I would agree the best choice in a switch barrel with one bolt.
Does this exist? Varmint/elk switch barrel
- Thread starter ttfreestyle
- Start date
For those that love savage actions, a switch barrel and switch bolt head are simple with the savage platform. A small caliber varmint and a SA magnum bolt head/face caliber for elk(for those that feel a magnum is necessary for elk). It's an easy switch. This package is inexpensive and practical for a guy that doesn't want two guns or to spend a bunch of money. Could even have 2 scopes that mount on a pic rail with rings on each and ready to swap out as well.
I can swap barrels in the field in 5 minutes with just a screw driver on my TC Encore Pro Hunter......of course you won't need that ability when switching from varmints to big game. The rifle is very accurate with most factory barrels....plus 28 inches without a bolt makes for a very light weight, handy and easy to carry rifle.....not to mention the excellent velocities that come with a long tube.
My gunsmith is a TC guru and his trigger job is to die for. A great trigger can be had quite easily......and it is exactly the same from barrel to barrel.
Many folks don't like the idea of a single shot for varmints....but the rifle is so handy and accurate that I never minded reloading after each shot. Plus there is the added bonus of knowing you've got to concentrate to make each shot count.
My gunsmith is a TC guru and his trigger job is to die for. A great trigger can be had quite easily......and it is exactly the same from barrel to barrel.
Many folks don't like the idea of a single shot for varmints....but the rifle is so handy and accurate that I never minded reloading after each shot. Plus there is the added bonus of knowing you've got to concentrate to make each shot count.
+1 for just one cartridge. I've been using my big game rifle for ground hogs for several years. Same gun and same ammo. It's the best way to get familiar with that complete package in all conditions and at all ranges. That's been a 6.5-284 with 140s.
Not only change barrels the barrel you put in will have the correct scope ready to go.
I would think the scope change Would be needed also . Larry
ttfreestyle
Silver $$ Contributor
I believe this is what I will do if only one bolt is used, to get the best performance on both ends it may have to be a two barrel, two bolt gun. My gut tells me with one bolt I am giving up some performance on the big end(28 nosler intrigues me a lot) I have a switch barrel now that Alex built me and the two barrels are only about one inch difference at 100 yards on first shot impact so it's super easy to make a scope adjustment and get my zero. Thanks for all the replys guys, now to figure out which action to put this on. Savage is easy to swap bolt heads and is the cheaper way, Rem with two bolts is probably next, then there is custom and two bolts which I'm sure a extra custom bolt ain't cheap. Decisions!
Albany Mountain
Silver $$ Contributor
ttfreestyle
Silver $$ Contributor
No one gun can't do this? Or No two guns aren't needed?
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. 6-284 and 284 comes to mind.
bobinpa
Gold $$ Contributor
I know it's not popular, but if you go with a 243 WSSM on the varmint side, the possibilities are endless on the Elk side. The biggest problem with the WSSM's is neck thickness, so if you turn the necks down, no big deal. So, 243 WSSM and 300 WSSM. or Any standard bolt face like a 243 Win and a 35 Whelen????
I have a switch barrel hunting rifle that Dan Dowling put together for me a number of years back. At that time I was having some serious neck issues, so light with little recoil was the primary driving forces.
After much discussion, we decided on a skinny 25-06 Hart on a Remington 700 with a Mcmillan Edge stock to start with, and I figured if surgery ever fixed me I'd have Dan do up a 30-06 barrel in the future....then I could buy ammo at virtually any store in the country and easily hunt varmints to Elk. Our discussion was between 25-06 ans 270 Winchester, but since the plan was to eventually set up another barrel, we went with a 25-06 as it really could do all, but was much better on the varmint end of the spectrum.
The first year I had the rifle I got lucky and drew an Elk tag. I'd never been Elk hunting before, but had settled on a 115 Partitian load for deer that seriously impressed me with its ability to kill, and I knew a well placed shot would do it.
I had a great time hiking and hunting around Eastern Oregon for 10 days, and once I finally (almost literally) ran into a herd, the fun really began. After following the herd 5 miles back into the bush on narrow, sometimes steep goat trails, I realized that there was little chance of easily retrieving an animal in my state, and I'd be much more likely to succeed if I hunted smarter.
To make a long story short, I figured out where the herd went to feed in the evenings, and set up downwind in a fall of trees and waited. On the last night hunting they came in just before dark, and I shot a nice spike at about 125 yards and he literally did not take another step. That rifle has taken Elk, deer, coyotes, groundsquirrels and groundhogs, and I still have yet to figure out if I want a 30-06 or a 35 Whelen for my second barrel.
Good luck making up your mind, and remember that you said you are building a hunting rifle, not a target rifle.
MQ1
After much discussion, we decided on a skinny 25-06 Hart on a Remington 700 with a Mcmillan Edge stock to start with, and I figured if surgery ever fixed me I'd have Dan do up a 30-06 barrel in the future....then I could buy ammo at virtually any store in the country and easily hunt varmints to Elk. Our discussion was between 25-06 ans 270 Winchester, but since the plan was to eventually set up another barrel, we went with a 25-06 as it really could do all, but was much better on the varmint end of the spectrum.
The first year I had the rifle I got lucky and drew an Elk tag. I'd never been Elk hunting before, but had settled on a 115 Partitian load for deer that seriously impressed me with its ability to kill, and I knew a well placed shot would do it.
