What Savage action for a 6.5 SAUM build?

Tyler Kemp

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Hi guys, haven't posted in a while do to being in school, but a few buddies and I are all looking to build similar rifles.

What we are wanting is an AICS magazine fed, Savage actioned 6.5 SAUM. Since being in school it appears there are lots of variations available for Savage actions, as well as the Axis line, etc.

Should I be looking for a specific type of action? If we use a bottom metal meant for AICS mags, will a short action be ok?
 
You can probably get it to fit in one of the WSM donor actions which would be a short one but I always like to build on a long action for the simple fact that if I need more room I know I have it. With the long high BC bullets of the 6.5 you may be better suited for a long action. I have built a 6.5WSM on a long action and it worked out very well.
 
I am building a 7 SS (necked up 6.5 SS) right now on a model 11 300 wsm. If you build an SS instead of a saum, you will not only equal (or exceed) the saum performance, but you can cycle the long bullets through the mag as well. Win, Win!.......Rich
 
Can't you get AICS SA mags to feed up to 2.995" COAL? That would be more than enough for any of the popular 140 gr bullets out there now.
 
Can't you get AICS SA mags to feed up to 2.995" COAL? That would be more than enough for any of the popular 140 gr bullets out there now.

Not the way the saum is throated. You end up with the base of the bullet in the case taking up capacity (velocity) if they are throated correctly. Also, you are really handicapped with the 150 and 160 grainers that many people want to shoot now. You would have to have a throat which was under .100' which would put the bullet well into the case. The SS is throated at .175" and also has a longer neck than the saum (.320) The case capacity is not lost because the taper is less and the neck sharper. It is also more efficient with the short burning column. These are all reasons why it outperforms the saum and will do it in a shorter action...Rich
 
I googled the 6.5 SS and it is an interesting design. A bit more work than I want to do, and I think with a 26" barrel I will be close to 3200fps with 140s. Most of the time I will shoot them slower for better barrel life.

Going to try and stick with finding an older WSM action, I wasn't aware the firing pin assembly was different on these rifles.
 
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