I really wanted a 338 Norma Mag, but am settling for a 338 RUM for now. Maybe I'll do a Norma off the 7 mag Savage I recently bought.

 

[liltank]

The 338 Norma Mag has a bolt face in the bigger arena with the Lapua Mag of .585". The RUMs have a .540" boltface. People say it can be done on a Savage but I don't know how. Good luck though, I really wanted a 338 Norma Mag, but am settling for a 338 RUM for now. Maybe I'll do a Norma off the 7 mag Savage I recently bought.

You have to open up the bolt face for the Lapua's and Norma mag. My cousin currently shoots a 338 Lapua in a Target action Savage. Works quite well. I thought the Norma might be bigger, but couldn't remember.

Tank

 

[Good]

You have to open up the bolt face for the Lapua's and Norma mag. My cousin currently shoots a 338 Lapua in a Target action Savage. Works quite well. I thought the Norma might be bigger, but couldn't remember.

Tank

That is something I'm interested in. I'd like the Norma, but I'd be happy with the Lapua. Either way, I'm sure it would be a shooter. I was thinking the Savage action couldn't handle the Lapua which is why I plan to purchase a Rem model 700P in 338 Lapua eventually... I need to research as I'd much rather have the Savage than the Remmy, but I don't want that silly (imho) 110BA 338 Lapua that weighs 15+lbs bare. If I can turn that 7 mag into a 338 Norma/Lapua safely and relatively easy I might just go that route.

 

[liltank]

He has shot everything from 225's to 300 grain bullets. It has had powder loads from 81grains to 103+ while doing load tests. His barrel is a 32" Douglas with a 1.200" contour to .900 final dimension with an APS Pain Killer break. None of this sets in a bedding block. It all is mounted to the Savage Target action just like a 700 would be set up. The smith didn't want to use the barrel nut because he felt it would help with the action supporting the barrel. It sets in a Choate Ultimate sniper stock. He had to get the holes changed to match the hole pattern of the target action. He found out later that the forend is to flimsy to hold the weight of the barrel. However, it still shoots very well. The first six shots out of the bore made a 6" group at 1070yds.

But your thinking, "That's a short action!" It is, but it works. The target action itself is very robust. It will eject a spent cartridge very easily. For a loaded round he does have to pull the bolt, but really isn't that big of an issue. The rifle weighs about 20 to 22 pounds completely set up with bi-pod and optics. Now if a guy were to drop to a 28" with a taper like mine, you are looking at a weight of about 13lbs. dressed out. That Choate is a very heavy stock.

He just recently purchased a Stockade Prairie Dog/Tactical stock. He just got it, so now I have to wait until he finishes the stock to see what it will do. He wanted a really long barrel to try and get better velocity with the 300SMK, but he has had difficulty producing fast loads with decent accuracy. Initially he was using H1000 pushing a 300SMK right around 2950-2975, but they changed the recipe and it does not shoot that fast anymore. He did find a load with 50BMG at 2750 and most recently IMR7828 right around 2675. I personally feel he needs to revisit Retumbo or try some Ramshot powder and work up in minute increments. I feel he jumps around with powder and load weights to much to really see the potential of his rifle. He isn't near as patient with finding loads as I am.

Anyway, sorry for the ramblings and possibly getting off topic. I personally want to build a 338Norma, and feel if I can't afford the custom action rifle, that I would go with the Savage Target action.

Tank

 

[Good]

But your thinking, "That's a short action!"

How did you guess?

Sounds good tank. The Norma is the way I want to go.

To get back on topic, as for trigger, I plan to get the Competition Trigger from SSS found here for my 7 mag:

Sharp Shooter Supply - The Savage Specialists