I had a great time hiking and hunting around Eastern Oregon for 10 days, and once I finally (almost literally) ran into a herd, the fun really began. After following the herd 5 miles back into the bush on narrow, sometimes steep goat trails, I realized that there was little chance of easily retrieving an animal in my state, and I'd be much more likely to succeed if I hunted smarter.
To make a long story short, I figured out where the herd went to feed in the evenings, and set up downwind in a fall of trees and waited. On the last night hunting they came in just before dark, and I shot a nice spike at about 125 yards and he literally did not take another step. That rifle has taken Elk, deer, coyotes, groundsquirrels and groundhogs, and I still have yet to figure out if I want a 30-06 or a 35 Whelen for my second barrel.
Good luck making up your mind, and remember that you said you are building a hunting rifle, not a target rifle.
MQ1
CharlieNC
Gold $$ Contributor
A switch barrel is not a big deal, I have these with Savage and Remage setups. More interesting barrel nut designs are just being introduced now by a couple of gunsmiths. Elk calibers? I've hunted with a number of guides. One likes 6.5 calibers, the other .243. In fact I read at one time that the .243 was the most widely used by residents for elk. Modern hunting bullets and higher velocity powders offer plenty of options, unlike not that many years ago when the Core Lokt was it.
By the time you put a good trigger on it and buy the Savage wrenches and such, I have not found there are any real savings between the Savage and the Remington, and I have both. Before anyone freaks out, I think they are capable of equal accuracy, but if you want it to be a simple barrel swap, IMHO a Remington with a pinned lug or clone action is the way to go, or forget about using the nut and go with a shoulder, especially if you are going to have someone with experience true the action.
My long action Remington with the Edge stock weighs in at just about 7 lbs without a scope. I bought it as a shot out heavy barrel BDL for about $400 and sold the stock, scope and barrel to make up about $150 of the costs. I didn't bother with an after market trigger...the stock R700 trigger tuned up just fine around 3.5 lbs and is very crisp.
Your milage may vary,
MQ1
Albany Mountain
Silver $$ Contributor
No one gun.
You are asking a lot from one rifle, switch-barrel or not. First you need to prioritize what is most important to you - 600 yd elk caliber or varmint hunting.
Elk hunting is pretty much a once a year proposition unless you have the opportunity for multiple state hunts. So that leaves the varmint shooting as the most likely use for the majority of use for this build. At this point you need to narrow it to which type of varmint shooting it will be doing mostly.
If it is coyotes then it does not matter if the chambering is a barrel burner since you are not shooting long strings. If P-dogs will be the majority of your use then you need to stay away from a barrel burner since the shooting will be more intense.
I see that for some reason you specify 6mm only - perhaps you should rethink that because the 22/250 will easily cover coyotes and P-dogs giving you the best mix of flat trajectory and energy with minimal recoil. If you are dead set on a 6mm then a 6BR would be a good choice although it may have feeding problems which would not be an issue with a 22/250.
While the 243 Win is an option the barrel will not last long in a P-dog town and recoil will become obnoxious and the barrel will overheat very quickly, also the 243 has enough recoil to disrupt your sight picture so that you cannot spot hits/misses.
For Elk go with a 30/06 using a premium bullet, it may not be the latest and greatest chambering but it will get the job done if the shooter is up to the task.
summary: 1st choice - 22/250 and 30/06 - you can use the same bolt for both cartridges.
2nd choice - 6BR and 30/06 - again one bolt will work for both cartridges.
3rd choice - 243 and 30/06 - again one bolt for both cartridges.
However in actuality it may be cheaper to buy a "throw away" gun such as a Ruger American, Savage or Howa chambered for a P-dog, coyote cartridge, put a $200 scope on it and be into it less than the price of a barrel. That leaves you with the option of using a true long range chambering for elk, something like a 300 Win mag or even a 338 Win.
drover
I'm going to assume you want a repeater and value a quick follow-up shot
For a long action:
Since you seem set on 6mm, I would go for a 6mm Remington or 243 Winchester with a 1-12 twist and stick with bullets 85 grains and lighter, with the 70 TNT being my personal favorite.
If you like forming brass, Ackley improve either one, but you may loose a fast repeat shot depending on how well you rifle handles the AI cartridges.
30/06 or 280 for your big game barrel. 700 yards is an awful long shot, and not one I'd likely take.
Again, you can Ackley either one, but you may loose some repeating speed if they don't cycle well.
For a short action I'd consider a .243 and a .308 for simplicity and reliability in feeding, althought the 6-284 and a .284 are an interesting combination. I don't know that I'd want to take a 700 yard shot with either the .308 or .284 but those are for standard bolt faces...if you have two bolts and the right action, a 300WSM may be a better, more expensive option....
If you want speed for varmints, a .243AI is not a bad choice...easy to form and lots of fun.
I doubt this helps,
MQ1
yea that is what I was saying. first of all you said 700 yard elk with authority that would mean a 300 mag with heavy's
a 7mag or 280AI with heavy's or actually a good 6.5 140 ball...or even a good .270 150 ball....then 600 yards on varmints So you are asking a lot...If you backed the elk up to 600 yards and said a well placed shot then a 1-8 twist 243 win would do ya..for all.. Hard to beat a good 7rem mag with a 168 or 180 ball in a hunting weight rifle shooting and carrying in that kind of country where the shots are long..with no muzzle brake. what I am saying is you can do what you are wanting to do but a inexpensive or used rifle for varmint work is just easier.
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