New guy... Starting a build.

[morcey2]

So, I've been lurking and reading and planning, waiting for the right donor rifle to show its face. It finally did. I found a Savage 110 in 30-06 at a pawn shop and got a really good price on it. It has the integral scope bases and had the world's worst scope setup. A Barska tactical scope on ultra-mega-high rings. Here's a pic after I put on some more reasonable rings. The scope is still too high, even with medium rings.

So here's the plan:

Either 6.5-06 (1:8) or 280 Rem(1:9). Haven't decided which yet. 26" Varmint/heavy magnum-ish contour barrel from Mcgowen.

Boyds stock, probably varmint thumbhole. The forend on the current stock is just too dang small. Pillars, glass bedded, and floated.

Much better scope.... It'd be hard to get a worse scope.

The trigger appears to have been adjusted because it feels much better than the other stock non-accutrigger savages I've tried. It's about 4 lbs now and pretty crisp. I'll probably leave it for now until something tells me it needs to be changed.

This is going to be primarily intended for 600 or so yard hunting and I know that both rounds will do that quite nicely, maybe a little more. My current long-ish range rifle is a 257 Roberts that shoots 115gr BTs well out to about 300 yards but will probably do better than that with a little more trigger time.

Any thoughts? This is a budget build so I'm doing most of the work myself, which shouldn't be too hard on a Savage.

Matt

 

[Gray R]

I had a 280 and I instantly regretted selling it. I ran 140 grain accubonds and the few things I shot fell in their tracks. I think with the 140 ab the 150 ballistic tip or the 150 ABLR it would be trouble for anything you wanted to shoot inside 600. The 6.5-06 has interested me but not having to fire form brass would tip the scale for me to the 280. Either way ya can't go wrong

 

[RCrem700]

Have you considered keeping the current barrel? The 30-06 has no problem reaching out to 600 yds and beyond. Unless the barrel is already shot out, I dont see the point in changing it, especially on a budget build. Save the money for the new stock and better glass.

 

[shortgrass]

I had a 280 and I instantly regretted selling it. I ran 140 grain accubonds and the few things I shot fell in their tracks. I think with the 140 ab the 150 ballistic tip or the 150 ABLR it would be trouble for anything you wanted to shoot inside 600. The 6.5-06 has interested me but not having to fire form brass would tip the scale for me to the 280. Either way ya can't go wrong

No fire forming needed with the 6.5mm/06. Either neck up .25/06 in one pass through a full length 6.5/06 sizing die or neck down .270 win in one pass. .25/06 leaves the neck a bit short, .270 will need to be trimmed to length. Check neck diameter of your loaded rounds compared to the neck diameter of the chamber. It's about as easy as it gets!

 

[MudRunner2005]

If you're going .280, and full-custom...Why not just step it on up to the .280 Ackley Improved 40-degree shoulder?

More velocty, hardly noticeable barrel degredation, and much cooler and more unique. Plus the boost in velocity alone is worth it. Especially since you can buy Nosler .280 AI brass already pre-formed. Just make sure your smith uses the new Nosler/SAAMI spec reamer for your chamber, and not the older reamer.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/12...egree-shoulder-box-of-50?cm_vc=ProductFinding

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/66...roved-40-degree-shoulder?cm_vc=ProductFinding

 

[Gray R]

Well shortgrass now I don't have an excuse not to have one

 

[morcey2]

Have you considered keeping the current barrel? The 30-06 has no problem reaching out to 600 yds and beyond. Unless the barrel is already shot out, I dont see the point in changing it, especially on a budget build. Save the money for the new stock and better glass.

I've considered that, but I already have a custom 1903 in 30-06 that shoots great. I'm definitely going to shoot this one as-is, with some upgrades, prior to the build but I want something with a little better trajectory. And, dangit, I just want something different.

If you're going .280, and full-custom...Why not just step it on up to the .280 Ackley Improved 40-degree shoulder?

More velocty, hardly noticeable barrel degredation, and much cooler and more unique. Plus the boost in velocity alone is worth it. Especially since you can buy Nosler .280 AI brass already pre-formed. Just make sure your smith uses the new Nosler/SAAMI spec reamer for your chamber, and not the older reamer.

That's what I'm leaning towards. I'm pretty sure that mcgowen uses the SAAMI spec reamer, but I'll verify that.

When I said that this is a budget build, I probably should have described it more as a gradual build as the budget allows.

Matt

 

[Jud96]

Since you already have a .30-06, you could continue the '06 trend and make it a 6.5-06 which is a deadly and very accurate round. Shoot 123gr A-MAXs at 3200fps or 140s at 3000fps and getting to 600yds will be easy. The .280 or .280 Ackley is another great round but if you already have an '06 than you'd be better off going with the smaller bore 6.5 for a dual purpose varmint and deer rig. Will be more accurate and more effective on game than the .257 Roberts.